Tormented love

Chapter 29

We sat in silence as we ate. I'd take a bite and then glare at Zach. I'd been wondering all night, who he was on the phone with. Now I wonder why he came in and ruined our night. Ally took a bite and looked over to me, carefully. She wondered when I'd break, I could see the caution in her eyes. Jake hadn't picked his fork up yet, he stared at Zach. He was pissed. Zach though, he didn't bother to look at any of us. He was shoving the food he'd ordered into his mouth and shutting all surroundings out. He didn't care that I was scared. He didn't care that Jake was pissed or that Ally was worried. All Zach cared about at this moment was fitting as much steak into his mouth as possible. Finally I let my eyes rest, my mind tried. I glanced over at Jake who still hadn't begun to eat.

"You alright Jake?" He jerked, surprised. All the anger he had inside him right now was directed in the same place as his eyes scanned. He didn't register at first it was me who spoke. I actually think he believed it was Ally.

"Yeah.." he trailed off as he looked between Ally and I. His eyes finally rested on me. "I'm fine." Finally he picked up his fork to eat. Tension calmed for a moment. We all sat silent again. For a split second, until Jakes fork clashed back against his glass plate. "Actually, no. No I'm not fine." His eyes darkened into what I feared for tonight.

"Jake." Ally pleaded. She didn't want to see an outburst, not tonight. Not between these two. Like always.

"No, Ally. Jake nothing." He huffed. "You had no right." Zach actually looked up from his plate.

"Is he talking to you?" Zach motioned to me with a sarcastic look on his face, not the time. He had his steak knife pointed at me. Jake laughed, a deep sarcastic, pissed off laugh.

"Actually dick, I'm talking to you." Zach beamed across the table at him. Like he would've stabbed him with his steak knife given the chance. "Get your damn knife out of her face."

"This isn't the right place guys." Ally interrupted and failed. Disputing these two doesn't happen.

"I'm talking to you because no one else has the guts. Anna spent months building up the courage to trust you. You faulted her trust, not anyone else. Then you are on the phone with someone for hours while she's getting ready for your dinner and you get pissed off because she leaves without you to be at an event you guys planned weeks ago. If she wouldn't have you guys would've missed the reservation. Then get even more mad when she ask who you were on the phone with. You tell her, it's none of her damn business." His smile contains his anger as he leans back in the wooden seat grasping his forehead. "It is her damn business. It became her business when you had sex with a random slut while dating her. You gave her trust issues. Own up to it and prove to her your not that guy." He sighs as I notice many people looking at us now. "Or be that guy. The Zach I remember when we were friends, was not like this." Jake is sincere and much quieter now as everyone turns their attention back to their own table. "Actually this is that Zach. I watched you do this to Amber. I remember that. Every single second of that I remember." He laughs and Ally covers her mouth looking at the table. Now everyone will once again remembering exactly why Amber is the way she is. It was because of Zach.

"It was my mother." Zach finally tells us all. Jake throws his hands in the air and nearly rolls his eyes.

"Was that so damn hard?" Jake laughs and let's out an actual laugh this time. "I was actually pissed for a minute at you Zach. Don't do that anymore. Anna's my literal best friend." Zach looks over to me and I only give him a small smile.

"Sweetie, you know me." He begins. I unlock my phone and open my message thread with his mother. I look at it momentarily before placing my phone on the table in front of him and grabbing my wallet to leave. He picks up the phone to read. Jake and Ally sit at the table confused as I walk to the exit. He should've known me better by now, I investigate everything. In what world would I not have texted her for a confirmation?

Outside the restaurant was peaceful, most people were in their rooms by now or either at the restaurant. I walked back toward the pool just to sit for awhile. I needed to think for a few minutes, an hour perhaps.

In reality, I needed to get away. From reality.

It sucked.

Someone else was also at the pool sitting on a lounger. I wasn't going to bother them. Im sure they had their reasons for being out here too. The man called out to me though. "Anna?" His voice was familiar but I couldn't remember exactly who it sounded like. "You alright, looks like you're bothered?" I walked over to the next lounger and took a seat.

"Too much drama." My future teacher did not want to hear all about my drama. Not this drama. So I didn't go any further in details. I'd expected him to change the subject right after my blunt admittance.

"Ahh, let me guess. You and your friend from the pool arguing over some guy?" I shook my head and he raised an eyebrow.

"No?" He smiled. "The other girl from the pool fucked your boyfriend again?" He'd heard that?

Wait. What if he's right. It makes sense. Zach didn't want to come. He did come though, he said he came for me. I've not seen Lilly hanging out with anyone on this ship. Zach was on the phone for going on three hours, I never heard a word of that call. Zach was also inside our hotel room by himself or at least I thought. Meanwhile I was ordering food with Jake and Ally. Where I'd been for nearly an hour before he arrived.

"I'll assume I hit the nail right on the head." He laid back in his seat and propped his legs up, crossing them. His hands folded together on his chest. He was paying attention but seemed relaxed. Very relaxed.

I haven't been like that in over a year.

"Maybe." I state quietly. "But did you just cuss professor Nate?" He let out a short laugh.

"Believe me, you'll hear a lot more of that next year. Teaching tends to work on my nerves then blow the last one up. Some kids seem to be so bland and dense. It's like they don't want to learn what I'm trying to teach them. Which is fine but just don't take the class." He urges on. I smile. Talking to him now is simpler than talking to Zach after years of friendship..and more. How sad that actually is.

Anna, professor Nate is a professor at the college you won't even be at until August. My subconscious reminds. I hate subconsciouses.

"You can't refuse a student?" He dramatically looks over at me. "Okay then." I laugh. "I'm gonna take your class, just to pester you."

"Oh but Anna, I'll be the one there to pester you." He jokes, but seems serious. I hope he does pester me.

"Is that right?" I'd hoped it was, but I'd never admit that to the extremely beautiful specimen in front of me. He could pester me all year.

"I guess you'll have to take me to find out huh?" The many ways I'd take professor Nate. He has no idea. I'd definitely be the one to take him.

It really could be a very fun or no, interesting time at college. Flirting with this man could get very easy very quickly. "Well on that note, I'm going to head back to my room and I'll see you tomorrow, or maybe in August if not then." He grabs his phone from the deck and gets up with me.

"It is kind of late, I should probably head in too. Vacation time started today and keeps on going tomorrow." He was the sweetest man I'd met in a while. So quirky and attentive. Would he even be the same at school though? Better yet would I even need his class? I hope so.

For now, I'd have to wait until tomorrow to spark up another conversation. Meaningless to him, not so much to me. He was a brilliant and kind man, something I admired. Being so beautiful helped out a lot too. I bet his students pay attention very well. I would miss a day or fail a single test.