The Heart Of Zac: Book 4 (Completed)

Chapter Three

I woke up the next morning with a different outlook. Sure I might have been Britt's only boyfriend but she was my first and only love. Surely that counted for something. I wasn't in a hurry to go out with other girls. I had been looking at this all wrong. Kai was a bit of a flirt. I knew that. It wouldn't be surprised if he moved onto a different girl today. He knew Britt was mine. He wouldn't break the bro code.

I met Britt out the front of her house as usual. She ran out the door and threw her arms around me. I quickly returned her embrace. I could see her Dad looking at me from the second storey bedroom window. To be frank, he scared me and getting the tattoo did nothing to put me in his good books. He didn't seem to understand the love I had for his daughter. I mean the tattoo said Britt not some other girls name. He was starting to make me feel uncomfortable so I took Britt's hand and walked her towards school.

She was her usual sweet self. Like so many times before I thanked my lucky stars. If Dad hadn't moved us down here I would have never met her. She completed me.

Talia was waiting at the school gate and quickly whisked her away. Girl talk I thought as I headed to class.

Sitting down to lunch with the usual crowd I noticed Britt, Talia and Gina with their heads together whispering away. Mark looked grateful for he company.

"Help me please. The girls won't shut up."

I had to laugh. Mark and Gina had somehow made up and were back together again. Gina had always been a bit of an airhead but with time she had seemed to mature. Still she loved a juicy piece of gossip and I could tell she was loving the conversation.

I grabbed my sandwich and took a bite.

"So Mark. What are the girls going on about this time."

"Oh apparently about some guy with an awesome dragon tattoo and how sexy he is. Personally I don't see the appeal but then again I don't think he did it to attract the guys."

I froze eating my sandwich mid way. Mark was still talking but I wanted to hear what the girls were saying. I couldn't quite hear. Their voices were low and hushed. I shuffled up closer to Britt.

"...and he is an awesome surfer. The way he handles himself on that board you just know he has all the right moves."

I couldn't believe it. Talia was the one talking but Britt was sitting there nodding her head in agreement. Suddenly my sandwich didn't taste so good.

I wanted to hear more so I pushed up closer to Britt. Unfortunately I miscalculated the distance and accidentally pushed Britt off the bench.

She fell on the floor and I immediately felt contrite.

"Oh no Britt. I'm so sorry."

I quickly grabbed her hands and pulled her back up. The whole lunch hall stopped to laugh. Stuff like this made boring school days interesting. Britt looked red with embarrassment.

"Zac WTF! Why did you push me off."

Her face was angry. She didn't get angry too often but when she did I ran for cover.

"I don't know it was an accident. I just wanted to get close to you."

That was partially right. I mean yes I wanted to get closer but only cause I wanted to hear more about what they were saying.

Britt got up quickly grabbing her lunch.

"Girls. Let's sit outside. Leave the boys alone."

And like that she was gone. I was left with Mark who was looking at me with a bemused expression.

"Way to go Zac. Getting rid of the girls like that. Now we can talk guy stuff."

I didn't want to talk guy stuff with Mark. I just wanted to be with my Britt. From the look on her face I knew I'd better stay here with Mark.

Why were things getting complicated. I was never the jealous type. I usually kept my cool.

As I ate my sandwich it suddenly dawned on me. It wasn't so much that Kai had shown interest in Britt. It was more that I noticed that Britt was showing interest in him.

I grabbed the board after school and headed to the beach. I needed to clear my head and no place was better than the beach.

On my way there I received a message. Britt was looking for me. I texted back that I was at the beach and she could meet me there.

I was a little dismayed to see Kai already there riding the waves. Kai wasn't in school anymore and worked full time in a garage. I guess he needed a time out too.

I waxed up and paddled out towards Kai.

"Hey mate." He greeted me with a high five.

"How's the waves today?"

"Not bad but could be better."

We rode for a bit then sat on the beach facing the ocean.

"So Zac. Things between you and Britt serious? Have you slept with her yet?"

I couldn't believe what he was asking. I knew some guys liked to talk about how far they had gotten in their relationships but with Britt it was different. We shared something special and I liked keeping that part of my life private. She wasn't just some random girl to me.

"None of your business and her name is Brittany."

I didn't like the way he used her nickname like they were close.

"She told me to call her Britt. Geez don't be so touchy. I'm only asking cause I'm thinking how could you be with her and not tap that yet."

That did it. Britt was more to me than some conquest and hearing Kai casually referring to her like she was some sort of trophy piece made me angry. Before I knew it, I was on top of him punching his face.

At first he didn't react. Probably more surprised him than anything else. He got in a few good punches himself before we heard my name being screamed. It was Britt and she had seen the whole thing.