I took a shower while Zac lay on my bed. I didn’t want to smell like smoke when my parents came home. I washed my hair with Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner, I loved the way it made my hair smell. I quickly finished up my shower because I was eager to see Zac again. I walked back out into my room with my wet hair dripping into the towel wrapped tightly around me. Zac was still laying on my bed, his hand pointed in the air. He was counting the stars on my ceiling.

“How many are up there?” I asked him.

Startled, he stopped counting, “I didn’t realize you came in here, you’re quiet as a mouse!”

I smiled at him then turned around to my dresser to get some clothes. I picked out a pair of worn jeans that laid on my hips and my new JCrew pale yellow tank top.

“I’ll be right back, I’m going to go get dressed,” I told Zac.

His eyes were fixed on me and I smirked, “ok?”

“Huh?” Zac seemed in a daze.

“I’ll be right back.”

I swiftly put my clothes on in the bathroom and came back out to my room a minute or two later. I dried my hair off the best I could with a towel and then put it up in a massive bun.

“So, what do you want to do?” I asked Zac.

“Let’s go to Laser Quest!” Zac jumped.

I paused, “Oh.. I can’t. I’m grounded, remember?”

“Hmm, well, could you go to the river?” Zac asked.

“I guesso. I’ll leave a note so my parents know...”

I left the note for my parents and went off outside. We strolled through the woods, not running like we had done the first few times we’d gone to the river. We talked as I followed Zac through.

“Did you miss me?” I asked Zac.

“Yeah,” Zac turned around for a minute, “It was so weird not being able to see you or call you everyday. Well, I got to see you, I have your picture in my wallet, but not really see SEE you.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I replied.

“Did you miss me?” Zac asked.

“More than you’ll ever know,” I sighed as we arrived at the river. I sat down on a rock and Zac sat next to me.

“Is something wrong Sam?” I didn’t move at the question. I didn’t know how to answer.

“Sam, you’ve been acting strange ever since I got back. I mean, the smoking... and I dunno, you’ve just been...”

“Zac, I don’t really know what’s wrong. I mean, I do, but I don’t,” Zac nodded and watched me as I continued, “I feel, I feel like I’m no one. Especially without you here. I know myself as only a part without you, you’re the other part of me. I’m Zac Hanson’s best friend. That’s all I know myself to be...”

“You’re more than that Sam, you’re a lot more than that. You’re a bright, intelligent, and talented artist. You’re a great girl and you mean a lot to me, it’s true. I could ask you the same question, who am I if I’m not your best friend?” Zac tried.

“You’re Zac Walker Hanson, the youngest Hanson brother from the famous group of HANSON that wrote the hit number one single “MMMBop.” That’s who you are.” I began to cry, I couldn’t help it.

“Sam-- so, you want to see if you’re a smoker? That’s why you smoked?” Zac asked, and I barely nodded, my face was scrunched up because I was trying to stop the tears from rolling down my face. “I like you Sam, I like who you are. I think you’re cool.” I looked up at Zac with a few tears still in my eyes and smiled a bit. He smiled at me and said, “And I think you’re really pretty too.” My smile got even bigger and I stopped crying. I was glad because I felt like such a baby balling like that in front of Zac. “So, no more smoking?” Zac teased.

“Never.” I said. Zac took his hand and put it over top of mine. Our fingers intertwined and at that moment, I felt a total happiness that I hadn’t felt in a while. Zac was back with me. Maybe not for too long, but at that moment I could feel his hand on mine, he was there with me. I knew everything would be okay.