Crayons

Chapter 15

Zach breaks away first, trying to fill his lungs with air. Finding myself to be a little short of breath, I lower myself into a sitting position between his legs, my back against his chest. He rests his cheek on the back of my head, breathing heavily.

Zach wraps his arms around me, "Willow?"

"Yeah?" I mumble, snuggling deeper into his embrace. I don't ever recall feeling this safe and secure. I don't want to move.

"I would like to make these dates a regular thing," he says. I nod my head slightly, looking at the waterfall in the distance again. "I would also like to be able to call you my girlfriend, if possible."

Girlfriend? What does that even mean exactly? As if people would really be okay with the idea, his sister hates my guts and he's a White Crayon. He's at the top and I'm at the bottom.

What am I doing here, with him? This is wrong.

When I don't say anything he begins again, "You don't have to answer right now, it was a sudden thing to say. But I want you to know that my feelings are serious."

"It all seems like this is just a cruel, sick joke," I murmur, bowing my head slightly.

Zach reaches his hand to my face, lifting and turning my face towards his with a finger, "I know I was an ass to you in the past, but it won't be like that anymore." He searches my eyes, trying to make me understand and accept his change of heart.

"You and your sister have been so hateful towards me for years Zach."

"I know," he admits, his eyes showing how ashamed he must feel, "I didn't know any better at first. And as time went, it seemed like the normal thing to do. Then things changed."

"Why?" I ask, this time I'm searching his eyes.

"Because, I realized that you aren't just a Black Crayon." Zach lifts one side of his mouth in a lopsided smile. "You didn't fight back like I would expect you to. Instead, you took all the blows we threw your way. You acted as though it was nothing, like you had gone through so much worse. Not just that, but Diana knew about what you are and all that you have had to do, and she has stood by you the whole time. I haven't told anyone outside of the Crayon world about us yet, because I'm afraid they won't accept me anymore."

"You always seem so strong willed and caring, the more I payed attention to you, the more I realized that all the rumors that people say about your color aren't true. What's true is that you are an amazing, beautiful woman."

My cheeks burn when I respond, "I always thought you were a big-headed, rich, and rude jerk who got life handed to him on a silver platter." He fakes an offended face, waiting for me to continue, "I never thought I would learn about your past, that I would realize how sentimental, compassionate, and sweet you actually are." He smiles at me, his hand cupping my face and his thumb rubbing soothing patterns onto my hot cheek. "But you are still a big-headed jerk."

He laughs, opening his mouth to give me a come back, when I press my mouth to his, stopping his words with a kiss. He kisses me back for a moment then pulls away, "And you are as snarky as ever." This time, before I can reply, he kisses me.

We sit there and kiss for a few more minutes, my lips work to memorize every part of Zach's. When I pull away he puts his arms around me once again, pulling me to him in a hug.

"I don't want to have to let go," he murmurs in my hair, his breath tickling my ear lightly.

"What about other people?"

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"I mean," I pull myself away from his embrace, looking at him straight on. "Your sister, Zandria, hates me. And your mother, what would she think of her son being with a Crayon like me?"