The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club

by J. C. Isabella

I darted through the door. He slammed it hard enough behind us to rattle the glass panes. Mom and Glenn looked up from where they’d snuggled up on the couch. Great, just what we need, an audience.

  “It was an accident.” I forced my voice to sound hard and upset. We were supposed to be friends for our parents, not real friends, and not more than friends. That was the original plan. I can’t believe I allowed myself to become attached to him when I knew what lay in the future. He’d go back to pretending I didn’t exist, and I would be left wishing he’d man up and admit his feelings.

  “I know it was an accident.” He retorted. “And now you think I’ve made it worse, I get that. But I don’t understand why.”

  “You got Max suspended.” I said through gritted teeth, trying not to let our parents hear. “And you…well, you know what else you just did.”

  “I did it because you have no business being near him.” His cool gaze swept over my head to focus on our parents, and then flicked back to me. His expression changed. He wanted to say something else, but the other two people in the room weren’t supposed to hear it. He pursed his lips.

  “Who I’m with is not up to you. Maybe I like Max. Did you ever think of that? In fact, I’ll go find him.” I smiled, hiding my cringe, and marched right back to the door.

  “Are you insane?” Zack blocked my way out.

  Mom and Glenn were off the couch now. I could see them behind us in the reflection of the window. They were hanging on our every word. I suspected they were too shocked to say anything.

  “I get it.” I said, wishing we had stayed outside to argue. “Max isn’t all that bad, you guys have issues with each other. Competition maybe?”

  “No,” he frowned. “I can’t sit by and watch you go out with a guy like Max.” His voice was low, menacing. It surprised the hell out of me. Made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. “That’s my reason for…what I did.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s an ass hole.”

  “We’ve established that. Maybe I like ass holes.”

  “What have you called me before?”

  “I’ve called you a jerk, a turd, annoying…”

  “There’s more than that, Chloe.”

  Double gulp. “An ass?”

  “Bingo, babe.” he crossed his arms, leaning back against the door. “Now what makes him a better ass than me?”

  My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation, and in front of our parents! They’d probably pulled up chairs and popped popcorn.

  “What are you saying?” I asked, because I had to know it in plain English. Did he want to be my boyfriend for pretend? Or was this a for real thing?

  “I have no idea.” He ran a hand over his face.

  “Think really hard about who Max’s going to tell what he saw, if it was him, and who else could find out.”

  He was suddenly silent, frozen.

  “Our parents.” I mouthed, since I didn’t want them to hear.

  “Well, this is an interesting turn of events.” Glenn sounded mighty uncomfortable.

  Zack and I were staring at each other rather stupidly, so I guess this must have been enough of a pause for our parents to find their voices.

  “We thought you hated each other.” Mom said in amazement.

  I laughed nervously, staring into Zack’s eyes, as if I’d find an answer to our problem there. “Hate, imagine that.”

  Zack rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, funny, but I wouldn’t say hate.”

  Glenn grinned, looking like he didn’t know what to say. “The last thing we ever expected was a lovers quarrel.”

  I turned to mom and Glenn. It was time to steal a base. “Look, what you just saw was not a lover’s quarrel. It was a misunderstanding.”

  Zack grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the stairs. I had to run to keep up or risk being dragged. “And we need to sort a few things out before continuing this conversation.”

  “By the way,” mom shouted after us, laughter in her voice. “Vince will be here in a thirty minutes. So hurry up!”

  I shut myself in my room, locked all the doors to change into a blue sundress and sandals. Then I went to the bathroom, raked a brush through my half dried hair, decided it would have to do since I didn’t have time to shower, and knocked on Zack’s door.

  It was time to figure out whatever was going on between us.

  “Chloe?” It was so nice to hear him say my name. Maybe too nice…

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s open.”

  I slipped inside. He wasn’t wearing a shirt again. I suddenly felt like one of the many girls who spent time drooling over him, and decided I liked this view of him better than any I’ve had to date. The way the light filtered out of the closet behind him, almost otherworldly, godlike. He was my own shirtless, superhero, baseball player who rescued me from stinky boys on dirt bikes—time to lay off the romantic movies.

  “I think I was a little harsh earlier.” He stepped out of the closet, shoulders hunched slightly. Did he feel even the least bit self-conscious? “I was caught off guard, and didn’t expect to feel the way I did after we kissed.”

  “Oh, okay.” I leaned against the bathroom door. I needed the support. “We can let Max think you’re my stepbrother, and that he mistook you for my boyfriend. It is the truth.”

  He propped his hands on his hips. “No, not if he saw me kiss you.”

  Oh, why, oh, why…did I like the sound of that?

  Bad Chloe!

  I hate Zack Warren.

  I hate his smile.

  I hate his laugh.

  I hate his truck.

  I hate the way he looks at me…and…and I am not in love with him!

  He pursed his lips together before continuing, “I don’t like the way Max looks at you.”

  I swallowed, trying to find my voice, thinking I was hearing things like I’d been seeing things. “What was so bad with the way he looked at me?”

  I hadn’t been paying attention to Max’s expression. I’d been too busy looking for a way out every time I was around him.

  “It was disrespectful.” His voice grew angry like it had downstairs, muscle jumping in his jaw. “And the way he followed you into the locker room…good men don’t do that.”

  “How would you know?”

  “You already know the answer to that.” His heavy lidded gaze did strange things to my pulse.

  “You’re a good man.”

  Gulp.

  And double gulp.

  He smiled. “I certainly try.”

  I decided that the rumors going on about Zack were totally, one hundred percent, false. He couldn’t have an air mattress in the bed of his truck. I didn’t need visual proof. And he wasn’t a sex machine. The person sanding in front of me would never make out with a teacher.

  So what did that mean, what was happening to me?

  Was I actually allowing myself to become a fan of Zack Warren, because I liked him as a person? As a guy with a good heart and the kind of morals that matched my own, even though I risked my happiness and the happiness of our parents?

  I made myself dislike him because the way he made me feel scared me.

  I made myself hate him, or I tried to, because he could never know about the fan club.

  And where had that got me?

  Nowhere.

  What would happen if I put aside the walls and precautions, and just let whatever happens happen?

  Could I risk getting close to him, so close that he might discover my secret?

  Then he’d hate me.

  Zack held my gaze, and there was so much in his eyes. So much emotion, more than I’ve eve seen so unguardedly displayed. “I’ve never looked at a girl like Max does, Chloe.”

  And I believed him. I knew I could believe anything he said to me. I trusted him. “So because of how Max is acting, and since he might have been spying, you decided that it would be better for us to let him think we’re together?”


  “Sure, just as long as our parents don’t find out.” He seemed satisfied with his decision and let out a breath, as if my agreeableness was a relief.

  “Why are you really doing this?” I needed to hear it, hear the words. Not see it in his eyes. He had to admit it.

  “Because I don’t like him.”

  “It seems a little strange that you’re pretending to be my boyfriend just because you don’t like someone.”

  “Max was giving you a hard time.” Was Zack ever going to be brave enough to tell me the truth? I’m positive he’d jump into the middle of a fight and come out on top. He’d kick ass. He rode motorcycles, pitched baseballs, and would probably climb a mountain if he got the chance. On a feelings sharing level though, Zack was out of his element. In fact, I’m willing to bet his batting average was a big fat zero.

  “Yes, and you’ve said that before, but that doesn’t mean you have to do this, Zack.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  I groaned, running my fingers through my still damp hair. “I know I’m missing something here. So do me a favor and tell me what it is.”

  “I’m the only one allowed to give you a hard time, Chloe.”

  Oh, right, that. It was the only thing he’d said so far that told me his feeling for me were more than just ones of irritation or loathing. He didn’t hate me…so was I supposed to read into this and think he cared for me, because he saw himself as the only person with the right to annoy the absolute crap out of me?

  “Either your screwed up from one too many baseballs to the head, or there’s more.” I pushed, wanting that cocky attitude he sported on the baseball field to come out or give him a boost. “Is there more?”

  “I’ve never been hit.” He cocked his head the side, considering me. I felt like squirming with his baby blues studying me so closely.

  “Can I ask you something?” this would probably answer my questions better.

  “Yeah.” He smiled more openly than I expected. He had dimples, and a scar under his right eye. Just a thin line about the length of my thumb. I always wondered how he got it. That was why he looked so bad, wasn’t one of the pretty boys. Zack wasn’t afraid to get dirty, except when it came to sharing and caring.

  I licked my lips, feeling panicked by my boldness. “How did you feel when you saw me with Max?”

  “I hated it.” His grin sent those good tingles down my spine and butterflies all over. I wanted to kiss him again.

  “Really?” come on, elaborate before I go nuts!

  He went back into the closet and pulled on a green polo shirt. “You’d think I’d be happy if some guy stepped into the picture, got you out of my hair. Then I thought, how boring would that be?”

  “I’m entertainment?” mental forehead slap.

  “No, I’ve always looked forward to finding something to fight with you about.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Strike two Warren.”

  “I’m hoping to make it to first base.” He sat on the edge of his bed and pulled his shoes on.

  “You already did that.” I blushed.

  “Lets call it one strike, one ball.” Reached for my hand pulled me toward him.

  “And one out.”

  “I’m going to bunt and slide to first.”

  “Okay, you slid to first. The guy up to bat sucks. He’s got arms like noodles and the eyesight of my Great Aunt Lucy.”

  “I could steal home.” He took my hands, lacing our fingers together.

  “From first? You’re not that good.”

  He burst with laughter, going one step further and tugging me into his lap. “I don’t normally talk like this with girls.”

  “I figured that out, trust me.” I said, meeting his eyes. They were smiling in the best way, shining like stars.

  “Normally I say something smooth and wink.”

  “Just be blunt. Does that help?”

  “Uh, maybe a little.” He frowned. My skin tingled where he smoothed his thumb over the inside of my wrist. “I don’t care about you, like you’re my stepsister. You know I don’t hate you.”

  “Yes, go on.”

  This looked painful for him to admit, but I was proud of him for doing it. “When you smile it’s real, and pretty. I can be myself around you. I…I like you…a lot.”

  “I like you too.” I giggled. “We’re a mess.”

  “Yeah, big time.” His eyes twinkled with mischief as he bent closer, but instead of kissing my lips, he kissed my cheek. The gesture was sweeter than I ever imagined. “Now, Baker, let’s have dinner with the family and pretend everything between us is normal.”

  I clung to him, trying to keep him on the bed. But I was no match and he stood with me, carrying me out the door and into the hall. “Do we have to?”

  “Yes, that way we can show our parents we’re fine.”

  “But we’re not fine.” I wanted to protest when he set me down.

  He looped his arm around my neck and kissed my cheek again. “We will be, how about that?”

  Zack let me go when we reached the stairs.

  He smiled at me. I realized something amazing was happening between us, something neither of us had expected.

  And the most surprising part was that we both wanted it.

  Chapter 22

  “Hi, Vince.” I gave him an awkward one armed hug in the foyer. His black hair was extra oily, slicked severely off his forehead. Parts of his skin were so smooth I wondered if he waxed.

  It wasn’t only his looks that got to me. I felt slimy after touching him.

  “Hey, kid. I missed you.” He had a sharp face. Reminded me of a sewer rat.

  “Yeah, I missed you too.” I murmured, noting nothing about him had changed as we walked into the living room. He was still a sad homage to the eighties Italians.

  In fact, the mob called, and they want their suit back.

  Helga tottered behind us, peppering my mom with questions about shoe racks, and asking how we kept ours organized. I turned to say hi and had to restrain my shock.

  Forget boobs the size of beach balls.

  She’d ingested a small planet.

  “There is she!” Helga said in her thick German accent, and tried to wrap me in a hug. Her massive pregnant stomach made it impossible. “You are woman now, Chloe.”

  “Good to see you too, Helga.” She looked normal despite the planet. Short dress, overly tan with hooker red lips, bleached hair, and eyebrows thin and drawn on in what looked like a black marker. Her face was in a constant state of surprise.

  I introduced Zack. Vince shook his hand. The gold rings on his fingers caught Zack’s attention and he raised his eyebrows, but kept his comments to himself. I knew I’d hear about it later.

  Helga managed to lower herself onto the couch. She didn’t say anything crazy or have trouble keeping her hands to herself. It was almost surreal. But even with her heavy concentration from the task of sitting, the eyebrows still made me laugh inside.

  I was certain she would have tried to say hello to Zack, but she was too busy trying to make my mother jealous.

  Being pregnant must be like winning the lotto, at least to Helga. She was acting like she’d hit the jackpot. And it looked like her efforts were having an effect on my mom. She was getting a dreamy expression and glancing at Glenn. Glenn meanwhile, just looked uncomfortable. He probably didn’t realize my mom was going to hit him up, to knock her up.

  Helga snorted with laughter, saying something only she found amusing. No one laughed but Vince. I felt sorry for that kid. To have parents like Vince and Helga, they’ll have to be pretty tolerant or plain crazy.

  “When are you due?” mom asked politely. She was probably thinking something on the lines of—I could get preggo so much faster than you and my baby would be freaking gorgeous!

  “Oh, any day now.” Helga said. This got the eyebrow raise from the whole room. As long she didn’t pop here, we’d be good. But with our luck…might as well get a mop, a bucket, and a catcher’s mitt.
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  Vince beamed. “She insisted I scout out a new location for another used car dealership. We want to relocate. Miami is looking good.”

  “Oh, that close?” I muttered, wishing he’d gone north. Like, Canada.

  Mom stood, smoothing skirt. “Chloe, will you help me in the kitchen?”

  I nodded. “Love to.”

  As soon as the door swung shut behind us. I got a feeling there was more to our impromptu meeting.

  “Look, I know you don’t want to be here, but you’re going to have to get through it. Please don’t start anything with Vince. Just smile and be the charming girl I love.”

  I patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Vince is clueless.”

  “I know, but one day he might catch on to your snide remarks. Don’t come crying to me if he tries to man up and parent.”

  “I’m smarter than him on my worst day. I’m not worried.”

  Mom went further into the kitchen. She tapped her heel on the floor and leaned against the counter. “You know what would be really mean?”

  I smiled, feeling just as devious. “What?”

  “We leave Glenn and Zack with Mr. Personality and his baby mama.”