Home For The Heart - Zachary Merrick

~17~

~Alyssa~
It had been over a week since everything had happened and Thanksgiving was inching closer. Usually, we'd go visit family for the holiday but most of our families had plans.

The situation at school had calmed down the Zack and I were back to normal.. to an extent. Lisa and Alex both had caught on to my sudden realization and tease me about it when possible.

They know to keep their mouths shut around Zack and try their best around Jack since he can be a bit of a blabbermouth.

Mom and I were reforming a relationship slowly and she even was getting to know the other Moms and young women of our neighborhood.

She joined the Saturday tea that Zack's mom had started. Alex and Lisa's Moms also joined so all of our Moms were becoming friends.

I got home from school and dropped the keys in the basket by the door. I sat on the couch and took a deep breath.

"Aly? That you?" Mom started working from home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. "Yeah." I walked into the kitchen and she got up from her laptop.

"Hey. I have news. Carla, Zack's mom, invited the two of us over for Thanksgiving." I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

I grabbed a banana from our fruit bowl and peeled it. "I told her we usually go see family but since this year it's just us two, she invited us over,"

I shrugged and went upstairs to start on homework. "Find something nice to wear!" I have a few nice things. I'll find something.

~

I walked downstairs, ready to leave. Mom was making a couple dishes to bring to the Merrick's. "Mom?" She looked up and smiled.

"That looks nice. Now, will you carry that?" She pointed to a dish with tinfoil on top on the counter. I went to put on my shoes and then grabbed the dish.

She grabbed the other dish and her keys and we were off. I was pretty intrigued why Mrs. Merrick just invited us over.

Zack was telling me how his holidays were exclusively family and his mom never invited the guys' families.

We got to their house and Mom rang the doorbell. Sam let us in and took the dish from me. "Zack's downstairs if you want to go grab him."

I took off my shoes and made my way downstairs. The sound of guitar grew louder as I got closer to where he kept his instruments.

He was playing an unfamiliar tune on his guitar, singing softly. I tripped over a cord and launched myself into the carpet, making my presence known.

"Holy shit, are you okay?" He held out his hand and helped me up. "Guess I'm known for making an entrance."

He laughed and I brushed myself off. I looked up at him staring at me. "You look.. beautiful." I smiled shyly. "Oh, thanks. I haven't worn this in two years. Surprised it still fits,"

He nodded, still staring at me. If it was anyone else, I would've been extremely uncomfortable. But I didn't mind that it was Zack.

"So, what's the song you're working on?" He brought himself back to reality and grabbed his guitar. "Just something Alex and I started. He came up with the tune but I've been working on lyrics."

I smiled. "Do you mind showing me?" He smiled back. "Not at all." He began to strum and I swayed to the music.

"Say goodbye to the halls and the classes
Say hello to a job and the taxes
The weekends with old friends spilling into 9 to 5 routine
Tell me how you feel over and done with
Like your life is a map with no compass to guide,
At the bar drinkin' way too much
We sing along to "Forever Young".
So here we go again
Wishin' we could start again
Wendy run away with me
I know I sound crazy
Don't you see what you do to me?
I wanna be your lost boy
Your last chance, a better reality
(Yeah)
Wendy we can get away
I promise if you're with me, say the word and we'll find a way
I can be your lost boy, your last chance
Your "everything better" plan
Oh, somewhere in Neverland
(Somewhere in Neverland)"

He stopped playing and I grinned. "I love that!" He put his guitar down and stood up, me copying him. "It's not finished and that's all I have so far."

I thought back on the lyrics as Sam called for us. We went upstairs and took our seats at the table. I was between Zack and Mom.

Sam shot us a smirk. "What were you two doing?" Zack shot back a glare. "He was showing me a song he's working on."

Zack's grandma started asking Zack about his music and I looked at Mom with a smile.