"Nora! What happened to your arm?" Audrey asked as she opened the door and ushered us into the den where Brad, Chaz, Randy, Daisy and Alan were sprawled out all over the place.
"Jesse kinda got hold of me after school today." I felt comforted when Zach's arm came around myshoulders.
"Oh gosh, Nora. Break Up with him," Brad said.
"DOn't you see? If I break up with Jesse, he could do a lot worse to me than this." I held up my arm with the bruises.
"She's right," Daisy agreed. "He could do a lot worse, Brad."
"Get a brain, Brad," Audrey added.
A few minutes later, we were all studying. I ws sitting next to Zach on the couch. Alan was on the couch with us. Everyone else were in chairs or on the floor. Zach's arm was around my shoulders.
OUt of the corner of my eye, I saw Audrey whisper something to Chaz who nodded and vaguely smiled. Then he whispered something to Randy who whispered to Daisy who whispered to Brad.
I kicked off myshoes and swung my feet up on the couch. I turned to put myself in a lying down position with my legs on Zach's lap. I saw Audrey whisper something to Chaz again, but thought nothing of it until Audrey, Chaz, Daisy, Raindy, Brad and Alan all got up at the same time and walked out, muttering things about snacks, having to go to the bathroom, stretching, helping out in the garden(?) and sharpening pencils.
Zach dropped his history book and I sat up. He pulled me onto his lap and began kissing me gently. My English notebook fell to the floor as I lay back on the couch with Zach on top of me. THe kisses were still gentle, but they were hungrier.
That was Zach's special talen-his kissed were gentle and tender no matter what he did.
"Wow," I murmured. "You're amazing."
"I would say the same thing about you, but-"
We heard the door start to open and Audrey's chatter.
"Uh oh."
Zach pulled himself off of me and I pulled myself to an upright sitting position. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "But you're *much* better."
"HA!" Audrey exclaimed. "You can't tell me THAT was just a kiss between friends."
"I-" I started.
"Come ON. Friends don't give each other make outy kissse in make outy positions on the couch," Alan said.
"Okay, Okay. you got us," Zach grinned, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Ha!" Daisy laughed. "I KNEW it! I told you, Nora! I told her straight up and she denyed it the whole time."
"Okay, I'm sorry. I admit it, I denyed it and I was wrong," I said smiling.
"I knew it right from the beginning," Randy said. "When I saw you two standing next to each other at that party, i knew you two weredestined to be together."
"Don't you love it?" Daisy squealed. "Nora's two timing on Jesse who's two timing on her!"
"Except Nora knows Jesse is two timing and he doesn't have a clue that she knows and not only that, is two timing on HIM!" Chaz added.
Zach grew serious. "You guys-this cannot get out. If it gets around to Jess, who knows what could happen to Nora."
They all nodded silently.
"So then it's agreed-not a word about Zach and Nora's coupledom to outsiders or Jessica and especially not Jesse,' Audrey said.
Everyone agreed.
"And whenever you get even a thought of telling anyone about Nora and me, think of what Jesse could do to Nora and think of what I would do to you if anything happened to Nora," Zach added.
Brad saluted. "yes Sir!1" |
|
