Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Maddy

S itting on the wall, at the far end of the upper school yard, Zak looked like he didn't have a care in the world. Looking at him, you wouldn't know that we'd just started study sessions for our A-level exams. The rest of my friends, and myself, were all looking pained and stressed.

"It makes it all real," Emma said, pinching a crisp from the bag Liam was scoffing.

"I've got a headache." Liv pressed her forefingers against her temples and groaned dramatically. "I'm sure it's going to be a migraine."

Zak stretched his legs out and hooked them around my hips, pulling me closer. "You okay?" he asked. "You haven't got a headache as well, have you?" He licked his lips and then sucked the bottom one between his teeth.

"No. I do feel sick every time I think about it, though."

"You'll be fine," Ana chimed in from where she was sitting on the grass, leaning against the wall and reading a magazine. "You're a nerd."

"No, I'm not," I said, glaring at her.

Zak laughed and tugged on a strand of my hair, regaining my attention. "You are a bit, babe."

I inhaled, feeling a swoop in my belly. He'd started to call me babe for the last couple of weeks, since he'd sneaked into the house. Not all the time, but when he did, I went all funny, like I was on a rollercoaster. He'd also started to pick me up for school in the morning on a Wednesday and Thursday when his mum didn't need her car to get to work. I loved those days, arriving in the student car park in Zak Hoyland's car. I loved that he'd wait at the bonnet of the car with his hand out for me and then he'd link his fingers with mine. I loved how we'd then walk hand in hand to whichever class I was in, while all the girls watched with envy.

"Says you who wants to be a vet." I poked him in his hard stomach, only for Zak to capture my hand and pull until my chest was against his.

"You're a sexy nerd, though," he whispered close to my ear.

We hadn't moved on from kissing in the last fortnight, but it had become pretty hot and heavy at times. Strictly PG at school and in public, but on the days he drove us to and from school, we'd go back to my house to study. They just happened to be the nights Dad worked until nine, so for the first hour or so there wasn't much studying going on. We always made sure we were sitting at the kitchen table with our books open when Dad came through the door, though.

"Anyone fancy doing anything tonight?" Liam asked, handing half a chocolate bar to Emma.

"Like what?" Ana asked. "It's not like we can get into any pubs locally. There's only three in town. Maddy's dad owns one of them, one is full of old men and the other always asks for ID. Plus, it's a school night."

"I can get us ID," Liam suggested. "It'll cost about fifteen quid each, but its good."

Liv sighed. "I can't be bothered changing all my socials just in case they cross-reference it. It's too much effort."

"If I got caught my dad would ground me forever," I said, turning to put my back against Zak. "And like Emma said, it's a school night. I don't want to get pissed and have a hangover for maths study group tomorrow."

Zak wrapped an arm across my chest and rested his chin on my head. "You could all come to mine. My mum and dad won't mind."

"In your basement?" Liam asked, excitement lacing his tone.

"Ugh, it's not all damp and smelly is it?" Liv asked.

"No, is it hell." Liam jumped up onto the wall next to Zak. "He's got a dartboard in there, two sofas and a huge TV."

I hadn't seen it the day I'd gone to Zak's house, but he'd told me about it since. I looked up at him and saw that he was grinning.

"Are you sure they won't mind?" I asked.

"Nah. As long as we don't make a noise and it's only us lot." He fished his phone out of his pocket. "Let me double check." He quickly tapped out a message and then wrapped his arm back around me. "Your dad will let you, won't he?" he asked close to my ear.

"Yeah," I replied without hesitation. "He won't mind."

Zak's tongue flicked against the shell of my ear and then he said quietly, "Even if you're in a dark place with me?"

A shiver rolled through my body, and my stomach clenched. "We won't be alone, though, will we?"

"Yeah, and that's disappointing." His voice was low, and as his words whispered against my skin, I felt desperate for him.

"Ugh," Ana groaned. "Can you two get a bloody room or something. Some of us are having a huge dry spell."

"PDA's aren't pleasant anyway," Liv complained, checking her phone for about the tenth time in five minutes.

"Funny that, because I bet if Harry Mayhew wanted to suck your tits in public, you'd let him."

"Ana!" Emma and I exclaimed united in shock.

"That's rude," Liv responded.

Ana, who was particularly snarky today, tutted loudly and pushed up from the grass. "Oh, whatever, I'm going to the library."

"Want me to come with you?" I asked, wondering what was wrong with her. She could be moody from time to time, but it rarely lasted more than a couple of hours. Yet this one had been going on since the previous day.

"No. Stay here and continue duelling tongues with your bf." She stormed off across the yard without a backward glance, a determined stomp in her stride.

"What's upsetting her?" Zak asked just as his phone chimed with an incoming message.

I shrugged. "I have no idea. She's been in a mood since yesterday."

"She didn't even speak to me on the bus this morning," Emma said. "Sat with her earbuds in and totally ignored me."

"You should have come and sat with me." Liam grinned at her, and when I spotted Emma's cheeks pink, I wondered if they'd finally admit to liking each other.

All the flirting, sharing of food and sitting next to each other had ramped up over the last week so perhaps there was about to be another new couple in our circle. Admittedly, it had only become a circle since Emma's sleepover, since Zak and I had got together. It was only natural I supposed, seeing as me, Emma, Ana and Liv were always together, with the occasional infiltration from Liam and maybe one of his gross mates. Now we both had Zak, and so were one big happy group. Or maybe not where Ana was concerned.

"Mum says that's fine by the way," Zak announced, dropping his phone back into his jacket pocket. "As long as we don't make a noise and leave a load of rubbish down there."

Excitement rumbled through my veins at the thought of what a good night it was going to be.

"Want me to bring booze?" Liam asked.

Zak thought about it and then shook his head. "Not for me. I'll be driving."

"Driving? It's your house, mate." Liam looked confused.

"Yeah but I'll be driving Mads home after."

My stomach swooped again.

"What about the rest of us?" Liv asked. "Are you taking us home, too?"

He thought about that too and shook his head again. "Nah, Liam can make sure you get home." He then leaned down and nipped my ear and whispered. "Want to go for a walk around the back of the science block?"

Code for ‘want to go and neck on where no one can see us?'. I nodded and when Zak jumped off the wall, I took his hand and followed him, ignoring Liam and Emma making stupid kissy noises.

"You sure your dad won't mind you coming to mine?" Zak asked. He put his arm around me and reached for my hand.

I took it, linking our fingers and resting my head on his shoulder, surprising myself at how easy I felt with him. How much I always wanted to be with him. My stomach might have been constantly clutching in on itself, but I still relished every single moment.

"He'll be fine. Honestly. He won't mind." I looked up at him and grinned. "So nothing to be scared of."

"Yeah, well, he does." Zak groaned. "In fact, he fucking petrifies me."

"Why? He's the least aggressive person that I know." I narrowed my eyes. "Well, he did threaten this boy who bullied me the first year here."

"Seriously?"

"Yep. Told him if he touched me again he'd cut his balls off."

"What did he do to you? The boy. Does he still go here?" His arm tightened around me, and his fingers curled into mine.

"Called me fat, pushed me off the stage during a rehearsal for the school play, and snapped my favourite rainbow pen in half and then laughed in my face."

"Fucker," he snarled. "So, is he still at this school?"

I wasn't sure I dared tell him but hoped he was sensible enough to leave it. "Yes. It's Christian Daniels."

Zak stopped walking and looked down at me, blinking slowly. "The kid from the football team?"

"Yep. That's the one."

"The kid who walks around with his sleeves rolled up all the time?"

"Yep. That's the one."

"I'll kill him." His whole body stiffened, and his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

"It was six years ago, Zak. He hasn't spoken to me since. Dad really scared him off."

"I'm going to talk to him."

He tried to pull away from me, but I hooked my fingers in the belt loops of his jeans. "No." I pleaded with him, giving him my best puppy dog eyes. "It was so long ago that I don't even think about it."

"Did he hurt you?" His eyes grazed over my face, like he was searching for something. Desperate for a sign. When there clearly wasn't one, he exhaled slowly and pulled me against his chest.

"Honestly, once Dad spoke to him he stayed well clear of me."

"Good. And I promise your dad will never have to threaten my bollocks. Ever."

"Good to know."

As we rounded the corner of the science block, I was happy to see there was no one around. We had the place to ourselves. Zak led us to a bench that was underneath the Biology room window. As the window was six feet higher than the ground we couldn't be seen, and it had become our favourite spot to have time alone.

"We should do a two-man soon, with Liam and Emma," Zak suggested, pulling a cigarette out of the packet in his pocket.

"If they ever admit to liking each other."

"That's why we do a two-man," he replied. "You bring your friend on a date, and I bring mine, and we hope they get on. It'll be a true definition of one."

I shook my head and smirked. "I suppose it will." I watched as Zak put the cigarette in his mouth but didn't light it.

"No one will see you smoking around here," I told him.

"I'm not lighting it."

"Why not."

He grinned around it. "I fancied one, but I've only got three left and once they've gone, that's it, remember, so I don't want to taste of it." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Plus, I don't want to taste of it when I kiss you."

"Oh, you think you're going to kiss me, do you?"

He exhaled and tilted his head on one side and looking at me, he smiled. "Yeah, I do." He put his cigarette behind his ear and then leaned in to place his lips on mine.

This boy made me feel alive. He made me smile. He made my heart race. Gave me butterflies. Made me nervous yet confident. Made me shy yet bold.

"I really like you," I whispered as his mouth went to my neck.

I felt his lips smile against my skin. "I really like you, too."

My chest felt full. My life felt full. I was happy.