A Suite and Magical Life

Chapter 22: Things are only awkward if you let them be

July 22, 2011

New York City, New York, United States

Zack Martin looked at himself in the mirror. He thought he looked good: but he left that judgement to Alex Russo. He was wearing his best outfit: A black suit with a white shirt and blue tie with his silver-grey Vacheron Constantion watch on his left hand. He was wearing his cologne, which gave off a strong scent of the sea, which he knew would prove to be attractive to girls.

Zack had spent most of his summer break at the headquarters of Tipton Industries in New York City. As promised, Alexander Bennett, the chief legal counsel for Tipton Industries, had showed him the ropes of how the legal department of such a large multinational corporation functioned. Zack had proved to be a quick learner and diligent worker, with no less than Mr. Wilfred Tipton, remarking about Zack's talent and intellect.

However, whilst his developing professional life proved to be blissful, the same could not be said about Zack Martin's personal life. He had been busy with his summer internship and hadn't spent much time with Alex Russo as a result. While he did share a room (and a bed) with Alex Russo, she spent her days working at the Waverly Substation while waiting for the result of her college application to Harvard. They only saw each other in the morning and at night, causing Alex to resentfully remark, "We spend as much time together as a working couple does".

Zack felt guilty about not spending as much time with Alex as he could, but he reassured himself that it was for the greater good: to ensure a stable job after college. Besides, Zack reflected, he always made it a point to ask Alex how her day had been after he returned from his workday. He always listened to everything she said, so why was she so irritable towards him? he wondered.

Zack shook those thoughts away. He needed a clear mind, and a cool head as today was Alex's 18th birthday. The party was starting downstairs in the Waverly Substation, and he needed to get there. He and Cody had gone shopping for gifts for Alex and had returned with two different presents: Cody had gifted Alex a makeup kit, while Zack had painstakingly made a scrapbook consisting of all the photos of him and Alex over the years. He smiled wistfully, remembering.

Zack looked at himself in the mirror and ran his hand through his messy hair, which had begun to gradually shift from a sandy hue to a chestnut brown. He smiled at his reflection: Now, he truly looked perfect. He walked out of the bedroom and downstairs to the restaurant and the party, gingerly carrying Alex's gift in his hands. Zack was desperately hoping that she'd like it.

He arrived to find the party was starting to liven up: People had started to trickle in steadily and the songs had started. Zack restrained himself from dancing or from hitting the buffet table and instead walked to where the Russos were standing, and routinely bickering about something.

They all fell silent as Zack approached them. They all smiled at him, though Zack thought it looked more like a collective grimace. Something was off, Zack realized. He dismissed the foreboding and dread that was developing in his stomach and smiled brightly back at them.

"Happy 18th birthday, Alex." Zack said, gingerly handing over the present to the birthday girl.

"Thank you, Zack. You look amazing." Alex said, grinning coquettishly, mischief in her eyes.

It was only then that Zack took a proper look at Alex Russo. She was wearing a sleeveless, off-the-shoulders embroidered beige dress along with a necklace of beads and a silver bangle.

"You look even more amazing, Alex." Zack said. "You look drop-dead gorgeous." He grinned.

Alex blushed visibly at his compliment. She moved closer to him and was about to respond but just then, the music died, and Harper Finkle took the microphone for making an announcement.