Cough Syrup

Chapter 16: Classy, Babe.

Zach pulled up to a large restaurant that looked like a one story mansion. There were white stone pillars curling up in intricate carvings to the overhang like winding ribbons. The two large doors that led into the restaurant were plated in gold, and a doorman in a suit stood holding one door open. He looked us over, quite obviously, as we approached. "Sir, Miss," He inclined his head to us. "Are you... Wishing to eat here?" His monotone voice was masking judgment. I reached for Zach's hand and squeezed.

"Zach, come on, we are way too underdressed for this." I said starting to walk away. His hand held mine tightly as he looked the doorman in the eyes, and asked for a table for two. The door man nodded and mumbled for us to follow him, and sat us at a small circular table with a view.

Looking around us, everything was more than extravagant. The wall our table sat by was made completely out of thick, flawless glass. The glass was so clean it was almost like sitting at an open window, and below you could see the line of the ocean a little ways off from the rocky cliff the restaurant sat on.

"So," Zach said, snapping my attention back to him. "This is a date, right?" He laughed. "I won't take no for an answer."

I nodded. "I guess it is," a smile spread my lips and I felt my cheeks warming a little. I wanted so badly to stop smiling, but the muscles in my face were rebelling against my brain.

Zach smiled back, and leaned across the table. "Than you won't mind me asking." He took one of my hands in both of his, and with his face less than an inch from mine everything started to get strenuous. I couldn't tell if I wanted to kiss him and close the space between us, or move away. It all seemed to happen too quickly. When did I ever feel anything for Zach? Had I always felt this way, and just pushed it down? I mean sure I always thought he was cute, like every other girl who had seen him since the day he was born, but did that mean I liked him? I wasn't completely sure.

For all you know, you could just be resulting to him because your suicidal.

But problem was, he's the one who made me want to live.

"Eden?" He asked, concerned.

"I don't know!" I blurted out blushing.

His brow knitted together. "You don't know? What are you, a psychic? Jesus, E, I haven't even asked yet!" He laughed nervously.

"Asked what?" I looked at him spacey, still blushing lightly.

"Er, well, it's going to be less of a smooth transition now that the conversation took a weird turn," he chuckled. "But I was going to ask. Eden Ayre, will you be my girlfriend?" He grinned at me in an awkward and goofy way I had only seen back when we were in elementary school, and everything inside of me stopped working right.

I sat there and stared at him, feeling like my face caught on fire in the outer ring of hell, and wishing I had lungs that actually did shit.

"I what?" I stuttered.

"Uhh, that's not exactly the answer I was hoping for." He said in a nervously humorous tone.

"Can I.. Like.. Go to the bathroom?" I asked covering my right cheek with a hand and stumbling my way out of the chair.

Zach didn't say anything as I walked away, and when I looked back he was blushing probably as much as I was.

I somehow managed to arrive at the bathroom sink, and was faced by yet another mirror. Turning around, I rested my lower back on the counter, and sighed heavily.

Didn't I already admit I liked Zach? Hadn't I already accepted it? Why was I suddenly getting second thoughts now?

Even though something between Zach and I felt slightly off, there was a part of me that couldn't deny what I felt for him and vice verse was so damn right. The way his fingers burned into my skin when he touched me. The feeling of him under me. I shivered at the thought.

It wasn't like I was a sexual person, not with what Wess did to me, but dear lord I could not pretend like I wasn't way attracted to Zach.

I shook my head roughly, in a futile attempt to clear the thoughts racing around inside of me. I stood up straight, and smoothed out my shirt. Clearing my throat and breathing deeply I walked out of that bathroom like I was on a runway, confident and hopefully hot as fuck.

I approached the table, and when Zach opened his mouth I quickly snapped, "Yes."

He looked up at me where I was still standing, and gave me the most puzzled look in all of the history of puzzled Zach looks to have ever existed.

"O..Kay?" He said with another nervous laugh.

I nodded in certainty.

It wasn't that I didn't want to say yes, or that I didn't like him, I realized, it was that I was scared. But being spontaneous and taking risks are the things that make life fun, right?