Simple Games

Chapter 4

"All right everyone. Good run."

We were all packing up our stuff after finishing up our club meeting.

We may have gone a little over time.

It was already dark outside.

Ashley looked back at us and nervously scratched the back of her head laughing little.

"Sorry for stretching the meeting a bit. I kind of got lost in the game."

I put my book bag over my shoulder and started to put my hair up in a ponytail.

"No, you're fine. I got lost in it too."

We looked over at Sarah who was already starting to leave the room.

"See ya guys."

Then she left leaving it just me and Ashley.

"So... Ian, am I right?"

I looked at her confused as she started cleaning the rest of the club room.

"What about him?"

She stopped and looked at me shocked.

"He's totally into you! Didn't you notice that?"

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"Okay, you've been stuck in love land with your boyfriend too long. He doesn't like me. We just play games together."

Ashley giggled.

"Aw c'mon, you have to at least think about going out with him every once and a while."

I shook my head.

"Nope."

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to think about it at least once."

I started heading out the club room trying to hold in my laugh.

"Yeah. I'll do that."

I walked out shaking my head still holding in my laugh. I walked out the school doors and felt a stabbing chill fly through me causing a chill to run up my spine.

"Its pretty cold out tonight, isn't it?"

I screamed turning around at the sudden voice.

"Jesus, you scared me!"

He laughed as he walked up to me.

"Sorry. Couldn't help it."

I looked at Zach as he help that perfect smile.

"What are you doing here anyway. Didn't practice end like forever ago?"

"Shouldn't your practice have ended forever ago. I mean, god, I've been waiting out here for forever."

I started to get worried.

"You mean to tell me you waited out here in the cold for hours?"

He laughed.

"Why? Would you be worried if I did?"

"Yes!"

I ran up to him and grabbed his hands feeling them to be actually very warm. I couldn't hide how confused I was on my face.

My reaction only made him laugh more.

"I waited in my car."

I let out a sigh of relief and let go of his hands.

"You scared me there jerk."

He laughed yet again.

"Sorry."

I looked around starting to get worried if someone would see us out here alone.

"What are you worried about? No ones here. Everyone's home by now because unlike you, they're normal people."

I rolled my eyes and shoved him.

"Well if you're so worried then we can get in my car and I can take you home. No one will see us and you'll feel warmer."

I smiled a little at the thought.

"Sure. I don't really want to freeze my ass off. Now hurry up before Ashley comes outside."

I ran past him and to his car which was where he always parks it and hopped into the passenger's side. He followed after me and got into the drivers seat and started the car up. Immediately the hot air came on and I melted i to the seat.

Zach just looked at me with a small smile on.

I straightened up a bit and looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He started to drive off and we just sat in silence and I started to feel a little awkward here. I mean we hang out a lot and mainly in secret but he's never picked me up from school after practice.

This was different.

We got to my house and Zach stopped the car.

"Why did you stop the car?"

"One game."

My mouth dropped and I looked at him shocked.

"Really? Now?"

"It's not that late. Just one game."

I looked out the window not wanting to look at him knowing he'd persuade me with that smile of his.

"But its just not right. People get suspicious if two high school kids are alone together in a house like this."

"Aw c'mon Jess! It's not like we're gonna do that! We're just a couple of nerds playing a game late at night."

I looked over at him now because of the dumb thing he said.

"Unless you want to do that..."

I quickly looked away and raised my arms up.

"God no! Anything but that! No offense but that will NEVER happen."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him slouch a bit and his face fall at my words.

That's different too.

After seeing that I didn't know what to say.

"You know what? Fine. One game."

He smiled a bit, but he didn't completely lighten up.

I opened the car door and started to step out hearing him follow after. I walked up to my front door and unlocked it with my keys. I walked in leaving the door open for Zach to follow in after and turned on the lights.

"My moms not going to be home until next Monday so it's just us."

"Ah, I see. It must be fun having a mom who works as a flight attendant. I mean she just goes away for days at a time and you get to have the whole house to yourself."

"True but I still miss her at times."

"Well, you've got me if you need it."

I looked at him seeing his face. It was a mix of things. And of all those things I couldn't seem to name them. But I do know they made me react myself.

"So, uh, shall we go to my room and get this game over with? I mean, we both know I'm going to beat you."

He shook his head already walking off to my room.

"We'll see. You never know if I'll have a string of luck with me."

I laughed.

"You'll just have to prove me wrong."