Now I Panic

"How old are you?"

Everyone goes silent at this. Finally realizing that he's completely serious, I stand up, grinning.

"And I refuse to marry him. Well, I have a plane to catch, don't I? Nice to meet you all."

"Kortney,"Mom snaps, making me sit back down.

Mr and Mrs. Thomas stare at their son, perfectly calm.

"You don't really have a say in the matter, so I suggest you sit down." Mr. Thomas goes back to eating.

Zach doesn't budge. "This isn't right. It's the twenty first century! You can't just decide my future for me like this. I will not marry her!"

I stand back up, slightly offended.

"Just what exactly have I done to you? I've been nothing but kind, trying to get along with you."

He looks down, not responding, face blank.

"Why are you so determined to push everyone away who shows an interest in being your friend? I haven't done one thing to you, yet you seem to despise me. Just give me a reason, and I'll leave you alone."

Everyone is silent, waiting for his smart remark, but it doesn't come. I smile softly.

"Then I guess we have to go through with this don't we?"

He looks up, his gaze softening for a split second, before his glare comes back.

I sit down and drink some of my water, while Zach sits down again, finishing his food. Everyone else follows, except me. I'm too nervous to eat again.

Zach looks at me, noticing this.

"I never told you to stop eating."

I shrug. "I'm full anyway," I mumble, a lie.

He pushes my plate back towards me. "Eat."

"I'm fu-"

"Eat, Kortney." He makes it sounds like an order.

I pick up my fork and take a small bite of fish, then remember the guys.

"Oh my gosh! Mark?!"

"Yes?"

"I forgot you were there. Why didn't you say anything?"

"We were in shock... of how big a jerk your fiance is."

Zach growls under his breath.

"He's not a jerk, Mark," I argue, even though... he's kind of right.

Bryan explodes. "Why are you defending him?! He's treating you like crap!"

Why am I defending him?

"Well..." I think hard an answer. "I mean, he-"

"She's warming to him," Josh says, smirking to himself.

"Kortney?"

"Yes, Mark?"

"I'm gonna call you later OK? Hopefully when you're alone."

"Alright. Bye guys."

"Bye," they all say, sounding mad.

I slip the phone back into my purse, and look up at Zach, who's finished eating, watching me. Our eyes lock, and for the first time, there's no malice in his. This of course, causes me to remember again how pretty his eyes are, and I can't really look away. He doesn't either.

We're startled out of our intense moment by Mr. Thomas clearing his throat.

"We should get going now. Business meeting. Zachary will drive you home, Kortney. We'll be seeing you soon."