A new Kind of Oath

Honesty

Zack was cornered by his own actions. He had nowhere to run from his developing feelings for the young blonde. "YES OKAY? I LIKE IT. YA HAPPY?" He growled, obviously very flustered. Rachel tried to hold back her laughter. Knowing it would probably only upset him. However, she was unsuccessful. It started off quiet then grew louder as she moved her hand away from her pale face.

Zack stood, dead in his tracks. Bewildered by the unusual noise. Genuine laughter? From her? The same girl that could barely smile at all was now nearly in tears from laughing so hard. Zack couldn't believe his ears. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't just having some weird fever dream. "Nah. No fuckin' way this is real. Yer... Yer as emotional as a dead fish! How is this even happening?" Zack's mouth was still agape in disbelief.

Rachel soon calmed herself. Going back to her usual look of inquisitiveness. Even she seemed confused as to how or why she did that. "I'm... Not sure. I guess I just found it funny?" She responded. As if she was asking him what happened. "Fuck if I know." He said shrugging his shoulder.

"Yer a weird kid, ya know that?" Rachel's looked over at him again. The look on her face was serious. "I'm not a kid anymore. You know this, Zack." Zack thought back a bit. Recalling when she said her birthday was. "Wait a second..." Counting his fingers quietly to himself.

"15...16...17...18...19....! Wait-That means you're an adult now?!" He said aloud, as if he just solved the world's most difficult question. "...Nah, you're still a kid to me." He sneered. Causing Rachel to get flustered. "Talk ta me when you get a huge rack." He snickered at his own joke. Rachel, now growing quietly furious, ran up to him, pounding his chest with all her might. Which only egged the taller man on further. It was Ray's turn to be poked fun at.

"Pffft. That all ya got? C'mon, Ray. You're better than this. Weeeak." Rachel puffed her cheeks bashfully. Then got the strange idea to do something incredibly bold and... Possibly very stupid. Rachel knew he didn't really mean any of this but it still got under her skin a bit. So much that she wanted to do something to prove it. Prove to him that she wasn't "just a kid" anymore. She leaned up. Tugging at some of the bandages near his face. Giving herself easy access.

Then, it was as if time had stopped.

Rachel pressed her lips against his. It was sloppy and awkward but because both of them had never experienced such a thing in their lives, it was still as shocking to Zack. Rachel found it just as shockin, as she took into account how soft his lips really were despite the scars.

"Wh-Wh-WhAT THE FUCK, RAY?"

He sputtered as he fell back on the hard floor. Wiping his mouth. Unsure of what to think. Zack's head was spinning from the overload of emotions he was feeling. Rachel stood in front of him. A small smile spread across her features. He knew Rachel was a strange woman but nothing could have prepared him for for this. "How's that?" She said, a tinge of triumph in her voice.

"HOW'S WHAT? YOU- YOU JUST... I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YA JUST DID! YA TRYIN TO MAKE ME PUKE?" Zack was incredibly red.

Rachel could almost see it through his bandages. Yet she looked a bit hurt by his reaction. "Oh... Did you not like it?" Zack saw the upper part of her face crinkle. A frown at her lips. Feeling a little guilty at how his answer may have come off. He didn't want to make her feel bad. He just wasn't good at expressing himself. ".... It's just.... Weird." He bashfully pulled the hood over his face, trying to hide it. "But... I didn't hate it, if that's what yer askin'." Zack rushed to cover his face again. Flustered by his own words. Rachel's eyes lit up. "Really?"

The defeated man let out a long exasperated sigh. "....Yeah. Just-- Gimme a little warning next time before ya just POUNCE on me like that, alright? Geez." Rachel blank. "Does that mean you're open to me doing it again?" Slight excitement in her voice. Zack wasn't sure how to respond. If he was honest, she'd probably try it again and... And... Then what? He shook himself off from the thoughts. He'd seen way too many movies growing up.

But he still couldn't help but wonder about that feeling. It was unusual. Her acting like this. He figured she wasn't serious. "She's probably just going through some weird phase or some shit. No way someone like her would be interested in a kind of guy like me... I'm a freak." He talked himself down in his head. Rachel noticed as he became unusually quiet. "Zack? Is something wrong?" There it was. Rachel's neverending inquisitive nature. Zack was no liar but when it came to his feelings for her, he just couldn't be honest with himself.

Zack felt disgusted with himself for even thinking about Rache in such ways. He believed that he didn't deserved it. He didn't think he deserved to be with someone like her. That woman may not have been perfect but she was a hell of a lot better than him. He's killed many times. He was disfigured and had a foul mouth, was incredibly impulsive and acted on his desires rather than giving it proper thought. She, for the most part, had a good head on her shoulders. She was smart, pretty, and good at sewing. She tended to his wounds and helped him out of many situations over the years he'd never be able to get out of on his own.

Rachel knelt down to his level. Sitting on her knees. She felt bad for messing with him so much. "I'm sorry. If I did something to upset you, I'm--" He cut her off. "Don't apologize." She started back up. "Huh? But I-" Zack cut her off again. "Shut up. You ain't got nothin to be sorry for. So stop apologizing already!" Though Rachel wasn't buying it. Not for a second. She knew something was up. After this long, it was only natural she'd get used to Zack being well... Zack.

"But Zack, you hate liars, remember?" Rachel hit the nail right on the head. He was completely broken. She got him right where she wanted him. There was no way he could dodge this bullet. He clenched his teeth before speaking up again. "Fuck... Ya caught me. Look, Ray. I know you were just messin' around earlier. But- Ya shouldn't just go doing shit like that! Especially with me! Rachel looked confused. "What if I want to? I'm an adult Zack. I'm not a little kid anymore. My heart is mine to decide who do stuff like that with. And.... That person just so happens to be you." Zack's eyes widened at her statement. What... The hell are ya saying, Ray? What's going through your head right now? You've been acting really weird lately." His voice full of confused emotions.

"Zack, What I'm trying to say is..."