The next night, Katie found herself sitting on the couch with Zac, while Zoe, Mackenzie, and Avery sat on the floor in front of them, watching the television. Katie didn't really know what movie they were watching. Truthfully, she hadn't paid that much attention. She was too busy worring herself to death about the whole Zac/Brooke thing.
Zac hadn't said anything about it, and neither had she. He kept wondering when she was going to ask him. The dance was still three weeks away, but Zac figured that she would ask him in advance to make sure she got him. He was planning on dropping a hint earlier, but he wasn't quite sure how to do it. He looked over at Katie, and saw that she had her head resting on her elbow, which was propped up by the arm of the couch. She had a glum look on her face, and she was staring at the TV blankly.
Zac nudged her with his foot. "You okay?" He asked.
Katie jumped and looked at him blankly. "Yeah." She said quietly, looking at him.
"Oh.....well....you looked kinda...sad." He said.
Katie looked at her hands. "No...everything is fine."
When the phone rang, Zac hauled himself up and into the kitchen.
"Hello?"
"Hi." A cheery voice said.
"Umm....hi." He said. He saw Katie get up and wander in.
"Do you know who this is?"
"Ummmmm.........no." Zac admitted. Katie frowned.
"Who is it?" She asked. Zac gave a silent shrug. She leaned on the counter next to him.
"It's Brooke." She said cheerfully.
"oh....Hi." Zac said. He looked at Katie, who had just heard who was on the phone. She gave him a look of dismay and stormed out of the kitchen.
"Is someone there?" Brooke asked.
"Um, yeah." Zac said, peeking out into the living room, where Katie was sitting on the couch, arms crossed.
"Who?" She asked.
"A friend." Zac answered.
"Oh..." She said.
"So what's up?"
"Well, I was just sitting around, not doing much, and then I remembered that we haven't finalized our plans to go to the Valentine's dance yet."
"Um...." Zac rolled his eyes. "I didn't say yes yet." he said.
Brooke laughed. "You didn't? Oh, that's right."
How cheesey.... Zac thought.
"Well are we going together? I need to know." She said with a laugh.
Zac was caught. Say yes now, his hopes with Katie were ruined. Say no, he would piss her off. He winced.
"Um, I just need a few more days." he said.
"Why?" Brooke asked, not as friendly.
"because....I....I just do." He finished.
Brooke sighed. "Well, I need to know sometime soon so that I can make plans." SHe said.
"I'll let you know...Monday." He said. Immediately he smacked himself in the forehead. That didn't leave much time.
"Okay, well, I'll see you Monday then." She said.
"Okay. Bye." Zac said.
"Bye."
He hung up the phone and peeked into the TV room where Katie was still sitting with his three younger siblings. He walked back over to the couch and sat down as if nothing had happened. Zac let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was home safe.
"Who was on the phone?" Mackie asked.
Shit.
"Um....a friend." Zac said.
"What friend?" Mackie asked.
"Uh....."
Katie spoke up. "Her name was Brooke, Mackie." She spat out.
"Oh." mackie said, standing up and walking over to Zac. "Who's Brooke?"
Zac felt his stomach literally drop to his feet. "She's just...a friend."
Katie whipped her head over to Zac. "She's Zac's gooood friend, Mackie." She said giving him an icy glare.
"Oh." Mackie said.
"No she's not." Zac defended himself.
"Then why would she call you?" Katie asked.
"Because...she just wanted to talk."
"That's not what I heard." Katie said.
"Katie...."
Katie stood up. She couldnt' take it anymore.
"Where are you going?" Zac asked, watching her pick up her coat.
"Home." She answered. A few seconds later, he heard the front door slam.