+chapter.ten+

Reluctantly, she sat up and looked at the clock. It was eleven-thirty already. After getting up and brushing her hair, Jennifer changed into a clean change of clothes. She walked out of her room and saw her mother heading up the stairs. "Jenn, you're up."

Jennifer gave a small smile and nodded. "Yea, what's up?"

"Mrs. Hanson called. She said Zac was asking for you...After breakfast, she asked that you come-if you want to that is."

Jenn nodded again, her smile staying put. "Of course...I'm just gonna have a Pop Tart...And I can eat that on the way."

Daisy nodded and rubbed her daughter's arm. "Everything's going to be okay."

Jenn nodded. "I know. Thanks, Mom."

Daisy gave a soft smile and patted Jenn's shoulder.

"I'm gonna go get that Pop Tart."

"Alright. Take your time. I'll be outside."

"Kay," Jenn replied, jogging down the stairs.

Around noon...

Jennifer walked into Zachary's room. Some color had returned to his face since the night before. He was resting on his bed peacefully.

Jenn smiled at his innocent face. She set the small brown teddy she had bought for him on the side and sat down in the same chair she did the night previous. She began to think, floating farther away from reality. When Zac came to her door, he had said he wanted her...was that the truth? Or was that just something that came from the substance?

She shook her head and looked out the window at the bright day.

"Hey." The word broke through her thoughts, causing her head to turn to the bed. "Hey," Jenn spoke softly. "You feeling any better?"

Zac nodded some. "Yea, a little...you should have woken me up."

Jenn shrugged. "You looked too peaceful..." She offered a soft smile.

Zac smiled too, but it quickly faded. "Hey, um, I'm sorry about...about last night. I'm sorry if I scared you...or anything. Those kids...they just...They were following me...Then I felt something jam in my arm. God, I'm sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt or scare you."

Jenn shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "The only thing that I was scared about was when you collapsed. If anything happened to you...God...And you have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong. Nothing."

Zac's eyes were slowly filling up. If he ever hurt her...he would never forgive himself. He slowly opened his arms for a hug. Jennifer leaned in and felt his arms wrap around her in a warm, tight embrace.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice slightly wavering.

"I love you too." She lifted her head and looked at him. "Oh, Baby..." she trailed, her eyes beginning to overflow. "Don't do that...not over me..."

Zac breathed a slight laugh. He let her go slightly and moved over. He patted the bed slightly. "C'mon up."

Jenn slowly got up on the bed and laid down next to him. Zachary wrapped his arms around her and held her close, sniffing slightly and brushing his eyes quickly with the back of his hand. Zac rested his head on the top of hers. "Wh...Did I say anything bad? To hurt you?"

Jennifer shook her head. "No...Baby, no...Even if you had, it wasn't you...it wasn't your fault. At all."

Zac gave her a tight squeeze. "I didn't say anything? Nothing that made you uncomfortable?" He pushed her away slightly to look into her deep, ocean blue eyes.

Jennifer stared back at him. The only thing that made me...think, was when you said you 'wanted to get with me'. That's it...and it didn't really hurt or bother me any...it just made me think..."

"Baby, I'm sorry...I really am. If you need me, I'm here. To talk or anything."

Jennifer nodded, her eyes locked with his. "I know, Baby. Thank you...And the same goes for you. I'm here for you...for everything."

Zac nodded and kissed Jennifer's forehead. "God, I love you...so much. Webster hasn't found the words to describe how much.

Jennifer smiled gently into his deep brown eyes. His words were so sweet, so tender. God, she loved him. And they had only been "official" for a day. Slowly, Jennifer lowered her head to Zachary's shoulder. Zac stroked her hair, his hand moving slowly over it. He kissed her soft hair gently and both of their bodies completely relaxed.

I believe it's love, Baby.
Hard to believe it came this fast.
I believe it's love, Baby.
I know we're young, but we can make it last.
I believe it's love.

Jenn raised her head up. "Do you know when you're coming home?"

"Later today probably," Zachary replied, his voice low and gentle.

Jennifer took in a deep breath, inhaling Zac's sweet comforting scent. "Good...I can't live without you there...it's so strange."

Zac held her closely, rubbing her arms gently. "Baby, I'm always here for you. Always. I love you. I have loved you. For thirteen years. Maybe not the same way as now, but I did...do...without you, God, I wouldn't have anything right...anything familiar when we get back home. You're the only one that stuck with me...The only one. You believed in me to stay the same...so I did. Thank you...for everything."

Jenn rested her arm across Zac's stomach, holding herself to him. "Baby...Thank you. For believing in me. God, I've gone through so many changes, physically and mentally. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me...I always knew you were so worth any attention you got from me. So worth it."