Codes & Numbers

Chapter Eleven(Aqua-Water)

The sun beat down on Zack and Alex as they were strolling hand in hand through the mall, Their school year had ended, and they were enjoying the free time. Alex wasn't currently working on music with anybody so he was taking advantage of that freedom while he had it.

Zack was buzzing with excitement. Alex could tell he was up to something, because he said he wanted to go shopping together, and that is not a usual activity for them.

"Alex I have to tell you something." Zack practically squealed in excitement.

Alex smiled brightly at his boyfriend. "Is whatever you have to tell me, the reason you are so excited and can't keep still?"

Zack grinned. "I have good reason to be excited! So, my family is going to a resort in Cancún next week, and I want you to come with us."

Alex's eyes widened. "Seriously? Cancún? I'd love to! But are you sure your family is okay with it?"

"Absolutely. They're excited to meet you. Well, more of them anyway. You've only met my mom so far. It's time you met the whole crew."

Alex laughed, not even thinking twice about
It, a trip to a tropical climate with the man he loves was a no brained.

Alex turned to Zack, his eyes sparkling. "Cancún, here we come!"

"Yes! Ok, so we need to get matching swim trunks! I want to be that annoyingly adorable couple at the resort." Zack said as he pulled Alex by the hand toward target.

"I knew you were up to something. We don't come to the mall very often." Alex said with a chuckle.
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The days leading up to the trip flew by in a flurry of packing and last-minute preparations. Soon, they found themselves at the airport, in DC, as they thought it would be best if the were all on the same flight. Zack's mom and Dad got a first class upgrade so they are in a lounge somewhere.

As they were in line to start boarding their flight to Mexico. Zack glanced at their boarding passes with an apologetic look.

"Sorry, baby. I couldn't get us seats together. We're across the aisle from each other. But at least you'll be sitting next to my sister Lilly." Zack said with a bit of a pout.

Alex smiled reassuringly. "No worries babe. It's a short flight. We'll be together soon enough. Besides getting to know your sister should be fun."

"My god I love you and how blindly supportive you can be at times." Zack said as he kissed Alex while they waited to board.

"I try." Alex blushed.

Once on the plane, They made their way to their seats, and Alex found himself next to a woman with a kind face and a warm smile. She had long brown hair, and she looked just like Zack but a bit older. Only by a few years.

"Hi, you must be Alex. I'm Lilly, Zack's sister. And that's my husband, Brent, a few rows back. The airline split us up too." She said warmly as she motioned to the aisle seat next to the window seat she sat in.

"Nice to meet you, Lilly," Alex said, shaking her hand. "Zack's told me a lot about you."

"All good things, I hope," Lilly said with a laugh. "I've heard a lot about you too."

"Take care of him Lilly. Please. I love him so much." Zack said while leaning across the aisle, and pointing across the aisle at his sister.

"Relax Zack I am not going to scare him off, he seems really sweet." Lilly said truthfully as she leaned over Alex to get close to Zack without getting up.

Alex felt a little awkward sitting in the middle of the little sibling quarrel over him. So he just awkwardly sat there as they went back and forth.

As the plane took off, Lilly and Alex fell into easy conversation. They quickly discovered they had a lot in common, including a love for rock music, a good glass of wine, and reading.