The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club (16 page)

She whispered as best she could through the metal headgear. “I think Lana is being really mean, and what we are doing is a little strange. I’m not going to quit the club, but I just wanted you to know we’re cool.”

“Thanks, that means a lot.”

“Some of the other girls feel the same, but we’ll become social outcasts if we quit. Besides, it is fun. We don’t just talk about Zack.”

I’d also managed to hide my new role as the social pariah from Zack. He had baseball and a biology test to worry about this week, so thankfully his focus stayed elsewhere.

I found myself alone again that evening, watching baseball practice. Lana and her band of nitwits were giggling under the magnolia tree. Every few minutes one of the girls would squint at me from across the field, and then turn her back.

But I was content. I even smiled and waved. Eventually they stopped staring and went back to talking about the poor guy behind his back.

Trying to stop the crazy fan girls had lost its appeal. I had no wish to revisit last week. Kyle, of all people, had my back. I knew he was good on his word. If Zack ever found out, I had someone to support my side of the story. Zack listened to Kyle more than anyone else. They trusted each other. That was easy to see.

I made an effort to clear my head of this week’s drama, listening to Zack’s iPod while I did my homework. He was kind enough to leave it with me so I’d have something to do.

And he meant what he said. He’d stopped ignoring me, acting funny. It felt like we were developing a true friendship.

I’d finished a review on Hamlet when the steel walkway under my feet vibrated rhythmically with approaching footsteps. The person drew closer, toward me. I looked up and my stomach dropped.

If this day got any worse, I might consider transferring to another school an option.

“Hey, take those out of your ears.” Max smiled, leaning over me. Why did he always find me at the worst moment? When I was alone? When I was having a bad day? And why did he reek?

“Looks like Zack and Regina have a thing.” His eyes were nowhere near my face, not even focusing on me anywhere above my neck. I took a quick inventory and realized he had a clear view down my shirt. Towering over me the way he was, I couldn’t change that, so I hugged my backpack to my chest.

“I wouldn’t know.” I said, peering around him to see that practice was over and the team had left the field for the locker room. “Don’t you need to go with the rest of the team?”

“Nah, I’ll shower at the dorms. I’m not cool with other dudes seeing my junk.”

“That sounds uncomfortable.” Gathering my things, I stood. “Well, it was nice talking, but I have to get going.”

I left Max on the bleachers, making a beeline for the girl’s bathroom. I’d hide there until Zack texted me to meet him at the truck. It was the perfect plan.

I dumped my things on the counter, brushed my hair, glossed my lips, and went to the bathroom. Zack hadn’t texted, so I figured he was showering and changing. Probably doing guy stuff. Though I had no idea what boys did in the locker room. Part of me didn’t want to know.

I was washing my hands at the long line of sinks, humming one of the songs from Zack’s workout playlist, when the hair stood up on the back of my neck.

His bushy eyebrows lowered. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to look pathetic, hope I’d fall for it, or if he was scowling. “Will you go out with me?”

“Huh?”

“On a date. We could go to dinner and a movie.” He shoved his hands in this pockets. It was a very nonthreatening stance. However, backing me into a corner aided in my panic. I tried to slip left. He cut me off. To the right was a toilet stall.

I was trapped.

“That sounds fun, but I would just like to be friends.”

He grunted, resting one of his hands on the wall by my head, and keeping the other in his pocket. “What do I have to do to make you like me?”

“Max, you can’t make me. It doesn’t work that way.”

“This is because of Zack, isn’t it?” he drummed his fingers on the wall. My heart beat ten times faster. Fast enough for me to wonder if it would beat out of my chest. “You like him better than me?”

I hate to admit I flinched, and hoped that when I screamed, someone heard me. Max deserved my crazy award, more than so than Lana. She looked like a saint next to him.

“If you don’t let me go I’m going to tell my counselor you’re harassing me. Then you will be in a lot of trouble.” Yeah, that squeak sounded real threatening.

He chuckled, dragging his fingers down the wall, and tapping them against my cheek. “Your can’t touch me, baby. I’m Max McFarland, and I’m going to keep at you. You’ll break down eventually.”

“Keep dreaming.” I stayed very still, holding my breath as he sauntered out of the bathroom. It seemed like the wall was the only thing holding me up. Had I not been plastered against it, I would have hit the floor.

Once I was sure Max had gone I moved so fast I didn’t realize I’d gathered my things and ran to the boy’s locker room.

A group of guys exited.

“Is Zack in there?” I asked, sounding calmer than I felt. Although, panting from running halfway across the stadium probably gave me away.

One of them winked at me. “Yes, he’s all alone…in the shower.”

“Pervert.” I muttered, opening the door.

To be considerate, I kept my gaze trained on the floor, only looking up to see the lockers. I found Zack’s. His last name was on the front in big blue letters. In the back I could hear the shower running. So I sat on the bench, head down, eyes closed.

By the time the water shut off I was much calmer inside, but part of me wanted to burst into tears. Max had gone too far. I had to do something, except I didn’t know what.

Zack threw on a shirt and shoes. He looked irritated by my vague answers. His mouth was doing that twitchy smile. He was humoring me, but irked.

“Why can’t you just talk to me?” he turned toward me and grasped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “We’ve known each other a long time, and I’ve never seen you act like this.”

I forced out, “Max—I was hiding from Max. It seemed smart. Boys can’t go into the girl’s bathroom. But when I came out of the stall he was there.”

And then it happened, the word vomit. I spewed, in detail, exactly what happened.

It felt great to get out too.

By the time I finished I was shaking with relief, and Zack took me by surprise. He hauled me up, in his lap, and hugged me. He just held me. I felt better than I had in days. This was the second time he’d hugged me. The last time being on the boat a week ago. It was even better than I remembered.

“Whoa! Separate.” A gravely man’s voice broke my trance.

We looked up to see the baseball coach coming into the locker room. He leaned heavily on a metal cane, face red from huffing it down the hall probably.

Hearing Zack say that brought a smile to my face. That smile grew even bigger when he came out and told me Max had been suspended from the team for objectionable behavior.

“Uh, actually, Stella wanted to hang out. But if you’re staying here this weekend, I’ll just do something with her next time we go home.” I added, “and you are welcome to crash in my room.”

“Because, when it comes to driving…I don’t know. I’m embarrassed, and not all that confident. I have my license, but all those cars whizzing past scare me.”

“Thanks.” Why did I always get so choked up around Zack? I wanted to cry from the relief of going home. “I didn’t want to spend the weekend here dodging Lana.”

He tugged playfully on my ponytail. “And I didn’t want to sped the weekend here near Max. After what he did to you this afternoon, he’s lucky I’m heading home and not hunting him down.”

“You’d hunt him down?” I knew Zack was tough, and strong. Probably pretty good in a fight. But for him to seek out Max because of me?

“If the situation called for it, yes.” He slid me a careful glance. “Chloe, I want you to know I’m a good guy. But I’m sure you remember what I was like before I straitened up.”