I'm with the Band

I'm with the band chapter twelve

Chapter 12

I awake sore and tired with bright early morning sunshine glaring down at my face. My eyes flutter open and I find myself wrapped in Zack's arms, laying in grass on the top of a hill.

At first, I'm not quite sure how I got here, then, the events of last night flood my brain and I smile. Zack and I had kissed, then when I grew tired, I laid my tired head down on his lap and listen while he had talked, his fingers playing with my brown locks.

Now, I'm nestled into Zack's peacefully sleeping form. I snuggle in closer to him, enjoying our closeness and the warm sun on my face. I seriously could lay like this forever now. I close my eyes and smile again, just soaking in what I'm considering the perfect life.

My eyes fly wide open when I remember that we were never supposed to be here, and that everyone would be looking for us. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. As gently as I could, I wiggle out of Zack's arms.

I bend over and kiss him lightly on the lips. " Good morning sleepy head," I whisper into his ear. His eyes struggle to open. At first he looks confused, but then smiles up at me and gives me a quick peck, slowly sitting up.

" Hey there," he mumbles.

"We've got to go now, everyone will be looking for us," I say softly. Zack's face drops.

" Now?"

" I know, I want to stay here forever too, but we've got to go back."

" Why don't we just stay?" he jokes, " no one would ever find us, we could grow old and just hang around," he grins.

" You know I'd love that," I say standing up, " but now's not the time," I finish, holding out my hand. He takes it and stands up, yawning and stretching loudly.

" Finished yet?" Zack smiles and interlaces our fingers as we head down the hill to the old pick up. I feel so much closer to him now, and this has been the best date I'd ever been on in my life, even if it was my only. I'll remember that night forever.

We get in and Zack starts the truck. Soon, we're rolling along the empty Tennessee highway, talking and laughing.

" You know how worried everyone will be?" Zack laughs. I nod my head in agreement, staring out past the fields of wheat. My stomach growls.

" Hang on," he tells me, concern written all over his face. I can't believe how sweet he is. You would think band members would be arrogant and stuck up, but not Zack. He digs around in that mess of a back seat before triumphantly handing me a power bar.

" How old is this one now?" I kid, looking at the expiration date. Three more days to go. I shrug and open it up, taking a huge bite out of the rather disgusting chocolate covered meal.

" Not everything I own is old you know," he fake scolds me. I giggle.

We arrive at the performing center's parking lot for what seems too soon.

" See you again soon?" Zack mumbles teasingly, because I'll only be seeing him on set for the video shooting today in a couple of hours.

" It'll feel like a thousand years," I grin, channeling my poetic acting abilities. Zack swoops me into a big hug, squeezing tight.

" This is why I love you." Wait, did he just say.... love? Was this going too fast, was I giving him false readings? I just smile, pretending not to hear, yet feeling troubled on the inside. Zack gives me a quick kiss on the lips before turning around and jogging off. " See you later babe!" he calls back at me. I give him a tiny wave, but feel confused. Babe?

I turn and head to my RV, Zack's words bouncing around in my  head like the echo in an empty auditorium. I enter and immeadity feel selfish and guilty when I see that everyone is gathered in the living room, as if awaiting my return. They all looked stressed and tired.