A Flame Inside Me

Chapter 7

Riiing!

Was that the bell? Why is my mattress so hard? What's happening? I keep my eyes close as I remember everything that's happened. "Shit!" I yell, opening my eyes. Zach snaps his own open as he flies backwards. I check my phone, five missed calls from Maggie and many unread texts. I check the time, two o' five. School has ended. It was lunch when I came in, I missed half my classes!

Zach must've checked the time as well because he mumbles an "I'm sorry." I can feel the worriedness and fear radiating off him, like I might be mad. I kind of am, quite honestly. I missed my classes, one of the things I love to attend most. But, I know I can't blame Zach. It's not his fault. I'm glad I'm here, with him.

"It's not your fault." I offer him a hand, helping him to his feet and pulling him close to me. We pass students in the hall, who give us weird looks as I force him even close. He's mine, no one else's.

"Where were you guys?" Maggie says, not even mentioning our closeness.

"Sorry, we were. . . doing things." Bad excuse but the only one I can think of on such short notice.

"Confessing your love for each other things?"

Zach and me stop dead in our tracks, too amazed by her genius to take another step. "How the Hell did you know?" He asks her.

"I knew before you two idiots." She shrugs, acting like we were always the two fools.

"Huh?" We say at the same time, continuing our walk. We never let go of each other.

"I saw how you looked at each other. It was never a look of hate in your eyes, it was a look of love," She states, bouncing through the halls like Pinkie Pie.

Neither of us reply.

"Oh, and Zach."

"Yeah?"

"Be prepared, Marshall would never admit it but he is super clingy and protective to those he cares about!" She says, loud enough for the whole world to hear.

Zach laughs as a blush forms on my face. "Sh- Shut up!" I yell.

"You already know that's impossible!" She laughs, bringing a finger to her cheek. "Welp, I got track practice so I gotta run. Next time, answer your phone Marshall. You had me seriously worried!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I put it on silent for school. I'll see you later?"

"Okay! Too-da-loo! By Zach, or should I say step brother?" She laughs again, already bouncing away to her meet.

We both blush, walking to Zach's car silently as we look in opposite directions. "Do you want a ride?" Zach speaks up, pulling out his keys.

"Wanna go far?"

"Ah, I remember. Question fifty-two; favorite musical. Your answer was Be More Chill," He states, excitedly.

"Yes, and yours was Mean Girls."

"Wow, we know everything about each other!" He says as he opens the door and sits in the driver's seat. "Now, can we hang at your place?"

"Sure, if you want to." I climb into the passenger seat, gently sitting down my bag in the backseat next to his, which he threw.

We stare into each other's eyes as he sticks the key in the ignition, bringing his hand down to the stick shift. I put my hand on his, deciding if I should do it.

My answer doesn't take long as we collide into each other, our tongues fighting for dominance as he pushes himself over the center console, flopping down onto my lap as we fight to contain our laughter. "Idiot," I say onto his lips.

"Fuck off," He laughs as he puts a hand under my shirt.

I can't believe I fell for him of all people. Zach Farner, the biggest idiot in the school, who is also one of the smartest, and the most good looking, he's also the sweetest. Okay, so everything about him is perfect, and I get him all for myself. Even his taste, the feel of his hair, the look of lust in his eyes, the scent of his sweet cologne, and to hear his euphonious voice.

Thank you Ms. Langus, for giving us this project. Thank you Maggie, for telling her about my former arch nemesis. But most of all, thank you Zach for giving me the chance I didn't realize I wanted. The chance I didn't realize I needed. A flame lit inside me when I met you, a flame of gratuitous anger and resentment. But now that flame has changed. It has grown bigger and brighter, and has formed that of love.