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Chapter 08 Zac slid into the booth next to Callie Martin and looked at Neil who was seated across from him next to their other best friend, Ashley McAllen. "So did you work today, Zac?" Callie asked flashing him a smile. Zac considered knocking the shit out of Neil at that very moment. When Neil had invited him to go out for dinner with some friends, he had somehow forgot to mention that Callie was going as well. If Zac had known, he wouldn't have bothered to show up. Callie had been following Zac around like a lost puppy for the last few months, and at first he thought it was kind of cute. He was even a little flattered and found her to be attractive, but now he it was just plain annoying. "Yeah," Zac sighed glaring at Neil out of the corner of his eye. Ashley stifled a laugh when she noticed the threatening looks Zac was shooting at Neil. She knew how much Zac disliked Callie, and even tried to talk Neil into telling Zac that Callie was coming, but Neil had refused. He thought it would be amusing to see how Zac would react when he saw that Callie was there. Needless to say, the look on his face had been priceless. "Have you guys ordered yet?" Zac asked looking at his menu. "Yeah, Neil couldn't wait," Ashley replied rolling her eyes. "He's such a pig, ya know?" "Yeah, I know," Zac nodded. "So, Neil said that you have a houseguest," Ashley commented. Zac glanced at Neil and then looked at Ashley. "Yeah," he said. "Julie. Her parents are in Africa," he shrugged. "They work at a museum or something and got asked to go, so they moved to Africa and Julie's staying with us while they're gone." "How old is she?" Callie asked. "17," Zac replied. "Oh, how long is she staying with you?" Callie asked. "We're not sure," Zac shrugged. "She could be here up to a year. It all depends on when her parents come back to the states." "Well why didn't you bring her along?" Ashley asked curiously. "She probably doesn't know anyone besides your family." "Well, her and Jess have become buddies, and I really didn't feel like bringing both of them," Zac replied rolling his eyes. "Besides, Julie and I have never been friends." "You don't like her?" Callie asked with her eyes lighting up. Zac shrugged as the waitress came to the table to take Zac's order. He silently thanked the waitress. He really didn't feel like spending his whole evening talking about Julie. Everyone in his family had been acting like her coming to stay with them was the best thing in the world, and he was already growing sick of it. He didn't care that she was staying with his family, but he wasn't going to pretend like he was thrilled by her presence because it didn't matter to him one way or another if she was there. As far he was concerned, she was just a spoiled like brat from California. She had always annoyed him for some reason. No matter how much he tried he couldn't really explain it. Whenever Julie had come to visit when they were younger, she had always just got on his nerves. Her parents always acted like she was best kid in the world, and every time they would visit, they made sure to let them all know how smart she was or some great thing she had accomplished. Then the there was the whole Taylor thing that annoyed Zac beyond words. Julie and Taylor had always been close, and whenever Julie came to visit, Taylor seemed to just shove Zac aside and acted like Julie was the only person in world. Zac hated it. He knew that it was mostly jealousy, and it wasn't entirely Julie's fault, but he still resented her because of it. But figured that it didn't matter how he felt about it anyway. Everyone else loved Julie to death. She didn't even seem to care that he disliked her. 'Probably because she likes Taylor so much. She probably has a crush on him.' Zac thought bitterly. -- "... so I really wanted this shirt. It was so adorable, but mom was completely against it because part of my stomach would show," Jessica said rolling her eyes as she and Julie walked through the mall. Julie tried to look sympathetic and pretended like she really understood even though she hadn't heard but a few words of what she had said. Julie's mind had been such a blur since the day she had visited the clinic. She had been trying hard to act normal, but she felt so confused. There were times when she would find herself completely zoning out without realizing it was happening. "Oh," Jessica exclaimed. "We've gotta go into Babies R Us!" Julie suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and stared at Jessica. "Why?" she asked. She suddenly felt like she was going to have a panic attack. Why would Jessica want to go into a baby store? She couldn't possibly know her secret, could she? Jessica looked at Julie strangely for a moment before answering. "My best friend's mom is pregnant. Samantha's so excited. She's an only child, but she's always wanted a brother or sister," Jessica explained as she grabbed Julie's hand and pulled her into Babies R Us. "I always told her that she could have Mack or Zoe, but she didn't want them. I can't blame her though." Jessica laughed, but stopped when she noticed Julie's strange behavior. "Are you okay?" she asked. Julie shook her head quickly. "Yeah ... I'm fine," Julie replied. "So, how far along is Samantha's mom?" "Almost seven months," Jessica replied. "I get to help decorate for the baby shower. It's next month. I still have to get something for the baby." "Cool," Julie said forcing a smile. "The doctor says she's having a boy. Sam wanted a little sister though, but I told her that it wouldn't matter anyway. Once they turn two, she'll be wishing she was an only child again." "Why are they turn two?" Julie asked raising an eyebrow. "Terrible twos," Jessica nodded knowingly. "They're a real bitch." "I see," Julie nodded slowly. Jessica wondered off looking around the store, and Julie slowly walked down the aisles. She tried to keep her eyes on the floor. She couldn't bear to look at the adorable little baby outfits hanging up - not when she had a baby growing inside of herself that she was planning to abort. After she finally calmed down from freaking out at the clinic, Julie had sat down and thought things through. She knew she had to go back to the clinic and go through with it this time. She knew the basic procedure of things, so she was hoping that she would be able to stay calm the next time she went. Her only problem was she didn't know when the next time she'd be able to sneak away from the Hansons again. -- "Zac can you drop me at my house?" Neil asked after they had all paid for their dinner and headed outside to the parking lot. "Sure," Zac nodded as he took his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the doors to his truck. "See ya later, Ash. Bye, Callie," Zac said over his shoulder "Bye, Zac" Callie smiled as she opened the front passenger's door to Ashley's car. Zac quickly climbed into the driver's seat of his car and started it up. He turned to Neil and glared. "You are so fucking lucky that there are other people around. Otherwise, I would kill you right now! Why didn't you tell me that Callie was coming?" Neil smirked. "It must have slipped my mind." "You asshole," Zac muttered rolling his eyes as he backed out of his parking space and headed for Neil's house. "Why don't you give the girl a chance? At least you could get laid," Neil commented. "Yeah, I'd sleep with her, and then she'd think that I want to marry or her something," Zac sighed. "No thanks." Neil simply laughed and shook his head. "Oh, you laugh now, but just watch it! I'm gonna get back for this!" Zac commented. "Did you see the look on your face when Ashley mentioned Julie?" Neil laughed. "Callie got this worried look on her face. Maybe you should hook up with Julie. You'd get Callie of your back." "Me and Julie?" Zac said shaking his head. "I don't think so man. I don't talk to the girl that much." "Well, maybe you should," Neil said. "Why's that?" "I saw her the other day at work. She was sitting alone in the corner bawling her eyes out," Neil answered. "She was?" Zac asked with surprise. "When?" "Um, I think it was Tuesday," Neil replied. "I went over and asked her if she was okay." "What did she say?" Zac asked. "She said she was just having a bad day," Neil shrugged. "Oh, well, I'm sure she'll be fine by the weekend," Zac commented rolling his eyes. "Taylor's coming home for the weekend. When Julie and Jess aren't attached at the hip, she's with Taylor." "Is someone jealous?" Neil smirked. "No, no one is jealous," Zac replied firmly as he pulled up in front of Neil's house. |