+chapter.seven+

Libby smiled and nodded. “Sure.”

Ike smiled and they began to walk back to the hall. He slowly gripped her hand in his as the walked.

Once back at the hall, they went in the backstage area to see Zachary, sitting on the couch, Jennifer in his arms.

Ike and Libby smiled. “Hey,” Libby said, the small smile on her lips. Zac and Jenn both jumped, neither hearing them enter the room. “Hey,” they both spoke, blushing.

Jenn lifted her wrist and looked at her watch. She jumped up quickly, picking up her things. “Ohmigod, I am so dead!”

Zac looked at her confused. “What’s the matter?”

“I was supposed to be home forty-five minutes ago,” Jenn replied, throwing her light jacket on.

“You need a ride?” Ike asked.

“As much as I appreciate it, I really do, I have to say no…My dad’s really strict.”

Jenn grabbed a piece of paper and a sharpie from the table and began scribbling furiously. “Here…um, that’s my line…addy if you wanna write,” she handed Zac the paper and gave him a soft smiled. “See you guys…great concert. Talk to you later, Libby.” She waved and ran out the door.

Libby watched her friend leave. It wasn’t like Jenn to just bail like that.

Ike pulled Libby closer and put his arm on her shoulder.

Zac read over the note. After reading the first sentence, he jumped up yelling, “YES!”

Ike and Libby laughed. “What’s it say?” Ike asked.

Zac smiled widely. “She wants me to call her tonight.”

Ike smiled. “Go Zac.”

Libby laughed. “She liiiikes you.”

Zac looked at Libby. “Nu uh.”

“Yu huh.”

Zachary looked at Libby, recalling Jennifer’s soft words. “Okay…she does.”

Ike laughed. “I think you like her.”

Zac blushed a crimson color and nodded slightly. “I think I do too,” he replied quietly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jennifer was up in her room, her face tearstained. She was late and she had been punished for that. God, had she been punished. She sniffed and wiped her eyes. Zac would be calling soon and she had to be ready to pick up at the first sound of a ring. Or else she would be in trouble all over again. It was already about ten-thirty.

Jenn opened another box from the move. “Jenn’s CDs: Handle with Care” was written a few times in multiple places. She began pulling them out and placing them in her spinner. Jenn picked up her Hanson CD and examined it. She smiled at the sight of Zac’s face. Her smiled remained as she finished putting her CDs away.

Jennifer jumped when the phone, which was resting in her lap, rang lowly. She picked it up and hit the “phone” button. “Hello?”

“Hey,” she heard Zac smiling.

Jennifer smiled herself. “What’s goin’ on?”

“Nothin here. Just chillin’. What about you?”

“Unpacking. I have to many boxes,” Jenn smiled.

Zac laughed slightly.

“Hey sorry bookin’ it before…I didn’t want to seem rude or anything, it’s just—“

“It’s okay,” Zac interrupted. “I wanted to thank you actually…that’s the best time I’ve just about ever had at a concert.”

Jenn smiled. “I had a great time too. I mean, hanging with you and all.”

“Yea…me too. Then how you said yes…that topped off my day.”

“How you asked me…gave me the chance to say yes…that topped my day off.”

Zac smiled. “You know, you sound cute on the phone.”

Jenn blushed. “You too.”

Zac grinned. “Reaaaaaally?”

Jenn laughed. “Reaaaaaally.”

The two continued talking as Jennifer put her things away.

“Hey Jenn?” Zac asked.

“Yea?”

“Do you think maybe tomorrow, we can like, you know, do…couple stuff?”

Jenn smiled and blushed. “Yea…if you want.”

She could hear Zac blushing slightly also. “Course I do…I really like you…a lot.”

Jennifer’s smile didn’t fade any. It could only widen. “I like you too…tons. You’re really sweet.”

Zac frowned. “Jenn, I’m really sorry, but Ike’s kicking me off so he can call Liiiibby.”

Jenn laughed a bit, trying to hide her disappointment. “That’s okay. I guess call me tomorrow and we can do something.”

“Okay,” Zac agreed. “Talk to you then…sweet dreams.”

“You too,” Jenn smiled. “Night.”

“Night,” Zac waited for Jennifer to hang up before he did so. He looked at Ike and rolled his eyes. “Here.”

“Thank you,” Ike replied with a slight attitude. He hit the phone button and began dialing Libby’s number, walking out of the room.

Zac stuck his tongue out at his brother and rolled his eyes again. ‘What a dork,’ he thought. ‘He’ll probably be on that phone all night with her. And to think I only got like, fifteen minutes with Jenn. How rude.’

He shook his head and laid back on his trundle, sighing contently. She sounded so cute, so sweet, on the phone. He smiled wistfully, replaying the day’s events in his mind.