At Vicky's house

When they pulled up to her house, Vicky leaned over and gave Zack a peck on the cheek and thanked him. Despite getting a kiss from the girl of his dreams, Zack did not forget his manners and quickly opened the door for his female passenger. He then offered to help carry her things inside for her.

“Thanks Zack. You’re a true friend. Probably the only one I’ve got right now,” the blonde sighed.

“Nah, everything’ll be fine Vicky. You’ll see in a few days when we go back,” Zack tried to cheer her up as they walked to her front door.

“I don’t think I’ll be welcome back there. Heather didn’t seem to be too happy about me leaving. She was even madder about you leaving,” Victoria informed him.

“I think Heather’s mad at everyone right now. I mean it’s only Day One and she’s already been saddled with an extra person, two people having a falling out, and two people leaving. Not exactly the trip she planned for us,” Zack shook his head. “Things will be better when we go back in a few days.”

Vicky smiled as she opened up the door to her house and called out to her parents. Zack stepped inside carefully, so as to not knock anything over with her suitcase. As he stood inside the doorway, Zack realized that despite being friends with Vicky for over two years, it was the first time he had actually been to her house. Most of the group’s gatherings had been at either Ashley’s or Heather’s homes.

“Wow! Nice house, Vick!” Zack looked around.

“Oooh that’s right! You’ve never been here before!” she squealed at the thought of getting to take someone on a tour of her house.

“Who’s never been here before?” a deep male voice asked as he walked into the family room.

“Hi Daddy; Zack’s never been here before!” Victoria informed her father.

“Hey Bishop! Good to see you, but why am I seeing you? What happened?” Mister Walker asked his daughter.

“Someone tried to get me to do something I didn’t really want to do and it caused a scene. So I left. And after standing up for me, Zack here was kind enough to drive me home. And carry my suitcase in for me. You can put it there by the couch,” she told her father as she took off her shoes.

“Who carried your suitcase in, dear?” Victoria’s mom asked as she too stepped into the family room. “Oh, hello Zachary; It’s nice to see you. Welcome to our home.”

“Hello Misses Walker, Mister Walker. I was just telling Victoria that you have a lovely house,” Zack said as he shook Victoria’s father’s hand.

“Thanks Bishop. You can call me ‘Don’. And thank you for looking out for my little girl. A father is always glad to see that chivalry isn’t dead,” Don smiled as he patted Zack on the shoulder.

“Thank you, Zachary. You can call me Olivia,” Olivia Walker told her daughter’s guest.

“I must admit, Sir, that my parents raised me to be a gentleman,” he told Don.

“Well that may be true, but you’re the one that decided to follow their guidance,” Don laughed.

“Care to stay for dinner, Zack?” Vicky invited.

“Thank you Vicky, but I’m gonna head over to my house and toss some burgers on the grill,” Zack declined.

“Burgers? What, your parents not feed you or something?” Don Walker kidded his daughter’s friend.

“DADDY!” Victoria half-panicked, half-yelled before turning beet read with embarrassment.

“Oh they feed me just find, Mister Walk--, uh, Don. It’s just they went on a cruise for their anniversary the other day. And my sister Taylor is up at the cabin, so it’d just be me, the grill, and a few days of video games,” Zack admitted.

“You’re not going back tonight?” Vicky asked.

“Nope. Figured I’d hang out in town until you’re ready to go back,” he informed her.

“Aww, Zack! You don’t have to give up your time at the cabin for me. You’ve done enough already. At least let us feed you,” Vicky pleaded.