15 | Z A C K

I took off my shirt and tossed it on the sofa before propping down on the bed. The night is so quiet except the chirping and squeaking of raccoons or possibly birds. It's almost 11:00pm but because our neighborhood is calm and peaceful, everyone is in bed. I reached out and switched off the lamp before laying on my back and covering myself with the thin comforter.

My mind was blank for several minutes. I can't tell whether I'm dreaming or not but I heard a faint thump sound on the floor, as if someone quietly jumped on the floor. I didn't bother to dig into it. Probably just the tree branches howling.

A moment later, I feel a silky hand move around my torso, slowly tracing my abs. A warm energy like electricity zipped inside me and it filled my body with the most heated energy. I'm probably imagining things but it feels so real. The hand lay flat on my chest before a soft, feminine body was pressed against mine.

The hand didn't stop there. It wanders around my upper body, the tightness in my chest and throat snapped and a rush of adrenaline and uncontrollable need rushed through my body as though a floodgate had opened. This is not a fucking dream. There's a stranger, possibly a woman in my bed in the middle of the night caressing me. I didn't hesitate to think that it wasn't any of my family members. My sisters would never do that. Gross.

I decided to play along until the right time comes to catch the culprit. It could be a psycho serial killer who just broke out of the psychiatric and I'm her next victim. But why do I feel this intense sentiment?

The hand runs down my side and my muscles bunched underneath the fingertips. It stops there and circles the sensitive portion there. The hair on the back of my neck bristled and a cold shiver coursed down my spine. My eyes almost tightened in delectation. My body seemed more than okay to go with the flow and enjoy the ride but I know I have to end this. If I don't act now, I would be able to find the intruder.

In one swift move, I caught both hands and raised them above the intruder's head. I climbed on top of the person and with one hand holding her long, slim wrists, I reached out and switched on the lamp. I know why she didn't struggle when I pounced on her.

Daisy lay beneath me with a lazy smile and droopy eyes threatening to sag close. Her hair was messy and tangled carelessly around her. I looked down out of curiosity to see for myself what she's wearing, only to find her in a small, stretchy bandeau that barely covers her boobs and a sweat short. I can't believe this sneaky little rat tricked me again.

"You enjoyed it. You want me," she said idly with a faint smile.

I pressed her hands into the bed deeper and crouched lower, my breathing fanning her hair. My knees tightened around her hips to trap her. "What are you doing here?"

She giggled as if she was drunk. "You enjoyed it!"

I covered her mouth with my palm to stop her from announcing her presence to the world. "Shut the fuck up!" I yelled but in a whisper. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

I remove my hand from her lips when she kissed my palm and I let her get away with it. "I was all by myself back home. You're the only other option I have."

Liar. "What happened to your parents and sister?"

She yawned in the middle of my speech and gave a soft laugh to cover the wave of relief and longing. "They went camping for the night. I was alone and bored. Can you imagine being left alone underage while pregnant? Sounds hard, right?"

Daisy is a very rebellious child. I'm pretty sure her parents are trying to do anything to have her in control. A parent's love for their child has no boundaries. It's a sad moment, really, when parents first become a bit frightened of their children. We never know what they go through until we become one ourselves.

"What do you want, Daisy?" I said, ignoring her last comment. I know her parents are as sweet as Jenna. Nothing reflected in Jenna that portrayed a bad home upbringing.

"You're kinda heavy and I'm pregnant with your baby. Don't you think it's a little bit dangerous to be in this position? Unless you want us to do more than that." She wiggled her eyebrows to insinuate the suggestion.

I gave her last look over before moving away. She didn't try to run, instead, she lay there, her eyes rummaging the bedroom. With my head slightly tilted towards her, I lay next to her, watching her instead.

The night was black tranquillity and freckled with stars. . It was the softness that called body and brain to rest and let the heart go to its steady rhythm. I could feel my own soul in the innocent inborn spark. It allows my eyes to rest and let my dream take the centre stage. I enjoy nights like this, filled with shadow emanated stars and a pleasant silence.

"Were you a virgin?" The question popped out of nowhere from the lady idling next to me.

I was not a virgin when we screwed. I don't really remember much information about my first time but I know the time. The girl was a nice sweetheart. She wasn't a virgin, neither experienced. We agreed to meet up and have our way before she leaves. Her father was transferred to New York for his work and they were leaving the next day. Since then, I don't know about her whereabouts.

"Why do you want to know?" I asked instead.

Her chest rose up and down in a steady pace. "You acted like a famished lion in bed that night. It felt like you've never done it before."

"I wasn't."

Her quick and shallow breathing was loud in my ears. It is the loudest sound in the still room. I wonder why I didn't kick her out of the room. My parents rarely check on me because I go to bed very late, sometimes after they went to bed. Even if they will come, they will find the room locked.

"Can I snuggle next to you?" She asked in a rather, surprisingly calm tone. Her voice has an aspirate quality. There seems always to be too much breath for the amount of tone.

I wasn't prepared when she propped her chin on my chest and her thin arms grabbed mine and brought it closer to her chest. She looked up at me with a smile and snuggled closer. I rolled my eyes but said nothing.

"I'm sorry for threatening you with the pregnancy." Her voice was so calm I almost can't believe she said it herself. Turn of events. The bad girl is apologising for her wrong deeds. I'm absolutely sure today will be the day pigs fly.

"Now you're apologising?"

"Yeah, I am." She took a deep breath, as if to perceive my scent. "I overreacted when I saw you with my worst enemy. I'm sorry. You have every right to be friends with whoever you want. I was being selfish for trying to stop you. I don't want you being in your child's life by force. You cab walk out if you want. I can take care of myself and my kid."

"But I want to be part of it." I silently replied. "I want to support you throughout the pregnancy. If you're the mother, I'll be the responsible father. I'm not a coward."

"I will not interfere with your friendship with Jenna. We can still be good pals though. I want to change. I want to prove my worthiness to be a noble mother. That's why I want to study harder to be someone my child deserves. I'm willing to change everything to be a decent mother."

I wasn't expecting such intelligent words to come from the bad girl. Daisy is trying to bite off more than she can choose. I don't understand how a bad girl like her decided to do the right thing. Other girls would have already carried out an abortion before the fathers know. Teenagers in the present climate have abortions as easy as a pie.

A moment later, I felt her go limp. I was enveloped by the warmth of the silence. It only took me a minute or so to realise Daisy had drifted off. In my arms. I tardily surveyed her features. With her chest rising up and down rhythmically and her sealed eyes sluggishly moving, she looks soft and angelic. I can barely believe this girl is the same as the fierce girl I heartily disliked.

Equanimity was plastered across her slumbered face. Sleep pooled my eyelids as the wind swooped up and steadily dwindled away through the pinnacles of silence. I yawned as my sleep slowly deserted me. I couldn't care more what may happen in the morning. I pulled the blanket over our bodies and quietly drifted off.

***

When I woke up this morning, the other side of the bed was empty. She took everything with her except her divine scent. It marred to my bed like a magnet to a piece of steel. I don't know what time she left but I'm certain what happened last night wasn't a dream.

The sound of sharp objects scraping, the dishes clacking brought me back to reality. The unnatural rhythm was jarring with the high pitched voices of people from around the restaurant. The small restaurant is elegant in its lovely provincial form with a very good taste of food. Jenna practically dragged me here but I love it anyway.

I heard nothing from Daisy since last night. Jenna and I were preparing for the upcoming Halloween gala. Although, I'm not really into Halloween fashion stuff, I'm willing to try it for Jenna. She seems very bright eyed and bushy tailed about it. I prefer going for adventures on Halloween. Especially Ghost hunting. Eric, Shawn and I tried ghost hunting before. It was a bad experience but my infatuation didn't escalate. I enjoy unraveling mysteries no matter what I have to go through.

Jenna partially dropped her fork on the half eaten Mac and cheese plate. She ate like every well mannered, cultivated person should do. In contrast to her sister.

"I'm done," She said.

"But you barely touched it." I stirred the zucchini noodles with a wooden chopsticks. I absolutely love eating and I don't feel ashamed of eating a bowl of noodles and three Turkey meatballs.

She took off her glasses and massaged the bridge of her nose before putting it back. "I'm satiated."

I lightly pushed the salmon bowl towards her. "Common, help yourself with some salmon."

She crossed her arms on the table. "I... I actually don't eat seafood, meat or anything like that."

That's new to me. Why hadn't I notched that Jenna is a vegan? It's obvious Jenna has a lot of things I don't know about. "Wow. You're a vegan?"

"No. I'm on a diet. I recently started dieting for the best. But if I wasn't, I promise I could eat all the food in the restaurant."

I giggled at her hilarity. Over the past couple of days, we've grown really close. We're planning our presentation perfectly, without any flaw. Our friendship is as pure as a driven snow. It's perceptible that Jenna has no hidden feelings for me. Happiness flowed through her during all our meetings. I can tell she's felicitous to ultimately have a friend.

"I can tease you how I want," I joked.

She cackled against the handkerchief, "Please don't, I'm not ready to die."

I finished my salmon in a matter of seconds. Jenna reluctantly agreed to let me pay, which I did in the end. She insisted we go back to her place to study together and carry on with our rehearsals. I grudgingly agreed. Reason? Daisy. I don't want to stumble upon her and induce chaos. Although she plighted to not interfere with my personal life, I still don't trust her.

"Crap! Mom and Dad are home." She expressed with a shocking look besmeared on her face.

My eyes collided with the red Toyota Camry parked in the driveway of the contemporary house. The house has a black roof, gray walls and is surrounded with green lawn. It looks like a typical family home.

We got out of the car and Jenna led me inside. The door was left open. We entered and an average sized living room comes into view. It looks peaceful and comfortable. It was apparently built by an architect with adequate imagination. With the brown furniture, a soft white carpet and a wooden table, it looks lively. There are several photos on the wall.

"Hey Mom, Hey Daddy."

I was so immersed in studying the interior design of the house that I failed to notice the couple curled up on the couch. Jenna's Mom looks up from her phone and warmly smiled at her daughter. Her husband is right next to her, with his glasses and typing away on his laptop. He waved his hand when he saw us.

"Jenna! Who did you bring with you?" Her mom got up from the couch, dropped her mug on the table and rushed to us.

I can now see their striking resemblance. Jenna is the carbon copy of her Mom. They have the same height, the long dull luscious brown hair, the beautiful dark brown orbs and a wide, welcoming smile. Jenna is just the younger version of her Mom. Now, I know where she got her angelic smile. Her father looks a little like her. I can't tell their resemblance but a few of their features are similar.

"Mom, this is Zack Alan Hudson, my English class partner and a good friend of mine," Jenna introduced proudly.

"Hey there!" Her cheerful mother greeted me.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs Coleman." I stick out my hand for a handshake and we shook.

"Please don't call me Mrs Coleman, that's my mother-in-law. Just call me Alicia and my husband Jared." She kindly replied.

Her husband appeared behind her, his hands on her shoulders. He looked at me with admiration when we shook. "This is our daughter's first time bringing a friend over. I'm glad she found someone to hold onto."

Jenna smiles with a blush. Her parents look very joyful about our friendship. Their love for Jenna is damn clear. It's obvious form the way their eyes twinkle when they stare at her.

"Nice to meet you, Zack. Please come in." Alicia insisted.

"Mom, we're actually here to study and rehearse for our Halloween presentation."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go upstairs and do it."

I give them a final smile before Jenna and I go upstairs. There's a hallway with six different doors. Jenna opens the first door, leading into a beautiful bedroom. The first thing I noticed is the large amount of space it has and the sunlight reflecting from the window. It looks feminine with the pinkish wallpaper, a white queen sized bed, twin couch and a plain dusty pink rug. There's a fireplace with a huge Television on top and a wide bookshelf. It looks every bit of a girl's luxurious fantasy.

"It looks beautiful. Just like you."

She giggled and sat on the bed, "should we begin?"

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