Now I Panic

Moody guy...

Zach keeps glancing at me in the car on the way to meet his parents, but I still wont say anything to him. Why should I? I have nothing different to tell him, and I never know if he'll explode at me so...

We pull up at a light, and he turns to me. I pull up my purse, pretending to search for something, and he faces forward again.

We pull into a neighborhood, that's filled by the most luxurious houses i've ever seen. They should be in that show Celebrity Cribs. I look down at myself.

I should have worn something classier. I look... almost poor. Slumping down in my seat, I sigh. I don't belong with the rich... I really don't. I belong back in New York with the guys.

Zach slows down, and we pull into the long driveway of a mansion, that's already packed full of cars.

I stare, and so does he. But he breaks first, shaking his head angrily.

"I told them not to do this."

I look at him in confusion.

He just opens his door, getting out. "Come on. They obviously threw us some sort of wedding shower, and half of the country showed up."

His door closes, and he walks around the car to my side, opening the door for me. I don't move though, and my hands start to shake a bit. I try to hide it, but Zach notices anyway, and I see a flash of impatience go across his face. I get out of the car, and start to walk towards the house.

The door closes behind me, then, seconds later, arms wrap around my waist, and i'm lifted off of the ground and carried behind a row of cars.

Zach set me on the ground, and kneels next to me.

"Kortney," he says, firm but gentle. "What's going on?" He starts to move some of my hair out of my face again, but I swat his hand away.

"Why do you do that?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"Do what?"

"You hate me one minute, then you're all gentle and sweet the next. You want to know what's going on? I don't know what you want from me!"

He tries to speak, but I cut him off.

"I don't know what to say you anymore. If I talk, you get mad at me, so i'm just shutting up, and it seems to keep you from hating me, so i'll just stick to it!"

He shakes his head. "Listen-"

"No, you listen, Zach." I stand up. "If you don't like me, fine. But stop with the nice act. Like me, or hate me. I'd rather you treat me like crap, then fake liking me, okay? Just don't-"

Zach puts a finger over my mouth, shushing me, and wraps his other arm around my waist, pulling me back down. He's really strong, I realize.

My back rests against his chest, but I continue to struggle in his grip, starting to panic. He notices this, and lets go for a moment, turning me to face him, and holds me again.

It takes a while for me to realize that he's actually trying to comfort me, running a hand up and down my back, and tracing random patterns on my shirt... allowing me into his space, really.

I relax, my muscles unclenching, leaning into him more. My eyes close and I feel myself drift slowly towards sleep. Zach feels it too apparently, because he stops, and pulls me away from him a bit.

"Hey, don't fall asleep on me now, we still have a party to attend to."

My eyes fly open, to his amazing green ones, and I feel my face flush. I pull back more, and adjust my top, a bit flustered. We both stand at the same time, and walk towards the mansion.