Was this a surprise party?

After what felt like the longest week of his life, it was finally Friday night. Zack was in the passenger seat of Kevin Jackson’s car, with Jake and Alice cuddled up in the back seat. Not wanting to go through the **** of waiting hours for the girls to get ready, Zack decided to hang out with his teammates.

“Any lucky ladies in your radar Zack?” A teasing Alice asked. Alice was a cute, petite girl with short brown hair and a surprisingly fit body hiding behind her modest clothing. Alice is close friends with Victoria, being that they both work on The Speedy Scout, the school newspaper. If she had it her way, Victoria would go for a good guy like Zack. Slightly caught off guard with how much time Victoria has spent with Brandon Cole recently, she figures it’s best to let the girl make her own decisions.

Zack blushed slightly while trying to come up with an answer. A giddy Kevin chimed in before he could. “I think Zack’s the one locked in their crosshairs.” Zack could only laugh, trying to dismiss his friend’s teasing. Alice smiled and found herself intrigued by Kevin’s admission. “I want to know why the hell you brought a backpack. You plan on making this an overnight with someone?” a smirking Kevin teased.

Zack gave a meager shrug of his shoulders with a slight smile escaping his face. Knowing he had to make amends, he brought a few things that could help.

Moments later they pulled up to the mansion of a house, belonging to Heather Ravers. This was the first time that the four of them had been there, so they were all lost in awe at how extravagant it was. Slightly intimidated, they finally made their way to the front door. Heather quickly met them at the door to welcome them in. “I’m kind of surprised there isn’t a butler.” Kevin joked under his Breath.

“He’s finishing up his chores on the other side of the house.” Heather quickly chimed back with a grin. They all questioned if she was joking or serious.

Taking in the interior, Zack too was caught up to even see who was there. Feeling a light shove in his chest, he came out of his stupor to find a smiling Ashley. He patted her on the top of her head in return, which always riled her up. “Is there something you forgot to tell me Zachary…” The now serious girl said while staring him down with crossed arms.

“I’m pretty sure I tell you everything dear.” He sarcastically responded as he attempted to walk past her. Ashley stepped in front of him once again, not letting him off the hook that easy.

“Is there something going on between you and Madison?” The blonde girl bluntly asked, catching him off-guard. The secretive boy gulped before trying to figure out how to respond properly. Taking a moment to collect himself, before refocusing on his close friend.

“I mean I guess we’ve flirted a bit.” He simply responded possibly downplaying the truth. Now scared that his hallway kiss was making rounds, “Why what have you heard?”

“You mean what have I seen? You two seen seemed awfully close the other night and a couple times at school.” Ashley continued, possibly studying his reactions. “You don’t think that’s reckless? You’re already on Brandon’s shit list.”

“Is that what this interrogation is? Looking out for Brandon?” Zack sharply responded. The offensive Ashley was caught off guard before she could continue.

“I might have offered my help before you just acted like an ass.” She huffed back at him with a stern look. Zack quickly rubbed the back of his head wondering why he put his foot in his mouth so often with these feisty girls. He stepped forward now dropping his guard and pulled her into a gentle hug.

“I’m sorry Ash. I know you’re always looking out for me.” he said now looking down at her with an easing smile. “I don’t know, Madison is cool and all. It’s nice getting to know her again after all of these years. She keeps me on my toes like only you can.” He once again gives her his charming smile.

Ashley never could stay mad at him long. “Well just be careful dummy.” Ashley now teasing him back. “Madison isn’t one to just have a casual fling. She gets attached and I don’t want to see her hurt.” The caring friend added. “Plus…she’d probably hurt you back.” Ashley said with a grin, knowing all too well of Madison’s feisty temper. She was glad that they stayed friends even after the relationship with Brandon didn’t work out.

“Noted.”Realizing he was still wrapped around her and released before anyone got any ideas. “This place is insane.” Zack said as he looked around the impressive house. “Why are you at my house so often? I’d never leave this place!” Ashley gave him a light parting push before joining the others.

A knock on the front door brought the guy out of his thoughts as he looked up to the door. Scarlett walked into the party. He wasn’t aware that she socialized with this group, but it makes sense that if there’s a party, Scarlett will be there. To his despair, she was followed in the door by Luke Olsen. The smiling older boy wrapped his arms around the hot blonde. Luke graduated the year before and is now a traveling musician. When he’s in town, he’s never far from Scarlett’s side as the two seem to have an on again, off again fling. This made a disappointed Zack frustrated as it was hard to ever make a move. At this point the entryway was starting to fill up with people and they started to migrate through the house. Before he could sulk any longer, he feels a poke in his ribs. He turned to a beaming Madison. “You ready to convince me you aren’t a jerk after all?” She teased, stepping closer. Being slightly more prepared this time, he smiled back at her challenge and walked her into the next room. Removing the bag from his shoulder, he figured he could use all the help he could find. Madison could only smile while looking at the mysterious boy with anticipation.

“So, it’s been a while since we use to hang out, but I did my best to bring a peace offering.” A slightly blushing Zack teased as he stared into her eyes once more. He took a seat on the sofa while sorting through his bag. A Giddy Madison bounced up onto her knees landing on the couch next to him. He first pulled out two Hi-C fruit punch juice box’s, handing one to a cackling Madison. She leaped towards him grabbing it and punching the straw through with a quickness. “I haven’t had one of these in years!” Zack simply cheersed her with a grin, remembering that it was one of the few things that could distract an angry Madison as kids. His mom probably spent half of her grocery budget on the neighborhood kids, which she didn’t mind in the least. He next pulled out a blue ring pop similar to the one he ‘proposed to’ her with when they were about six.

Madison now barely containing herself at his sweet, innocent gestures. “I guess the wedding is still on after all?” She teasingly grinned while scooting even closer to him. Encouraged by her excitement, he went for his grand finally. Madison always had a sweet tooth and he had to do a little planning for the last one. He reached into the bag pulling out a pack of Gushers in his right hand and the mystical dunkaroos in his left. He looked at her with a tempting grin to see which she would choose. She instantly grabbed both with a quickness and landed back on the couch, pulling her knees up with a smile as wide as possible. “I didn’t even know they still made these.”

“I had to make it up to you. I don’t take that lightly.” The two seniors locked eyes, both grinning sillily at the other. “So now which activity do we want to do…” Zack was looking through his bag, pulling out a couple child board games. Madison all but knocked the bag out of his hand as she straddled his lap. The caught off guard guy, now nervous that someone could see them. Fortunately, they were the only two in the room at the time.

“Maybe we could play some new games.” Madison cheekily responded while gently cupping her hands on both sides of his face. She then leaned in passionately kissing the blue-eyed boy. She felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her in tight which caught a mew escaping from her lips mid kiss.

“What was that?” the grinning Zack obnoxiously asked her. She pushed his back against the couch to show who was in charge.

“Shut up before I come to my senses.” She leans in again, her tongue plunging into his mouth. Now pulling back to catch his gaze. “This was really sweet. I’m not 8 any more… but it’s possibly the most thoughtful thing any one has ever done for me.” “Do you think?... We should find somewhere more private?” A rarely silent Zack could only nod, before being pulled by his hand from the couch. Madison led the entranced boy up the stairs to one of the spare rooms. Most of the others were distracted enough but their actions weren’t lost on Heather and Ashley.

“Ravers will be Ravers.” A seemingly proud Heather mocked. Ashley, a little more worried about what the consequences could be.

“You’ve known him for four days and you’re already corrupting him.” Ashley added with an eye roll. The two girls continued to mock each other and grab another drink.

Madison shut the door and pushed Zack backwards onto the empty bed. The emboldened girl was doing all she could to keep up the facade. In reality, her heart was pounding on seeing her fantasy play out in real life. Luckily, she was pulled out of her thoughts, by Zack’s gentle hand. He lightly pulled her on the bed next to him and rolled on his side to face her. Gently cupping her face with one hand and firmly grabbing her hip with the other, he pulled her into him. Zack took a deep breath before climbing on top of the passionate girl. A fumbling Madison grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it until it was off completely and thrown on the floor. Zack had done all but actual sex with Lisa. This was actually new territory for Madison, who behind her outgoing personality, has only kissed a couple boys before. As she gulped before unbuckling his belt, she heard her phone repeatedly going off. After ignoring it for as long as she could. She knew well enough to finally check it. Multiple texts from Brandon saying he knew about the party and was there to pick her up. The last text even threatening that their dad was going to call the cops if she didn’t leave now. Knowing he’d go through with it, she decided it was best for all to leave with Brandon. It would take a fool to call the cops on Robert Ravers, though Walden Cole wasn’t always known for his intelligence. A pissed off Madison rolled over on top of the surprised guy. Doing her best to keep her cool, she leaned in gently biting his neck and huffing in frustration of what to do. “My brother’s here and threatening to cause a scene if I don’t leave now. I swear I just want to runaway sometimes.” Noticing her eyes starting to water, Zack gently brought his thumb up to wipe away the tears. She smiled at how sweet he had been all night, making her all the angrier that she couldn’t thank him properly. With a parting passionate kiss, she made her way to the front door, thinking it was best that Brandon didn’t see the two together.

A moping Zack now rejoined the party but was barely present. He saw Chloe and Paris grilling someone which brought a brief smile to his face. “Why the long face, Eeyore?” Ashley’s attempted teasing gained little response, worrying the girl. “Can we talk?” Ashley nearly **** him into a room before he could even properly respond. She sat on the bed next to him waiting for him to spill whatever is bothering him.

After some defiant silence, he finally filled her in on seeing the coupled-up Scarlett and the interruption with Madison. A giggling Ashley wasn’t the response he expected. Zack, frustrated beyond belief, stood up to go find a way home. Ashley grabbed his arm, pulling him back to the bed. Doing her best to defend herself, before the nearly irate boy questioned her teasing. “Zack you’ve barely dated in high school and suddenly you have all of these girl issues the first week of school. I’m almost proud.” She teased.

“What if I said I could have a girl in here in minutes that certainly wouldn’t disappoint.” Ashley, now dead serious, staring at the boy.

“I’d say it’s scary how fast you evolved from a match maker to a pimp.” He measly teased back. “What’s there to lose? Do your worst.”

Ashley barely hiding her excitement, headed to the door to get Zack’s target. Surprisingly, instead of opening the door, she locked it. Ashley now sauntered back and mounted herself on the caught off guard boy’s lap. She took a gulp and then pressed her lips forward. If you’ve ever seen a guy mid-realization that he pissed on a live electrical fence, you’d almost realize how shocked Zack was. With Zack frozen, Ashley panicked that she had misread everything, pulling back to study her close friend. Zack, suddenly possessed, picked her up before turning and landing on top of her. His head nearly burst now seeing Ashley in a whole new light.

In a far-off room, a smirking Robert Ravers turned off his monitor to give the two youngsters some privacy. He too was intrigued to meet Daniel’s surprising son.