Fake • Zach Herron

T W E N T Y - N I N E

Jessica's POV

"you look pretty" Crawford said as I shut the front door behind me, I smiled at him as I shoved my phone in my pocket.
"thanks crawf" he opened the car door for me as I got in. he didn't have a expensive car like Zach, but then again it didn't need to be. Crawford got in and he started the car, as he backed out of the driveway I got a text - from Cooper

Coop - who was that guy?
Me - a friend, chill
Coop - sure a friend ;). will he help you get over Zach?

I rolled my eyes and put my phone away, I have to admit I was a bit nervous to be going on this 'friend date' with Crawford. Besides hanging out with Zach or jack Ive never really hung out with a guy before. let alone dated one, so all of this is pretty new to me. Crawford pulled up to a street light and looked at me, he was staring at me. I pretended not to notice, since staring made me a little uncomfortable.
"are you having second thoughts?" he asked, I looked over
I shook my head "why would you think that?"
"you seem to be thinking about something, so I thought id ask" he said shooting me a half smile, not going to lie I was confused, like he seems tense "we can go somewhere else if you dont wanna go to the movies" he said
I shook my head "nah I love movies" I said and smiled...
after a while we pulled up to the parking lot of the movie theatre. as I was looking around I saw a very familiar car, it looked exactly like zachs. why would he be here? when I got out the car I took a closer look, it was in fact his car, there was a soccer ball sticker with his jersey number on it in the back window. who is he here with?

"hey, what are you looking at?" he asked
"nothing I lied "I thought I saw someone I knew" I shrugged. he nodded. we walked up to the movie theatre and Crawford opened the door for me, I walked in after thanking him.
"what can I get you?" the woman asked
"two tickets to the Birds Of Pray movie please" Crawford asked
"Jessica?" someone said from behind me, I guess im quite recognisable from.... behind? I turned around though and I saw Zach walking up to me, with Alexis. of course! of course he was here with her
"oh.. um hey" I said awkwardly, I glanced over at Alexis and she was wearing the smallest top ever - her boobs were practically out.
"your with Crawford, here..." he said
"yup" I said and turned around, I reached into my pocket and grabbed some money
"dont you think the guy should be paying for the ladies ticket, Collins?" Zach asked, I sighed
"dont listen to him" I said
"on a date, yeah" Crawford shrugged. Zach rolled his eyes deeply. I handed the woman my money and she gave me my ticket.
"hes such a catch right Alexis" Zach said loud enough so I could hear
"what did you just say?" Crawford snapped
I held my hand up to my forehead "Zach, Crawf, stop" I said
"oh you heard me, Collins" Zach then snapped
"okay, what is your problem man?" Crawford asked
"you are with her. and you aren't treating her right" Zach said
"why do you even care?"
"yeah. that's a good question actually. why do you care?" Alexis asked
"she's my best friend, she deserves to be treated right"
Crawford chuckled "all this is coming from a guy who cheats on girls like theres no fucking tomorrow"
Zach rolled his eyes "at least im not a fucked up piece of shit who has Mommy issues!"
well that shut Crawford up...
"look who has nothing to say now" Zach crossed his arms and smirked
"okay, lets stop this now!" I hissed at both of them
"fuck this shit. im going home" Crawford said and turned to leave
"what the fuck are you doing?! dont run away!" alexis shouted. I looked at her as she ran after crawf. what the fuck? that should be me right?

"typical Collins" Zach rolled his eyes
"what the hell is wrong with you!" I snapped at him
"me?" he asked
"Zach, im trying to have fun. why do you have to ruin it all!?"
"stop it. you dont want to go out with him anyway"
"your making this so hard!" I said and groaned
"sorry? im making what hard?"
"im trying to get over you, If you um havent noticed - Zach i'll never be happy if I carry on liking you" I said, I realised it came out wrong "as you said, you dont date" I added "I need to move on"
"but you cant. that's the thing, im not making it hard for you, your making it hard for yourself. you cant get over me" he said
"I can always try"
"but why bother?" he asked
"Zach, do you want me to be happy?" I asked and looked at him
"of course I do Jess" he replied
"then help me. help me get over you, stop paying for my stuff, dont use your stupid charm on me, dont look at me. and those eyes.... ugh" I said. Zach focused on me, catching me in his eyes
"stop it!" I said and he smiled "Zach please..." I begged
"alright. im going to tell you something jess. but you can not tell anyone" he said
"okay...?"
"I cant get you out of my head" he said, my heart started to pound
"what?" I asked quietly
"your all I think about"
"Zach.." I shook my head "you dont mean it you-"
"I dont know jess, okay. but im just confused with all of this" he sighed "I am positive of one thing though. I definitely dont want to mess around with Alexis anymore"
he ruffled his hair, and it still looked perfect. he definitely looked confused about all this, he could even be stressed out
"I can take you home now. unless you still wanna see a movie" he asked
I couldn't think, like I was completely blank
"yeah. yeah I guess we could go see a movie" I said
he nodded "what movie did you get?"
"ah Birds Of Prey" I said. he nodded and walked to the ticket booth. he asked for a ticket and handed the woman his credit card then waited for her to give it back to him. I cant believe that he thinks about me... why? did he even mean it in a good way? or did he mean it in a bad way? does he think of me as ugly? or fat? or stupid?
"you look worried" he said. I honestly didn't even realise he came back
"I was just thinking" I smiled lightly
"dont let what I said ruin this now, we are friends, just going to the movies"
"ugh... you stress me out Zach"
"I stress you out!? you really think I stress you out? you stress me out" he chuckled
"I stress you out?"
he nodded "you drive me crazy jess"
"in a bad way?"
"... I dont think so.." he smiled "its like, imsofuckingconfusedaboutwhatimfeeling"
"good. you fucking deserve it"
"for what now?"
"for making me feel this way" I sighed
"I wish I could do something about it. like I wish I could date you and get everything over with"
then why freaking dont you then!!?!?!?!? "but I cant hurt you. id hate myself"
we didn't speak as we walked into the theatre, we took our seats in the back and I sighed - loudly - the lights went out and the ads started. I felt Zach sigh and lean back, then his arm wrapped around me, HECK.
"come here" he said and used his hand to pull me closer to him. I knew now, that trying to get over Zach, was going to be harder than I thought.