+chapter.fifteen+

"Hey, Baby," Diana spoke.

"Hey," Zac mumbled.

"Are you feeling alright? You went to bed early last night."

"I'm slowly dying of a broken heart."

"Oh, Baby...Don't worry. She'll come back. I'm sure. She's probably at a friend's house trying to sort things out.

"I hope you're right, Mom..." Zac sighed and walked out of the kitchen to the living room.

"So do I...So do I..."

Zac sat down only to stand up again. He couldn't sit around...he had to find her.

Zachary grabbed his shoes from the side of the couch and threw them on. "I'm going out."

"Don't be long," Diana replied.

"I'll be as long as it takes," Zac mumbled, walking to the door.

He took in a deep breath, grabbing the door handle, turning it, and pulling it open.

There he stood, face to face with Jennifer.

Zachary's eyes widened and he pulled Jenn into his arms tightly. "Oh my God. Are you okay?" He pushed her away to look over her. "Are you hurt? Cold? Scratched? Bruised? Cut?"

Jenn shook her head, tears welling up in her baby blues. "Only lonely."

"Oh God, Baby. No. Don't you be that because I'm right here. Always. Forever."

"Are you mad at me?" she asked quietly, tears spilling over.

"No. Baby...never. Never. God, I am so sorry. I should have stood up for you...God, I am so sorry," Zachary whispered, tears forming in his eyes. He had hurt her. How could he have? Zac pulled Jennifer close to his body. "Baby...I love you. Always and forever. No matter what."

He felt her body shake with sobs as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Shh...Baby...it's okay...shhh."

Jennifer pulled away some, wiping her eyes. "I missed you...God...I thought you were mad at me. But, Zac, I didn't do that stuff. And I know what I saw. I know. I am so positive of it."

"Baby...I believe you. I'm sorry it took so long to realize, but I believe you."

Jennifer looked into Zachary's eyes. He meant it. He really and truly meant it. Thank God too. She would break otherwise.

Zac looked back in her eyes. God, she seemed all alone...That was the last thing he ever wanted her to be. The absolute last. "C'mon inside...we'll get you cleaned up and you can rest some."

Jenn nodded. Being a 'fugitive' for one night was tiresome. What would one week have been like?

She entered the living room, following Zac, and up the steps. He led her to the bathroom.

"I'll try to dig up some clean clothes of yours..." Jennifer nodded and turned some. "Hey, Baby." Jenn turned back to look at Zac. "I love you."

"I love you too, Baby," Jenn spoke, a small smile on her lips.

About twenty minutes later, Zachary walked upstairs with a pair of Old Navy shorts and a black CK shirt. He had taken a run over to Jenn's to let her parents know that she was safe and was going to settle down some before going home.

Zachary placed the clothes at the foot of the bed and turned on the twelve inch TV on his dresser. He flipped through the channels. Nothing was on. Nothing was ever on when there should be.

Suddenly, the door opened and Jennifer walked in, a light blue towel wrapped around her body, and her hair still dripping.

Zachary sat up suddenly. "God..." he breathed. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" Jenn asked.

"Just walk in a room and take my breath away."

I never knew what love was,
Until you loved me.

Jennifer blushed. "I love you."

"I love you, Baby. So, so much."

Jennifer slowly moved a foot in front of the other and approached Zachary. Once she was close enough, Zac wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer. His lips brushed hers gently as both of their eyelids fell.

Zac slowly deepened the kiss, his lips parting slightly and his tongue making its way to her lips. He slid his tongue over her lips, tasting them, then began to lightly French her.

The two kept at it for a few minutes more, being slow and gentle with the other. Once they parted, the first words from their lips were the same as the last.

"I love you," Zac spoke lowly, perceiving each and every feature that she had.

"I love you too," Jennifer replied gently.

Zac stared at her more, backing up, sitting on the bed. "C'mere...I wanna hold my baby."

Jenn smiled, moving towards him, pulling her towel up to cover what should be covered.

Zachary wrapped his arms around Jennifer, cradling her gently.

Jenn let her eyelids fall and let out a light breath. She liked just lying in his arms.

"Baby?" Jenn spoke, lifting her eyelids and raising her head.

"Yea?" Zac replied.

"Don't ever let me go?"

Zac lowered his head onto hers and pulled her tightly to his chest. "Never, Baby. Never," he whispered.

Jennifer raised her hand and placed it on his chest beside her head.

"Jenn...I had no idea how much you really meant to me before I almost lost you. You are my life. It's scary. I've never felt like this about anyone else before...And having the first...and last...person to be my best friend. I dunno. It's so strange."

Jennifer nodded slightly. "I know, Baby. You...God, you are my heaven...my world, my angel, my everything. And I love you so much. So, so much."

Zac nodded. He knew. He knew exactly what she meant. He always knew. And, God, he was proud of it.

Zachary ran his fingers over her gentle hair. He was so positive of his love, so sure of it. He would prove it to her right then and there. He would make love to her. But he didn't want to pressure her into anything and his family was home. Not to mention they were young. He wanted it to be special, their first time. Just like their first kiss. Though it had been in Zac's hallway, it was still so special to him and he'd never forget it.

"Baby?" Jennifer's sweet voice cut through his thoughts.

"Yea?" Zac replied.

"Are you okay?"

Zac nodded, pulling her so close to him. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be? I'm with you."

Jenn smiled gently. "I dunno...you just looked worried."

"I was just thinking. Don't worry, Baby," he smiled.

"Of course I'm going to worry about you. I love you."

"I love you too, Baby. You know that."

Suddenly, the two heard footsteps approach the door.

Jenn jumped and grabbed her clothes from the bed. She shot Zac a confused look. He pointed to the closet and she quickly ducked in there where she proceeded to get dressed.

"Zac?" Isaac asked, opening the door.

"Yea?" Zac jumped slightly and turned around to face Ike.

Isaac took a breath to start talking, but let it out. "Where's Jenn?"

Zac gave a light shrug. "Bathroom?"

"Oh...okay...Anyway, I'm going out with Tamara and won't be back 'til late. Mom and Dad are taking everyone else to the carnival...Tay's only going to try to pick someone up. Anyway, you think you'll be okay?"

Zachary nodded. "Yea."

"Kay. Cool." Isaac turned to leave, but Zac spoke up.

"Hey, you think Mom and Dad'll be out late?"

"Not too late...but they won't be back for a few hours."

Zac nodded. "Okay. Cool. Thanks."

"Sure thing. See you later," Ike spoke.

"Aight. Have fun."

The door closed and Zac waited a few seconds before going over to the closet and knocking lightly. "Coast is clear," he spoke lightly.

Jenn walked out, the light blue towel and her Calvin Klein shirt in her hands. "Sorry...I don't mean to flash you, but it was really hot in there."

Zac shook his head. "Don't be sorry."

Jenn looked into his warm brown eyes, getting a sudden rush.

"Jenn...can I talk to you about something?"

Jennifer nodded. "Anything. You know that, Baby."

Zac nodded as he sat down and patted the open space on the mattress next to him. Jenn pulled her shirt over her head and sat down, the towel in her lap.

"Okay...uh...if you found the one you truly believed was your soul mate and the other person felt the same...and you both just knew and were both sincere...would you allow him to make love to you?"

Jennifer looked at Zac, kind of getting what he was hinting at. "Zac...are you asking..."

Zachary nodded slowly.

Jennifer stood up. "If we were safe...And I truly, truly, truly believed that he was the one."

Zac stared into her eyes...into that clear ocean of blue. He swallowed hard. "A-Am I the one?"

Jennifer stared back into his eyes and nodded lightly. "Yes," she whispered. "I truly believe you are."

"Then Jennifer?"

Jenn gave a light nod.

"Can I make love to you?" Zachary asked quietly.

Jennifer's eyes stayed locked with his. Slowly, she began to nod. "Yes, Zac...You can..."