1 Chapter 21: Decision, Part 3

"What are you doing tonight?" I asked, but from the look on his face, he thought I wanted to get together and do something.

"Not much, homework mainly. What about you?"

I decided that telling him at least some of the truth was best. And I wanted to tell him the truth. Something about Zac made me not want to keep secrets from him. I sighed, and then replied, "Going to the city with my father." I didn't add that Annie was going, too.

"Oh," Zac replied, looking at the circles he was drawing on the top of my hand. "Do you need a ride home this afternoon?"

I smiled to myself, thinking. "Yes," I replied. "That would be nice." I would get hold of Annie this afternoon and have her meet us at the house. I paused by the door outside our English Lit. class, leaning against the wall.

Saying nothing, Zac looked me directly in the eye. Funny how he felt no aversion to me whatsoever. Like I said, usually humans kept their distance. I'd been a lone wolf for a while now and it felt good to have human contact again. To have friendship again, too, and I thought of Rick and Annie.

His deep blue eyes bore into mine, causing my heart to race as a strand of his sun-streaked hair fell lazily over one eye. He raised a muscular arm and gently touched the side of my cheek with his hand as I moved the strand of hair away from his eyes. I could stand there looking into his eyes all day. They were so beautiful, so deep, as if his eyes held the key to all the secrets of the world. He moved closer to me, causing my heart to pound and my throat to burn. His gorgeous cerulean eyes never left mine as he moved closer, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. Then the bell rang.

"Well," Zac said, leaning on the wall behind me, "I guess we'd better go in."

"Yeah," I replied, taking a deep breath, needing a moment to control the burn now prominent in my throat. "I guess we should." But, what I really wanted to do was to take off with him and never come back. There would be only he and I, no rogue vamps wanting to kidnap him and hold him hostage, just us. I felt myself falling for him, but why now? In the middle of an assignment? And with the object of my protection?

He slid his hand gently down my shoulder to my hand, raising goose flesh on my arm, and then twined his fingers into mine. "Let's go. Shall we?"

"Sure," I replied, tearing my eyes away from his, and it was all I could do to go into class as he followed.

Zac led us to desks next to each other in the back of the room and we took our seats. Even though I was listening intently, I could barely tell you what the class was about. The electricity was thick in the air, crossing the aisle between us, making concentrating virtually impossible. Throughout the class, I stole glimpses of him and he was watching me more than the teacher. But either Ms. Ross didn't care or didn't notice, because she said nothing, thank goodness. And from the look on Zac's face, he was having a hard time concentrating, too.

What was I doing? I really needed to focus on this assignment, yet there was another voice that told me that I could do both. I knew I would have to leave him one day. I sighed, but that day wouldn't come for a while. Who knows? Maybe I could stay here for a while, but, then again, Zac deserved a life; human life. And with all my riches, wealth and power, that was something I couldn't give him. I sighed, spending the entire class considering the possibilities.

To me, the time seemed to drag, feeling the electricity between us that just grew stronger. I wanted to carry him away, and spend hours with him, and share his blood and his body, but that would come later. Images of the taste of Zac's luscious human blood sliding down my throat came to mind and I forcefully pushed them away, but they kept creeping back to the forefront of my mind. Then, images of him taking me into his arms and sharing my blood filled my mind. Yes, I wanted to share my blood with him, and I've never wanted to share my blood with anyone. I could just imagine piercing my own neck, then Zac taking me into his arms, placing his sweet full lips to my throat and gently sucking, all the while pulling me closer ... then, the bell rang, bringing me back from my reverie.

"What were you thinking just now?" Zac asked, with a slightly amused look on his face.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, coming back to reality, and felt a slight blush on my cheeks. I haven't blushed in years! What was I doing? It was so confusing. I wanted to be with him, but, then again, I was his protector, his bodyguard. I had his life literally in my hands. I shook my head, shaking off the illusions clouding my mind, forcing myself to focus. "Oh," I replied, gathering my things from the desk. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Oh?" Zac asked, still wearing the same amused look on his face.

"What?" I feigned innocence. There was no way I was going to tell him what I was thinking.

"Nothing," Zac replied, smiling, shaking his head as he gathered his things.

"Why? There's no nothing now," I said, amused.

"It was just that you looked so far away, but so content," Zac answered.

I laughed. Yes, I was content. "Come on, let's go," I said, getting up and walking for the door.

"What class do you have now?" Zac asked, shifting his backpack onto his shoulder.

"P.E.," I replied, thankful it was the last class of the day. I needed time to clear my head, and time to think. Zac seemed to cloud my mind, and I could feel myself falling for him already, but if I fell, there would be no going back. "What class do you have?"

"French," he replied, looking a bit crestfallen. I smiled, liking his reaction.

"Well, I'll see you later then?" I asked, forcing myself to pull away.

"Yeah," Zac said with smoldering eyes, taking my hand into his, obviously not wanting to let me go.

This pleased me. I stared into his azure eyes as he pulled me into his arms. I didn't push away. He reached a hand to my cheek, as I leaned into his touch.

"I'll wait for you," Zac said as his beautiful blue eyes bore into mine. It was such a simple statement, and I hoped it was true in more ways than one.

"Okay," I said softly, forcing myself to pull away. But, as I walked away, I stole one last glimpse of him over my shoulder.