After the Fight
Zach sat in the school office with his head in his hands, listening to Principal Haviland’s terse voice on the phone explaining the situation to his parents. He was shaking with anger, and a rush of adrenaline coursed through his body like a current of electricity. He dropped his hands and stared at his swollen knuckles, bloody from the wounds of his victims. He tried to rub them clean on his pants, but the smears were already dry. He couldn’t believe he had just ruined the best night of his life with his impetuous actions. Why was his first instinct to pound the crap out of those lowlifes? He could’ve just confronted them instead, told them to knock off the perverted comments. He was bigger than them, older, obviously stronger. A few threats and a dirty look should’ve been enough. What on earth had possessed him to attack them like that, right in the middle of the dance? He knew what, or rather who — Cody.
This was exactly the kind of trouble Cody had caused back when Zach was a kid trying to convince himself Cody didn’t exist. After Zach’s bizarre behavior landed him in the psych ward, Cody had toned it down a little, and Zach eventually grew strong enough to maintain control, or so he thought. He hadn’t really interacted with Cody in years. He knew he was still there, of course. He could sense him, always watching, always listening, but Zach resolutely ignored him. What had motivated Cody to act out now? Before Zach had a chance to analyze it, Mr. Haviland hung up the phone and headed his direction.
“I thought you were a pretty good kid, Zach.” Mr. Haviland sighed as he approached. He stopped directly in front of Zach and stared down at him, then leaned back against his desk. “I haven’t had a bit of trouble from you before. You wanna tell me what just happened?”
“I’m sorry, sir. They just said some things that… There’s no excuse for my behavior. I just lost it. I promise it will NEVER happen again,” Zach repented, making brief eye contact before dropping his eyes to his lap in shame. There was no way to explain to Mr. Haviland that he would never have done anything like that.
Principal Haviland sighed again and stared off into the hallway for a few seconds, debating. “I know Vince and Mason, Zach. I know what kind of kids they are. I’m sure you were provoked. But attacking them the way you did is a criminal offense, Zach. You’re technically still a minor, but if they decide to press charges you could be in serious trouble with the law.”
Zach’s eyes popped open and he jerked his head up to stare at Mr. Haviland. He knew he would probably get suspended or maybe even expelled, but arrested? He hadn’t considered that possibility. He doubted Cody had either.
“I’m going to do my best to encourage them not to do that, but they have every right to.”
“I understand, sir.”
“You’re parents are on the way. I’m going to go talk to Vince and Mason now. As far as school is concerned, I think a week’s suspension is appropriate. Save the fighting for the wresting team, Zach.”
“Yes, sir. I will, and, for what it’s worth, I’m really sorry,” Zach offered sincerely.
“You might want to say that to them, son.” Zach nodded as Mr. Haviland left his office and headed for the nurse’s.
As soon as Zach was alone, he started in on Cody. He was out of practice talking to him, but he let his anger lead the way. “What the heck was that about, Cody?!” Zach muttered through gritted teeth. “Do you realize how much trouble we could be in? Did you hear Principal Haviland? We could be arrested for this!” He jumped from his chair and began to pace erratically as he ranted. “We’re already suspended. Do you have any idea what that’s going to do to my grades? The school year’s almost over! There’s no way I’ll be able to pull my grades back up in time. I’m already getting a C in history. What if I end up failing? What is wrong with you?! Are you trying to ruin my life?!” Zach practically yelled, but Cody made no reply. “What? Don’t you have anything to say for yourself, Cody? You only know how to talk with your fists?”
“Oh, so you believe I exist now, huh. Convenient. When you don’t want me around I’m a figment of your imagination, but when you need a scapegoat I’m suddenly the root of all your problems,” Cody finally responded.
“I know you’re real, Cody, I just didn’t want you to be. I never asked to share my life with you, and I don’t appreciate you trying to take control of it!”
“You think I want to be stuck with you? It’s not like I have a choice! Do you have any idea how miserable it’s been to live with somebody who won’t even acknowledge you? I have nobody, Zach, nobody! You’re the only person in the whole world who knows I exist and you’ve spent most of our life pretending I don’t! I’m not trying to ruin your life, Zach, but you sure have ruined mine!”
Zach was primed to respond to Cody’s rant, but his last words hit home and gave Zach pause; his mouth hung open as he contemplated what Cody had said. He didn’t know why he had never thought of it that way, but for a moment he actually saw things from Cody’s perspective. His eyes clouded over as he realized his guilt.
“I’m sorry I started the fight,” Cody continued. “I know it was wrong. I just really like Paige, and I couldn’t stand to see those jerks talking about her like that. I’m sorry it’s been so miserable to have me around.”
Zach sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. “I might’ve done the same thing even if you weren’t there. I was awfully ticked off myself,” Zach admitted. “I guess I never really thought about your side of things. It’s probably been pretty miserable for you, too. I guess maybe I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk.”
“Maybe we can just start over, you know? You don’t have to tell anybody about me, but can’t we at least talk once in a while? It’s lonely in here. I promise I’ll never try to take control of your body again,” Cody pleaded.
“I think I could probably deal with that,” Zach agreed, a small smile softening his face. “So you like Paige, huh?”
“Who wouldn’t?!” Cody exclaimed. “She’s smokin’ hot!”
Chick Flick Side Effects
“THAT was SO romantic!” Paige swooned as she and Zach exited the movie theater, swinging their entwined hands in the tiny space left between their hips. “Don’t you just love how they found a way around their differences so they could be together in the end? It’s amazing how love motivates people.”
“Yeah, just look at us. I would never in a million years have gone to that movie if it wasn’t for you…” Zach teased, knocking his hip into hers with a grin.
“It was your idea!”
“Yeah, but only because I knew how much you would love it, and I wanted you to have a good time. Plus, I’ve heard that romance movies are a turn-on for girls.” Zach winked.
“Zachary! Do you honestly believe that a chick flick is all it takes to get me to make out with you?”
The two were nearing Zach’s car, so Zach closed the gap between them and placed his hands on either side of her, trapping Paige between his chest and the car door. His hips made contact with hers as he lowered his lips to within an inch of her mouth. His musky cologne and warm breath filled her nostrils, and the heat from his large, muscular body radiated around them, overwhelming her with his closeness. Her heart pounded, and she gasped as his nearness overtook her. He leaned in and barely grazed her lips with his before stepping back, leaving a wide berth between them.
“Only if you want to,” he said with a cocky smile.
Paige threw herself into his embrace, pressing every inch of her body up against his and winding her hands in his hair, pulling his lips to hers, desperate from the loss of contact. “Maybe you’re right,” she mumbled into his upturned lips.
The two explored each other’s mouths and bodies, touching and kissing and caressing till they were both panting and breathless. Finally, Zach pulled away with a groan. The cool night air quickly evaporated the fine layer of sweat on their skin, and Paige shivered.
“Let’s get out of the cold,” Zach suggested, opening the door for her. “I don’t think my parents are home. Do you want to go to my place? I mean, just to… hang out… or whatever?”
Paige smiled at his awkwardness. “That sounds great, Zach.”
A few minutes later, Zach led Paige up the lighted path to his front door and ushered her into his home. A small table lamp in the entryway illuminated a cozy living room, and Paige looked at the cushiony sofa in expectation, but Zach led Paige by the hand down the short hallway towards the bedrooms and opened the door on a small room painted a rich navy blue. Wrestling trophies cluttered a tall dresser in the corner, and a large bed dominated the middle of the room. A wide, flat screen TV hung on the wall, and stacks of movies and video games were piled on the console beneath it. The room smelled musky and earthy, and Paige felt like she was entering a secret man cave.
“This is my room,” Zach explained unnecessarily and Paige nodded, suddenly nervous.
Zach led her over to the bed and perched on the edge, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Um, what would you like to do?” he gulped.
“Can we just talk?” Paige replied, scooting back against the headboard and patting the spot next to her with a smile.
“Sure,” Zach readily agreed. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know; I just want to get to know each other a little better.” Paige shrugged. “What’s your favorite color?”
Zach chuckled. “You really care what my favorite color is?”
“Of course! A person’s favorite color says a lot about them.”
“Well, what do you think it is? Take a guess.”
Paige glanced around the room, taking in the dark blue walls and cobalt curtains. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess blue,” Paige answered with a grin.
“Amazing deduction, Sherlock,” Zach teased.
“Now you have to guess mine.”
“Hmm,” Zach stalled, rubbing his chin as he pondered. “I think that’s a trick question,” he eventually replied, recalling her rainbow-hued bedroom. “I don’t think you have a favorite color, I think you like anything as long as it’s bright and wild.”
“Impressive! I think you deserve a prize for that one.”
“Oh yeah? What kind of prize?”
“How ‘bout a kiss?” Paige taunted, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I think a kiss is a perfect prize,” Zach leaned in, wrapping his arm around her as his lips took hers in a soft caress.
“My turn.” Paige smiled when the kiss ended. “Ask me a question about you.”
“Okay, what’s my favorite food?”
“That’s a tough one! Let’s see, your family is Italian, and you liked my mom’s fettuccine, so I would say maybe spaghetti, but since they called you Spaghetti Pasquetti in elementary school you probably didn’t like that, so… pizza?”
“Nobody ever called me Spaghetti Pasquetti! Who said that?”
“They didn’t?”
“Not to my face anyway. I probably would’ve decked ‘em! Where’d you hear that?”
“Oh um, nowhere I guess,” Paige stammered, her face growing the color of Zach’s hair. “I must be thinking of someone else…”
“You know somebody else named Pasquetti?”
“I called you that, okay?!” Paige admitted, burying her face in her hands. “I always thought your curly red hair looked like a plate of spaghetti so that’s what I called you in my mind! I guess I forgot it was just me. Are you mad?” Paige squeaked, peeking out between her fingers.
“You had a nickname for me back when we were little kids?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry it was mean.”
“I didn’t know you knew who I was back then,” Zach replied with a look of surprise.
Paige shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess you were just… memorable.”
“Well, I guess I’m glad I made an impression on you, even if it wasn’t the greatest one.”
“Don’t worry, you made a much better impression on me the last few years…”
Zach raised an eyebrow. “Years? I’ve been ‘impressing’ you for years?”
“Well, you got a whole lot cuter in high school. Those wrestler muscles are pretty hard to ignore,” Paige admitted with a wink, squeezing his bicep.
“You like my muscles?” Zach flexed his arms.
“Uh huh.” Paige nodded, running her hands along his thick arms and down his rock hard chest. “You have great arms… and a great chest.”
Zach’s eyes grew dark. “I don’t think you want to get me thinking about chests,” Zach muttered, his gaze dropping to Paige’s tight vee-neck sweater that offered just a hint at the lush curves beneath. Paige’s breath quickened as he stared, causing her chest to rise and fall exaggeratedly.
“So was I right? Do I get a prize?” Paige breathed.
“Isn’t pizza everybody’s favorite food?” Zach replied and claimed her lips with his.