There she is. Who? His girl.

Part 11

Zack was awoken by the smell of food and opening his eyes he had to agree that the nap outside had been really refreshing.

He rarely used his backyard and he frequently forgot to care about it. The patio was well kept as he liked good barbeque with friends and they lounged there but the rest of the garden was left as he had bought it. The grass was patchy and a bit too long. There were some bushes in the far corner but last year he had tried to trim them and went too aggressive so now they looked like rat's nests with some long dried out branches and green uneven mass around them. The only thing remotely nice looking was the old maple tree that had already started to slowly turn red. And even it had roots sticking out of the ground creating an uneven patch of ground around it.

Now looking at Misha setting up their lunch he wished he had done something more to make the yard nicer. She had brought out a coffee table from the living room and some big cushions to sit on. She had set the table and it looked absolutely lovely as if out of Pinterest with a white tablecloth, cutlery and a nice vase with flowers.

'What are we celebrating?' Zack asked with a yawn startling Misha.

'It is the first of September and I thought it would be nice to have a picnic in celebration of the first day of autumn.'

'I see. Instagram worthy?' Zack asked with a laugh.

'Nah... Today I don't feel like posting anything'

Zack was confused by that 'Then why go through all this trouble?'

'I enjoy stuff like this. It is nice to sometimes surround myself with beautiful things and just relax. Come eat! These salmon steaks won't be as tasty once cold.'

Zack sat opposite Misha and was served with fresh lemonade and a plate with quince, salmon and fresh vegetables. They did not speak but the silence was comfortable. The food was good just as always and Misha seemed more relaxed than ever. Without her noticing he took a quick shot of her with closed eyes turned towards the sun.

Once the meal was over Zack cleared his throat and turned serious eyes to Misha.

'That does not look promising' she instantly huffed.

'What?'

'Oh nothing... You wished to say something?' she said fully turning towards him.

'This thing...' Zack pointed between the two of them.

'What thing?' she asked with a smirk.

'This thing between us.'

'There's something between us?' Zack scowled and Misha huffed 'What's with it?'

'I don't have a clue...' Zack said defeated. He had no idea how to even approach the subject. He was just too confused.

After a brief pause Misha lifted herself off the ground and sat next to Zack close enough that their shoulders touched. He looked at the tree and few leaves fell down to the ground as the wind was picking up.

'I do not date...' Zack started but Misha stopped him putting her hand on his and he looked at her gently smiling face.

'Zack, I came here partly running away from all of my responsibilities. Yes, I work here and do YouTube but it is not the same now that I am far away from everything and anyone I know. If I wish to, like today, I don't take any electronics and nothing can reach me.'

She looked away looking to the mountains seen in the distance 'I came to have fun and relax and live for a bit. I am not expecting anything from you. Everything I have ever done in life has been full out commitment. I have had two job interviews in all my life and both ended in me getting the job, one working for two years the other five years and still going strong. I have had two first dates and both turned in serious relationships. One for more than a year the second for six years and I moved in with the guy right away. I mean the same day, I went to a date and never really went back home.' she let out a sardonic laugh 'I am slow to decide to do things and mostly it is completely spontaneous but I always go strong. Coming here was the first thing I did that was really planned out beforehand.'

Misha looked at him with a smile 'This thing' she pointed between them like Zack before 'Is like a game where I don't have to think about consequences. I can enjoy myself and you in the process.' She blushed at that 'Something I probably would have never done if I was back home. It is light-hearted flirt that I enjoy truly. You said that you did not date so I hoped that you might enjoy something like that as well.'

Zack sat thinking about what Misha just tried to explain. He understood her reasoning but he could not decipher what he felt about this. He had admitted to himself long ago that he was afraid of commitment and that was holding him back in relationships and Misha was offering him something with no strings attached. And he liked to spend time with her, she showed him new things, always stirred things up and he was completely sure he wanted her physically. Then why was he still thinking and not simply saying yes?

'So you are thinking about some sort of friends with benefits?' he decided to clarify looking back at her.

'Yeah... Something like that' Misha said with a tilted head as if just now thinking about such possibility.

'And what would be the rules?'

Misha pouted 'I have not gotten that far. Do we need rules? Can't we go with the flow and think it on the way?'

Zack thought that over for a while. A set of rules could save them some fighting and probably if things go bad some heartache. But no matter how little; they would interfere bringing doubt and responsibilities. Misha said she wanted fun and not commitment and Zack wanted the same.

'Ok. Let's see where this goes...' and without warning Zack brought his face to hers and let his inhibitions go. Enjoying the feel, smell and taste of the woman next to him who was more than willing to repay with the same.