by V. R. Knight
“He might come. I’m sure he’d be happy to meet—“
“No,” he said suddenly and strong willed. I looked at him surprised.
“Oh come on Zane!” I complained.
“No way in hell is she meeting him.” he said through gritted teeth ignoring me. I was staring at him. What was going on?
“Zane, come on it will be fun.” I said he looked at me and his eyes were mean and something like hatred filled them. I flinched.
“We’re leaving,” he said and turned.
“Zane,” Jane called making him stop. His shoulders were so tight and his jaw was set. His eyes were blazing. He turned. Her eyes were teary. “Come here,” she whispered. He clenched his hands but walked over to her. “Give me a kiss.” he gently reached down and gave her a small peck on the cheek. She whispered something to him and I watched my eyes a little wide. He nodded but his eyes didn’t change.
“Mom,” I heard him whispered his voice pleading. I had never heard him sound like that before. They were whispering. “Fine.” he finally said. “But if anything…” he whispered the rest.
“OK, well you’re coming over this weekend don’t worry about it! I’ll make something very good. OK?” she asked me.
“Yeah, OK.” I smiled. I was still so confused but nodded. Zane wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“Bye,” Zane mumbled and started to leave.
“Have fun!” his mom called; her voice a little shaky.
“Bye,” I called a little confused. Zane stormed off ahead of me and I followed almost at a run. “Zane! Zane!” I yelled. He put the food in the back seat and stood there for a moment then turned to me. “What the hell was that about?” I asked my voice making puffs of smoke from the cold air. He was biting the inside of his mouth hard trying not from yelling.
“It’s nothing, lets go,” I frowned. “Zane…” I said stopping him as he went to go around the car. He looked down. “What is wrong?” I asked.
He looked up.
“Why won’t you listen to me?” His words caught me off guard.
“What?” I asked surprised. He looked away his jaw clenching. I heard him mumbling but I couldn’t hear. “What are you talking about?”
He shook his head.
“Never mind.” he said and moved around me his head still low. He got in and it took me a moment to regain myself then get into the car.
Chapter 23
We started for the bad part of town. I started to get worried. Zane didn’t talk very much. I didn’t know what to say. Remember we’re just faking this whole thing; he doesn’t have to like you. Which he doesn’t. He doesn’t even probably like being my friend. I looked out the window and I realized this is nowhere close to where I live. This is a whole other country! This is the poor side of town. I live in the fancy part. I looked at Zane and he totally seemed at ease.
“Zane,” I asked.
He looked over at me for a moment then back at the road.
“What?” he asked flatly.
“Where are we going?”
He gasped. “My home.”
I gulped a little. My parents told me I could never come on these roads. They were dangerous but if Zane knew what he was doing then I should trust him. We pulled up alongside the curb and I looked up to see a falling apart building. Trash was strewn across the walk and loud booming music echoed through the streets. Zane got out and got the stuff. I slowly got out and looked up again at the apartment building. “This is it.” Zane said looking where I was. “Home sweet home.” he muttered and started for the entrance.
This is the exact opposite of where I thought Zane lived. I thought he lived where Kendra or Grant and I did. Some place nicer. “Hurry up,” Zane said and I ran across the walk beside him. We went up and Zane pulled out a whole bunch of keys then we went in. I followed him as we took the stairs and went up three floors. I could hear shouts from other doors and banging and music. It scared me a little. We got to a room and he unlocked several locks, then opened the door.
“Go ahead,” he said and motioned me forward.
I went in quickly. He came in and relocked all the locks. I turned and looked at the apartment. It was a whole lot smaller then my house but it had a cute kitchen and a small living room then a hallway going back somewhere, probably the bed rooms. Zane came in and sat the bags on the counter then put everything in the frig.
“Not what you expected, was it?” he asked with an amused anger/sad sort of way. I turned to him but he was loading stuff in the frig.
“Not exactly,” I said quietly.
He gasped.
“Did you think I lived where you did?” he asked. I shrugged and looked down. I did. I had never been here before. I always thought he lived where we did.
“Has Kendra been here before?” I asked.
He stopped what he was doing and turned around to me. “No,” he said.
I frowned. Why wouldn’t he? They had been dating for what a year? And he never brought her here. He finished and got a drink of water.
“Why bring me here?” I asked.
He looked at me and put down his cup slowly. He looked down for a moment then up his eyes confused.
“I’m not sure,” he answered. It was silent for a while.
“I think I’m going to go change my pants,” he said looking down at my dad’s jeans.
I nodded.
“You can come too,” he said and we went back the hallway and to the first door on the left. It was a tiny room. There was a small single bed stuffed in the corner with a dresser at the end and a desk right across from it. The rest of the room was piled with clothes if there was a lot of room left. He went over to the dresser and yanked the draws open. I looked around at the band posters and gray sheets messed up on his bed. It smelled like him. I walked over to his bed and sat down. It was lumpy and my butt went deep into the bed.
“So this is your room,” I said as he went across the room and picked up a pair of jeans and sniffed them.
“Yeah,” he said and sniffed them again. He shrugged.
“It’s nice.”
He gasped and shook his head.
“I’m sure!”
“No, really,” I said.
He turned and looked at me. “It’s not like my house but sometimes I wish this is where I lived. Some place where it felt like home. My house is just an empty hollow cave. This,” I said pointing around to the room. “Is cozy and feels like a home.” He looked me in the eyes and I gave a small, sad smile.
“Mm,” he answered and turned around. He unzipped his pants and I gasped.
“What are you doing?!” I asked turning around. He laughed.
“Changing what does it look like?” I glanced over at him as he pulled off my dad’s jeans and he had red boxers on. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at his legs then up his body. He pulled up his jeans then turned to me and zipped them up and winked. I rolled my eyes. “Nothing you haven’t seen before.” he said. I blushed a little and looked down.
“Oh look she’s blushing again,” Zane said coming over to me. I looked up as he bent over a little and wiggled his eye brows. “Decide yet that you’re madly in love with me?”
I shook my head. “Not even close,” I said getting closer to him.
“Really?” he asked.
I nodded. I looked down. His shirt had come up from pulling his jeans on and was lifted to see his left hip. There was a bruise. I frowned. I reached up and put my fingers on it. Zane flinched slightly and stood back. I stood up and followed him as he walked backwards trying to get out of my reach. His back hit against the wall. I kept my fingers on it. Then lifted the shirt up a little my eyes focused on that bruise. It was the size of a baseball. I looked up my eyes wide and on the verge of tears.
“Zane…” I whispered. His eyes were hurt but he was trying to cover it up. He reached down and took my hand and pulled his shirt back down over it. He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. I was shocked at this but just looked at him.
“Don’t wor
ry about it,” he said and shrugged. “We should probably get you home soon Princess.” he said with a geeky smile as he pushed around me to grab his wallet from his jeans.
I stared at the wall. Why was he hiding something from me?
“What time do your parents want you home?” he asked.
I turned around.
“Um, er, I’m not sure.”
He laughed a little and nodded.
“OK, well let’s get something to eat because I’m starving!” he said patting his stomach.
“When aren’t you?!” I said and laughed. He shrugged and grinned.
We got something to eat at his house then headed back to mine. I got out of the car and he did too. “Listen, I should probably just go back home. My mom is going to be getting off work.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, I probably will have to deal with the parents inside.” I said rolling my eyes. He smiled. “Good luck.”
“Yeah I’m going to need it.” I reached for the door but stopped and turned around. “Thanks Zane, I had a lot of fun today. I think I needed it. It’s just everything that is going on….” I trailed off. I looked at him. Now is not the time to tell him. “Thanks.” I said quickly.
He nodded.
“See you on Monday.” he leaned forward and kissed my cheek then quickly went to his car. I was stunned once again. After he left I let out a girlie giggle and sighed. I opened up the door feeling giddy.
“Mom, dad, I’m home!” I called. They were in the den arguing but stopped when they saw me.
“Oh, hey honey,” mom said pushing her hair back with a smile. Dad nodded at me looking like he was sweating badly. “How was your day?” she asked sweetly. I bit at my lip.
“Um, it was good. Zane and I ate at a diner then went—“ I stopped midsentence. If my parents found out about that, they would murder me. “Um, just hung out.” Mom smiled and nodded.
“I’m going to my room.” I said and left quickly. I heard them muttering some words but ignored it. I shut my door and stripped out of my clothes getting into something comfortable and started to read with a smile on my face.
Chapter 24
I went out running on Sunday morning, then came back and got a bowl of cereal and watched cartoons like I did when I was 8. It was fun. Monday came quickly and I found myself looking out the window at the storm that had covered everything in a thin layer of snow. I smiled. I ran down stairs and heard the knocking on the door. I swung open the door to find a shivering Zane. I laughed.
“Not too hot are you now, hot stuff?” he rolled his eyes with a smile and pushed past me in the house.
“Damn, I hate the cold!”
I laughed.
“If only you would wear more than that leather jacket.”
He turned to me.
“It was my uncles,” he said softly. I frowned. “He died a couple years back. Closet thing I had to a father.” It was silent.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
He shrugged.
“Just don’t insult the jacket.” he said and posed.
I laughed and rolled my eyes.
“Come on I think my mom made something to eat. Want anything?”
He grinned.
“Yes!”
We went into the kitchen to find dad sipping coffee and reading something and mom drinking a glass of water by the bar.
“Hey Zane!” she said and smiled. “I just made some breakfast, would you like any?”
He nodded eagerly.
We ate breakfast with my mom and dad. It was a little strange but I found myself relaxed. They like him. They actually like him. Dad wasn’t too fond of Grant but he seemed to like Zane, surprisingly. Wait, why do you care if they like him? You’re not really dating him stupid! I suddenly lost my appétit and put down my fork and took a sip of water. Right, it’s not real. He doesn’t like you….a churning went through my stomach and I thought for a moment I might hurl but then regained myself.
“You ok, Olivia?” Zane asked across the table. I looked up and he looked actually concerned. The churning started again. He was faking it. He was faking everything. He doesn’t like you! I was yelling at myself. I felt like I was going to…no…oh no!
“Olivia!” someone yelled. I pushed back my chair and ran up stairs holding my hand to my mouth. I ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, then puked into the toilet.
If I thought eggs would look like that, I would have never eaten eggs in my life. Zane pushed open the door as I was wiping the back of my hand over my mouth. His eyes were wide.
“Olivia, are you ok?” he asked as he ran over and sat down to me.
I nodded.
“I’m fine,” my throat felt raw. He put his hand on my shoulder and massaged it. I closed my eyes then realized why I had barfed. I opened my eyes back up.
“Maybe—“
“No!” I pushed his hand off me and scooted away. His eyes looked hurt. I looked at him. It was his fault you’re barfing at the not so good looking eggs. “I said I was fine!” I said my voice louder. I grabbed a towel from the towel rack above my head and wiped my mouth off again still tasting the eggs.
“I was just going to say why don’t you go lay down.”
I shook my head and grabbed the wall and started to stand. I started to slip and Zane was right there holding on to me. I pushed him back and growled.
“I can do it myself!” I yelled. He frowned. I stood up and leaned against the wall trying to get my head back on. I went to the sink and washed out my mouth then brushed my teeth. Zane watched me.
“Don’t you have anything else to do?” I snapped as I got done. He clenched his teeth together.
“Olivia!” mom said as her and dad came up the stairs. “Oh honey! Are you ok?” she asked as she came in past Zane. I nodded as she put her hands on my face. “You look pale sweetie. Let’s go let you lie down a bit. I’ll call the school.”
“No!” I said making everyone jump from my outburst. Dad frowned, mom just looked worried. “Honey—“
“Mom it’s ok. I’m fine. I think it was just the eggs.” I wouldn’t meet Zane’s eyes. I couldn’t. I was lying, of course, but I didn’t want him to know.
“OK, if you think you are ok.”
I nodded.
“I am.”
She pulled me out of the bathroom and we went down stairs. “I think we better just leave.” I told Zane who I knew was behind me, watching me. He didn’t answer. I put my jacket back on, my hands trembling a little. I grabbed my backpack and Zane followed behind me as we went out.
“Bye!” mom called. I stopped on the porch and looked at Zane’s crappy car.
“I don’t have 4 wheel drive,” he mumbled.
I nodded.
“We’ll take mine,” I said quietly and I headed to my black jeep. I got in and started it up, shaking a little. Zane got in the other side. The jeep didn’t have very good heating so we were frozen until a block from the school when the heat finally kicked in. I put my gloved hands in front of it trying to steal the warmth. Zane just looked out the window. We didn’t talk as we headed into the school. He took my hand but it felt weird with our gloves on. We smiled at people putting on like we always did when we got mad at each other. But this was deeper. This was different. He walked me to my locker and we took our hands back.
“I’m going to class,” he muttered.
I nodded as I grabbed my books out of my locker and he disappeared in the crowd. I stared off after him. I should go talk to him. Make up for being a jerk. No, no Olivia don’t. You’re going to breaking up soon enough anyhow. It isn’t working with Grant or Kendra. Why bother going on anymore? They don’t want us back. But something inside of me wanted them to not love us. I wanted to feel that I agreed to do this fake relationship for a reason. I didn’t know what the reason was yet.
I frowned as I walked into class and sat in the back.
“Olivia,” a sweet voice said. I looked up and saw Grant.
&nb
sp; “Hey,” I said and looked down picking at my finger nail.
“So how was your weekend?” he asked causally.
I shrugged.
“Pretty good. Yours?”
He shrugged too.
“So, so.”
I nodded still looking down.
“I wanted to talk to you Olivia—“
“OK class get settled in, we are going to start class.”
I looked up and saw Grant rolling his eyes.
“I’ll find you later today,” he said and nodded. The sound of his voice wasn’t like Zane’s. It didn’t affect me like Zane’s did. I didn’t know why. Why did Zane’s? I never liked him. Or did I? I shook my head and listened to our teacher.
Chapter 25
Next thing I knew it was Thursday. Nothing really happened. Zane didn’t come over to the house after school, we both didn’t talk. But it wasn’t me. It was him. Something was wrong. He seemed really distant. We have dinner with his mom on Saturday. Wow, that’s going to be a trip to the park! I thought sarcastically. We don’t even hold hands that much. I haven’t even talked to Kendra or Grant. I had been too swamped with school. Algebra was kicking my ass. It had snowed more and it was two weeks till Christmas. School would be ending for the holidays in about a week. Zane and I walked out of the school both of quiet as usual. We got into the jeep and I started it up kicking my foot trying to get the snow off. I sniffed and wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck.
“My mom said, um, that I should go pick you up and bring you to the house since the streets aren’t safe.”
I looked over at him, surprised at his voice. It was throaty and sounded sick but it was the first I heard all day.
He looked at his hands.
“OK, what time?” I said and drove out of the school.
He shrugged and sniffed.
“6?”
I nodded.
We drove to my house where Zane’s car sat covered in a thin layer of soft puffy snow. I turned off the car and turned toward Zane.
“Zane, listen I’m sorry about Monday…it’s just I wasn’t feeling like—“