Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Chapter sixteen.

Zack's POV.

My thoughts were wrecked when the door to my room opens, and a creaking sound escapes. James' hands are on the handle, as his head is peaking into the room. He gazes at me, a tight smile on his lips.

"Hey," I begin the conversation, having a feeling he is beginning to regret to enter without knocking. I mind the fact that he didn't, but then, what choice do I have? He's entered already, that's it.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah," I frown, then add, "of course." He nods, and enters. His eyes roam around my room, before finally landing on me.

"What's up? You don't look so good." I know I don't. I can't be. Not after Susan's reply that she can't come to pick me today. Well, she says tomorrow, so that's still fine. Don't get me wrong though, I do love this place. Infact I love the people fate ran across my way, but at the same time, I had plans until everything just changes.

I blink. "Um, I just talked to my cousin now, and she said that she won't be available until tomorrow."

James' frown is clearly seen. "Why?"

"She's an actress, an upcoming one, let me add." I scoff, and so does he. "She will come until tomorrow... afternoon, or evening, my best guess."

"Oh, okay. I have good news though." Now, he has to act childish.

I chuckle, "oh, please, what is it?"

"You guess, of course."

"Oh, please, this isn't acting."

"Do I look like an actor?" He questions, making take a pause, and look deep at him, into his eyes specifically. He has this cunning look on his hard face, his brows coming down to add a mischievous effect. He wants to tease me, I guess.

I bite my bottom lips, and brood, making a sizzling sound with my teeth by taking in air in between them. "Let me think, let me think. What could it be?" I am reeling inside my head, looking for ideas.

"Okay, just stop doing that." He groans, shift somewhat uncomfortably, and continue. By the way, I have no idea what he meant by 'just stop doing that'. "So, apart from the server, coming live, um..." He takes out something from his pocket. The keys on revealing, they make a shackling sound. I'm confused, "we got an approval for taking the trunk out of town. I can't take you to Los Angeles now. Anytime you want, but please let it be tomorrow. I have other plans for today." With that, finishing, he scratches his head.

I gasp, not yet believing him. Oh-mi-gosh! This is fantastic. Okay, what the heck is happening? It's like everything is just falling in line today. Oh, my God. "I don't even know to say right now. I'm just happy. By the way, thank goodness the server came online today, I have had a message from Black Script — the publishing company I told you about, the one, whose reason I was to go to Los — so, they asked me to send them a file since three days ago, and I just saw it today. I could have missed it if things hadn't happened like this." I tell James with happy, glinting eyes.

He smiles at me back. "You're lucky."

"So, where are you going...what are your plans?" I recap my sentence.

"Er, the beach. The team will be there..."

"By team, you mean your friends?"

He nods, and chuckle lightly. "Yeah, they are yours too." I feel like he throws that sentence at me for a reason. I just shrug, not knowing what to reply with. "We just what to hang out, you know, before the night meeting." He adds. Last I recall, it wasn't really a meeting, infact it wasn't at all, it was suppose to be a party.

"Isn't it a party, rather a meeting?"

"Whatever you want to call it." He pouts, and stands. "I should leave now. Let me not disturb you. I see you were doing something before I came in."

"Come on, when are you going to the beach?"

"After breakfast..." He trails off, and look at the time, "if we can still call it that," then his eyes brightens. "Want to come along?"

I flare my eyes, surprised. "No, it's your, I mean, you were invited, not me."

"I wasn't invited either, it's a normal thing. They are my friends, you are my friend, and last I remember, Rebecca made sure of that. She's officially signed you into the team, stranger."

His last words makes me frown. He does not get to call me 'stranger', "You don't call me a stranger."

"If only you can stop acting like one." He tells me, and walks to the door. It is opened, so he can leave anytime.

"I'll bath then, and get ready. What's for breakfast?"

"I cooked it, you'll see when you get down." How does my question lead to his answer?

He just want to bloat, says my subconscious. I snicker on the inside.

He is such an infant. Gosh! "You are an annoying child."

"My parents do say so..." He quickly stop, the words halted in his mouth. Pain flashes across his eyes, as they are positioned down for me not to see them, but I could. Uh-oh, maybe we shouldn't have talked directed to that side. "Just get ready."

"Sure." And with me, saying that, he leaves. Now, the charge is down. It was at an excited state before, but right now, it's at a ground state. I don't understand what's with him and his family. I know he has issues with his father, or with all of his family members, well, he never really makes it very understandable for me. I guess that night, I did not understand him well, when I thought I did.

I breath out, and look at the laptop. Clicking on it, the screen comes to life, and I check for any message. I know the ones there will be random messages from platforms and websites I had subscribed too since long time now, but still I scroll through. When I'm done, I take a stand, in the process, pushing the chair backwards so that it's back hits the side of the wall, a smacking sound releasing.

Inside the bathroom, I take off my cloths, grab a pure grey towel from the racks of three others, and wrap it around my body. The water is warm when I step under the shower, and let the cascading substance wash down my body.

My thoughts takes the betterment of me, as I find myself taking longer than I thought I would. I was suppose to take a sharp shower, but it turns out different. I can't just keep James out of my mind. Even, I feel stupid, ever since the next morning after that night, I felt really stupid for stopping the kiss. I want to, I did kiss him back for sometime, but I just don't want to...I don't even know what I was thinking.

Maybe I didn't want to be seen by him as a whore? Maybe I didn't want him to take me for some guy he can have only fun with? Maybe I wanted to be taken serious? Is that the reason why I stopped him then?

The questions remains unanswered in my mind. I blow out air from my mouth, the water rushing past my mouth makes a bubbling effect. I close my eyes, reopening them, I turn off the shower and step out. With the help of another towel, while the first is wrapped around my waist, I dry hair the best I can. It just won't dry completely unless I use hair dryer.

In front of the mirror, I get dress. My green eyes is vivid, and vibrant. My brows needs to be shaped the way I do like them...now, they're becoming wild. I did not brush my hair, but leave it roughly, so it kinds of resembles dreadlocks, as it has became more curly, extremely curly.

I'm wearing a Hawaiian shirt, having this red and blue colour, small circles like disc, filling every space of it. Then, I add a short blue jean to it. It stops just below my ankles, and below to it, at my feet is a brown boot. I don't like when sands get in between my feet. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

Once I'm done, my legs trail me to the door, and I get out. As I climb down the stairs, the scent of food invades my nostrils, making me close my eyes within a momentary period. I savour the scent, and remembering what James said, I quickly reform my demeanor, and act like I hadn't just loved the scent of his food.

Now, I'm acting nonchalant, especially after seeing a glimpse of him enter into the kitchen, as I get to the dining room.

"Good morning, Mr. West." I am smiling cheekily at his Uncle. I feel the vibes today, this morning, and I don't want it down. No, I do not. Keep the vibe going, Zack. Keep the vibe going, Zack. Keep the vibe going, Zack. My brain is howling.

"Good morning, dear. How do you do?" I still marvel in his pure british accent.

"Fine. Very fine, Sir. Is it true that James did the cooking?" My voice is low, almost whispering.

Mr. West peeks at the door, and nods, then he waves for me to come over. He is as childish as a year old would be right this minute. I play along in our game, and lean over nearing my ears to his mouth. "Yes, he did. I was surprised too."

"Oh!" I gasp, whisperingly, and put my hands on my jaws to look thoughtful. "He must have cheated."

"I think so."

Suddenly, the sound of boots coming from within the kitchen makes me part from Mr. West, who quickly goes back to the magazine in his hands. I focus on another direction, but even a three year old would be shocked at how not-innocent I seem.

"You guys can continue your gossiping. I won't stop you." James says, as he drops down three cups. Then, he arranges them such that they are positioned at where him, his uncle, and I will be sitting. After, he grabs the jug and fills the cup. The plates and cutleries are already arranged as well. What is happening today? James is being the very good guy. Well, actually, he is, but then, you know, oh, whatever.

Breathing out in an exasperated manner at my wasted effort to judge him, but couldn't, I later occupy my seat.

"I thought you were going to continue." Still James talking. What is he doing?

I look over to Mr. West, he wants to laugh, oh-so-badly. I want to too, but we'll only give ourselves out to James. "We weren't discussing whatever it is you think we are."

"Hmm, okay, no problem. I'll catch you guys red-handed another time." That makes me laugh. Catch us red-handed for gossiping...funny.

When I open my plate, there's grilled fish in the middle of the plate with chopped potatoes in small figures, surrounding the fish from all sides. The aroma is made even more prominent by the red pepper content on top of it. It will taste peppery, I assume.

I glance over to James, thankfully his eyes aren't on me as they used to be most times. I grab my fork, and pick one of the small-chopped potatoes, and eat. It is soft, and not as peppery as I assume it would be. Rather, it is a little bit spicy, and savoury. It is soft too, and really edible. I pick another and eat, this time using the knife to add part of the fish to it...oh, God. James is a food-killer, I mean, no he is not, like, I meant, he is amazing. This is absolutely good.

"This is so good." I have voiced out, before I realize. James raises his head and perks up at me. Mr. West did so too, and gives an affirmative nod.

"Yes, it is. You did so well, Nephew." For a moment, I take a good look at James. The way he smiles, happy about the fact that he was accoladed. It's something I would want too from my family. I do have this feeling that James and I share some connection, especially about family issues.

"Thanks Uncle. And thanks, dear." He just called me 'dear'. Oh-mi-gosh. I am officially whipped. My cheeks are on fire, burning with great passion for what he had just called me. He never called me so. He's never used an endearing word to address me. This is leverage, I guess.

"You're welcome." Oh, gosh, this is my problem. My voice has changed, became cooing.

Looking at James, I find him staring back at me, his eyes glinting with a ghosty smile. His lips are tightly firm. I have to blink to stop staring conspicuously.