This Could Be Us

Chapter Five - Zach & Kate

{Zach's Point of View}

Most people at MHS would consider me to be the luckiest guy at this school. Not only was I the star quarterback and captain of the football team, but I am also dating Kate, one of the most beautiful girls in the school, who just happens to be captain of the cheerleading team. I am a decent student, and I stay out of trouble - for the most part. I do attend quite a few parties, but that's something that is expected of me.

So I should be perfectly happy and content with life, right? Well I was until just before the start of this school year. I noticed that despite my practically perfect life, I was missing something. For the longest time I could not figure out what it was. I would stare at the ceiling at night, unable to sleep, trying to think of what it could possibly be.

Then one morning, while I was getting my stuff ready for the coming school week, I knocked over a picture frame that had been sitting on my desk. The glass from the frame shattered. As I went to pick up the pieces, I noticed that behind the picture of Kate and I, was another picture. It was of Aria and I when we were about eleven. I remembered the day well.

It was an extremely hot day in the summer, but Aria's mom was too busy with housework to take us to the city pool. So we grabbed a tarp out of the garage and some dish soap from inside. With it all, we made our own slip-n-slide. Aria's mom came out and saw what we had done and thought it was the coolest thing. She took a picture of us, all covered in soapy bubbles and drenched from head to toe. We were both so happy, without a care in the world. It was like nothing could bring us down or tear us apart.

As the memory passed through my mind, I realized what I had been missing. My life was great, but Aria always made it that much greater. I needed to fix our friendship. I needed to apologize to her.

Well, on the first day of school, I tried to do just that. I found her in the cafeteria and was all prepared to walk up and ask her to talk after practice that day. I called her name and waltzed right up to her, but as soon as I looked into her eyes, I froze.

I felt like the biggest idiot, as I stood there staring, unable to get the words out that I was so prepared to say. I stuttered out a hello and walked away as quickly as my legs would take me.

I didn't think things could get any more awkward or worse between us. That is, until I approached her, drunk off my ass, at the party last weekend. They say that alcohol is like liquid courage, and they were right. I felt like I was on top of the world - like I could do anything or say anything and rock it. Well, I was wrong. Not only does alcohol give me a boost of courage, it gave my emotions a nice little boost too.

The conversation with Aria that night started out bad and only worsened as it went on. She snapped at me right off the back, despite my cheerful demeanor. I tried to stay as calm as I could, but I could tell she was still hurting and my drunken conversation with her was not helping.

Then, she kissed him. She kissed Carter. Worse yet, he kissed her back. 

I couldn't tell if it was genuine or if it was purely alcohol induced. To see it though, was like a knife straight to my heart. Despite being with Kate for a year, my feelings for Aria hadn't left - I merely pushed them away and focused on my feelings for my girlfriend. I just couldn't handle the idea of Aria being with anyone but me. 

That brings us to the current day - a week after the party, the argument, and the kiss.

I was waiting in my car, which was parked in Kate's driveway. I could smell the venti mocha cappuccino that was sitting in the cupholder next to me. Being the amazing boyfriend that I am, I always pick Kate up for school, and I pick up her favorite morning beverage.