Surprisingly Well

Surprisingly Well

Zack sat through Ms. Moreau’s class, normally the first day of classes, felt like an eternity, but Mary Moreau somehow seemed to make the class go by quickly. She went through the same welcome back spiel and then went over the syllabus, but unlike other classes, she had something fun for the class to do. She asked everyone to free write, it could be about anything and wouldn’t be graded, hell it didn’t even need to be turned in, but she promised to those that did turn it in that she would read each and every one of them and give feedback and advice. Zack spent the class writing a short mystery story and when the bell rang for lunch he eagerly handed in his story, “It was kind of rushed, but I hope you enjoy it.” Ms. Moreau smiled at Zack, “I am sure it is fine Zack, but I will give what advice and feedback that I can, have a good lunch!”

Zack wished Ms. Moreau a good lunch as well before waiting for Ashley to catch up with him outside the classroom, “So, what did Heather say?” Ashley smiled, “She said that would be fine, have Paris meet us outside the cafeteria.” Zack nodded and shot a quick text to Paris, telling her where to meet him and Ashley, she returned his text with a thumbs up emoji. Zack turned to Ashley, “Alright Ash, lead the way and I hope Heather doesn’t expect me to roll over and just do what she says.” Ashley frowned before stepping in front of Zack and putting her hands on her hips, looking at him sternly, “Zachary Bishop, whatever you have heard about Heather it is all bullshit.” Zack looked at her doubtfully, causing Ashley to wag a reproving finger at him, looking so much how he remembered Sarah looked when she would scold them that he couldn’t help but crack a grin as he listened to her. “Do you think, Zachary Bishop, that I would be best friends with an outright bitch?”

Zack looked down, “I-I guess not,” Ashley got right up in his personal space, “You guess?!” Zack backed up a step, “O-Of course you wouldn’t Ash, but the rumors about Heather’s personality are believable.” Ashley huffed as she rolled her eyes, “Can Heather be a bit bossy at times? Yes, but that doesn’t mean she is a bad person. She doesn’t **** people to do what she wants, nor does she bully other kids, under her intimidating personality she is a sweetheart, she just doesn’t like to show weakness. She is using high school to practice a bit for when she takes over her dad’s company.” Ash looked at Zack with sympathy, “This is why I think it is important you get to know her, you are family and going off of rumors isn’t right for either of you. Whatever your dads have said about each other, neither of you should label each other the same way.”

Zack could see Ashley’s eyes watering up and he gave her chaste hug, “I am sorry Ash, you are right. I didn’t mean to imply anything about you or Heather.” Ashley hugged him back, feeling strangely safe and secure in his arms, but she shook off those thoughts and pulled back with a smile, “Alright then, let’s head to the cafeteria.” Zack nodded, “After you m’lady,” Ashley giggled at that, “Who said chivalry was dead?” Zack smiled as he followed after her, hoping this first meeting went alright. Paris was waiting for them outside the cafeteria doors, “You a family therapist now Ash,” the blue haired lesbian asked. Ashley shrugged, “Meeting Zack was actually Heather’s idea, but I am an agent of love, doesn’t mean it has to be strictly romantic love. I think it’s high time you all officially get to know each other rather than just knowing of each other.” Paris frowned, “I guess, but I still don’t understand why now? Like she has had all of high school, what’s changed?”

Zack shrugged, “Perhaps it’s the knowledge that we will all be going off to college and may not see each other for a long while? Or maybe she was like me and just took what our fathers said at face value, or in my case what my father doesn’t say. Every time Uncle Robert is even mentioned you can see the strain on his face as though someone had slapped him. Mom or Dad won’t even tell me what happened, so for me the Ravers have always seemed like this evil cadre running a multi-billion dollar corporation. Maybe for most of her life Heather has seen my Dad as an ungrateful traitor to the family?” Another voice came from behind Zack, “Traitor? Maybe, but Uncle Daniel used the things he learned from Dad and Grandpa to carve a nice little company of his own, so I couldn’t really say he was ungrateful if he used what he learned while he was still a Ravers.”

All three turned to see the admittedly sexy Heather Ravers standing behind them, her arms crossed under her bountiful chest, emphasizing just how large they were. Zack frowned, “I don’t pretend to know Dad’s reasons, but I do know that whatever reason he had from leaving the Ravers family it was a good reason. But, like I said Mom or Dad won’t tell me the reasons.” Heather smirked, which somehow made her look even sexier, “Good to see you aren’t just going to roll over Bishop, Daddy won’t tell me anything either, which is strange because he tells me practically everything. He even tells me about the women he seduces, so whatever happened between Daddy and Uncle Daniel must be something Daddy regrets.” Heather walks past them and opens the doors to the cafeteria, “But let’s find somewhere to sit, no since in standing around out here talking, when we could be sitting. Ash, I hope your boyfriend won’t cause a scene.” Ashley frowned, “I told Brandon what I was doing, he wasn’t happy obviously, but he promised to stay out of it.” Heather nodded, “Good, let’s go.”

Zack fell into step behind Ashley, with Paris next to him, his blue haired cousin leaned over and whispered, “Are you sure about this Zack? What if your Dad finds out?” Zack shrugged, “Then I will face the consequences, but I am not going to let whatever happened between him and Uncle Robert dictate my life.” Paris looked at him in surprise, “Ok, who are you and what have you done with my dork of a cousin?” Zack rolled his eyes, “Haha, very funny, I don’t think there should be anything wrong with me getting to know my cousin. If Dad has a problem with it then he can yell at me later.” Paris chuckled, “It’s your funeral.”

The two cousins followed Ashley and Heather to get some lunch before moving to a corner table that was rather secluded from the rest of the cafeteria. Zack and Paris sat next to each while Ashley and Heather did the same. They sat there in silence, both parties seeing who would break the ice first. Zack sighed, unable to take the silence, “Ok Heather, we are here, so why the sudden desire for a meeting?” Heather poked idly at her food, “I can’t just want to get to know my estranged cousin?” Paris frowned, “You had all of high school, why now? You do realize if this was anyone other than Zack they would immediately think you had ulterior motives.” Zack gave Paris a glare and was about to apologize, but Heather’s sudden laughter took him off guard, “Don’t worry Zachary, Paris is technically right. I know my reputation around the school and I know my father’s reputation around town. I could easily see why someone would think I have an ulterior motive.”

Zack looked at Heather in surprise causing the buxom brunette to giggle again, “Yes, Zachary I keep my ears to the ground, something I picked up from Uncle Rick. I know he still visits Uncle Daniel, he sometimes tells me about his visits, but he never has anything bad to say about your family.” Heather paused for a moment, “I simply had an epiphany over the summer. We are cousins and yet I know next to nothing about you. Sure I have heard what other people say about you from time to time, but that isn’t really knowing you. I am sure you are in much the same boat, you have rumors and stories you have heard, but you don’t know me. I do regret waiting this long, but I guess much like you I just couldn’t separate ourselves from whatever feud our father’s are going through. I want to change that, I want us to be the beginning of reconciliation for our families.”

Zack was surprised to see Heather look sad for a moment before she continued, “Do you realize that if whatever happened didn’t happen then we would have likely lived together in Ravers Manor?” Zack shrugged, “I-I guess?” Heather smiled sadly, “That place felt so empty, such a large house and it was pretty much my dad and I. Sure there were staff and people like that running around, but a house that big should be filled with family. It was so lonely in that house growing up and as I grew older I began to resent both of our fathers for whatever caused their split, knowing that if it hadn’t happened I wouldn’t have been so lonely in that house. I don’t want my future children to feel that way.”

Zack sat there in silence and even Paris seemed moved by Heather’s story, this wasn’t the bossy and sexual cheer captain they heard about everyday. Sure Zack had seen how she could increase her sexual appeal with simply a smirk, but now Zack couldn’t sense anything other than sincerity. Ashley was even hugging her friend telling Zack that this wasn’t likely an act. The young boy rubbed the back of his neck, “I am sorry you felt lonely Heather, but there wasn’t anything I could do about then, but I can try to change that now. I have wanted to get to know you since I started high school, but you always seemed unapproachable and over the years I just accepted that we would always be strangers, but if you are serious about mending bridges then I would prefer for my own future family to know yours.”

Ashley beamed at him, causing Zack to blush slightly and even Heather looked relieved as she said, “I…I appreciate that Zachary.” Zack smiled, “First things first my friends don’t call me Zachary, just Zack is fine.” Heather chuckled, “Zack it is then, I know Daddy wants to meet you too, but one step at a time.” Zack nodded, “One step at a time.” They four teens spent the rest of lunch chatting about random things and overall enjoying themselves before they had to say their goodbyes and exchange phone numbers before heading off to finish out the first day of school.