Love Makes The Heart Beat

Chapter 19: What's To Come

It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break and I'm currently sitting next to Reese at the lunch table while Zac and Hailey sit at the other end of the bench with Carter and Brianna. I tried my best not to look over at him, but something kept drawing my attention to him.

He looked tired, like he hasn't been sleeping well. His face didn't have his normal warmth, if that makes any sense...it looked somewhat emotionless.

Sort of like he was going through the motions of life, but not enjoying any minute of it. Hailey was animatedly telling a story...no doubt about herself and everyone on that end seemed so engrossed. Everyone besides Zac, he was just staring down at his tray of food.

His head began to lift up slowly, almost as though he could sense me staring at him...so I quickly diverted my attention to Reese who was talking to Gemma about AJ. The last thing I wanted was to be caught staring at him like some creepy freak 

Everyone's chatting excitedly about our upcoming trip to the Poconos. Reese and I discussed the details with Ethan and AJ over the speaker phone the night I stayed over Reese's. The boys thought it was a great idea and were ecstatic at the thought.

There's going to be twelve of us in all going on this getaway. Myself, Ethan, Reese, AJ, Aiden, Chad, Hailey, Zac, two football players Carter and Alex, and two cheerleaders Brianna and Gemma.

Each person having to pay two hundred and fifty dollars. That would cover the cost of the cabin for the entire week of Sunday through Saturday.

Aiden was going over last minute arrangements and collecting money from everyone who was going. He was also showing us pictures of the cabin on his phone.

I was trying to tune him out, my mind too occupied on the phone call I received from my mom last night before I went to bed. I felt a sense of impending doom coming, as though I was close to suffering a panic attack.

"Hi Mom." I tried sounding excited as I put the phone up to my ear.

"Hey baby, how's everything going?" She asked sounding worn.

"Things are good." I didn't want to trouble her with my petty teenage life. She had bigger and better things to worry about. I was sure she worked extra hard today and was exhausted.

"Good I'm glad, are you home?" The hum of water in a bathtub filled the background. She was probably getting ready to take a relaxing bubble bath. That was mom's treat to herself after a long hard day at work.

"Yea Mom I'm home why what's up?" I answered as I leaned over painting my toe nails. Where else would I be at 10:30pm on a school night?

"Nothing's up hunny, I was just asking because it sounds extremely quiet in the background. Normally Zac would have the tv blasting." She chuckled.

Wow perceptive, she noticed little things like that. "Oh, um...Zac's not here mom. He's home."

"Really? Is everything ok with you kids...there's nothing going on between you two right?"

"Everything's fine Mom, really." Shit! She's onto us! "What do I owe the pleasure of your late night call?"

"Oh right, your father and I'll be home late Wednesday night so I can start prepping everything...you know for our Thanksgiving get together. Do you think you could do me a favor and go grocery shopping tomorrow?" I could hear the hopefulness in her voice.

Not wanting to disappoint her and also knowing she'd be too tired after work tomorrow to go buy everything, "Sure mom, not a problem." I answered. "Mom? Do you think I could invite a few of my friends over for dinner?"