Home For The Heart - Zachary Merrick

~18~

~Alyssa~
"Can school be done with?" I collapsed on the couch in Zack's basement, tossing my bag onto the other. Zack looked up from his bass.

"Where did you come from?" I sat up and faced him. "See, my mom and dad loved each other and after they got married, decided to take it to bed-"

"Okay! Not what I meant!" I giggled and took off my hoodie. Well, Zack's hoodie that I stole. "I was home alone and I got bored and frustrated."

He nodded. "Did you just waltz in or who let you in?" I rolled my eyes. "I don't walk into people's houses uninvited. Your mom did,"

He went back to playing his bass and I laid back down. "What do you want for Christmas?" He stopped playing and looked at me.

"Christmas isn't for another two weeks." I nodded. "I know. But I'm leaving for Christmas and don't get back until day before New Years and I want to know what you want."

He looked up at the ceiling, deep in thought. I already had his gift. I just wanted to ask. I spent almost a years worth of allowance on a new acoustic guitar for him.

I was saving up for my own but I knew he needed a new one since his was looking pretty beat up. "Some new hoodies would be nice since mine keep disappearing,"

I rolled my eyes again. "What do you want?" You. "Maybe some new posters or some new shoes. Mine are all getting worn through."

Sam came down the stairs and poked my knee. "Aly, follow me." She went back upstairs and I followed. Sam and I had gotten pretty close to each other.

She was the sister I never had. I always wanted one but because I was an only child and my mom had enough on her plate with me, siblings weren't in the question.

I followed her into her room and she pointed to a pile of clothes. "What are these?" She crossed her arms. "Books. They're some of my old clothes. They're things I don't wear anymore or don't fit."

I started looking through them and picking things I liked. I made a pile and handed anything I didn't want back to Sam so she could fold them back.

"Thanks." She nodded. "Do you want to try them on to make sure they fit?" I nodded. "I can leave if you want."

I honestly didn't care. "You can stay." She sat on her chair and I pulled my tee off to try on a sweater. "So, I have a question."

I looked at her. "Yeah?" She leaned on her arms. "Do you like my brother?" I froze. I wasn't sure what to say to her.

Yes, I do find him attractive. Was that it? I found Rian and Jack attractive but, I don't get butterflies when I'm around them.

I see them more like brothers. Same as Alex. Maybe I just thought I did just because I knew he had feelings for me.

"I'm not sure." She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" I sat on the bed, folding up the things I have tried on. "I mean, he's cute. But so are the other guys. I thought I did but maybe it's just because I know he likes me and it's my head messing with me."

She nodded. "I get that. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't had a girlfriend by now. Especially with how many have hit on him."

I felt a twinge in my heart. "Really? He told me he's never been popular." Maybe he just said that so I wouldn't think of that.

"He's never been. There's a difference between being popular and being attractive and having girls flirt with you. The football team and basketball team had a ton of cute guys when I was in school, but only a few of them were actually popular."

Why was I getting jealous? I finished trying things on and handed her things that didn't fit. I thanked her and went back downstairs.

Zack was playing some video game and I shoved the clothes into my bag. "What did Sam need?" He never took his eyes off the screen.

"She just gave me some clothes." I moved my bag and sat on the couch. I looked over at Zack and took a good look.

He was really cute. And I have noticed girls like Max and Ashley and Leah stare at him and talk to him. Why do I care? He's my best friend, I shouldn't care if he talks to other girls.

I hate feelings.