Time Goes On
by Chelle

~ CHAPTER 3 ~

I was woken up by a gentle shake on my arm and some calling my name. I opened my eyes and tried to focus on the figure standing over me. "Humm,what time is it?" I asked rubbing my eyes. "Five after ten." He answered as he finally became clear to my vision. "Oh, god, Hi Zac. I didn't mean to oversleep." I said as I sat up. "It's ok. But you know, you really should lock your door. "Oh good grief... a dad lecture." He continued pulling me to my feet. "I'm sorry to just have walked in. I knocked a few times and thought you may have gotten hurt." He said. "No it's ok. I'm glad you woke me up." I suddenly felt his hand on my back as I stretched. He rubbed up to my shoulders and down to my waist a couple of times with such ease and strength."I knnowwww." He said giggling as I moaned, both from pleasure and pain. I laughed. "Ok, ok. Enough of that. We're gonna work in the kitchen today." I said matter of factly as I led him in there. "Now, if you could just start putting these on," I said gesturing toward some new cabinet doors, "I'm gonna take a quick shower." He smiled and said "Take a long shower, I got this." I smiled as I started toward the doorway. "Oh," I turned back as he glanced up, "If you get thirsty, there's some stuff in the fridge."He smiled and nodded and I started toward the bathroom. I lingered in the hot shower, taking full advantage of the effect it had on my tired sore muscles. When I reluctantly got out and dressed, I brushed my hair, sprayed on some perfume and walked into the livingroom to find Zac sitting on the couch, sipping some water, and looking through my collection of CDs piled near the stereo.
He glanced up and smiled as I walked in."Hey, feel better?" He asked. "Uh-huh." I smiled. "Well, I'm done in here," he said as we walked into the kitchen. I got a can of coke and took a sip. I noticed that he had done a good job and had even cleaned up the mess when he was done-putting the trash in the bag already half filled on the kitchen floor and neatly laying the hammer on the counter, next to it, the extra screws in one bag instead of the four he'd had to open. "Very nice, looks great." I said with a smile, causing him to look down for a few seconds until the redness on his cheeks had faded. "Thanks," he replied as he glanced up at me.
We then started more work, moving furniture, hanging curtains and paintings and putting in the ceiling fan. By this time he was starting to sweat and had started splashing cold water on his face and neck in the bathroom. Afterwards, he glanced at his watch. "Ok, let's go." I looked up from filling a vase with water for the flowers another neighbor had brought over as a welcome gift about an hour earlier. "What? Go where?" I asked putting the flowers in the water and sitting them on the kitchen table. "Mom invited you over for lunch so you can meet the family. She told me to bring you over at 2:30 and it's 2:40. So, let's go." I was surprised but welcomed the chance to meet the family. And I was getting hungry. "Ok,"I said "Umm, I need to go to Home Depot though so I can't stay too long ok?" He nodded and opened the door.
We walked to the Hansons and were greeted at the door by Zoe. She ran into Zac's arms and said hello to me. Then yelled "Mmooommmmm! They're heeerreeee!" Zac winced and I laughed. "Hi, come on in here, have a seat. Zac introduce her." Diana said with a smile as she headed back into the kitchen, spoon in one hand and the phone now back at her ear held with the other.
The home was a flurry of activity and noise as Zac and I went into the living room. "Everybody!" Zac said rather loud to get their attention. "This is Melissa, our new neighbor." I was suddenly met with a massive amount of hand shakes and hellos. Once things were quiet Zac said "In case you missed any of that," we all laughed as he rolled his eyes, "This is our dad Walker, Taylor, whom I believe you met, our oldest brother Isaac, our sisters Jessica and Avery, and our brother Mackenzie. And Zoe, you met her too." Zac pointed to each person as he introduced them and they smiled.
As we sat on the couch, they began asking me questions. I answered each one and found myself very relaxed. They were all friendly but not nosey. Diana then walked in saying "Good grief, you all lay off! Hi Hon, glad you joined us. Lunch is ready." The kids ran into the kitchen,with the adults following in a walk. After we were all seated Diana said "Isaac,why don't you go see if Karen wants to eat with us?" Isaac excused himself and headed upstairs. Zac leaned toward me from his seat next to mine "Karen's Isaac's wife. She's pregnant and hasn't been feeling too good." I nodded.
Just then a young girl came in the door. "Hey," she said grinning as she walked into the kitchen. Taylor's face lit up and he jumped from his seat and embraced her in a hug. "I thought you weren't coming home 'til tonight." He said letting go of her and ushering her to the table. "Got done quicker than I thought I would." She sat at the table and Taylor introduced us. "Honey, this is Melissa, our new neighbor. Melissa, this is my wife, Victoria." I shook her hand across the table and she smiled saying "Tori. Nice to meet ya." Then Isaac came in and said "Hey Tori! Mom, Karen was asleep and she said she's not hungry right now." Diana nodded and after grace was said, we began eating and talking about one thing then another. When we'd finished and had cleared the dishes, Zac said "C'mon Melissa. I'll take ya to Home Depot." I decided to take him up on that offer and after our good-byes, we left.
"You got a led foot too huh?" I asked with a grin as we pulled into the parking lot. He grinned and turned the car off. We walked in and he followed quietly as I picked up some paint supplies and sit them in the cart he was pushing. After paying for the purchases we got back into his single cab, white pickup and headed home. He pulled into my driveway and helped me carry in the bags. We sit on the couch as I told him of my plans to paint. He offered to help the next day. I agreed and after a few more minutes of talking he left.
I sat watching TV. I wondered why I'd found myself so comfortable and open with him so soon. Trust was a big issue with me and I'd never opened up to anyone so quickly like I was to him. I'd never felt so relaxed with anyone like I felt with him. Sure he was Zac Hanson from a band that I'd loved, but he was more than that. He was nice and polite and funny. He was also smart and had been very kind to help me. He was just Zac from Tulsa here and I'd never break our deal to turn it into anything more. Still though, I found myself wondering about him. I wanted to know him, everything about him. I wanted him to know everything about me. I wanted him to want to know about me.

: Previous Chapter : Next Chapter :
: Chapter Index :

Go Back To: The Gifted Ones