caring isn't for everyone | z.k •PRETTYMUCH AU•

•two•

a/n end of chapter**

Amari wrapped the large, fluffy towel around herself as she just stepped out of the pool moments ago. She swam around in there for both her and Z combined.

He rubbed her back, catching her shivering a bit from it being cooler at night. The pool lights were the only way they could see anything they were doing at that point. Though it was good light.

It wasn't them alone at this later hour of 10 pm; maybe four other people.

"I could've stayed in a bit longer," She shrugged, looking over at him, geeked. "I honestly could've went 15 more minutes."

"It's getting too late to be at the pool though," He replied.

She rolled her eyes. Leaning closer to him, she whispered. "We could've went skinny dipping."

Zion gave her a look of interest but also with disapproval. He wrapped the towel around her more so that it covered most of her body. "We aren't the only ones here,"

"We could've been." She winked.

"You are out of control. If you had told me you liked that type of stuff months ago I wouldn't believe you."

She simply shrugged.

Other residents of the apartment began to exit the gate of the pool. The door creaked extremely loudly, even for this complex not being that old. It grabbed Zion's attention, furthering his decision to leave. "C'mon."

As they started to head out, there was a voice that called out for Zion, but more specifically, Caleb. Not necessarily scared, but a very confused Zion whipped his head around back and forth, grabbing Amari's wrist firmly in the progress as if he had to run. He squinted his eyes looking around the pool. No one was around, but there someone was, standing on the outer gates, leaning over.

It startled them both at first, but when they realized it was Nick that then leaped over the gate, everyone calmed down.

"You couldn't use your phone to call me like a normal person?" He asked, a bit irritated by his friend's odd behavior.

He walked over casually. "I just pulled up and I saw you guys, so I thought why not just walk up with them to their apartment rather than waiting."

"That would be kind of awkward though." Amari chimed in.

"Right!" Nick smiled.

"What's up though? There has to be a reason you came without calling me up first." He asked, beginning to walk to the gate. Amari followed close by as Nick followed suit.

He hesitated before speaking. "I need a place to stay for the night."

"Why?" Zion asked, concerned.

"My place is getting an extermination, so I'll just need to stay for tonight."

"That's cool," Amari accepted, understandingly.

"But—" He swallowed his words, quickly.

Her man was almost to quick to budge in but had to stop himself from saying anything slick. He was about to pop off a bit on how he had no say on who slept in his apartment, but in this reality they're both equal on decisions because both payed equally on rent and it is now officially their shared apartment. So, he bit his tongue.

She looked over at him, but before she could say anything, he shook his head. "Nothing."

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it," He smiled tiredly once again.

The three made their way back to the apartment in a comfortable yet somewhat awkward silence.  As they got inside, Amari rushed to the restroom, not bothering to ask who was going to shower first.

With look of defeat, Z watched as she pranced off into their bedroom, shutting the door behind her. He plopped down on the couch right after, though Nick already beat him to that idea.

"Wow." He says, still staring at the closed door. He looked over at his friend shaking his head with playful manner.  "Women are something.

He just chuckled along, not thinking of much. Only about that fact that he couldn't relate. "Yea. I know right?"

There was a slight pain in his voice as he spoke that sentence. He sat closed off, looking awkwardly uncomfortable in his best friend's home. It looks different compared to the last time he came— Amari's minimalistic style begun to shine through the apartment. It looks so neat for Zion to also live here, so much so he almost offended. But it gave him this lump in his throat.

There was a hand that landed on his shoulder that startled him. "You good?"

"Mhm." He hummed.

"Bullshit," Z turned to him, more intrigued. "I see it your face. What's really going here, Nick? You've been acting different. And I know damn well you don't get bugs in your house, and there's no damn exterminator blowing it up."

He furrowed his eyebrows before responding. "Nothing man. I really can't explain."

He couldn't honestly. It was hard, and the last thing he wanted to be was alone in his big ass house. No seriously though— It's really big. Might of made him realize how alone he actually is. He was so tired of being alone.

Nick shrugged. There was nothing else he could think of saying.

"I'll let you have it this time." He patted his bag before he stood, probably noticing that the shower stopped running for a while now. He walked in the room without walking, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned back on the couch, sighing loudly.

~*~*~*

a/n: expect more updates. it's summertime now ☺️
STREAM PHASES-EP OUT NOW!!!