Now I Panic

Not Rich

"Kortney honey, how do you feel about having the wedding in Europe?"

I look up in complete shock. "What?"

"Europe, darling. A European wedding. Would you like that?"

I stare at Zach's mom, trying to wrap my head around this idea. "Why wouldn't we just have the wedding here? Makes it a bit more simple..."

She looks at me like i've lost my mind. "Why on Earth would you want a simple wedding? This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. You should want to completely and totally splurge on yourself. I know my husband and I did."

I pick at the design on my jeans, uncomfortable. Thinking of marrying Zach always makes me feel nervous. I still don't know if he's really okay with it or not.

"I don't really care..."

At this, she starts to look concerned. "Kortney... are you alright? I thought you were fully on board now. Was I wrong?"

I shake my head slowly. "I was... and I am... I think. But I just don't know if Zach is."

She dismisses this thought with a quick shake of her head. "He'll do it whether he wants to or not, dear."

"That's just the thing though. I don't want him to marry me because he has to. I want him to marry me because he wants to."

Right on time, Zach strides into the kitchen, moving quickly. "Kortney are you busy?"

He looks at his mom pointedly. "Are you bothering her about the wedding again?"

She smiles innocently. "Of course not, sweetie."

Zach obviously doesn't believe her at all, and they start to argue, giving me a chance to take in his appearance.

He's just gotten out of the shower, so his blonde hair has that cute stringy look to it that guys look good with. He's wearing a grey Paramore t-shirt, and the same black jeans he wore yesterday, with grey and black sneakers.

"Kortney?"

My head snaps up and my eyes lock with Zach's. He grins, amused. "What're you looking at?"

Like he doesn't know. I duck my head, looking at the carpet. "What did you want, exactly?" Good, that came out nice and calm. Not like he's driving me crazy...

"I'm taking you with me to see Derek. He wanted me to bring you. Come on."

He grabs my arm, hauling me to my feet, and practically drags me out of the house. "Zach! Calm down. I can walk on my own."

He lets me go, not breaking stride. Why is he excited?

When we're on the road officially, he pulls his shades out of the glovebox, slipping them off as if by instinct. Why do the rich have to wear shades almost 24/7? I ask him, and his head turns towards me.

"It's just... a statement. Don't ask me what it says... but it's just what we do. You want a pair?"

I shake my head, going back to staring out the window. I will never understand the rich. I really never will.

The scenery seems to be in levels. The super rich, with the gigantic mansions, with glass everything, to the moderately rich, with the smaller, yet no less glamorous houses... it's all just too much if you ask me.

I turn, discreetly, to look at Zach again. He looks totally calm and relaxed in this environment, unlike me. I wonder what he'd do if he was forced to live in my life for awhile. Without all his fancy clothes and stuff.