Chapter 2 - Edited by tatergross

ZACK’s POV

I was still in the depth of my kiss when she suddenly pushed me and start running down stairs. I was dazed and when I realised what had happened, she was already gone. I quickly made my way downstairs but I couldn’t seem to find her anywhere. God, she’s really fast.

I went to Amy, I had to know who she was, “Amy!” I yelled her name when I saw her talking to her friends.

“Hey, Zack,” she smiled. “I didn’t know you came,” she replied, kissing my cheek.

“Yeah, I came in late,” I told her, “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Yeah, sure what’s up?” she asked.

“There was a girl using your room just now. Who was she?” I asked her urgently.

“Hmm, Lisa and Sue were using it and before that…” she said thinking. “I think it was Zara, Jenny’s cousin. Why?”

“Are you sure it’s Jenny’s cousin?” I doubted.

“Yeah, why?” she asked.

“She doesn’t look like Jenny,” I said to her still not believing her.

“What? You think Jenny’s cousin has to look like her?” she laughed. “Why are you asking Zack? Do you want me to introduce you to her?”

“Who? Jenny’s cousin?” she nodded excitedly. “No thanks. Not interested,” I bluntly told her and walked over to the guys. I don’t want Jenny’s cousin I want my dream girl I told myself. I must find out who she was.

*****

ZARA’s POV

We went straight to our rooms when we got home. I didn't tell Jenny what happened. I couldn’t tell her that I kissed a stranger. I couldn’t believe I’d lost my first kiss to a complete stranger. My first day in LA I’ve already kissed Orlando Bloom look alike, except he’s younger of course.

Lying on the bed, I touched my lips, feeling the heat from the kiss. If kissing a stranger felt this good, I wonder how it would feel kissing someone you love. Like the way I’d seen my parents kiss each other.

That’s it, no more, I told myself. I’ll never kiss a stranger again. I’ll only kiss someone I love. I must keep reminding myself not to lose my head again.

I woke up at 8:30 the next morning. After showering I put on my T-shirt and boxer shorts, after I went downstairs and straight to the kitchen.

 “Good Morning”. My uncle was sitting at the table with a mug of coffee and newspaper in his hands.

“Morning sweetheart, sleep well?” my uncle replied.

“Yeah, thanks. What’s cooking?” I pulled out a chair and poured myself some orange juice.

“Pancakes”. My aunt smiled sweetly. “So how was the party? What time did you both get back?”

“12:30, the party was great. Jenny introduced me to her friends and they're all great”. I also kissed a stranger last night, I silently thought.  “We’re all going shopping today. Is that ok?” I asked them.

“Sure hon. Do you need any extra money?” my aunt asked.

“No, I’m ok. I still have some left from what you gave me the last time I visited,” I chuckled.

“Tell me if you need it, ok? Just remember, it’s your money but I’m just taking care of it,” she said.

“I will. I trust you to take better care of the money, just like mom & dad. I just hope that I’m not a burden to both of you,” I said softly.

“Don’t your ever say that! You are never a burden. We both love you as much as we love Jenny.You are part of our family now. We will always be here for you. Remember that!” seeing tears build up in her eyes, I got up from my seat and hugged her tightly. I couldn’t stop my own tears.

“I love you Aunt. I love all,” we were both sobbing. My uncle got up from his seat joining in the hugging.

“Can I hug too?” Jenny suddenly appeared looking very sleepy.

“Sure honey. Come here,” my uncle laughed, extending his hand.

******

ZACK’s POV

I was unable to sleep that night. I couldn’t get my mind off her. God, she was beautiful, her face, her hair, her body, her lips, I could still taste the sweetness of her kiss. I need to find out who she was. She couldn’t be Jenny Cunningham’s cousin. She was so different from Jenny. Jenny has blond hair and crystal light green eyes while she has beautiful brown hair and her eyes, they were beautiful light brown. They turned dark brown when she got angry but they glowed when she wanted me to kiss her. I wondered how they would look when she smiled, must be amazing.

I woke up late that morning still thinking about the mystery girl. I really wanted to get to know her. I wanted to taste those sweet lips of hers again. My god, what is happening to me? I’ve never felt like this towards any girl before. I must have gone crazy.  I really need to get her out of my mind so I decided to ask the guys to go to the mall with me to buy some new clothes or maybe go to the arcade.

We were at the Burger King getting a bite to eat when I spotted a girl who looked like my mystery girl. I quickly excused myself from the guys and started looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.  Feeling frustrated with myself I turned around to return to my friends when suddenly someone accidentally bump into my chest. I was holding her to avoid both of us falling.

“Oops sorry.” she said softly.

“It’s ok. It’s my fault too. I wasn’t looking where I was going...” I didn’t finish my thought because there she was, right in my arms smiling shyly at me. She stiffened up when she saw it was me and gave me a glare.

I was so happy I could jump for joy. Finally we meet again, “Hey. Nice meeting you again beautiful, you disappeared last night. We should really stop bumping into each other like this,” I said trying to move closer to her.

She put her hand in front stopping me from coming any closer. “Last night was a mistake. You know how parties always make people do crazy things. So I think you might as well forget me and leave me alone. This time if I scream rape, you will surely be taken to jail. Don’t make me do it,” she warned.

I chuckled, “I’m not gonna do anything. I just want us to introduce ourselves. I’m Zack by the way.” I said extending my hand to her for a hand shake and smiled.

She smirked and shook my hand “Nice meeting you, Zack,” then she tried to walk off.

“Hey wait,” I grabbed her hand. “Aren’t you gonna tell me your name?” I asked.

“Nope, I don’t give my name to strangers,” she replied simply.

“Even one you’ve kissed?” I reminded her and saw her body tense.

“No. Now let my hand go before I scream” giving me a warning look, pulling her hand away from me.

I sighed, “Alright, I’ll let you go for now. I’ll definitely know your name soon. You can bet on that,” I promised her.

“Whatever,” she smirked and walked away from me.

I yell to her, “Once I get your name, I’ll make sure I never leave you alone.”

She turned to look at me, giving me a seductive smile, then blew me a kiss and waved goodbye. God, I felt like grabbing her into my arms and kissing her until she begged for more.

I went back to the guys feeling frustrated with myself. God, I still didn’t know her name. ‘Am I loosing my charm with the girls?’ I asked myself. Normally girls would want me to kiss them and they would be the ones who would tell me their names without being asked, but this one girl whom I’ve kissed has totally ignored me and refused to let me know her name. Damn, I unconsciously hit the table making the guys jump in shock.

“Hey, what’s wrong dude?” asked Brad.

“Nothing, I’m sorry,” I apologized shaking my head.

“I think there’s something wrong,” pressed Brad. God, he really knew me.

I sighed, “Do you think I have lost my charm?” I curiously asked all of them. They looked at me like a weirdo and then laughed.

“Why, Zack?” asked Ryan in between his laughs. “A girl manage to slip through your fingers?”

“Yeah,” I told them, “Seriously, I’ve even kissed her and yet she doesn’t want to tell me her name. You know what she said to me? ‘She never gives her name to strangers.’” showing them my frustration.

Their laughs became louder, Jason even nearly fell off his chair for laughing so hard. I glared at them. “Guys, stop laughing!”

“Sorry, dude,” laughed Danny. “I think you really have lost your charm with the ladies,” and rest of them laughed with him.

I shook my head; I was annoyed with all of them. Brad looked at me and smiled, “Don’t worry dude, I don’t think you have lost your charm. Look at the group of girls over there, they all are drooling over you,” he said pointing toward the group of girls sitting a few tables away from us. They were giggling at us and when they saw me looking, they started giving me seductive smiles.

“You know what,” said Jason looking at me, “I think this particular girl is playing hard to get with you. Maybe she heard some bad things about you and really trying to avoid you. Or, maybe,” he continued slowly “she already has a boyfriend.”

Oh my god, I started to think. What if she already has a boyfriend? Maybe that’s the reason why she ran away that night and today when she saw me again she asked me to forget about it. Maybe she’s scared that her boyfriend would find out about us.

“Man, what are you thinking?” asked Danny.

I sighed, “Maybe Jason is right. Maybe she already has a boyfriend. That’s why she’s avoiding me.” I lifted my fingers to my head and started massaging my temples.

They were looking at me with concern “Are you ok?” asked Brad softly.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I sighed again looking at him sadly. “But what am I gonna do if she already has boyfriend?”

“Zack, there other fish in the sea,” said Brad. “Relax dude, you don’t even know that she has a boyfriend or not. Who knows maybe she’s just playing hard to get,” assured Brad, ”and if she is, all you have to do is use all that charm you have to woo her,” he laughed slapping my back. I smiled and silently prayed.

“So,” Brad said again smiling at me, “Who is this Cinderella?” he asked.

“Cinderella?” I asked him with a questioning look on my face.

“Yeah,” interjected Ryan. “In the fairytale Cinderella leaves a shoe for her prince charming to find her, but your Cinderella left a kiss for you to dream of her,” and they laughed at me.

I laughed with them. Yeah, Cinderella I’m gonna find you and if you are available I’m not gonna let you go, ever.