The Unexpected

Chapter 12

Just real quick Author's note before the chapter. Am I going to slow on this? Do I need to get to the point already or keep at this pace? I hadn't really thought of it before, but I want to know what you guys think. :)

(Update: Just edited, but probably has more mistakes lol)

~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 12

I looked up from my phone in confusion when I heard a voice. Standing between me and my locker was the one and only Zachary Freeman. "Huh?" I asked, not having heard anything he said.

"I said," Zach repeated, smiling at me. "That I'm looking forward to this Friday. Oh, and I need to know what time I need to pick you up."

"Oh, so Emma didn't tell you? Guess she wouldn't have had a chance to, anyways. You basically disappeared for a week." I replied heatedly. "The date's off, not that it was ever really on in the first place." I put finger quotes around the word 'on'.

Zach's grin only faltered slightly. "Oh, is that so?"

He thought I was kidding. Cute.

"Yup," I said, popping the 'p'. I motioned for him to scoot over so I could reach my locker before I continued. "Why don't you go with Tia? You know, your girlfriend."

"I broke up with her." Zach watched me as I pulled my books out of my locker. "A couple of weeks ago, actually."

"Oh?" I had seen Tia, the Courtney worshiper from lunch the other day, hanging around Zach even after he supposedly broke up with her. "Why?"

"She's just not the one for me."

I shrugged, going along with it, because the I needed to get to class. Mostly, though, I wanted to talk with Aaden. "Look, Zach, I don't want to be the butt end of a joke, or find out that you only took me to the dance because of a dare, or anything like that. If it were up to me, I wouldn't even be going!"

Zach watched silently as I walked past him, only pausing to say: "I'm sorry that I don't want to be a laughing stock, not that I would care anyways, but I'm going by myself Friday."

I was about to turn the corner when he spoke up again. I could tell he was grinning by the laughter in his voice. "So, I'll pick you up at eight?"

The guy was stubborn, I gotta give him that. But my choice was final. Just in case, though, I was going to make sure Emma picked me up before eight.

I was the last one to enter the classroom. After my teacher scolded me for 'cutting it close, Ms. Young', I sat in my usual seat, disappointed to see Aaden's chair empty. Five minutes into class, I gave up hope. I'll just talk to him later, I thought before asking the girl next to me for a pencil.

......................

After school, Emma invited herself to my house for 'female buddies bonding time'. I wasn't sure what 'bonding' consisted of, but girl time was fine with me.

Immediately upon reaching my room, Emma ran inside and launched herself on my bed. "Can we switch houses? I love your bed; it's so soft."

I watched in amusement as she cuddled with my stuffed bear. Mr. Bear (yes, that is his name) wasn't putting up too well with Emma's doting. I've had him since my third birthday, when I got him for a present, and the poor thing wasn't cut out for what toddler Ricki put it through.

"Hey, stop manhandling him. He's not that kind of bear."

"I'll see you later," Emma told Mr. Bear, waggling her eyebrows at him before setting him down.