Introverted Love!

Chapter 17

Shortly after we parked up at the beach Zainabs phone rang and she claimed her friends were also nearby. At first she asked if they could join us but that didnt last long and the teenagers dissapeared with Zack and me staring after them uneasy about being alone.
'I guess we're no fun' i giggled nervously and finished unloading the car. Zack put out two deck chairs with a mile between them which made me laugh out loud but when he looked back at me his hair fell into his eyes as it wasn't gelled into place today and i was too awestruck to say anything so i put the cooler in between the chairs and sat down. I wanted to talk to him but for some reason the words wouldn't form i was way too nervous. I just opened my book and pretended to read.
'Are you hungry, you didnt even eat breakfast?' Zack stood in front of me and when i looked up my stomach rumbled giving the game away. He laughed a low chuckle, it took my breath away. Strange feelings aroused in me and i put it down to being undernourished, after all me and Zack had practically spent our childhood together just the two of us how was this any different?
Erm you could be geting married to him..the voice in my head fought back against my reasoning. Zacks voice took me out of my head
'Theres a chippy at the end of the pier' he picked up his phone from the chair and i got up and followed him walking slightly behind him. I had wore plimsolls and was having a tough time with the deep sand. Suddenly Zack reached his arm out at an angle but i didnt know how to hold him afraid of weighing him down, a second later he held me under my left elbow steadying me so it was much easier to walk. After a few steps he moved closer untill out sides brushed as we walked. I could smell his aftershave, the deep woody scent was intoxicating. When we reached the pier he let go of my arm and it tingled where his hand had been. We got fish and chips and i devoured mine in minutes as i was starving, i only realised afterwards how inelegant i would have looked. Zack ate his slower than me and while he finished up i just slurped on my mango and pineapple smoothie. Somehow the food gave me not only energy but the smallest amount of a confidence boost enough to ask the question that burned on my mind.
'The pebbles, what did the yes mean?' I spoke quietly not making eye contact afraid of the answer. He almost choked on his coke and spent the next few seconds clearing his throat. Now i was looking directly at him and i had to admit he was stunning, today he had a little stuble which made him look more manly than usual.
Finally he spoke 'You asked if i wanted to marry you and yes I thinks its the best thing to do in this situation, i think we could make it work' his answer stung me worse than a thousand bees. He sounded so stiff like his dad, like he was doing a buisness deal thats all i meant to him. My heart shattered and i felt stupid for thinking there may have been anything more between us. Before i knew it i had stood up and stormed back down the pier, i heard his chair move back
'Maya where are you going, hey wait what happened?' He followed me and his stride was much bigger he reached me in no time. I was stubborn as ever and started to run, stupidly tears fell dowm my face i felt so ridiculous realising i was falling for him otherwise why would his words have hurt. There was a secluded bandstand ahead and i just ran in exhausted from running. Unsurprisingly Zack reached me in a minute but he just stood at the edge not entering. I daren't face him so i kept my back to him.
'Maya i dont understand whats wrong, tell me?' he urged the worry in his voice made me feel guilty at first but soon was replaced with anger. He had started this, i had been just fine living my life before he decided to storm back in.
'What am i some kind of transaction to keep the business safe, i can just be traded between the two houses, I'm a person for gods sake don't i deserve to choose a life for myself that will make me happy?' I said angrily but still sat with my back to him the tears didn't stop.
'Why would you think that no one is trading you, if you dont want to marry me its ok Maya i promise no one will force you i just thought since you asked maybe you were coming around to the idea but just tell me and I'll stop everything. You dont have to worry about the business I'll sort it'. I stayed silent trying to calm myself.
'Maya no one wants you to be happy more than me' his tone changed before he was like a parent explaining the situation to me but now there was a desperation in his voice I'd never heard before. He stepped into the bandstand and pulled my arm to turn me around.
'Stop crying, please' he spoke so softly i barely heard him but before my tears registered his words he had pulled me into him,my head rest on his chest it was so warm in his embrace i felt so peaceful. I forgot everything around me and just stood locked in his arms. We stayed that way for a while until he stepped back looking down at my face he wiped the tears from my cheek with the back of his hand. He smiled at me and i fought the urge to smile back.
'Ignore the situation,our families and the past Maya if it was just me and you would things be different would you like me then?' Although he was smiling his eyes were sad like when he was a little boy and i couldnt help but try to comfort him just like i used to do back then
'I've always liked you Zack' i smiled up at him destroying the last wall between us.