School. I had school. Meaning i'd have to hear the gossips & everything regarding me & Mr.Popular - Zachary. I'd realized i'd started calling him Zachary more - instead of Zach - as if we'd drop off the nickname basis.

We had.

I honestly don't know why I was overreacting- I enjoyed the kiss - I enjoyed his presence- I enjoyed being in his arms.

But we were moving too quickly. He didn't ask me to be his girlfriend.

I believe part of me just hadn't anticipated all the attention — girls eyes trained on me, burning holes in my back — boys who hadn't once noticed me, eyeing me — as though I was some sort of eye candy. Undressing me & fucking me — all with their eyes. I hadn't anticipated the sly comments — but how long did I think it would last. Our agreement. The secrecy. Us.

" ... oh & I was wondering if you'd help me look a gift for my mother's birthday present later ?" that was Mac , I honestly felt bad that I didn't hear half of what she was saying.

I looked up - about to say sure , but you know as fate would have it - blah blah , Zachary walked through those doors , his eyes looked blank & he was starting to accumulate a little stubble on his chin -

He saw me - he didn't bother saying hi or good morning - he just skipped up the steps - possibly heading to homeroom or a quick hook up - who knows ?

I turned my attention back to Mac - who was waiting for a response,

"Yeah sure - anything in mind ? anywhere in mind?"

She thought about it , then shook her head ,

" No..."

" We'll figure it out," I said , resting a supportive hand on her shoulder , before we parted ways.

I wanted to go see Zachary- apologize for our encounter yesterday & what I said to him. I wanted to tell him , he could bring me snacks - hell - he could just bring himself.

But I didn't - I just went to class.

I walked hastily - trying to catch up with Bec who was a few feet from me &'then I hit up into a hard figure who was coming out the male bathroom-

obviously the dude was a male ,

I looked up to see Zach- Zachary,

" Um , I'm sorry," I mumbled ,

he nodded , " That's alright,"

" We should talk" I held his hand , before he could walk off — I wasn't going to make that mistake twice.

His hand fit perfectly in mine — even though it was much bigger. The warmth radiated off him — to mine, which were seemingly always cold. I was anemic, so I hadn't expected any better if I were being completely honest.

" Yeah — the stone ?"

I nodded...

the stone.

I looked ahead — Rebecca was long gone , so instead I turned around & walked with Zach to our little spot.

" First ..." I pecked his lip , " Daily kiss ,"

he was shook at first , I could tell from how tense he got , when I pressed my lips against his momentarily — then he relaxed.

Smiling a bit. To himself mostly. That or I wanted to believe he smiled. Maybe I was delusional & dreamt it — believed it.

" I'm sorry about how harshly I spoke to you yesterday" I said ,

"It's okay — I kinda understand," that was him ,

Did he really ?

" Do you ?" I wasn't sure he did — he was used to it all. The popularity, the eyes, the whispers in the halls — all of it. I wasn't. I just wanted it to be us. Just us. For a little while longer. So I could process things. What we were doing. All of that.

" You're not that type of girl" he started ,
" You don't like being stared at , being the topic of conversation, you like The Neighborhood & Melanie , I don't even know those people, but I would for you..." he rambled on & on & I kissed him - I don't know why — but I did, I felt the urge & did.

In that moment, it felt right. So I did, I kissed him, my hand on his jawline — that I admired, even when he was & they clenched.

& he deepened the kiss , his hands wondering from my hair — to my butt & I smiled...

" I like you Zach." I whispered in between kisses,

" I like you too Izzy."