The Dead Of Night

Tell Me A Story

I was impressed with Zack walking me to work. He held my hand the whole way and there wasn't ever a moment of awkward silence between us. It surprised me actually that he wasn't shy around me at all. Why hadn't it been this easy when I'd first started crushing on him years ago?

"So we went to see this movie 'Priest'  at his girlfriend's house but we got lost on our way there. It was really funny 'cause Jake was insisting he knew where this girl lived and that he'd been with her the week before...but apparently not, right?"

I didn't really understand the point of his joke but I laughed along anyways.  "So you've still never seen the movie?" I asked with interest.

"Nope." He smiled down at me. "Maybe we could see it together some time." He gave my hand a squeeze and I couldn't help but blush.

Janson made a gagging noise behind me. I fought back the urge to roll my eyes, and twirled my hair and giggled as I said, "Funny you should say that, 'cause I was just going to suggest we watch it at my place. My dad gave it to me for Christmas last year."

"Really?" He asked. "That'd be cool. When are you free?"

I hesitated a moment. Everything I'd read in magazines flooded at me now. I didn't want to seem too desperate, like I had nothing else I could be doing. But I didn't want to make myself inaccessible either. "I have a lot of free time this week. I get off work at five if you want to meet up about then?" I suggested, hoping I was doing it right.

"Yeah, that'd be fun. You're just up the street from my place aren't you?" He asked, stopping in front of the bookstore.

"Yup. 27 Gillagan's Way." I cocked my head to the left and grinned. It worked - we were going to hang out! Just the two of us... well, sort of. Janson rolled his eyes and slipped through the front window of the store, giving us some privacy.

"I'll see you then. Or do you want me to come over after supper - I don't want to interrupt anything." He said, turning to face me directly.

"Too late for that." Janson mumbled, head popping out of the store again. Scaring the crap out of me I might add.

"Actually I've got the house to my self tonight, my parents have a cocktail party later." I grinned again. "So five o'clock this afternoon?"

"Sounds like a plan." He grinned back and then leaned in and pecked me on the cheek before heading to the grocery store. He turned and walked backwards waving at me. I leaned onto my tip toes and waved back at him vigorously. I only entered the store once he turned around again.

"Isn't that just precious!" Both Janson and Carolyn sing songed as I entered the store with my gloved hand gingerly placed on the place where Zack kissed me. Janson sat on the desk in front of Carolyn and she stood with a grin on her face, hands clasped before her.

"Oh, hi Carolyn." I smiled, ignoring Janson and their shared comment. "How are you?"

"Don't do that." She brushed me off. "I'm an old lady, gossiping is what we do best and I want to know who that adorable young man was and every detail you could possibly divulge." She pushed her thin rimmed glasses up her as she leaned forward on the desk.

"Oh do tell, Mallorie." Janson chimed in bitterly. "Tell her all about 'Za-ack.' "

I bit my tounge before I asked him what the hell his problem was, hadn't he been teasing about Zack this very morning? "Oh well, his name's Zack -"

"What a historical name! Meaning he who's remembered by God, right?" She asked excitedly.

"Uhm... sure." I said, uncertain how to respond.