Huntington Avenue | ✓ [PV REWRITE]

Part II: Chapter 12

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Chapter 12 | ❝ Who's this? ❞

Friday, November 23rd, 2018 - 10:32 p.m.

❝CAN WE TALK?❞

The three words from Zach's mouth both intrigued and scared Kelsey for two reasons. One was the fact he was so straightforward with his speech choice, and the second was the seriousness and even anxiety in his usually laid-back tone.

Kelsey would not have noticed if something was wrong since Zach seemed to be perfectly happy at the get-together at Harper's house. In fact, his mood appeared to be amplified for the entire party since he was with his friends who cared about him. Kelsey was very happy for him, but if something was not wrong then, it was at that moment.

The blonde swallowed back her nervousness and nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, of course. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's okay," he clarified with awkwardness. "I was just wondering if we could, um, you know...talk about something."

"Sure, would you like to come inside?" she offered, motioning towards the front door.

"Actually, I was wondering if there was somewhere more private."

Zach's request confused Kelsey, but she nodded nonetheless. "How about the backyard? My parents are inside and probably asleep so we wouldn't have any company there."

"Sure, if you don't mind," he answered a bit timidly.

The two of them walked around to the back gate and Kelsey opened it. They stepped inside and Zach was hit with a wave of nostalgia from the previous September. Except for the in-ground pool being covered up for the upcoming winter, the sky dark, the absence of people, and the weather much colder than it was at the end of the summer, it looked the same as it did when Kelsey threw her end-of-summer pool party.

"Last time I was here, it was filled with people," Zach stated to break the ice.

"That was surely an interesting party," responded Kelsey with a nervous laugh. "But it all worked out."

"Yeah, that's how I met most of my current friends." Zach smiled as the memories floated through his brain at lightning speed.

Kelsey grinned as well, but as the two of them sat on the deck stairs, she grew anxious. "So, what did you want to talk to me about that's so private?"

"Oh, um," he stuttered out, awkwardly ruffling his black hair out of his face. "Sunday."

"...What about it?" Kelsey knew exactly what he meant, but she wanted to hear it from Zach and Zach alone.

"What happened at the pier. You know what I'm talking about."

Kelsey was hesitant due to his quiet and worried voice. "Please don't be mad," she started to ramble. "I thought you wanted to do that because of what you were saying to me. I'm sorry—if you want to forget about it and pretend it never happened, we can do that, but-"