Zach Dempsey

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Please play music in the media throughout the one shot to get a deeper feeling

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(y/n) - your name

(y/m/n) - your favourite colour

(F/s/d) - favourite soft drink

"I'm sick of it, you know? Just because I don't have her skinny-ass body doesn't mean I'm fat!" The student at front of the class bursts out in tears as Sheri gets up from her desk and comforts her. You close your eyes, your head on your arms as music blasts through your earphones. You knew people were snickering at the girl and tsked in annoyance.

"Maybe she should try a diet." You hear the annoying voice of Pratters and take your headphones out.

"Says the fucking dickhead that has no common sense and picks on people to mask his own insecurities under that ugly ass hat you wear. Whatchu hiding under there anyway? You balding?" People burst out laughing and Pratters glare at you as you raise your hands, the middle finger up.

"I'm just saying, all right. If you're getting fat-shamed, then..." You raise a brow at Pratters.

"Don't even finish that fucking sentence twig." Pratters cowers slightly under your glare and shuts up.

"Pratters, that's like someone saying to you, 'Don't be an idiot and a dickwad.' Can't help it." Zach answers back and you cut in before Pratters could speak.

"Now think before you speak. Or do you not have the brain capacity to understand that you were just called an idiot and a dickwad." You state before plugging in your headphones again as soon as the bell rings. Pratters open and closes his mouth in confusion before understanding and gets up from his seat. He walks out of the class in anger and you laugh out loud, Pratters grumbling as he could hear you laugh.

"All right people, so remember the compliment bags." You wait until everyone has walked out of the class before you do, crossing your arms and leaning back on your chair with your eyes closed. "Um, it's always best to give a compliment to face, but sometimes it's easier to be anonymous." You hear the legs of chairs scraping against the floor, the chattering of numerous people and the cacophony of different footsteps. "All right. See you tomorrow."

"Is she actually falling asleep like that?" You heard Justin question thinking you were asleep before he walks out of the class, Zach chuckling at your state. You tried your best to not blush, overhearing his conversation with Hannah.

"I always feel stupid."

"Looking?"

"Yeah. Yeah."

"These are the stupidest, most embarrassing things that i check every day, no matter what."

"Right. Get a good one?"

"Nothing earthshaking. You?"

"Nada." You frown slightly hearing this. Zach was part of the popular kids. Part of the jocks. He was known by everyone, especially by the girls. You wondered why he wouldn't get any. You look at your arms sadly, knowing that he must feel lonely. People knew him, but not enough to write something.

You had known Zach since freshman year, developing feelings for the kind and gentle guy. You weren't close to him, but were more of acquaintances that you see everyday in class. Since you had him in almost all your classes that past few years. You would talk to him sometimes, only if you needed help or if he talked with you first. You didn't mind the lack of communication but treasured every moment you would have with Zach. You don't remember when exactly you fell in love with Zach, but didn't let it hinder how you interacted with him. It was hard sometimes to hide your feelings in some moments, but other times, you were amazing at hiding them from Zach. You loved to see how kind he was with everyone, seeing his smile he showed to those around him. Zach seemed to be a cheery person, someone who would hype up their friends with his energetic enthusiasm. You loved seeing Zach happy, it would always put a smile on your face to see his bright smile at school.

But lately, you noticed that Zach seemed to be more down, more tired then he usually would be. You don't question if his friends notice, since he always helps win their games in the competition against other schools. You would always go to see Zach at his basketball games and enjoyed watching his team play and enjoy themselves but sadden seeing Zach leave after the game. Almost as if he needed to be away from the crowd and just everyone else. You wanted to go confront him but hardly thought that you would make a difference. You were the quiet girl that everyone knew but didn't confront, seeing as you had a bad temper. You always kept to yourself, drawing away in your sketchbook while humming to the music through your headphones. You deemed yourself as any other ordinary girl, getting good grades and your goal being to graduating without drama and getting into college.

"Its kind of soul-crushing, you know?" You stare at Zach as he walks out of the classroom.

"Seriously? He's Zach Dempsey." Hannah says as Sheri stands next to her. "Does he really need compliments?" You stare at the last two girls as they exit the class. You slowly stand up with your bag on your back, a folded peace of paper resting softly in your hands. You smile softly staring at Zach's bag and quickly drop the note in his bag before exiting out of the class.

You yawned as you sat in your seat, communications class being ended. You watch as Zach checks his bag and his eyes widen. You smile softly seeing him smile brightly as he takes the note out and reads it.

"Looks like Big Z got one." Zach ignores the others, his eyes trained on your note.

"What is it anyway?" Justin asks and goes to snatch the note from his hand but Zach takes the note from his grasp, glaring at him. "Oh ho, ho. Looks like someone is protective."

"Now we gotta know whats on that note." Bryce smirks as Zach rolls his eyes.

"Nothing you would like guys." Zach folds the note as his friends roll their eyes and walk out of the class.

"So, what was on the note?" Hannah questions when Zach takes the note out again.

"A cute drawing of a bunny." Zach answers back as he shows them the note. Hannah smiles reading it out.

"'How's it going Zach? Ignore my terrible handwriting. Hope you've been smiling.' Thats really sweet of them." Zach nods as he folds the note and pockets it.

"Yo Zach." You call out and Zach and Hannah both jump, causing you to chuckle. "We're gonna be late for Bio." You smile to Zach as you head to the door.

"You're not going to check your bag?" Zach questions as you shake your head.

It has been a few weeks now and Zach has always received a note with a cute drawing on it. Everyday you would write one just the night before with a different animal and a sentence and Zach would always check his bag, eagerly waiting to get his one note. You would write different things, like a question of how Zach has been or how his day has been going, or a joke or even a picture of a meme. Zach loves these notes and you love seeing him smile receiving them. Your heart flutters seeing Zach having a smile for the rest of the day or even smiling after having a terrible day. You loved knowing that these notes you were writing made him smile. You were grinning brightly once again, hearing Zach laugh at the corny joke you wrote next to a drawing of a small goldfish blowing bubbles.

"Does it have a name this time Zach?" Hannah asks, smiling at the picture you drew.

"It doesn't. I really want to know who these are from." Zach mentions. You turn your attention to your bag.

"When will you check yours (y/n)?" Sheri asks and you frown while shrugging.

"I don't know." Sheri nods and walks out the door with Hannah. Zach soon follows and you walk out as well. "Hold on Zach!" You call out for him and Zach stops, smiling as you reach him. "Damn you and your height." Zach chuckles as he holds the door to bio open for you. "Why thank you." you chuckle before taking your seat. The teacher instantly walks in and starts handing out a criteria sheet for your next assignment.

"Ok students. This next one is group work. You will be in pairs to complete this task." Students start to whoop in joy as they start to pick their partners but is shushed by the teacher. "I will be picking your partners. Don't get your hopes up." Everyone groans out and you sit patiently, waiting to hear your name and who your partner maybe. "(y/n), you're working with Zach." You sit up in shock and turn to see Zach smiling at you. You smile back and turn to the front, ignoring the glares of other students, knowing you got paired with the smartest kid in the class. "You can go and start. Sooner the better." the teacher grumbles and you stand up while collecting your stuff and sit on the couch at the back of the class where Zach was.

"Do you want to start now or?" Zach asks and you shake your head.

"I can't think in this class. Everyone can't shut up." Zach chuckles and nods.

"So after school?"

"Sure. Your place or mine?" you ask as you get out your sketch book.

"Yours. My little sister has her friends over. If thats ok."

"I don't mind." You smile and Zach nods. You lean back on the couch hand rest with you sketch book on your lap. You hum to your music as you stare at Zach talking to his friends as you started to draw. After a while, you heard someone whistle behind you and you quickly snap your book closed. You turn around to see Bryce smirking at you and you roll your eyes, packing up your stuff when you realise the class was empty.

"The little artist you are." You stand up and Bryce hangs an arm around your shoulder. You push him away and his friends all chuckle, except for Zach. "Awe, come on (y/n). We are just having a little fun." You glare at Bryce and ignore him as you turn to Zach.

"So my place?" Zach nods and you both walk out of the school to your house. "My mum is working and my little sister is over at dads. So we have the house to ourselves." You open the door and enter the house with Zach following close behind. You lock the front door and lead Zach to your room. "I'll get some snacks."

"Sure." Zach nods and sits down at your desk as you go to the kitchen. Zach looks around your room and see how neat it was, the room brightly lit from the sun outside despite the dark walls. He sighed out, feeling comfortable in your room. Zach swivelled around in your chair to your desk and see a draw with a lock on it. His curiosity gets the better of him and he opens it, surprised that it was unlocked. Opening the draw, Zach sees other books and takes out the top one of the stack. He opens it to see pages filled with various drawings. Zach flips through in amazement until he stops at a page. He blushes seeing artworks of him in various scenes. One where he was laughing, another where he won a goal in basketball and others of just him smiling. Zach continues to flip through, seeing different portraits of many other students until he reaches the last page. His eyes widen when he sees the page filled with cute drawings of animals and his mind instantly goes back to his notes.

"No you didn't." Zach slams the book closed and turns to see your frightened figure at the door way, staring at the book that Zach held in his hands. You place the tray down on your table and take the book out from Zach's hands and put it back in the draw, locking it with the key around your neck. "How much did you see?"

"Just at the landscapes." Zach stutters, as he lies. You breath out in relief, thinking that Zach only saw the first few pages of the book and not his self portraits or the last page in the book.

"Shall we get started?" Zach nods.

"Zach, (y/n). You both did amazing on your assignment. You got the top mark." Your teacher says as you stood next to Zach. Your cheeks were flushed pink as you felt Zach lay a hand around your shoulder, bringing you closer  to him.

"Thanks teach. We both are pretty good partners." Zach says, smiling down at you as you only nod.

"You two should head off now. The bell had rung for the school ending. Don't want your parents getting worried." You nod and quickly run off, leaving Zach behind. You ran to your locker and place your head on it, relishing the cool surface on your hot head as your heart continues to pound in a fast rate.

Ever since you and Zach had started working on the assignment, he has been more touchy and always seemed to have more skin-ship with you. You remembered the first time it happened. It was the day you got the assignment and you two were working on it on your bed. Zach sat more closely to you, his shoulder touching yours. Since then, the skin ship grew. Zach would always have an arm around your waist when you two walked to biology, Zach sitting next to you in class, Zach hugging you when he greets you first in the morning and when school ends and Zach just being sweeter than he usually was. He would smile at you in the crowd when he played basketball or wink at you when you two passed in the hallways. You never stopped writing Zach his notes and notice that he started carrying around a small box with him, knowing that the box held your notes. No one questioned Zach and his interaction with you, as if they knew something you didn't.

You shake your head, trying to rid the burning in your cheeks as you get out your bag from your locker and other essentials. As you close the door, you shriek out in surprise seeing Zach leaning against the lockers next to you. He was smiling down at you, trying to hold in his laughter.

"Going somewhere?"

"Uh, yeah. Home." You mumble out.

"Do you want to hangout today? Go to Monet's?"

"Um, ah. I um, i actually have stuff to do. Um, at home. Sorry." You blush and run off home. You don't stop running until you reach your house and quickly opening the door and slamming it closed behind you. "Holy shit." You shake your head before heading up to your room. You quickly put your stuff down and take your phone out and unplugging your headphones. The music you were listening to continues to play out in full volume as you get ready to take a shower. With extra clothes in your arms along with your phone and towel, you enter the bathroom and take a shower. While washing your hair, you hear the front door open and know that your mum was home. You quickly finish and dry off, wearing your new clothes and took your dirty clothes in the washing before heading back to your room with your phone. You sing along with the song, dancing around before heading downstairs to greet your mum.

"Hey."

"Hello sweetie. I've got your favourite. They are in the fridge." You nod and open the door and seeing (f/s/d). You take one out and walk back up to your room, gulping down the drink and placing it on your table. You take out a book you were reading and jump back on your bed. After a while, you had started to fall asleep and don't notice the doorbell ring. Zach stood outside, waiting for the door to open and was greeted by (y/m/n).

"Hello (y/m/n)."

"Oh Zach! It's nice to see you. (y/n) is upstairs." Zach nods and heads up to your room, hearing the loud music. He opens the door and chuckles seeing the state you were in. You were fast asleep with a book resting open on your face. One leg was on the bed while the other was hanging off it, the same with your arms. Zach quietly walks to you on the bed and crawls on top, hovering over your body. He carefully takes the book off as you scrunch up your nose from the bright light hitting your face. Before Zach could get off you, you open your eyes to see him hovering over you, his legs straddling you.

"Zach!?" You blush bright red and rush back, hitting your head hard on the headboard. "Shit!" You mumble out in pain.

"(y/n)! Are you ok!?" Zach moves closer to you and grabs your face in both his hands while turning your head to see if you were ok. Zach lets you go, seeing that you were fine but doesn't move back. He smiles softly seeing you blush, noting how cute you looked. You moved back more but realise you had no more space. Zach moves in between your legs, his hands place on either side of your body on the bed. Zach was mesmerised at how beautiful you looked as you stared up at him with wide eyes. He knew he had fallen in love with you when he found out that you were the one sending him the notes. As corny as it sounded, he loved everything about you. The way you could defend yourself, defend others with your witty comebacks, the way your voice sounded when you would talk to him or start humming or the way you looked and your confidence. Especially when you danced like you had no care in the world. Zach didn't realise he was leaning down closer to your face when you called out his name.

"Zach?" you whispered and Zach shivered lightly, hearing his name roll out of your mouth. You leaned back, your head resting against the headboard as Zach leaned down more, your lips almost touching his. You didn't realise the room heating up slightly, or your bodies. All you could hear was your heart pumping in your head, your chest pounding from how hard your heart was thumping.

You stared up Zach, his dark brown eyes staring back at you as he closed the gap between you two, your eyes fluttering closed. As soon as your lips locked with his, a spark was felt and Zach presses his body closer to yours, his hands on your hips. You titled your head, deepening the kiss as you wrap an arm around Zach's neck, the other gripping his shoulder. The loud music reverberates through both your bodies, the kiss getting more intimate and passionate. Zach parts from your lips before reaching forward again and capturing your lips causing you to gasp. Zach slips his tongue past your bruised lips, tangling a hand in your hair as you moaned softly. Your body starts to heat up as the music causes your heart to pound more against your chest, you gripping Zach's shoulder tightly as you needed air. Zach reluctantly parts from your lips, leaving you panting and shaking slightly under his body. Zach pants lightly against your lips, staring into your eyes as you slowly open them. Zach lifts a hand up and caresses your red cheeks lovingly.

"Thank you for the notes (y/n)."