Second Heartbeat

“What happened, Emma?” Zacky asked me.

I felt a smile spread across my face.

I was so happy for her. She’s been waiting for Johnny to do this for so damn long. Her voice was so happy on the phone.

“They’re engaged!” I yelled happily.

I didn’t realize that I was jumping up and down, until the pain from my ankles finally kicked back in.

“Emily and Johnny are gonna get married,” I said happily.

I watched Zacky.

His expression was so blank. It was almost like he didn’t like what had happened.

“You okay, Zacky,” I asked.

He nodded.

“I’m fine,” he said.

I stared at him, and I walked over to him. I placed my hand on his right shoulder.

He sighed deeply.

“You sure,” I asked.

He nodded.

“Just didn’t think they would do that tonight,” he mumbled.

I nodded.

“Johnny has stalled a bit,” I said.

Zacky nodded slowly.

Was there something wrong with him today?

“Let’s go eat,” Zacky said.

I nodded.

I quickly picked up the phone, and I hung up. I knew Emily couldn’t possibly wait that long on a phone.

I walked back to the table.

There were two plates of salad set of the table.

I looked over at Zacky.

He must’ve thought about this for a long time. He must’ve planned this for a long time.

I sat down, and I watched Zacky do the same.

I smiled softly at him.

“So did the girls do that to you?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Yeah, they pretty much undressed me themselves,” I said.

He chuckled.

He didn’t get it. It wasn’t a joke, but I wasn’t about to explain it to him.

I picked up my fork, and I took a small bite of the lettuce. I wasn’t a huge salad girl. I mostly… well, I loved my meat, I should say.

And no, don’t think dirty.

“Okay, I know, you hate salad,” Zacky said.

I smiled at him.

“No, it’s okay. We can eat the green things,” I said. “I’ll go get the spaghetti and bread,” Zacky said.

I clapped my hands.

Hey, at least the man knew me, right?

I fiddled with my fingers.

I might as well help clear what we both failed to each though, right? I mean, I might as well do it. I didn’t cook or anything.

I stood up, and I grabbed the two plates of salad. I walked into the kitchen, and Zacky gave me a warm smile.

“You’re actually going to help me out here?” he asked.

I nodded.

“I might as well. I’m not doing anything else here,” I said.

I set the two plates on the counter.

“Anything you need help on?” I asked.

He shrugged.

“You could get me two forks from the drawer on your right,” he said.

I nodded, and I opened the drawer.

I grabbed two forks, but I ended up dropping them on the ground.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

I bent over to get the forks, and I regretted it already.

I was doing what Clem told me to do.

No, I was sure that Zacky wouldn’t be looking over here right now. He wouldn’t be staring either, would he?

I picked them up, and I turned to look at Zacky.

Damn it.

Zacky had his mouth hanging open.

Okay, now I was sure that he was most definitely watching me now.

“Zacky, close your mouth,” I said.

He grinned at me.

“I’ve got the plates ready, you’ve got the forks. So let’s go eat.” He said.

I nodded.

Zacky walked out of the room, and I followed him.

We set everything up, and I happily sat back down.

I was so happy to have some spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread in front of me, and I was practically watering at the mouth.

I took a small bite out of the garlic bread.

To tell you the truth, I was a just a little self-conscious about eating around Zacky. What if I looked like a huge pig, when I took a bite?

That’s when I realized that the cheese was in the middle of the table. I needed that cheese right now.

I stood up, and I leaned over, grabbing the cheese.

I quickly sprinkle some cheese on my spaghetti, and I looked at it happily.

I looked back at Zacky.

Was he honestly gonna look at me like that for the whole night?

His mouth was hanging open again, and he had this blank look on his face.

“Zacky,” I asked slowly.

He broke out of his little trance.

“Yeah,” he asked slowly. “What are you looking at?” I asked.

He stuttered a couple of words out, before he was able to say anything that I actually understood.

“Emma, I think you should go change.”