She explains herself

After cautiously opening the door to her apartment, Vicky had Zack take a seat on the couch while she cleaned her hair one last time. Zack turned on the television as she disappeared into her bathroom.

Finding absolutely nothing on, Zack aimlessly thumbed through the channels. The thought of having screwed up his chances with Vicky by jumping the gun and buying her the dress crept into his mind as he kept changing channels. With a sigh, Zack put on one of the nature channels and tossed the remote aside. He buried his head in his hands as he sighed in aggravation at himself.

A few moments later, Vicky emerged. Zack, still beating himself up on the couch, didn’t notice her approach. The blonde teen closed her eyes and steeled herself for the conversation that was about to take place.

“Is this seat taken?” she asked.

Zack raised his head and looked at her. His eyes gave her the once over that they had accustomed themselves to doing. Zack failed to notice the weak smile on Vicky’s face as she stood there in her bathrobe.

“Uh, no. Pop a squat,” Zack told her as he pushed aside one of the couch pillows.

“Thanks!” Vicky replied as she stepped between Zack’s feet and took a seat on his right leg.

“There’s…um… plenty of room on the couch,” Zack mumbled.

“I know, but I wanted to make sure I had your attention,” Vicky told him as she leaned over and kissed Zack on the cheek. “Thank you for the dress, Zack. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to!”

“You said that inside!”

“Well, it’s true Vicky. That dress looked too good to be sitting on a hanger in a store, so this morning, I went out and got it for you,” Zack informed the girl on his lap.

“I’d like to pay you back for it, Zack,” Vicky said nervously as she snuggled up to Zack and gently kissed him on the neck.

“Vicky? What are you—" Zack started to protest.

“Paying you back for everything you’ve done for me!” she replied as she kissed him on the neck again.

“You don’t have to do that, Vicky!” he told her as she kissed him just below his right earlobe. Zack’s eyes rolled back at the contact.

“I know I don’t have to. I want to!” Vicky stated, playfully throwing his words back at him.

“But why?” he moaned, as Vicky’s kisses began having the desired effect on him.

“Because,” she paused to give him another kiss behind the ear. “For the last few days, you’ve been the greatest person in the world to me.”

“But this isn’t why I did that!” Zack squirmed.

“I know,” Vicky whispered into his ear which haggard the boy’s breathing.

“But why are you kissing me like this?”

“Some girls don't like it when a guy opens a door for them, or holds them while they’re crying or does other nice things like that. I’m not one of those girls, Zack. I’ve had too many boys act like ass clowns around me to ignore the kindness of someone who likes me,” Vicky answered, kissing him after each sentence. “And you do like me, right?”

“Yes,” Zack whispered as Vicky began trailing kisses along his jaw line.

“Well, I’m right here, Zack. All you have to do is ask me and I’m yours,” Vicky sighed as she planted a kiss on the tip of Zack’s nose.

“I want to be with you Vicky,” he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

“I know. I want to be with you too, Zack.”

“You do?”

“Yes,” Vicky smiled. "Now kiss me!”

Zack’s heart nearly burst as it throbbed in his chest. Every encounter he had with Victoria Walker over the last two years flashed before him as he drew closer and closer to the girl of his dreams. Vicky smiled and closed her eyes as she watched him move in. When their lips finally met for the first time, Zack thought he heard fireworks going off and Vicky felt the earth stand still.