Mary Mae and the Boys

Chapter 3

"I thought you were coming to bowling tonight." Zach said, his brown eyes holding the saddest look.

"I know Zach, but I said it before I even thought about it." Mary Mae replied, her brows furrowing in frustration. She was referring to Gilbert's date request.

Zach remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. He usually did this when he was upset, giving himself time to collect his thoughts and finally produce a sentence that wouldn't hurt anybody.

"So who is the lucky guy?" Zach said finally. He hopped onto Mary Mae's bed and stretched his long legs.

"I wouldn't say lucky..." Mary Mae responded, combing through her wet hair as she looked at Zach through her mirror.

"Now you're just fishing for compliments." Zach smirked, tossing one of her pillows up in the air and catching it.

"It's the new guy." Mary said, a blood rushing to her cheeks and turning them a rosy red.

Zach was silent again, but this silence was deafening and much longer than any of the silences before.

"So you're ditching your friends for some guy you just met? What makes him so special?" Zach grumpily leaned forward. "And you're going to let him be your first kiss? Ridiculous."

"I didn't say that. I might not even kiss him tonight," Mary Mae subconsciously applied chapstick over her lips as Zach watched her. She was certainly thinking about it, "We can go bowling whenever, Zach, but how often do I get to go on dates?"

"If you wanted a date, I could've taken you on a proper one." Mary's heart rate sped up at his words, she wondered if he really meant that or if he was just saying it to say it.

"Zach," Mary Mae reached for her mascara and applied it generously. Her originally fire-red lashes turning a beautiful black.

"I'm serious," Zach said, standing now and walking behind her. He grabbed a few strands of her hair, gazing at the beautiful color as if it held all the answers.

"Zach, we can all go bowling tomorrow," Mary Mae said as he scooted into her seat and sat beside her.

"Cancel your date tonight, I'll take you somewhere better than bowling."

"Are you jealous?" Mary Mae smirked, her eyes meeting Zach's in the mirror as he leaned down and put his face next to hers, resting his head on her shoulder as he angled himself in an uncomfortable position.

"No Mary Mae, I just want you to be happy." He kissed her cheek and hopped back on the bed. She glanced at him as he reached for her pillow again.

"So I have three dresses in mind, let me know which one you like the best." She rushed to her closet and pulled out a blue polka-dot dress, a red summer dress, and a black skin-tight dress. She quickly changed her dress as Zach began texting on his phone.

"Here's the first one," she smiled, walking out in the blue polka-dot dress.

"What are you? Five?" Zach asked, eyeing the long gown like he wanted it burned. Mary Mae shrugged and returned to her closet to put on the second one.

"Okay, here's number 2."

Zach eyed her up and down, admiring her physique as he shook his head. "Consider the flow factor." He shook his head, pointing to the skirt of the dress.

"When did you become a fashion critique."

"I'm just saying, if a girl were to wear a dress like that on a date with me, I'd be afraid the wind might help me reach my goal earlier than I want." He smirked as Mary Mae gave him a disgusted look and rolled her eyes. "With her permission, of course."