The Chemistry Test

25. pecks and spats

Day Ten

SaltySweetSassMaster: hey I went to ur house...hope that's chill

SaltySweetSassMaster: ur brother said i look sick

SaltySweetSassMaster is typing...

SaltySweetSassMaster: not the good kind

I scrolled through my messages, relieved that Mark was safe and sound at my house and not outside a dumpster at some gas station off the highway. It wouldn't be the first time I'd found him there, to say the least.

Although, I wouldn't blame him even if he did.
Gwyn's cheating was horrible on its own, but what made it especially so was that it was with Hunter. Out of every other popular, cute guy at WBHS, she had to pick the one who was closest to Mark and I. Betrayal had a funny way like that.

Hopefully, by the end of rehearsal, he would have sobered up enough for me to explain the heartbreaking encounter I'd unfortunately seen today.

"Phone," Kyle, from across the circle pointed at me, "Zoe's on her phone."

The rest of the group pointed at me, all calling out, "Phone!"

I threw my head back, holding my phone up in surrender. I'd broken one of Gorveau's first rules in Theatre--no technology out during rehearsal--and the punishment awaiting me was a dare from one of my fellow cast members.

"Juliet doth break-eth the rule." Gorveau announced, his voice booming over the chatter. "Bestow-eth thy rath, ye hooligans."

Zak laughed. "Okay, what'll it be, guys?"

I shot him a look: nothing too crazy, and he gave me a playful smile in return, neither reassuring nor challenging it.

"Do the chicken dance." Someone muttered, only to be instantly booed by the rest of the group.

"Lick your elbow." Kyle said, demonstrating his strange ability to do so, receiving mixed looks from everyone.

"Come on, you wimps-ickles." Gorveau rolled his eyes, "This is Juliet we're talking about, here. Make her squirm a little." The teacher winked at me, and I pursed my lips.

"I have an idea," Zak mused, his eyes flickering over to me. Turning his head to the side, he tapped his cheek.

A kiss.

The group made a series of 'oohs' in excited agreement and my cheeks flushed looking over at the cheeky boy beside me. In all honesty, it could have been a lot worse than just a peck on the cheek, but it was enough to make my heart jump a little.

The chatter died down as everyone's eyes locked onto us, not missing a single moment between Zak and I.

Swallowing hard, I sighed at the group, playing off my nerves as exasperation.  "If I have to."

My heart pounding fast, I leaned over and puckered my lips, but where I expected to meet the far end of his cheek, my lips fell onto his.

Oh, my God.

Stunned, I pulled away, blinking repeatedly as the group broke out into what I gathered was utter teenage chaos, yelling and whooping, but I couldn't break away from his crinkled blue eyes.

It wasn't my fault. Zak turned his head way before I'd reached his cheek--it was intentional. He'd wanted a real kiss.

He looked down and up, a smirk overtaking his entire expression. While he seemed satisfied with himself, I wasn't totally sure what I was feeling, but if my heart beats were any indication, whatever it was, it meant something.