Finding You

chapter 26

Previously:

Max looks him up and down in a way that could be taken as a challenge. "Hey. And who are you?"

.....

"Someone who is going to rip your arms off if you don't let her go," he threatens clearer. And I'm sure he will. Max is real tall and strong for his age, but nothing compared to Zay.

"Well, I'm not really hurting her soo..." Quieter to me and Savannah, "Do you guys know him? He doesn't seem safe."

I laugh inside. "Yeah, I do. He's my..." I search for an appropriate term but can't find one. Zay fills in the silence.

"Amber, come here." His open arms are an invitation for me. His eyes flicker color when I don't move right away. He reaches his hand out to me. "Please, I need..."

You.

The unspoken word reverberates in me, in my head, in my body. He needs me. And I need him, need to be by him. The thing is I can't. Max is holding tight to me. "Are you sure he's cool? He looks like he's on something."

"Yeah, positive. Just a little jealous of the affection you're giving me." I wiggle out of his grasp. But Max grabs my arm again.

I really am the only one who can feel this situation unraveling. Feel how edgy Zay is getting. Before Zay can make a move, which I know is soon to happen, I skid away from Max and enter the warmth of his arms.

He sighs deeply and, mark my word, smells me. Must be that scent thing he talks about. "Tell me why so many guys wanna touch my girl. Besides your beauty, personality, and everything else." He combs through my hair with his fingers, easing both of our tension.

"Then I can't even answer that. But he's Maxim. Meet the 16 year old flirt of the senior class. He means no harm Zay."

"He doesn't look sixteen. Even if he did, he doesn't look smart enough to be-"

I push away from him slightly. "Shut up and listen to what you're saying. If I judged you from how you look I would have ran the other way."

He huffs. "So you're calling me ugly."

"Uh, Savvy, Birdie? I'm still here," Max calls to us. I was so absorbed with Zay that I didn't notice how quiet Savannah was.

I spot her to my left. She's cuddled up close to Austin's friend, Ethan. She backs away bashfully. "Sorry, bud. Amber, we're going to Denny Dough's. Zay can come, I guess."

"You didn't tell me you had plans," Zay says.

"I just found out," I mumble.

"Uh uh. I'm bout to be a major third-wheeler. Not happening," Max states.

"Get a girlfriend," Savannah suggests.

"Easier said than done Savvy. But please, my heart belongs to no one."

"Then you'll be a third wheel the rest of your life. C'mon!"

Savannah pushes Max towards the front entrance with Ethan in tow behind her. Zay and I trail behind them through the now barren school hallways.

When we walk outside, Zay takes my hand to stop me. "We'll be right there. Wait for us in your car. Just don't leave," he addresses Savannah. She raises her eyebrows at him.

"I'll leave whenever I damn well please." She grins at me. "Hurry, we don't wanna miss the after school specials."

"Wouldn't wanna miss that," I say and I mean it. Their Fudge Doughnut ice cream is to die for.

They walk away and I give my attention back to Zay. "What's up."

He sighs. "I am tremendously sorry that I didn't do this sooner. I'm not really good at this kind of stuff and I just sorta figured that we...anyways." He entwined our fingers together. "Will you be my girlfriend, Amber?"

I make a disappointed gesture. "That's all? Nothing fancy? You are like, a week late at asking me," I joke. But I think he may have taken me seriously.

His dark brown eyes stare deeply into mine as he gives me puppy eyes. God, that looks so cute. "Will you, Amber Garden, make me the happiest guy on earth and do me the honor of being my girlfriend? Nothing would make me happier than if you, a beautiful, outstanding and heavenly angel accepted my-"

I kiss him in the middle of his words, taking him by surprise. "I don't know how you know my last name, but yes, Zay. It would be my pleasure."

He smiles down at me adoringly. "You are so cute, you know that?"

"Yes, yes I do."

A drawn out honk tells us Savannah is getting impatient. "I don't think she likes me yet."

"Be patient, she'll get there," I assure him.

"Yeah, when I sprout wings and fly," he jokes.

I gasp. "You can do that?" He just chuckles.

His humor makes me realize something. Apart from his quiet stoic side, and his protective yet lighthearted side, I still don't know that much about him. So many hidden virtues.

I start to feel a gap of distance from him again, so I foolishly press myself closer. Foolishly, because this gap is one that only knowledge can fill.