Zac glanced over at Tammy, who was intently reading her magazine.
"Aren't you going to get the phone?"
She looked up, a surprised look on her face.
"Don't you live here?"
"Well I…I mean…no one really knows the number, you know, like my friends…it's for you…"
She kept her gaze on him and he shrugged.
"Are you gonna get it mister? The phones still ringing."
Zac sighed and walked to the cordless, fixing it to his ear and staring awkwardly at the floor.
"Hullo."
"Hey Zac! What's up?"
Zac quickly turned to Tammy.
"Hey Kate. Hey…how'd you get the number here?"
"Oh I saw Tam at the gas station this morning. It's such a small world isn't it? She said I should give ya a call."
Zac grinned and turned back to the wall.
"Well that was nice of her."
"Yup, she really is a nice chick. You should be happy."
"Who said I wasn't?"
"Oh no one. You just bitch about Isaac too much."
"I haven't bitched about him in a while, like…not even last night I didn't."
"Whatever, you're so full of shit."
Zac wandered towards his bedroom and swung the door open, stepping in and turning on the light.
"So anyway, since you left in such a hurry this morning, did you like the party? Good beer? Anything like that? I couldn't help but notice you spent most of the night with Kristen. You do know that you're going to hear about that for a while from your very best friends."
Zac smiled, shaking his head. He recalled most of last night, including the bad, and the good, and was relieved Kate hadn't mentioned any of that.
"You know Kate, the less you could say to them the better…you know about me and Kristen."
"Why? All of us know you two are a little more then just friends."
"Oh please. Not even close."
"Zac! Friends don't kiss."
"Oh yeah, maybe you should take that knowledge up then eh?"
"Oh those are just fun kisses."
"Mmmhmmm."
"Anyway, Tucker wanted to know if you wanted to do anything tonight. He wants to go to the arcade or something like that, the movies…whatever."
"I don't know if I can.:
"Oh come on. I told him I'd give you guys a ride, I have to go shopping for a few things anyway, he didn't have your number. Well either did I but I at least knew the directions to where you're at."
Flopping down on his bed Zac lay back, staring at the ceiling.
"I don't know if I should…I mean, I went out last night against Tammy's wishes…I'm thinking maybe I should stay home tonight. I think she was a little pissed.
"Why would she be pissed?"
"I don't know Kate. It's just one of those things. I think she's trying to fix me up for my mom or something. Maybe she's trying to prove something, like she knows how to handle kids or whatever."
"Well how's she doing?"
"God I don't know. I've only been here like a day, and I feel like I have to lay my life on the line or something."
"How's Isaac?"
"I don't know., he's Isaac? I haven't talked to him much. You know something though? He gave me money this morning, for like….no reason. He just handed me some money and told me to go get some breakfast or whatever, I don't even have to pay him back. I wonder if he's been possessed or something."
He heard Kate laugh on her end.
"What's so funny?"
"Zac, you crack me up. Why do you always question everyone's good will? So your brother…your BROTHER…do I need to accent that anymore? Your brother gave you a couple bucks to feed yourself. One, it's not the end of the world, two, you would be eating his food anyway, and three, your mom's out of town, she can't feed you. So in other words…it's all gonna come from Ike."
Zac sighed.
"I know but it feels weird."
"Oh well you'll get over it."
"Probably."
"Anyway, are you coming or not? Either way, soon here you have to come practice with these guys, if you plan on getting any gigs anytime soon, you better get busting."
"All their stuff is over here."
"So. I have a truck…you can use it to move that stuff."
"Why can't we keep it here? Practice here?"
"Zac! That apartment is like, so small you wouldn't be able to set up the kit in one room….it'd be scattered all over. Plus you have neighbors real close and stuff. We'll just take it over to Scott's house. His mom doesn't care and he has a big basement."
Zac nodded as she spoke.
"I guess."
"Well are you coming? I don't have the rest of the day to talk to you."
"I can't."
"Come on Zac!"
"I can't! I have the rest of the people in this house to think about right now."
"Tough! Do it anyway! You did it last night and didn't get in trouble."
"Kate! I can't."
There was a pause.
"Fine then. I'll call you later."
"Bye."
"Call Kristen."
"Bye Kate."
"Bye."
Zac listened as the phone clicked on her end and then pushed the button to hang up his.
Standing up he walked into the kitchen and replaced the phone in it's cradle.
"Well what's new in Zac's life?"
"Nadda. Nothing."
"That's a shame. We're having macaroni for dinner. Are you going to be here?"
Zac nodded.
"Cool."
She turned back to her magazine and continued to ignore him from there.
Deciding there was nothing better to do, Zac walked into the living room to watch tv.
"Oh hey."
"Wow, you sound chipper."
"Do I? Wow that's a surprise to me."
"What's the matter?"
"Oh nothing. I just spent money out of my savings account to buy groceries. That's how bad I need a job. Did you know my mom would have murdered me if she knew."
"Yeah I know. So then get a job, before she finds out."
"No point in hiding it now."
"I suppose."
"So why'd you call."
"Well…before you say no, just hear me out."
Taylor rolled his eyes.
Whenever Brent told him to hear him out, it was usually some incredibly stupid idea, that ended up in trouble, and Taylor unfortunately almost always fell in behind Brent's footsteps.
"Shoot."
"Okay, there's this party over at…"
"No more parties."
"Tay listen!"
"No!"
"Hear me out I said."
Sighing Taylor waited.
"Okay. There's this party downtown, live music, all the beer you want…chicks."
"Oh yeah and what happened last time when I went to a party with you."
"I assure you, ASSURE you, from the bottom of my heart your brother will NOT be there."
"And you know this how."
Brent laughed.
"I have my sources. My ways...a little birdie in a halter top told me."
"A little birdie in a halter top?"
"Yeah."
"Is that the chick that answered the phone?"
"Yeah."
"Is this chick a one nighter or a weeker?"
Brent bellowed laughter on his end of the phone.
"Tay you're very sick dude."
"Why?"
"You just are, that was gross."
Taylor frowned, not quite understanding what was so gross.
"Anyway, you coming? I assure you, I promise you he WILL not be there. He's stuck at home for the night."
Taylor sighed.
"You stick with ME the whole night Brent."
"I promise."
"And we leave if I don't like it."
"Promise."
"Okay. What time do you get me."
"At 8."
"It's a date then."
"What's for dinner?"
Tammy slapped his hand as he grabbed a piece of cheese from the counter.
"You can just wait till then."
"Fine. I guess I will."
Tammy watched as he picked up her magazine.
"Modern women?"
"Yeah, I saw something cool in there about fixing up an office. I don't know why it was in there but it was. I think I'll ask Zac if he wants to come down and help out moving the heavy stuff around."
Isaac nodded.
"Speaking of Zac, have you seen him? Ever since he put the phone down from Kate he sorta disappeared."
"He's on the front lawn."
"What's he doing out there?"
"Reading."
"What's he reading?"
"I'm not sure."
"I didn't know Zac liked to read."
"Just over the past couple years. He doesn't do it non stop, just sometimes."
Tammy nodded, slicing up more cheese and pouring milk into a cup.
"Do you know if he called Kristen?"
Isaac frowned.
"Kristen?"
"Yes…Kristen."
"Who's that?"
A smile started creeping onto Isaac's face.
Responding, Tammy started to smile too.
"You haven't heard?"
"Nooooo."
"Kristen is Zac's love interest."
"Love interest eh?"
"Yup, that's what Kate was telling me, but she says Zac's too macho to admit that he likes her that much, so he walks around in denial all the time. Saying that they're just friends and stuff. Rather amusing."
Isaac laughed.
"A love interest eh….well…."
He reached for another piece of cheese and Tammy slapped him again.
"Wait till dinner!"
