"Ouch!"

Maggie drops the hot burnt toast onto the floor and sucks on her burnt finger.

"Fuck you, toaster, you lil bitch!" She yells.

Yep, she's definitely related to Zeke.

Last night I took Zoey to her house, then went home. When I woke up this morning Evelyn texted me – she finally got my phone number – and asked me to watch Zeke today.

So here I am, sitting in their kitchen, watching Maggie try and repeatedly fail to make toast.

"Why did I need to watch Zeke today when you're here?"

"Because," she plops another slice of bread in the toaster, "My Mom thinks i'm not responsible enough and will let him do what he wants and pretend nothing happened just to get payed."

I suddenly feel really guilty for not telling Evelyn that Cole and Isaac were here.

I'm basically a criminal.

"What are you making?" Zeke's raspy morning voice says as he walks into the kitchen, shirtless, wearing nothing but sweatpants.

He looks like he just woke up, yet he still looks like the sexiest guy alive.

"Hey, nerd."

I try to take my eyes away from his tanned, toned body.

"You're drooling a little, Princess."

I look at him, a knowing smirk spread across his tired face.

"Fuck! It burnt again!" Maggie curses.

Zeke screws up his face and his sister. "What is your problem? What kind of moron can't make toast?"

"Shut up, slut," she throws the burnt toast at his face and it falls on the floor.

I can't help but laugh at Zeke's scrunched up face. So cute.

I did not just think that.

Zeke goes into one of the kitchen cupboards and takes out a tub of advil, then gets a glass of water and drinks it with the pill.

"Where'd you go last night?" He asks me.

"I had to take Zoey home; she was drunk."

I get an image of me kissing Mason, the butterflies returning to my stomach.

"Well, it's a party. It's expected," he rolls his eyes and sits across from me at the wooden table. Someone's moody.

"Yes! I did it!" Maggie takes out the toast from the toaster, this one looks a little under cooked though. "You guys want one?" She waves the toast around proudly, but it slips from her hand and falls onto the floor with the rest of them.

"No," Zeke rubs his hands through his hair, messing it up more than it already is. "I can't eat right now or i'll puke, and even if I could, I would never eat anything you made."

"Hey, I am a good cook," she puts yet another slice in the toaster.

Zeke looks at me with his beautiful bloodshot eyes. "Can you cook?"

"Not really... but i'm an expect at making cereal."

"We could really use a cook around here. I'm pretty sure cooking for us is involved in the babysitting package."

"I'm pretty sure it's not or I wouldn't be here."

He shrugs then leans back in his chair, stretching and yawning. I try my best not to look at his abs.

I really try.

+++

"Let's do something," Zeke says before moving me from 'his' spot on the couch.

"Like what?" I settle into the seat beside him.

"I don't know... Let's go a walk."

"No."

"Why not?" He frowns and lies down, putting his head on my lap.

I try to push him off but he doesn't budge. "You're grounded."

"So?"

"So you can't go out."

"You're supposed to be making sure I don't do anything bad. If you're with me then you'll be doing your job."

I push him off me again and pull my legs up to my chest. "I don't know."

"Come on, nerd. Don't be such a lame-ass."

"I'll ask your mom."

He shoots up straight. "Seriously?"

I take out my phone and begin texting Evelyn. "Yep."

"Are you legitimately being serious right now?"

I ignore him and wait for her reply. A couple of minutes later, she texts me back saying it's fine, as long as he doesn't see any of his other friends.

I stand up. "Okay, let's go."

+++

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, breathing heavily from our walk through the woods. I've already tripped and fell twice.

Zeke found it hilarious.

"Just exploring. Why? You worried i'm gonna murder you?" He looks back at me with a smirk.

"No. I'm worried you're gonna drag me out here then run away and i'll be lost out here and die."

He stops walking and looks at me. "You really think i'd do that?"

I get to where he's standing and stop too. "Yes," I admit.

He frowns and tilts his head slightly to the side. Just as he's about to say something, his phone rings.

He takes it from his pocket and stares blankly at the screen.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"My Dad," he says weakly, all the usual confidence in his voice vanished.

He puts his phone into his pocket and starts walking again.

"Aren't you gonna answer?"

"No."

"Why not?" I catch up to him.

"Because I don't want to."

"Why-"

"Would you stop asking questions?" He snaps.

I stand still, taken aback from his sudden change in mood.

"Are your parents still together?"

"Yes."

I walk again, a few paces behind him.

"Where is your Dad? I've never seen him before."

"Because he's never around."

"Where is he?"

He stops and turns around. "Look, nerd, if you're gonna keep asking me questions then you can just fuck off." Then he walks away again.

"Asshole," I mumble.

+++

Ten minutes later, we reach a clearance. It has fresh grass, and as I walk forward, I gasp at the sight in front of me.

We are standing on a cliff, overlooking the sea. To the left is the beach, and on the right is the city.

The cliff makes a U shape and directly below us is water. In the middle of he U is sand.

"Wow," I sigh.

"Yeah," Zeke stands next to me, taking in the view.

Suddenly, Zeke pushes me, making my foot slip from the cliff but he quickly grabs my arm and pulls me back.

"Saved your life," he winks.

I clench my heart. "You asshole! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Calm down, Satan."

"That wasn't funny!" I slap his chest and he laughs, barely affected by my hit, whereas my hand sort of stings.

I sit down on the grass, "How did you know where to find this place?"

"I didn't," he sits too, "I just kept walking."

Zeke moves closer to the edge and looks down. "I wonder if there's rocks down there."

"Why?"

"So we can jump off."

Ha, no way is that ever happening.

He stands up and pulls of his shirt. "Only one way to find out."

"Zeke! No!" I stand up and push him back from the edge. "You could die!"

"I could also live."

He takes off his shoes and unbuttons his jeans then pulls them off, leaving him only on his boxers.

I decide to not let myself look anywhere other than his face.

"You're not doing this. Put your clothes back on."

"No."

"Zeke, please."

He meets my eye and smiles. "Aw, are you worried about me?"

I blush. "No."

"Okay," he says, not believing me.

He walks to the edge of the cliff.

"Zeke, don't! How will you get back up? What if-"

He jumps before I can finish.

"Zeke!" I yell, my heart in my mouth.

Oh god.

I wait at the edge, praying to God he comes back up, and when he does I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest.

I'm so glad he's okay.

I'm going to kill that asshole.

"Nerd!" He shouts, "You gotta try this!"

"No way!"

He swims over to the tiny beach and disappears behind the cliffs.

Uh great, now i've lost him.

I decide to walk round to where he disappeared below, and when I do I see him coming up what looks like some old dodgy stairs cut in the rock.

This place is perfect.

A wide smile is on his face. "Man, that was such a rush."

"You scared the crap out of me! Why would just jump like that? How could you be so reckless?"

"Being reckless is what keeps us alive, nerd."

I think about his words for a minute, then I slap him on the chest again.

He touches his bare chest, "Ouch!"

I turn and stomp away from him, back to where his clothes are.

"You know, i'm flattered that you care about me so much," he smirks, picking up his pants and putting them on.

"I don't care about you; I just don't necessarily want you to die."

"Sure, you'd miss looking at my sexy body too much."

I scowl. "You better shut up before I change my mind about not wanting you to die."

+++

We stay on the cliff for a few more hours, talking and going down to the small beach. When it starts getting dark, we decide to head back.

We exit the forrest and walk onto our street. Zeke walks me home no matter how much tell him no. He's in a much better mood now.

I decide that I love making him laugh. I love his laugh all together. It's like it hits me right in the heart and I start smiling uncontrollably. Yes, his laugh I think is becoming one of my favourite things.

"Can I come in?" He asks when we reach my front porch.

"No."

He pouts. "That's not very nice."

"Sorry, but there is a strict no guy rule in my house."

"Who made that rule up?"

"Me."

He raises an eyebrow just as the door opens, revealing my Mom.

"Hi, Marnie, who's your friend?"

He's not my friend.

"I'm Zeke Blakely, nice to meet you ma'am." Zeke smiles at my Mom, not smirks; smiles. As if he's the most innocent person in the world. Asshole.

"Nice to finally meet you too, Zeke. I didn't realise it was you. Evelyn talks about you all the time."

"She does?" Zeke looks surprised.

"Of course. Would you like to come in?"

No.

Zeke looks at me and smiles. "I would love to."

+++

"I want to see your room," Zeke says, following me up the stairs.

"No."

After a long conversation between Zeke and my Mom – Zeke acting like a different person – I was tired and just wanted to shower and sleep.

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"I'm not." I go into my room and slam the door in Zeke's face.

"That was rude," he says through the door.

He opens it and comes in, his face lights up into an adorable smile as his eyes scan my bedroom.

"How cute," he says.

I suddenly feel really embarrassed about my pink bed covers and Live Laugh Love cushions. No teenage boy had been in my bedroom before – except my brother of course.

"Please go. I need to call Zoey and tell her about last night."

"What happened last night?"

My eyes widen. I wasn't supposed to say that.

"Nothing- I mean, I need to explain how she got home and stuff."

"Right..." He says, unsure.

His eyes avert to the pictures on my wall and I instantly push him out the room.

"Go away."

"Why won't you let me see your pictures?" His smile fades into confusion.

"Because you don't tell me anything about you and get mad when I ask, so you're not allowed to know anything about me."

I catch him rolling his eyes before I slam the door.

"Okay, well, see you at school, nerd," he sighs.

Once i'm sure he's gone, I pick up my phone and call Zoey and tell her about the kiss with Mason.

As soon as the words leave my mouth, her screaming starts.

+++

i'm on an updating roll rn hehe

what did you think about zeke and marnie's day together?

please vote, comment, follow.

ly

- e