Unintended Love

After that day, Zack and I only got closer. We did everything together, never once letting anyone else know what was really happening when the two of us were alone. Though, we never went as far as…having sex. Neither of us was ready for that.
But we did have meals with each other’s families and one night, my parents invited Zack and his brothers to have dinner with us.
“Isn’t it wonderful that Zack and Rain have found each other on this vacation? I was so worried that Rain would be all by himself while we were here.”
“Yes it is. These two are definitely a great pair.” said Greg.
I looked over at my dad. I was always afraid that he could tell what was going on between Zack and me. Just the way that he looked at Zack sometimes really scared me. He’d just look at us and then take a big swig of his scotch.
“I agree. But it makes me wonder what’ll happen when we leave here.”
“Well, there’s internet and cell phones. We can keep in touch.” said Zack.
“I’m just so glad that Rain’s made a new friend. He’s never had that many friends. And since we had to leave New York, I think he’ll have even less.”
“Mom…” I complained.
“Not Zack. Zack’s never had trouble making friends.”
“Maybe some of that will rub off on our Rain.” My mom smiled at me.
The waiter brought us our food. This relieved me. It was horrible for me to be totally embarrassed and not even be able to show it. Well, at least I couldn’t show all of my embarrassment. I just wanted to run away with Zack and never see my parents again. They just embarrass me way too much for it to be healthy.
So, we finally started to eat and then Zack goes and started to whisper in my ear, but in a very discreet way. He would whisper things that made it hard not to laugh. He whispered a crack about what my mom said about him rubbing off on me. He turned it sexual and I swear that I almost spit out my potatoes.
“What’s going on with you two?” asked my mom.
“Um…” I didn’t know what to say. My heart was jumping in my throat. “What do you mean?”
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
You have no idea how relieved I was that she wasn’t talking about what I thought she was talking about. I sighed in relief.
“Um…nothing. He was just making a joke.” I told her.
I was surprised that anyone besides my parents’ rich friends got along with them. My father actually even made a few jokes. So, the dinner, the entire night was a success. And before we left, Zack whispered one more thing into my ear.
“I’m coming to your room later tonight,” he whispered.
I smiled and then our families parted ways. Greg, Jake, and Zack went to go set up a campfire on the beach. I desperately wanted to be with him at that moment, but I knew that these things have to wait.
So, I paced my suite, waiting for him to show up. I couldn’t believe how much I was dependent on his presence. He was becoming like air to me. And I know that’s really cheesy, but it’s completely true. And when he came to the door, I opened it with excitement. As soon as he was in, before we even said hello, our lips were locked together and our hands were all over each other.
We moved to the bed and he was on top of me, straddling me with his arms resting on either side of me. I felt like, at that point, I would do anything to stay like that forever. But he stopped and he lay next to me on the bed.
“Zack…”I whispered, taking his hand.
“Yeah?”
“I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Zack got sat up and the got off of the bed. He walked over to the mini-fridge and grabbed a soda.
“Zack…” I called after him. “What’s wrong?”
“We can’t do this. I can’t do this.”
“What?”
He took a sip of the soda, a Sprite. “Rain, after this vacation, we might not ever see each other again. In fact, it’s very likely.”
“I know that, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. I just…I wanna know if you feel the same.”
I could see the trouble in his eyes. When he looked at me, he looked hurt. His eyes watered and his lips quivered.
“If I tell you what I feel right now…it’s going to be nearly impossible to say goodbye tomorrow.”
“Just tell me, Zack…it’s me…”
“I can’t…” he paused and took another sip of his Sprite. “I’ll see you tomorrow. It’s our last day.”
“Don’t remind me.”
As soon as he left, a tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away and the got up to change for bed. But when I got to bed, I didn’t have then energy to pull out all of the blankets. I just lay on top of the bed and folded myself into the fetal position and fell asleep, not wanting to think about having to say goodbye to him the next day.

***

“What’s got you so down this morning, son?” My dad asked.
I was shocked that my dad even noticed, but I still couldn’t tell him, obviously.
“Yeah, we’re moving to the California beach today. It’ll be just like this every day,” said mom.
“I know…” I mumbled.
“I know,” said mom. “You’re gonna miss Zack aren’t you?”
I sighed and she knew my answer. She put her hand on top of my hand. I wasn’t really hungry, so I didn’t want to order.
“Mom, can I just leave. I’m not very hungry.”
“But this our last breakfast here, honey.” She pleaded.
“I know. I just can’t eat.”
“Okay, well, make sure you pack. We’re leaving in about two hours.”
“Kay” I said.
I got up from the table and slowly walked out of the restaurant, through the open lobby, and to the elevator. When I got to my suite, Zack was sitting in the hallway with his back against the door, his legs against his chest, and his hands, hanging on his knees. When he saw me, he stood up and smiled. I’m gonna miss his smile when we say goodbye.
“Hey kid…” he said with a bitter sweet smile.
“Hey,” I said, kicking the floor and looking down.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“No”
“Why not? Are you mad at me or something?”
“No, Zack, I’m not mad at you.” I said. “It’s just…if we talk…we have to say goodbye…and I don’t wanna say goodbye.”
“Rain, it’s only been two weeks. How can two people get that close in two weeks? It’s not possible.”
“Don’t tell me it’s not possible, because you know it is.”
“Okay, okay…look, I’m just trying to make this a little easier. Can we just talk inside please?”
“Okay,” I said.
I walked passed him and to the door. He put his hands on my waist as I opened the door.
“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” I asked as we walked in.
“What?” he asked.
“Someone could see,” I said.
“What does it matter now? We’re leaving.” said Zack.
I put my key on the night stand and then turned around. He was just a few steps away from me. I pouted and looked up at him. He’s just a few inches taller than me.
“Don’t look at me like that. Come here…” he motioned to me.
I walked towards him and he wrapped his arm around me, our chests pressed up against each other. I held him just as tight as he held me. I didn’t want to let go.
“I’m gonna miss you,” he said.
“Don’t say that.” I insisted. “You have to call me, like, every day or something.”
Zack laughed. “Every day?”
“Okay, maybe not every day. But you better call me a lot.”
I heard him laugh under his breath. “I-…”
“You what?” I asked when he stopped himself.
“I…”
“You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to.” I said, knowing what he was trying to say.
“I think I love you.”
I looked at him and he smiled at me. Our lips locked and then I felt a vibration.
“That’s Greg. I gotta go, kid. I’ll call you later tonight, okay?”
“Do you promise?”
“Of course.”
He kissed me again. This time he slipped his tongue into my mouth and my knees nearly buckled. But he held me. After our kiss, he walked to the door.
“Talk to ya later.” he said right before he walked out of the door.
I sat on my bed, wondering if I’d ever see him again. I hoped that I did since we’d be living in the same city. But LA is an enormous city and it wasn’t very likely that I would see him again.

***

When I saw my sister Jenna, I couldn’t help but give her a big hug. I hadn’t seen her in almost a month.
“How was Hawaii little brother?” asked Jenna.
She moved her hair behind her ear. It was long and curly; a brown color, almost red if you looked at it in the sunlight. She’s tall and thin. I always told her that she could be a supermodel. She never believed me, though, and got into real estate instead. She helped my parents find out new house, and she found one for herself so she could live close to us.
“It was great.” I said.
“Mom told me you made a friend.”
I wasn’t going to tell Jenna about Zack, but it totally made sense to just tell her. She’s the only one I could possibly trust with this information.
I brought her upstairs to my new room in my new house. The room was exceptionally bigger than my room in New York. It already had my bed and my desk set up, so I sat her in my desk chair and I sat on my bed.
“Okay, I’m gonna tell you something, but you’ve got to promise not to tell anyone; especially not mom and dad.”
“Ooh, this sounds juicy.”
“Please Jenna!”
“Okay, I promise.”