| Suspended Ages |
| *4* |
| Thanx for read'n, Z-ya! |
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| So, life settled well for Zac. He had an assistant, and he was grateful for her now that he had taken on that extra class during the time that he was supposed to be devoting full attention to the new album. But unfortunately for him though, there was one catch... the torture of having to be so close to getting to know 'Mel'... but not quite having the guts to do it. It was something he fought with inside himself everyday. His mother had tried her best to encourage him, after all she told him, she was old enough to know what she wanted in life, and it wasn't that huge of a gap between their ages. But he refused to accept that and suffered in silence... or so he thought. Spring was fast approaching, another year under his belt and he'd dreaded turning thirtyone. Things were gearing up for the album, supposedly it was to be released that summer or fall. They were all very proud and excited over thier new baby. But there was still plenty of work to be done between now and then to make it their version of perfection. Anything less would be out of the question. Through the bitter cold that clung to the new year they worked. And still he'd managed to hold his secret from the rest of his family. A feat not easy and one that he was quite proud of. It had almost become a religion with him, that ritual of skirting every volley of questions about why he would be day dreaming or what had propelled a particular tender tune from him. It was essential to him to keep his desire for that one woman secret... it fueld him yes, but it was his fear of rejection that keep him tight lipped even more. His parents had taken a much needed time off and gone to visit some relatives down in Alabama. The warmer climate would be a pleasant reprive from the winter chill of Tulsa. And that was when all hell had broken loose. One of Tay's kids brought home a lovely case of chicken pox from school and exposed all of her cousins at a family dinner. So needless to say, work on the album was suspended until the children were better, Isaac and Tay both staying home to help out with the kids. So Zac was rattling around his appartment all by himself with nothing to do the day after his class. He watched countless hours of cartoons, tiring of them far too fast for his taste. A jaunt to the library had been successful and he voraciously tore through those four books in little time, much to his disappointment. Boredom had set in... and it looked like it was there to stay for good. When the phone rang, he nearly jumped at it in desperate need of some sort of stimulation. Even if it were just a telemarketer. "Hello?" "Zac?" "That is who you called... then again, you might have wanted someone else and wound up dialing me by mistake." "Don't be a jerk, you big idiot! Of course I wanted to talk to you!" His sister laughed. He grinned. "So what's up? I know you never call me anymore unless you need something. That niece of mine seems to be taking up all of your time." He kidded. She chuckled too, then cleared her throat before she began again. He could just hear the favor comming from a million miles away. But really, he didn't mind, he loved his sister. "So how do you know I want something?" She tried. He laughed. "Because you've been my little sister for far too long for me not to know, that's how." He clarified. "Well, I suppose you're right again. I do need a favor." She laughed. "Shoot. Anything for my little sister. You know that." He offered. "Aw... you're so sweet. I really do hate to ask though." She said with a sigh. He chuckled. Avie was so much like his mother. "You can ask me anything. Now come on, spit it out. I haven't got all day." He lied with a grin. She laughed lightly. "Well Uncle Zac how would you like to have a sleep over?" She giggled. "Awww... that's sounds like a ton of fun! What's the occasion?" He laughed. "Geez, you're memory is short!" She teased. "Our anniversary silly! Craig wants to take me out and I don't know how late we will be. And since everyone else is tied up in chicken pox or gone, that means i have to be brave and entrust you with my little Gem. Now don't you go and teach her any of those bad words Uncle Zac. I'm sure it would cause quite a stir in her gymboree class." Avie teased. He laughed heartily and leaned against the wall. "Awww Mom, you take away all our fun!" He kidded back. So he at last had a distraction. He whistled while he packed an over night bag, grabbing his flannel pants off the back of the door where Mrs. Gonzallas had left them for him, like she always did. He grinned as he walked down the long hallway, passing the mirror and catching his reflection. He stopped for a moment and really looked at himself. How pathetic was his life? He was actually happy that he had a date with his five month old niece! He shook his head and walked away. He really needed to do something about that... but what? He really had no clue. A momentary thought flitted through his mind. He could always ask 'Mel' out for coffee. He groaned, rolling his eyes at himself. That kind of thinking would get him in a world of trouble he berated himself. He sighed heavily, traipsing across the floor and watching his fish for a bit. "You're so lucky your life is so uncomplicated." He lamented to the little water dwellers as he fed them. He tapped lightly on the glass a couple of times then stood up. At least he was getting out of the house. "Oh yeah, the wild life of a bachelor." He snorted as he slapped his ass, checking to see if he'd remembered his wallet. He picked up his bag from where he'd tossed it and grabbed his coat on his way out leaving behind the placated fish and only the sound of him locking the door. Gemma was sound asleep, Avie and Craig were still out for the evening and Zac was curled up on the sofa, beer in hand as he watched some old Stallone movie on cable. A commercial for popcorn came on and his stomach grumbled. He laughed at himself and set his beer on the coffee table as he tossed back the blanket. The power of suggestion called him to the kitchen. And he went. |
| Scratching his tummy as he went to the kitchen, he heard his cell ring and turned around to get it from his jeans that lay over the rocker. "'Lo?... hey Tay. Nope. I'm over at Avie and Craigs, watch'n Gem while they go out for their aniversary. Nope, fed her half a bottle of tequilla and she nodded right off in the middle of our poker game." He laughed. "Sup?" "Kelly says the kids are on the mend and I've already called Ike, he says things are all quiet on the western front too." " So, i guess that means our vacation is over, back to work!" Tay chuckled. "Yeah, some vacation! But anyway, Ike and I are thinking monday? That ok with you?" " Sure. not like I've got anything else to do." "Bored huh?" "To tears." Tay chuckled. "Well, that's where you need a wife man. You'll never be bored again." He luaghed. "Oh don't start with that again Tay! You know i've looked all over, but you and Ike grabbed up the best of the women and left nothing but sexy one night stands for me!" Tay laughed. "You poor baby! How ever will you cope!" He teased. Zac laughed and they said their goodbyes. The popcorn called to him again and he sloughed off back to the kitchen to make some and grab another beer. In no time flat, thanks ot the wonderful person who invented microwave popcorn, he was sitting in the darkened living room once more, stuffing his face with hot greasy popcorn and Craig's good imported ale. That was the life. But just when stallone was about to kick some ass major, his cell rang again. He reached across the coffee table and picked it up. "'Lo?" He mumbled through his full mouth. He heard a giggle on the other end and he had to grin too. He swallowed quickly, wiping his mouth and setting down his beer. "Did I call at a bad time? Should I wait until tomarrow?" A teasing voice came back at him. He chuckled and leaned back, propping his feet up on the table before him. "Nope. I'm good, I was just watching a movie and gorging myself on popcorn. So, what can i do for you?" "You sure you don't have some hot blonde to get back to?" Bridget kidded. He laughed. "Well, I do have a blonde with me, but she's asleep, iIwore her out." He laughed. "Oh?!" Came her startled reply. He chuckled again. "I'm watching Gemma". He clarified, and she laughed heartily. "Oh you! I just wanted to let you know that I've finalized my plans for spring break and I need to give you the dates that I won't be available to help you." "Sure, shoot." "Don't you want to write this down?" "Why? I know you already did and have it in my in box." He laughed. She did too, knowing that he was teasing her like he always did but underneath he was pleased with her efficiency. "True, so... I told you that I've arranged my classes so I'll have slightly longer then spring break off, I'm going to Boca Raton to visit my gramma." He nodded his head even though she couldn't see him. "Mmhmm... I remember. I hope you have a good time, you work too hard. You deserve a break." "Well, tell my boss that." She joked, and he laughed at the running joke they had between them. "But, I also wanted to let you know that Mel has offered to help you out when you need it while I'm gone. She's familiar with you're schedule, since it's on the tack board next to the fridge and she has to see it every damned day!" She laughed. He did not. He could not... he was startled. Too shocked by what she'd just revealed to respond. His mind was numb, had gone blank save for one thought. The woman he craved like water in the sahara was making an effort to attach herself to his life... he was giddy as a child on christmas morn, though he would never show it. He only managed a strangled sound in his throat. "Zac? You still there?" She wondered. He caught himself, shaking out of his dazed reviere. "Yeah... sorry, just uhhh... beer went down the wrong way. Sorry." He appologized lamely. "You ok now?" She asked with concern. His heart was beating out of his chest nearly and he felt his very blood on fire. No, of course he was not ok. "Yeah, sure. So uh... what else? Anything else I need to know?" He tried to pick up the conversation before she'd dropped that bomb on him. She chuckled. "Not unless you want to help me pick out my swim suit." She snickered, and he laughed for real then. "I don't think so. Maybe when you're ready to go shopping for lingeree." He kidded and they both laughed at the thought. They were getting to be the best of friends, but romantic? Not in the least, they just didn't click that way. In no time at all she had said her goodbyes, and he was left sitting there wondering what the hell just happened in his life. He had a chance to actually get to know 'Mel'... now what was going to come of it?. The longer he thought about it the worse it got. After a while his heart started to race, and he felt a great sense of panic. He knew his mother was most likely asleep at his aunts house, but he really needed to talk to someone, and now! Dashing off the couch he ran up to his sisters room and started to rifle through her desk for her address book where he thought he may find his aunts number. He couldn't find it and he decided to look in the drawer downstairs where he knew she kept the phone books. He nearly killed himself trying to get to the bottom of the steps at the speed of light, but immediately he ploughed through the room and began tearing out things like a madd man. He was cursing enough to make a sailor blush and tossing things behind him as he rummaged through things to try and find the number. His mind was stuck in that groove of panic and he just couldn't think. That was the scene Avie found as she and her husband came home, stepping through the back door of the kitchen into a war zone. "Zac! What the fuck are you doing?!" Avie whisper screamed, shocked at the sight of her house, and her big brother acting the part of a mad man. He looked up startled, his eyes glazed over like he didn't know where he was or what he was doing. She sucked in her breath, fear rising up in her like she had never known before. As she raced through the kitchen on her way up to her precious baby she seethed. "What's wrong? What's happened?" She questioned with her motherly instincts making her bare her teeth so to speak. For a moment he muddled about what she was going on about. Then it dawned on him that she was frightened something had happened to her little one. He ran after his sister and caught her arm at the bottom of the stepps. She whirled about, her looks ready to kill. "Aves... Gemmas fine. Nothing's wrong with her. She's sound asleep like she should be. Really, she's ok." He reassured her. She sighed heavily, her hand to her heart. Her whole body sagged when she exhailed, her eyes closed. When her eyes opened he knew it was comming, but he just didn't have time to react any way. She slapped him, hard on his shoulder. Her face flushed with relief and aggitation at the same time. "Don't you do that! What the hell were you tearing up my kitchen for you moron!?" She demanded as Craig patted her shoulder and slipped up the stairs to check on Gemma anyway. Zac sheepishly looked to the flor, watching his bare feet shuffle. He was embarrassed and she could see it. Her heart took a tender turn and she slid her arm around him, and siddled up next to him. "What's the matter Zac? You can tell me. Now come on, what's so damnable important that you have to take ten years off your little sisters life?" She teased gently. He chuckled. "I am sorry about that, and I'll clean up the mess, honest I will." He promised. She pulled him away from the stair and guided him toward the sofa where she shoved him down and then sat beside him. "Never mind about all that. Now come on, what's bothering you so bad?" She tried. He sighed like the world was comming to an end and she just wanted to hug him and make it all go away. He looked up at her and the sorrow and fear, {or was it longing?}, that reflected in his eyes made her heart ache for him. "I was trying to find aunt Betty's phone number. I wanted to talk to Mom." He began. "At..." She looked at her watch. "Two o'clock in the morning? Zac? What's going on?" She querried. "I..." He looked down at his fidgeting hands and heaved a great sigh. When he looked up the earnest concern on his sisters face broke that dam he'd been holding back for what seemed forever. "Aves... I wanna tell you something, and I really don't know how to say it cuz... well, I just don't know how you're gonna react." He started. She covered his rough fingers with her own and gave them a reassuring squeeze. He knew then that it was time for him to share his burdon, his family would help make it lighter in his heart. "I'm attracted to someone, and I don't think she really know's I'm even interested. But you see... well, she's a friend of my assistant, Bridget, you remember her?" Avie nodded and he sighed again. "She's a student, not one of mine, but a student still, about ten years younger then I am . I've been torturing myself with this for so long now, and I'm just so tired of keeping it inside." He looked into his sisters face, helpless. She sucked in a breath as she watched Craig come down the stairs with a sleepy Gemma, just woken from her slumber with all the ruckus. He handed her to Avie and squeezed Zac's shoulder as he went through to warm a bottle. Avie cuddled her precious little one and thought silently for a bit. She smiled and handed Gemma to her uncle. He cuddled her too, reveling in the fresh scent of softest baby skin as Avie got up. She went to a desk drawer and pulled out a book, flipping through the pages. She found what she was looking for, wrote it down and folded the slip of paper as she handed it to Zac and he handed back his niece to her mother. "I hope Mom can help, but for your sake, you'd better wait until morning to call, you know how Dad is if he get's woken up, just as bad as Ike." She smiled down to her brother. "I hope you collect yourself Zac and get what you deserve. Just remember, you first have to ask the questions if you're ever going to be able to answer the mysteries in life, and if you can do that, you will find the path to your happiness." He looked up at her and grinned, wondering when she had gotten so damned philisophical. "Age is only a number Zac, if you really have been mooning over this woman for as long as you've said you have, then what can it hurt to get to know her at least? You deserve to be happy, you're a good man Zac." She stated with truth shing in her eyes. He smiled, tears pushing at his eyelids as he got up and hugged his little sister. What had he been so damned worried about? Life was short and here he'd been pissing it away wondering 'what if' and 'maybe I ought not to' instead of trying to live it. Why did it always take a woman in his family to set him straight? He kissed Gemmas soft curls and smoothed a finger over her chubby little cheek. "Thanks Aves... I know I'm a pain in the ass sometimes and I'm sorry, but I really don't know what I'd do without you guys." He grinned at her and held out his hands to take his niece. "Why don't you two go on up to bed, Gemma and I are gonna catch a late Godzilla flick on sci-fi." He smirked. She chuckled and handed over her daughter. She kissed them each on the cheek and headed for the kitchen to drag her husband upstairs. They passed back through the kitchen, dropping off the bottle and went up the stairs hand in hand as Zac and the little dark curled cutie on his lap settled before the boob tube. A couple of minutes later as he snuggled down with the tyke he heard his sisters frusterated voice from upstairs. "Zac! My bedroom!" She yelled down in frusteration. He chuckled at his niece who stared up at him. "I'll do it tomarrow I promise!" He called back up over his shoulder. Still he heard his sister's frustrated grumble and he laughed to himself. Somethings never changed. He shrugged and snuggled down again with Gemma. It wasn't long before she was asleep again. He took her bottle and set it aside. He was exhausted himself and he'd meant to take her up to her room... but he just didn't get that far. In the morning, a groggy Avie stumbled down the stairs to find the adorable sight of her brother and daughter sound asleep wrapped up on the couch together. She grinned and went to find her camera. Her mother would love that picture, and she was sure she could torture him with it and have it plastered up on the wall of the studio he and her other two brothers worked tirelessly. She figured he needed that soft side of himself exposed more, he always put up that macho, manly man facade too much for her liking, she knew he was just a teddy bear at heart. The delicious aroma of breakfast woke him and he grinned madly when he realized he had a cutie under the covers with him, curled up on his chest. Carefully he snuck out from under her and trotted off to the kitchen to eat his sister and her husband out of house and home. He plunked down in a chair and a steaming platefull of food was set before him. He grinned at her and dug in. Blissfully he sat chewing a horrendous mouthfull when his sister nonchallantly turned to him, an evil grin on her face. "Morning precious," She began teasingly. "You'd better get you're strength up so eat up... you've got a lot of cleaning to do." She announced then turned back to the stove as her husband walked in and kissed her on the cheek. He looked over at his brother in law. "Busted?" He asked needlessly. Zac, mouth full, just nodded. "You should be used to it, you all warned me she was just like your Mom..." Craig jibed with a grin as he poured himself some coffee. Zac just groaned and rolled his eyes when Avie turned around and gave him a wicked sneer as if to say, 'that was just bootcamp compared to how I'm going to make you pay today for scaring the shit out of me last night!' He almost feared for his life... Avie was as bad as his Mom... and he'd been out of her clutches for years. Somehow, he knew he was gonna feel the payback... life was such a bitch! His only savior thought... at least he was going to make his Mother happy, he was going to call her and admit that he needed her afterall, that always made her feel good. But he still wasn't looking forward to the rigorous workout his sister now held over his head... if only he could think of a way to get out of it... but, he had made the mess... and he had offered to clean it up. Now he wanted to kick himself. He knew he was going to be cleaning up alot more then just the few scattered papers and paraphanalia from her junk drawer... he knew it for he could see the flame in his sister's eye. Why was it women got revenge on someone so much worse then any man could have begun to think of? Because they're woman that's why! He mentally slapped himself and dug into his breakfast. It was going to be a long day... a very long day indeed! |