+chapter.eight+

Diana sat in one of the chairs at the kitchen table, watching her thirteen-year-old son. “What’s got you so perky today?” she questioned, an amused grin on her face.

“Huh? Oh, nothin’,” Zac trailed. Would he be able to tell his mother that he had finally found a girlfriend after all this time without her freaking and telling him that he had to be careful? He was careful. He felt nothing for those other girls. Some were hot, yea, but he didn’t feel anything. But with Jennifer, things were different.

“Oh, come on. There has to be some reason,” Diana pried.

Zachary took in a deep breath. “Mom,” he started, “I’ve found a girlfriend.”

With that said, Zac jumped up, leaving his pop-tarts behind, and walking to the door, sitting down on the couch in the living room briefly to slip his Doc Martins on.

Diana sat at the table in slight shock. Her Zachary was the first of her three eldest boys to have a girlfriend? Well, the first that she knew of at least.

“I’m going out,” Zac called as he opened the door.

“Where?” Diana questioned, standing up and heading to the living room.

“With Jenn,” Zac replied. “I’ll be back before dinner.”

And with that, he left.

Isaac groggily climbed out of bed, his head still clouded, unsure if the previous day had been a dream. He’d had so many of those dreams…dreaming of the day when he’d meet a girl that he truly loved with all his heart. And Libby, she seemed to be that one. He gave a light sigh as he plopped himself down at the breakfast table, thinking as hard as he could, considering he just woke up, about the day before.

Isaac raised his eyes as he watched his mother walk through the kitchen door, looking somewhat speechless.

“Did you know that your brother has a girlfriend?”

“Which one?” Ike asked, confused.

“Zac,” Diana replied.

“Uh…what’s her name?”

“He said something about a Jennifer…I don’t know if that’s her or not…”

“YES!” Isaac jumped up out of his chair. “Mom, I’d love to chat, but I have to go take a shower. I’ve got a date.”

“Date? What is with it with these girls all of a sudden? I hope Taylor doesn’t have a girlfriend, too.”

Isaac had plenty to say to that, but kept it to himself. It would just waste the time that he had to get ready and go plant himself at Libby’s front stoop, ringing the bell.

Ike bounded up the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He had no time to waste. He couldn’t wait to see Libby again. She was so…amazing. He could totally relate to her and he thought that was just incredible. No one had ever been able to relate to him. Ever. But to find someone that he could talk to that wouldn’t laugh at him…

Ike threw on a pair of light brown pants and a black T-shirt with a thick stripe through the middle. He slipped his feet into his pair of Doc Martins, grabbed his keys, and was flying down the stairs. He stopped half way and smacked his forehead. “Money,” he muttered. He turned and ran back upstairs, grabbing his wallet from off the bed where he left it. He rushed down the stairs a second time, heading to the door. “I’ll be back later!”

“Before dinner,” Diana called back to Isaac.

He gave his eyes a light roll. He was eighteen. When would he be able to move out of that house?

Ike jumped in the driver’s side of his black ’98 VW bug and drove off to Libby’s, smiling the whole way.

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

Jennifer stepped off the last step and walked into the living room where her father sat in the recliner, watching television.

“Dad?” Jenn spoke meekly.

“What?” Arnold, Jennifer’s father, spat.

“M-May I go out today? Please?”

“No! You c—“ Arnold cut himself off, considering what she asked. It would be a way to get her out of the way for at least the day. “Yes. Be back before nine. You know what happened last night.”

Jennifer nodded, her insides so relieved. “I will be. Thank you.”

“Yea, yea. Are you leaving now?” he spoke coldly.

Jenn nodded once again. “Yes. Goodbye.”

Jenn walked out, picking up her wallet. She didn’t want to carry her whole bag. She didn’t even know where she was going to go yet. She closed the door behind her, heaving a sigh of relief. Her chest tightened again as she saw Zachary walking down the street, headed to her house. If he saw…they’d both be dead. Jenn jumped from her porch and jogged over to Zac.

“Hey,” he grinned.

“Hi,” Jenn smiled gently.

“I was just coming to see you.”

Jenn gave a light grin, her cheeks flushing.

“So, what have you been up to?” Jenn smiled lightly.

Zac’s grin widened, his tone only somewhat teasing. “Thinkin’ about you, Baby.”

Jenn blushed some more. “You seriously are too sweet.”

Zachary’s wide grin slowly softened as his arms crawled around her waist. “So watcha wanna do today?”

“I dunno…Let’s just get out of here,” Jenn spoke, her eyes trailing lightly to her house then back to Zac’s eyes.

Zac nodded, his brows furrowed some, showing his confusion. “Okay…”

Jenn flashed him a light smile as she wrapped her arm around his waist and they started to walk.

Zachary kept his arm securely wrapped around her waist just the same, walking up the street with her. Slowly, he lowered his mouth to her ear. “Where’re we going?” he whispered.

Jenn gave a light laugh as she shrugged. “It’s up to you. I don’t know the place all that well…”

“Weeeelll, let’s see…we could go to the park…or the arcade…or the lazer tag…or we could get some breakfast,” Zac gave an innocent grin to his last suggestion. Jennifer smiled. “I take it you didn’t eat yet?”

Zac shook his head lightly. “You did?” he asked, gently.

Jenn’s lips broke into a smile. “Nope.”

Zac grinned. “Cool, let’s go.”