Heavy Heart

Chapter 8

I arrived at the bar by 10pm. I found Hannah and Lisa were already sitting with Zack when I arrived. I had purposely arrived later in the hopes that he wouldn't be there by the time I got there. I figured he would give up after a while and just go somewhere else or pair up with one of my friends when it took me too long to get there. Unfortunately, my plan didn't work. Zack had waited patiently for me to arrive, chatting politely with my friends. When they saw me come through the door Lisa shouted, "Layla, where the hell have you been bitch!"

I laughed out loud and crossed the room to the table, "Sorry, I was running late." Zack stood up and pulled out a chair for me to sit down, "I was beginning to think you stood me up." I frowned at him as I sat down, "This isn't a date, Zack. I never agreed to go on a date with you tonight so I can't stand you up if there isn't a date." Hannah let out a whistle and Lisa groaned, "Shut down man, bad luck."

Zack leaned over to me, "Would you like a drink?" I shrugged, not answering him. He took a step back and headed over to the bar. Lisa leaned across the table to me, "You know, I'm pretty sure that guy is into you. It might be time to be a little nicer to him."

I scoffed, "He's just looking to fuck and run. I'm not going to give him that." Hannah shook her head, "I don't think so, Layla. He's been sitting here for the last hour asking us how to get into your good books. I think he's actually into you."

"Whatever. Zack and Brock used to be so mean to me when we were growing up. I don't buy it, I'm surprised you two are." I hissed at them. Lisa chuckled, "Layla, listen to yourself. How long ago was highschool and you are still holding onto that? Everyone was an asshole in highschool. I'm still an asshole." Hannah and I chuckled.

"Where is Sarah? I thought she was supposed to be joining us?" I asked. Lisa shook her head, "She's out with that guy again. She said she might come by later in the night. I think his name is Dan, Dave, Don... she told me but I don't remember." I giggled and nodded.

Hannah leaned closer to me and said, "I think Zack has liked you for a lot longer than you think. He seems sincere. I think you should cut him some slack and give him a real chance." Lisa nodded and lifted her bottle of beer, "I agree!" I set my purse on the table and sighed, they had turned against me.

Zack came back with a full tray. He'd bought us all a round of beers and two shots each. I looked at the tray and smiled, "What did you get?" He smiled back at me, "I got us each a B-52 and an Orgasm." Lisa howled and said, "It's been a while since a guy gave me an Orgasm, thanks Zack."

He blushed and looked down, handing out the drinks to our table. I shot the B-52 down quickly followed by the Orgasm shot. They were delicious, I had to admit. Hannah took her shots with some difficulty, "Thanks Zack, I'm not much for shots but I'm trying." As I sipped my beer I giggled, "Yeah, thanks, Zack. It's my turn to buy shots next." He poured the drinks down his throat in one go, sat back and nodded.

We took turns telling stories and buying drinks throughout the night. I had to admit I was having a good time. By the time midnight rolled around, Zack's phone started to go off. He frowned when he opened his text message and set his phone on the table. I asked, "What's up? Do you need to go?" He shook his head, "No, it's just Brock. He's wondering where I am. He just wants to hang out."

I nodded, "Does he want to come here and join us?" Hannah and Lisa set their drinks down and stared at me. Zack looked at me with cautious eyes, "I don't know if that's a good idea, Layla. I can't guarantee what he will say if he joins us. Brock tends to run his mouth, he thinks he's being funny and he takes things too far."

"I think I can handle myself. If your friend wants to join us, tell him he can." I told him. Zack smiled at me and nodded, he sent a text message. A few moments later Brock came running into the bar. It was like he had been waiting for the invitation. Brock crossed the room to join our table and smirked at me, "I had to see this for myself, Zack out with you."

"Listen man, if you aren't going to act right, then go back home. I don't want to hear any of your shit." Zack hissed. Brock looked at his buddy then back to me, "Whatever. I need a drink." He stood up and went to the bar. I shifted my weight in my chair, wondering if it was such a good idea to include Brock.

Lisa leaned across the table, "If that asshat gets out of line, I'll kick his ass, Layla. Don't you worry." I laughed out loud and shook my head. Hannah nodded in her own sheepish way agreeing to put Brock in his place. "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. Don't worry about it. It was my idea to invite him anyway." I reminded them.

Hannah shrugged while Lisa sipped her beer. Zack leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Do you want to dance?" I looked out at the floor, there were three other couples out there slow dancing to a George Strait song. Without meeting his eyes, I nodded and stood up slowly. I let Zack take my hand and pull me onto the floor. He gently intertwined our fingers and pulled my hip close to his body with his other hand. I let out an involuntary gasp as his arm snaked around my torso to rest his other hand on my lower back.

I stared over his left shoulder, attempting to avoid eye contact. Zack started to sway with me around the dance floor. He whispered in my ear, "Are you nervous?" My eyes squeezed shut and I groaned, "No, not at all." He chuckled, his warm breath flowing over my neck, "Lier. I can tell you are nervous. Why are your eyes closed?"

"I'm just enjoying the song." I muttered. Zack slowly moved me around the floor. When the song was over I tried to move away but he held on to me. I raised my eyes to meet him, he smiled at me, "One more song, Layla." I sucked in a deep breath and nodded. I could feel my palm in the hand he was holding getting sweaty. I tried to break our eye contact but I couldn't look away from him. As a Garth Brooks song played I let Zack pull me even closer, resting both his arms around my torso. I set my hands on his shoulders and held on a little too tight.

I heard Lisa let out a whistle from our table but I couldn't break the gaze I had with Zack. He smiled at me, not saying a word. His eyes were full of emotions I couldn't read. I was sure I looked similar to a deer in headlights. The song seemed to go on forever, I started to feel light headed. Zack leaned down slightly and rested his forehead against mine. I exhaled a breath I'd been holding and leaned against him. He snickered, "See, I'm not so bad am I?" I shook my head against his but said nothing.

When the song ended I tried to pull away but he held on to me. I looked up at him, he whispered, "Don't run away on me. Let's walk back together." I sighed and nodded. I let him hold my hand and walk me back to the table. Zack pulled the chair out for me and sat down next to me. Everyone stared at us, I could feel my cheeks flush under their gaze.

"So are you two dating now?" Brock broke the silence with somewhat of a sneer. Zack shot him a look before answering, "What if we are? You got a problem with that, man?"

I cleared my throat, "We are not dating, we are friends, Zack. Just friends." Brock chuckled and sipped his beer, "Doesn't look like friends. Whatever, do what you want." Lisa and Hannah glared at him. I was surprised it was Hannah who actually spoke, "What's your problem with Layla anyway? It seems like you go out of your way to be rude to her for absolutely no reason."

Brock's mouth fell open, it seemed he wasn't expecting Hannah's blunt questions either. I smiled and sipped my beer quietly while we all waited for him to answer. After he scratched the back of his neck, he muttered, "I don't know. I've always given her a hard time, it's all in good fun." Hannah shook her head, "No, that's not good enough anymore. We haven't been kids for a long time, so that doesn't cut it anymore. You know that girls don't like bullies anymore right? It's not sexy to hurt other people."

Lisa wrapped her arm around Hannah's shoulders and chuckled, "That's my girl right there. You tell him!" Hannah blushed and leaned away, "I'm not trying to be mean, Brock, I'm just saying that it's immature to hold on to highschool stuff when it was so long ago. I think it's time to grow up." Brock stared at her, this tiny little mild mannered woman who was putting him in his place. I'd never seen Hannah so fearless in my life.

Brock looked down at his beer bottle and shrugged, "Alright, I can take a hint. I'll go now." Hannah stood up from the table before he could and grabbed his hand, "No, you should stay and have a good time. Just don't be a dick!" She pulled him out to the dance floor and forced him to dance with her to a Taylor Swift song. Brock looked like he had been hit by a truck, he was so shocked. The rest of us just watched as Hannah danced around the floor with him, a huge grin on her face.

"Did someone give her a shot of something extra when we weren't looking? Like straight caffeine or something?" I asked. Zack and Lisa just shook their heads, we all laughed.