My Tutor is Zack Merrick?

Chapter 11

Shiloh

I was sitting at my desk doing my history homework while Zack was laying on my bed playing with Blaze. I was almost finished with it when I turned my chair around and looked at Zack. He was cuddled with my dog playing on his phone.

"Did you just steal my dog?" he looked up at me and smiled.

"What are you talking about?"

"You are literally cuddling with my dog."

"I'm just getting him used to cuddles so when you cuddle him he'll enjoy it."

"Mhm... suureee." I rolled my eyes playfully at him.

"Have you finished your study guide?" I looked away from him.

"Yesss..."

"No, haha. What else do you have?"

"I have, like, a page left. I'm just bored of it."

"Here, let me see it." he sat up. I handed him the paper.

"Oh, shit. This is easy."

"I know it's easy, I'm just bored of doing it." he looked at me.

"Really?"

"Yea. I'll just finish it tomorrow."

"Or. Or, hear me out. You can just finish it now and have a chill day tomorrow." I sighed and groaned.

"Fiiinnneeee." I took back the sheet and finished it.

"There, happy?" I held up the paper so he could see that it was filled out.

"See, that didn't take too long." he smiled at me.

"Oh, shut up." he laughed a little.

"Do you want to join the cuddle pile? Will that make you feel better?" I blushed but tried to hide it.

"Maybe. Shut up." I sat on the bed next to him, Blaze in between us.

I was running my hand through Blaze's fur while Zack was playing on my Xbox. He was playing Apex, or Halo. I wasn't paying attention to the TV. I laid down, my head on Blaze. Zack looked over at me and smiled.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, just you laying on your buddy." I shook my head at him. I glanced at the screen, he died.

"You were too distracted that you died." he shrugged.

"Oh well." I continued to play with Blaze's fur and scratching behind his ears.

"Zack, I have a question."

"What is it, love?" I put my face in Blaze's back to hide the blush.

"Why are you friends with me." I said muffled.

"Can you uncover your face? I couldn't hear you." I lifted my head, not making eye contact with him.

"I said, why are you friends with me?"

"Ah, I see. I'm friends with you because of your personality. You are honestly amazing. When I met you, you were a very talented bassist, whether you wanted to believe it or not. You listen to the same bands as me and you don't treat me any different than a normal person. You don't treat me like I'm famous. Yea, you mention it sometimes, and that's fine. But you are one of the few that doesn't treat me like a 'somebody'. And I can be me around you. And the fact that you feel safe around me makes me feel amazing that I'm able to do that for you. You are one of my best friends and I mean that. I just want to protect you, Shiloh. You've been through so much." tears started filling my eyes as he kept talking. I leaned over Blaze and hugged him tightly. He put down the controller and hugged me back. Blaze started whining, I sat up and he jumped off the bed. Zack pulled me closer to him.

"Now, it's my turn to ask the same question. Why are you friends with me?" he put his hand on my chin, making me look at him.

"Well, you are the Zack Merrick. So there's that. But just like you said, you treat me like a person, not just some crazed fan. I already felt honored that you teach me bass and the fact that I got to hang out with you outside of that professional setting of the tutoring, it's amazing. And getting to know you on a personal level... Yea.. sorry..." I blushed more and hid my face. He smiled and rubbed my back.

"It's ok. I asked the question and you were just giving the answer. And that is a valid answer." I looked up at him and smiled a little.

"Thank you for being here for me."

"It is not a problem. I'll always be here for you no matter what." he looked over at the clock, "Aren't you tired at all? It's almost 2am."

"Honestly, kind of. You can sleep in here, I'll take the couch." I tried to get up, but Zack pulled me back.

"Or, we could just sleep here? I'm not trying to be creepy, sorry. I just miss holding someone." he looked down. I moved closer to him and he put his arms around me.

"Thank you, Zack." I yawned and mumbled.

"You're welcome, love." he played with my hair as I fell asleep.