Cough Syrup

Chapter 15: Clothes and College Girls

Zach grabbed his keys and swung them in circles around his finger looking at me. "So, I need to get some clothes from my place." He said, not sure what to say next.

"You think you still need to make sure I won't self destruct?" I laughed softly.

"Well, I can never be too careful." He paused, than took a breath. "You don't want me here?"

I shook my head, "No, that's not it at all. I actually really enjoy you staying here..." I trailed off in thought. He really should just move in already. He was pretty pleasant company.

Zach genuinely smiled at me. "That really makes me happy, E. Thank you."

I nodded, concealing a smile myself. He was to die for when he was genuine.

"So, I guess ill see you in a little bit?" I asked heading to my bedroom.

"Nope," He said simply. "You're coming with. You can't get rid of me that easily." He winked at me.

"Oh." Was all I could think to say. "I guess ill get dressed than."

I went into my room and got a pair of black skinny jeans and replaced my volleyball shorts with them. Peeling off my shirt, I found a simple Sleeping With Sirens band tank, and slipped on some plain black converse. I braided the crown of my hair back into a high blue bun on my head, and slapped some mascara on. I slipped out of my room and met Zach by the front door. "Kay, let's go."

He looked my outfit over and chuckled. "Sure thing, hun."

"What?" I asked on the way to his car.

"Nothing, really. Just...Is black all you wear?" He asked laughing louder this time.

I looked at him as I slipped into the passenger seat of his Mustang. "Seriously? You know that by now." I playfully rolled my eyes.

"I guess I do," He said starting it up. "Now, to my place."

The engine purred to life and before I knew it we were out on the crowded streets of Cali, watching the washed out colors of my complex fade in the rear-view. Minutes later we pulled up to a run down small house on the corner of an overcrowded neighborhood, the kind where no one really has a back yard.

"This is your house...?" I asked eyeing it carefully. It was almost like looking at it too strongly would make the whole thing collapse like a house of cards.

"Well, It's actually my friend Josh's," He said blushing lightly. "It's not the best place, but it's a place to crash every night." He continued when I didn't say anything. "My parents kicked me out a few months ago; said that having their twenty-year-old son living with them while he attended college was 'unnessicary'. I think they meant to say stupid. I graduated just this last semester though." He shrugged. "All I made it out of the house with was a suitcase of clothes, my wallet, and my car I bought off my dad. Fixed it up myself you know?" He said rubbing the dash slightly. "It's not so bad being on my own."

I sat there staring at nothing in particular, thinking about what a good guy Zach was to be kicked out by his own parents. "Get all of your things," I said looking at him. " You're moving in with me." I said as I sat back in the car.

Zach stared at me with wide eyes. "Im what?"

"I didn't stutter, sweetheart." I moched him. "Go! Go get them!" I shooed my hand at him as he stepped out of the car looking at me like I was speaking in tongues. He ducked into the house and emerged minutes later with a large suitcase in hand. A shorter guy, about 5'8" with red hair and freckles, followed Zach out grinning. He mouthed something up at Zach, and by the pat he planted on his back I could thell he was congradulating Zach for moving in with a college girl.

I rolled my eyes as Zach slid his bag in the back seat. "That Josh?" I asked.

Zach got into the driver's seat and pulled the car out of the driveway. "Yeah, shorty is a piece of work, ain't he?"

We both laughed. "Shut it, your only...what? Six two?" I asked thinking hard now.

"Maybe in high school, Honey, I'm six foot six now." He chuckled.

"Damn." I muttered as we sped off back to our place.

We were nearing the intrance to the complex, and before the turn Zach sped up the car. "What are you doing?" I asked turning around and watching the appartments fly past us. "The turn was back-"

"-I know." He cut me off smiling. "I have a suprise."

"What?" I asked, still confused.

"I," he took a hand off the wheel to make a dramatic gesture of presentation. "Am taking you out to dinner."

"No! Zach! You don't have to do that." I gasped, flattered.

"Well you are letting me move in with you, besides you've been good recently. It's the least I can do." He smiled, keeping his eyes locked on the road.

"Where are we going at least?" I asked.

"Somewhere where we are both extremely underdressed."

We both laughed loudly. We were doing a lot of that lately.