+chapter.seven+

“Jenn?” he spoke softly.

“Mmmhmm?” she gave a soft reply.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded slightly. “Yea…”

“Can we talk?” he blurted.

Jenn looked up at the urgent sound in his voice. “Sure.” She sat up as he sat down at the foot of the bed. Slowly, she scooted down next to him and tried to read his expression.

“Jenn…right now…I’m feeling something…something big. And I don’t want it to change us negatively in anyway. Only positive changes.”

Jennifer nodded slowly again.

“Jenn…I…I think I love you…Really love you.”

As I sit here on the stairs,
It dawned on me, it’s you I need.

Jennifer stared at him, her eyes in awe. “Wow.”

Zac’s eyes didn’t move from her. They couldn’t.

“I…I don’t know what to say…”

“Just…just say you’ll be mine?” He watched her every move. The slightest move, face, could mean so much.

Her smile is brighter than the sun in June
We’ll get together like a bride & groom

Girl, I need you as my baby
Our love will grow like a flower in bloom

Jennifer stared into his eyes, her icy blue eyes soft and so…fragile. “Of course,” she replied, her voice steady and sure of what she was speaking.

Zac let out a huge sigh of relief. He smiled gently and opened his arms, welcoming her to a warm embrace. She leaned into his arms wrapping her arms under his and resting her hands on his shoulders. Zac slowly let his hand glide over her soft hair. “I love you so much,” he whispered. “I have loved you so much.”

“I love you too,” she whispered back. She gripped onto him as if for dear life. Her fear was so high…but her love for him…it was higher. She loved him to death as it was, but now…it was at a different level. She had questioned herself if her and Zac could ever make it like that. She dismissed the thought, not wanting to try anything. She was glad he said something though. She was so glad.

“Jenn, everything’s gonna be okay. I promise. I’m always here for you,” Zachary whispered. He wanted to take away all of her pain. He wanted to heal her wounds.

Jennifer nodded. “Thank you…so much. For everything. Without you…your family…I don’t know.”

“Shh,” Zac hushed. “Don’t worry. Really.”

Jennifer pulled away slowly and looked up at Zachary. “God, you are so special.” Zac smiled slightly. “So are you.” He looked down at her lips, then up to her nose, ears then eyes. He shook his head a bit. "You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

Jennifer blushed. “Naw…”

Zac shook his head more vigorously. “I mean it…I’m glad you changed the way you did. I always knew you were pretty…I’m glad you’re finally showing the rest of the world how gorgeous you are.”

Jennifer blushed again. “Thank you…”

“There’s no need to thank me…You made yourself look this good.”

“You’re really too sweet,” Jenn blushed again. She stifled a slight yawn.

“You tired, Baby?”

Jennifer nodded slightly.

“Aww, c’mon. Let’s get you some rest.”

“Stay with me?” Jenn asked quietly.

“I never planned on leaving.”

Jenn smiled a bit as she crawled up the bed some as Zac followed her. She laid down and he laid next to her, his arms immediately being wrapped around her. She laid a hand on his stomach, a wistful smile playing on her lips.

Zachary raised his head slightly and grazed his lips over her soft, sweet hair. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too…I love you too.” She closed her eyes, sleep almost immediately taking over her tired mind and body.

Zachary’s hand slowly continued smoothing her hair down gently. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered gently.

Jennifer’s only response was a wistful smile on her lips.

He smiled to himself and slowly let his eyelids drop. A short nap wouldn’t kill him…hopefully it would help. No…he knew it would help. He was with Jennifer. That’s why.