Meadow Valley book series- Everything's changed

Chapter 51: The big question?

     Zach had apologized to Ana for his brothers actions towards her but she just looked down and told him that her mom was on her way to pick her up. Ana went back into the bathroom and grabbed her wet clothes and took the towel off of her head. She tried to comb the knots out of her wet hair with her fingers but it was still a mess and full of snarls. She came back into Zach's bedroom and asked him if she could borrow something to brush her hair with. Zach went over to his dresser and grabbed his hairbrush and handed it to her. He thought she looked even more beautiful with her hair all wet and messy in her face. Zach just stared at Ana and smiled as he watched her brush her long wavy brown hair. She just awkwardly giggled when she noticed him watching her then she threw the brush at him and chuckled.

     As Ana and Zach were waiting on the porch for her mom to arrive, Zach wanted to ask Ana an important question.

"Will you go to the Founder's Day festival next weekend with me," he nervously looked at her as he spoke.

Ana looked shyly down at the ground as she replied.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" She questioned Zach as she bit her lip.

"Yeah...as my date." He said confidently and moved closer towards her.

"I don't know, will Amanda be there," Ana hesitated.

"Yeah but I don't care if she is. I want to go with you."

Zach stared at Ana and then softly touched her right hand. Ana couldn't resist his touch so she agreed.

"Yeah I guess so, it's a date." She nervously gulped out.

"Great, I'll pick you up at your house around 10:00 a.m."

     He said to her with excitement. Just then Ana's mom honked her horn from the driveway and it startled both of them. Ana pulled away from him quickly. Before leaving she leaned over and gave Zach a quick hug and kiss on the cheek and then ran down the steps to get into her car.

     Zach couldn't believe that she said yes and that she leaned over to give him a hug and kiss his cheek. He felt excited and nervous all at the same time. Zach was used to girls flirting with him all of the time. It never bothered him like this before. It was different with Ana. She had this special thing about her that was very attractive to him. She wasn't pushy like all of the other girls. She wasn't the type of girl that tried to throw herself on top of him like others have done to him in the past. Ana had this way of pushing Zach away just enough so he would pursue her.

     Zach never had to try so hard to impress a girl before. He constantly found himself stumbling over his words and actions when he was around her. She made him want to be a better person. He wanted to kiss her but felt like he needed to restrain himself around her. He knew that she was special and needed to take things slowly. Something that he's never had to worry about before.

On the way home Lisa questioned Ana about her day.

"It looks like you and that smith boy are getting along pretty well."

She probed Ana and made her feel uncomfortable talking about it.

"So what's the deal between you two anyways?"

Lisa continued to try to get details from Ana.

"Um...I don't know."

Ana said as if she was trying to blow her mom off.

"He's fun to hang out with and were just friends."

     Ana tried to sound convincing to her mom. Lisa knew her daughter too well and was less than convinced about her response about just being friends with Zach.