"Oh my god," Zoey moans in pleasure.
"Babe, you gotta keep it down," Cole whispers.
"It's so good though."
"I know, but if you keep makin' those noises people are gonna get the wrong idea."
Zoey's eyes snap open, "Oh."
After a long argument about what restaurant to go to, we all finally decided on a place called The Sailing Trumpet. Zoey and I were put off by the name but the boys promised it was amazing. And it is. Zoey in particular was loving it.
"So Marnie, we have some good news," Cole says, wiping his hands with his napkin.
"What?"
"Zoe, Isaac and I are having a threesome tonight. So you and Zeke are sleeping together."
"Dude," Isaac rolls his eyes, "What's actually happening is that i'm watching over them to make sure they don't have unprotected sex because i'll end up being the one who needs to look after the baby."
"We're not having unprotected sex. Or any sex," Zoey clarifies through a mouthful of spaghetti.
Cole waves his hand, "Yeah whatever. So anyway, you guys are having your first sleepover! Congrats."
"Actually, it's not our first," Zeke says.
"It's not?" Isaac asks.
"No, she stayed at mine after Cole's party."
"She slept in your bed?"
Zeke nods.
Cole drops his fork onto his plate and looks at Zeke.
"What?" I question as the two boys stare open-mouthed at us.
"Zeke never lets anyone in his bed," Isaac clears up.
"Don't make a big deal out of this," Zeke rolls his eyes.
"How can we not? Dude you make us fucking sleep on the floor when we're there," Isaac says.
"So you don't," I pause, "Do it... with girls in there?"
Zeke laughs and shakes his head, "No, my bed is precious. That happens at their house."
"Or in the school parking lot," Cole says while coughing.
"Thank God," I sigh, "I thought I was gonna get an STD."
Zeke screws up his face, "That wouldn't happen from touching my amazing bed."
"I touched you though."
"I'm clean," he scoffs.
"You sure about that? When's the last time you got tested?"
He thinks for a moment, "Last month."
I shake my head in disapproval and take a bite of my burger.
"What?"
"You should probably get another test pretty soon."
"There's no point. I'm pretty sure i've not been with anyone since the last test."
"Hooked," Cole says through a cough again.
"What?" Zeke questions, confused.
"Nothin', dude."
Isaac smirks at Cole, Zeke still looks confused. Zoey's just eating as if she's unaware we're talking.
I feel my phone buzzing in my hoodie pocket and pull it out. Mason's name appears on the screen.
"I'll be right back," I tell the group and get up from my seat and stand next to the bathrooms.
"Hey, Mase," I say into the phone.
"Hey, gorgeous."
I giggle, "What are you doing tonight?"
"Just hanging with the guys. What about you?"
"We're at a restaurant right now."
"Is Zeke being a dick?"
I look at the table; Zeke's playing with a salt shaker while the others talk.
"No, he's been nice. He apologised for what he said."
"That's good."
"I should get back. Talk to you tomorrow?"
"Okay, have fun."
"Who was that?" Zeke asks as I sit back down.
I think about what to say. Zeke doesn't like Mason, so what if he gets mad when he finds out?
"My Mom," I stare at the table. I hate lying.
"Would you like any desserts?" Our waiter asks when we finish eating.
Cole, Isaac and Zoey order different kinds of sundae's.
"What do you want?" Zeke asks me.
"Nothing, Im kinda full."
"Same. Wanna share something?"
"Sure. Chocolate fudge cake?"
He nods and turns to the waiter, "We'll have the chocolate fudge cake," He smiles and slings his arm around my shoulders.
I can't help but feel bubbly inside from happy Zeke. I love it when he's not an asshole.
"Okay so, the Chocolate Stout Waffle Sundae, the Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sundae With Cinnamon-Sugar Almonds, a Brownie Sundae, and chocolate fudge cake for the lovely couple," the man says while reading from his notepad.
"We're not a couple," Zeke laughs awkwardly then removes his arm from me.
"Apologies, sir," he looks at me with a small smile and walks away.
+++
"Look at this store," Zoey enthuses, "It's so cute."
I look up at the place she's pointing at. It's a store called The Seaside Store. It's tropical themed with fake palm trees outside and surf boards.
"Wanna check it out?" Isaac asks.
"Yes, I wanna buy a souvenir."
We all walk in and split up as we look around. It's just as nice on the inside; with fake palm trees that hold rows of necklaces and bracelets.
I look through the necklaces. Many are ones with mini dolphins and surfboards, but there are also ones that are in love heart shapes, split down the middle with 'best friends' written on it. One catches my eye, but it's not a love heart. It's a yin and yang sign split in the middle. The yin is hanging on one chain and the one next to it has the yang on it.
"What are you looking at?" Zeke's voice asks as he moves beside me.
"These necklaces."
"I'm guessing you have an inspirational speech as to why you like them?"
I smile as I look at them. "Do you know what yin and yang stands for?"
"No, but please, enlighten me."
"Yin and Yang are opposites, yet they are complementary to each other. Without the other, they would not be complete."
"Like us," Zeke says after a moment.
I look at him, my expression slowly forming a smile. "Yeah."
He thinks he wouldn't be complete without me?
I know I wouldn't be. We are opposites, but he brings out more in me. He gets me to do things I would never have done before.
I wonder what i've brought out in him.
"Yo, let's go!" Cole shouts from outside the shop, making me wince.
The shop assistants' glare at him.
Gosh, we can't bring this boy anywhere.
+++
"Zeke! Would you stop trying to unzip the damn tent?"
"Just let me in."
"For the last time, i'm trying to change," I groan.
"I'll cover my eyes."
"If you were actually going to cover your eyes you wouldn't have a problem with waiting outside," I state while pulling a t-shirt over my head.
"True."
"Okay, you can come in now," I say once I have my pajama shorts on.
I climb into my sleeping bag and pick up my book, about to start reading when i'm interrupted by Zeke coming in and zipping the tent back up. Then he pulls off his shirt.
"You could have told me to wait outside."
"No, it's fine," he smiles and reaches for the zipper of his pants.
I quickly hide my face behind my book, "Zeeeeke."
"Don't pretend you don't wanna see."
"I'm not pretending."
"I'm ready, you can stop hiding now."
I peek out from behind my book, but hide again when I see Zeke standing there in just his boxers.
"Ezekiel, I'm going to kill you!"
"It's payback, nerd. For what you did at the beach."
I groan, "Did Zoey tell you?"
"She sure did," he falls down beside me, this time wearing sweatpants and a black t-shirt. "Oh, I almost forgot," He sits back up and reaches into the pocket of the jeans he was wearing.
Then he pulls out the Yin and Yang necklaces.
I gasp, "You bought them?"
"Yeah, here," he hands me the white side, "You wear that, and I'll wear the black side."
I look at the necklace, then at him; a wide toothy-smile spread across my face. "Thank you, Zeke."
He rolls his eyes, "Don't thank me, I hate that. If anything you should be apologising. You're turning me into a sappy little bitch."
"Well, you know in the yin there's some yang and in yang there's some yin," I poke his stomach, "In you there's some sappy me."
He smirks, "And in you there's my pe-"
I slap my hand over his mouth before he can finish.
"I was going to say personality," he laughs into my hand.
"Sure you were, asshole."
He grabs my hand and pulls it away from his mouth, "Turn around so I can chain you up."
Knowing what he's really meaning, I turn around in my sleeping bag and pull my hair onto my shoulder.
He takes the necklace from me and attempts to clip it around my neck.
Attempts.
"What is this fucking bullshit? Some kind of finger skill test?"
"I guess your finger skills aren't very good then," I say without realising how bad it sounds.
"That's not what chicks have told me," he mumbles.
"Gross," I scrunch up my nose even though he can't see.
"Got it!"
I turn back to him and look down at the yin symbol around my neck. "Your turn."
He sighs, turning around and letting me put it on for him.
I am pulled from sleep when I feel something moving on me.
Keeping my eyes shut, I realise that a blanket is being pulled over my cold body.
Zeke.
I try not to smile at his thoughtful action. He's so sweet. Who knew that the bad boy had this side to him?
When I wake up again, it's light outside. Zeke is sleeping, lying on his stomach with a frown on his face.
I wonder if that's the way he always sleeps.
I wonder why I'm wondering things like that.
A couple of hours later, the tents are packed up and everything is in the minivan.
Zoey calls shotgun again, so Zeke, Isaac and I climb into the same seats we were in on the way here.
"So, did you guys have fun?" Cole asks when he gets into the drivers seat.
"Surprisingly yes," Zoey says, "And you weren't as annoying as I thought you'd be."
"I'm never annoying."
"Sure, and i'm Beyoncé."
"You're Beyoncé to me," he winks.
"Awww," I coo.
Everyone looks at me.
"Just drive the car, Cole," Zoey says, sounding annoyed.
Cole obeys, putting the key in the ignition and starting the car.
As we drive off, Zeke leans into me, his warm breath making me shiver as he whispers in my ear.
"You're sleeping on my shoulder this time."
+++
happy christmas eve!!
teaser: zeke may or may not find out about marnie and mason
ly❥
-e