Sugar and Sausage

"Hey, do you mind if I come with you?" Paris asked when Zack grabbed his car keys.

"Sure, but don't you want to hang out with the girls?" Zack asked back.

"Actually, I wondered if you could drop me at home on your way to Luigi's and then pick me back up. You're the one that suggested I grab more clothes," Paris reminded her cousin.

Chuckling, Zack shook his head and said sure. He admitted to himself that he'd walked into this errand. Fortunately, his uncle's house wasn't really out of the way. He'd just need to take a different main street for the first part of the trip.

Once settling into the car, they began their trip. Immediately, Jared commented that he hadn't taken this road in years. He visited Azure Rocks several times a year to see his grandparents and for his parents to visit their friends. But those were short trips that left little time to explore his former hometown. Within minutes Zack's blue sedan stopped at an intersection for a red light.

"What the hell? What happened to the hardware store?" Jared questioned, pointing to a fitness center.

"That closed down a couple of years ago after a big box hardware store opened up near the mall. They couldn't compete with the selection and lower prices," Zack recalled.

"Damn, I remember going there with my dad when we still lived here. He's going to be upset about this."

"Yeah, my grandpa still complains about it. He said the old owner was good people. That's the highest praise he can give," Zack relayed. "And he bitches that the chain store hires idiots that don't know jack squat. That's also his words for it."

"I think we knew that," Paris giggled from the backseat.

After only another minute of driving, Zack made the final turn toward his uncle's house. Pulling up to the curb, he noticed an old car in the driveway.

"It looks like Clark is home."

"Yay for me," Paris remarked as she climbed out of the car. "I should be ready by the time you get back."

"Should? I think twenty minutes should be plenty of time," Zack yelled out the open car window.

Checking over his shoulder, Zack pulled the car back onto the street. Having wondered about the conversation between the two cousins, Jared asked a question.

"What's the deal with Clark?"

"I really don't know. He's always been a little quiet and standoffish, but it's gotten a lot worse in these last few months. Clark never comes around to our house unless Uncle George is with him. At school, he only hangs out with his basketball teammates. You wouldn't know we were related if it wasn't for our last name. Paris thinks he's bitter that instead of starting college next month, he's starting senior year."

"If I was him, I'd be grateful to be alive," Jared commented. It was in reference to the accident that killed Paris and Clark's mother and seriously injured Clark. Those injuries **** him to miss a year of school.

"That's what Taylor said."

They drove in silence for several minutes after the somber conversation ended. Still, Jared couldn't wait any longer before he'd go crazy.

"I tell you, there must be something in the water down here."

"Huh?"

"I'm just saying that Paris moves here, and she's all scrawny. Now, she's got damn fine curves. When and where did those come from?"

"Aw, c'mon, that's my cousin," Zack said, cringing.

"I mean, that rack of hers is huge! I never ever expected little Paris to get tits that big," Jared pushed on.

"Dude, come on."

"And that ass! I mean, even you've noticed it, right? How could you not?"

"No, I haven't."

"Bullshit!"

"Just stop, man."

"C'mon, you can't tell me that you haven't noticed. It sounds like Paris is over at your house all the time. Is she one of those fantasies you mentioned? Is she?" Jared egged on, noticing the conflicting emotions on his friend's face.

"Yes, I've fucking noticed! And yes, her body is driving me crazy!" Zack screamed before lowering his voice. "Now, are you happy?"

"Whoa! I was just messing around," Jared replied. "Still, I should've known. You do have a cousin fetish."

"I knew telling you about kissing Mia was a mistake," Zack gritted through his teeth. His hand also gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Yep, my old friend Zachary has a kissing cousin fetish. Which one is moving down south with you to have your baby?"

"Oh, shut up!" Zack snapped, seeing the pure delight on Jared's face. "I'm so getting you back for this."

"You can try, Zacky boy, you can try." There was a pause in the conversation and then Jared yelled. "What the hell happened to the mall?"

Zack nearly laughed at the comical look on Jared's face as he pointed at a newish pharmacy on the corner. Next to it stood a fast-food chicken chain restaurant. Both had replaced a small, dilapidated strip mall that once had five tiny storefronts.

"Yeah, they tore that down a few years back."

"Shit, I remember going to that sports shop back when I was in my baseball card collecting phase," Jared said almost wistfully.

"Yeah, that's right. I remember you forcing us to ride our bikes all around town back when we were twelve, thirteen to find cards. I hated it," Zack admitted.

"Man, coming back down here is sucking more and more. Everything changes."

"It's called progress, buddy. Doesn't stuff change in Mountain Falls?"

"Only stuff for the rich, ski tourists. Oh, and the girls get hotter!"

"Behave, or I'm calling your mom. Got it?" Zack challenged, opening Luigi's front door.

"That threat is going to get old real fast this week," Jared shot back.

"No, it won't." Zack knew that Gabriela was the parent who doled out the punishment in the Lockett household.

"Damn, is it always this busy on a Thursday night?" Jared inquired.

While the dine-in seating appeared around half full, the line for the pickup window was about eight people deep. Zack looked around in surprise.

"Not on a Thursday. Is there something special going on tonight?"

"You tell me. This is your town."

"Is there a game on?" Zack asked. While he watched sports, he was a casual fan, not a sports fanatic.

"Preseason football is on tonight."

"And you came with me to get food? Are you feeling okay?" Zack asked the star linebacker.

"It's only preseason. The starters play a couple of series, then the backups come in. By the last quarter, it's guys that won't make the roster fighting for a job." Jared noticed that Zack still watched him expectantly. "Fine, if I was at home, I'd be watching the games. But it's not a big deal if I miss one night of games."

"If you say so," Zack remarked, indicating that he didn't believe Jared. Feeling uncomfortable, he watched as a person left with their food, leading the two teens to take two steps forward. "I need to pee. I should be back quick, but if not, here's the money."

Handing over the money, Zack speed-walked into the other dining room. A regular at Luigi's, he knew his way around. That was a good thing as his bladder felt ready to burst. Cursing himself for drinking that extra can of soda before they left, Zack grew concerned as he saw two guys standing outside the men's room.

"Fuck," he muttered. A young woman walking past heard him and turned in his direction.

"Zack? It is you! How's it going?" a dark-haired girl wearing a red, white, and green blouse and skirt asked.

"Hi, Sonia," Zack said to Sonia Todaro, the daughter of Luigi's owner. "Busy in here tonight."

"Tell me about it. The phone won't stop ringing. Somebody even ordered eight large pizzas and a bunch of appetizers. Hmm, come to think about it—"

"Yep, that was me," Zack sheepishly admitted. Recalling the argument over how much to order, the teen wished Hannah and Jared were here to take the heat.

"Wow, you having a party?" The pretty nineteen-year-old inquired, appearing interested.

"My parents and their friends went on vacation, so we have several people staying at our house. Sorry about going overboard, but a few people demanded that we have plenty of leftovers for the next couple of days."

Sonia chuckled. "Don't be sorry. Dad loves big orders like that. It's the kitchen staff who groan when it comes in at the same time as a bunch of other orders," Sonia replied, flashing a beautiful smile at him. "So what's the problem?"

"Oh, I, uh, the line is longer than I hoped," Zack said with a tinge of embarrassment. He gestured to the line for the bathroom that hadn't moved yet.

"Oh!" Sonia nodded in sympathy. "Hey, just go use the ladies' room. Nobody went in there after I left."

"Wait, really? Uh, won't I get in trouble?"

"There's no law against it, silly," Sonia chuckled. The attractive waitress gave Zack a soft shove forward. "Besides, if anyone says anything, you tell them that I gave you permission."

"Thanks, Sonia!" Zack responded. Checking over his shoulder to make sure that no women were walking this way to use the bathroom, he dashed over and inside.

Oblivious to the interest that Sonia showed in him, Zack ended up getting struck with a different idea. Jared wanted to meet girls while in town. Jared also loved Luigi's. What if Zack introduced Sonia to Jared? His friend would know better than to screw over the daughter of his favorite Italian restaurant, and Sonia might end up the perfect woman for Jared.

Chuckling over how awesome his idea might turn out, Zack left the ladies' room. He failed to notice the dirty look from the scandalized mother waiting her turn. Walking through the back dining room, he turned the corner and nearly tripped.

"Oh, fuck."

Jared hadn't been patiently waiting in line this whole time. Nope, he'd also managed to charm a group of four girls before they exited Luigi's after finishing their meal. Zack would readily admit that the four were hot, but they were also something else. They were Honeybears.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Woodsens' little pet," Bianca Zuccaro commented once Zack reached their group.

"Hey, Bianca. Hey, Yelena. Hey, Jasmine. Hey, Rosita," Zack greeted his dance squad classmates, who also happened to be the bitter rivals of the cheerleaders.

The Honeybears gave varying replies back. Yelena Mishkova barely acknowledged his presence. The blonde sex kitten preferred guys with girlfriends. Girlfriends that she disliked and wanted to seduce their boyfriends away from. Jasmine Fadel started to greet him in a friendly manner but froze halfway as she noticed her friends' reactions. So her hello came out softly and sheepishly. Only Rosita Veliz truly showed any interest at his appearance.

"Hey, Zack. You working out lately? Looking good," Rosita said, squeezing his upper arm. Yelena rolled her eyes at the comment.

"So when's the party happening, Bishop?" Bianca questioned, causing Jared to look down in shame.

"Huh?"

"We run into the notorious Jared Lockett, and he tells us that your parents are out town. That means a party is happening," Bianca stated, raising her eyebrow at Zack. "Or are you too much of a pussy to risk getting into trouble?"

"Uh, did Jared also tell you that Ashley and Hannah are staying at our house?" Zack asked more at his friend than Bianca. Jared's eyes barely met Zack's eyes as the latter shot him a dirty look. Instead, he found a different subject to talk about.

"It looks like we're next," the stocky football remarked as the line shifted again.

"Are you implying that I'm afraid to attend a party with the Woodsens?" Bianca questioned, her evil smirk sending shivers down Zack's body.

"Yeah, are you, Bishop?" Yelena chimed in, baring her fangs or at least Zack imagined that she had.

Growing sick and tired of getting dragged into the family feud between the Woodsens and Zuccaros, Zack replied in a way he'd never done before. He struck back.

"Maybe you are frightened, Bianca. Frightened of always being second place to Ashley, even when your a captain and she's only a regular squad member."

Jasmine gasped while Yelena's eyes narrowed. Zack felt sure that if she had a knife, even a plastic one, in her hand, she'd have plunged it into his back. Rosita sounded as if she stifled a laugh. Never breaking eye contact, Zack saw Bianca's evil smirk broadening.

"Well, well, well. Finally growing some backbone, huh, Zacky? I like it." Bianca turned to face Jared as she finally reached the counter. "Call me, Lockett."

"Uh, yeah, sure. See ya, girls," Jared said, more focused on giving their name to the cute girl working the counter.

Nothing was said between the two friends as they paid for the pizza and appetizers. Nor was anything said when they split the order each in half to carry it out to the car. Only after Zack shut the trunk did he turn to face Jared.

"What the hell was that?"

"Just flirting with a few hot girls," Jared replied, walking to the passenger door.

"You can't flirt with a Honeybear, let alone a Zuccaro, and you know it," Zack reminded his friend as he sat down on the driver's seat.

"Why not?"

"Why not?! I'll tell you why not. If Hannah doesn't kill you first, then your mom will," Zack informed the unconcerned Jared. "You of all people know about the bad blood between the Woodsens and Zuccaros. Hell, your mom made it worse. She probably—no, she definitely hates Bianca's mom more than Mrs. Woodsen does. And what was that call me stuff at the end?"

"I'm planning on going out with Bianca this weekend."

"What?!" Zack was lucky that he hadn't left the parking lot yet. If he had, his blue sedan would've crashed. "What the hell? Are you suicidal? She's the enemy of your friends!"

"Zack, Zack, Zack, you have much to learn in life," Jared chuckled. "Screwing your enemy is some of the hottest sex you can have. Haven't you heard of hate fucking?"

"Hate fucking? You better push my dad's desk in front of the door every night. If you don't, Hannah might cut your dick off," Zack warned in exasperation.

"Then you better do the same."

"What's that mean?' Zack questioned, taking his eye off the road briefly.

"I did mention us double-dating this week with some hot girls," Jared reminded.

"No...no, no, you didn't..."

"We're going out this weekend with Bianca and one of her friends on a double-date."

Zack's blue sedan narrowly missed slamming into the back of the car parked at the red light.