Lawnmowers, Ice Cream and Horror Films

We drove for a while. It took way longer than it would take to get to either of our homes. I wanted to pretend to wake up and ask where we were going; I was just too exhausted to bother or care. I decided to enjoy the ride and the soft humming of music from the radio. 

"I told Zoa to raincheck on the shopping trip. I hope you don't mind me doing so,'' 

When I stayed quiet, he continued ''Mindy told me she saw you crying. What's that about?'' 

Again, I said nothing. 

''Could you please stop ignoring me? It's getting on my nerves,'' he stated rather than ask. ''I know you're awake,''

''What do you want me to say?'' I asked, my eyes still closed. 

''I don't know. Just stop pretending that I'm not here,'' 

I decided not to respond, turning my attention back to the song that was playing. It was Renee by SALES. 

You got it...You got it...You got 

My head bobbed to the soothing melody. Music was so therapeutic and, no one could tell me otherwise. 

I was seriously tempted to ask where we were going, but pride and stubbornness prevented me from even looking at Zack right now. We drove for a bit more, maybe fifteen minutes, before we came to a stop. I opened my eyes and sat up. We were at Cave Creams, we haven't been here since the start of high school. Our parents, well Zack's parents, brought us here as a sort of 'Good luck, you'll do great in high school' treat. 

The slightly washed-out pink outer paint coat and pink and white striped awning brought back so many fond memories. Once in primary school, Zack was feeling sad about something he wouldn't tell me, so we snuck out and took a bus to C.C. We got there and couldn't order because we didn't have enough money. The lady that owns the store apparently knew us and gave us a free scoop. Then she ended up with our parents. Needless to say, we got in a lot of trouble. The ice cream was good though.

''Come on. I'll buy you a cone,'' he said while hopping out of the vehicle. 

I scrambled to catch up with him. Sure I was mad at him, but free ice cream is free ice cream regardless of who I'm mad at. 

A wave of nostalgia hit me as I heard the jingle of the bell and, the scent of coffee and pastries bombarded my senses. The surroundings wrapped me in its warm, soothing embrace. I involuntarily smiled at the memories and familiarity. Just like always, the store was empty, it was perfection. 

''Hi, welcome to Cave Creams. What can I get for you guys today?'' a boy asked all of a sudden, he scared the living devil out of me. 

''Hey, I'll have a single scoop of pistachio with a waffle cone topped with chocolate chips,'' Zack ordered and then turned to me. 

''I will have the...strawberry cheesecake on a waffle cone,'' I told the server. 

''Single scoop or double?'' he asked.

I turned to Zack, who just shrugged it was his way of telling me to get whatever I wanted. 

''Double and could you put sliced almonds and caramel sauce on the top please?'' 

''No problem,'' 

When he gave us the total, Zack paid and, the server went to scoop our ice cream. 

We slid into our usual booth after we got our ice cream which already started to drip. The booth was by an enormous window allowing me to see the people outside. I rested my head on the slightly chilled, smooth surface of the window pane and licked around the edge to catch the parts that started to melt. 

''Do you remember the first time we discovered this place?'' Zack asked. 

To be honest, I didn't. 

Maybe that's why you aren't smart enough to join the quiz team.

I shook my head, which caused a braid to smack me in the eye. I started to blink my eye furiously. Zack laughed as he reached over to tuck the rebel braid back into my ponytail. Before he could tell me what he recalled from the first time we ever came to Cave Creams, his phone rang. He glanced at it before he denied the call. I was surprised, to say the least. 

''What if that was important?'' 

He shook his head, his curls bounced from side to side slightly. ''It was just Mindy. I'll call her later,'' 

He rolled his eyes at my shocked face, '' It's just us for the rest of the day. I'm going to make it up to you for upsetting you and for ditching you. Today is the day for the repentance of my sins,''

I nodded then brought my attention back to my now Jimmy Neutron hair-shaped ice cream scoop.  

''After we leave I was thinking we could go to my house and watch some horror films,'' 

''I heard The Lodge is a good one,'' 

''Didn't we already watch that?'' 

''No, we didn't,''

We actually started to, but Zack got scared so, we stopped. The movie was more confusing than scary so I'm not too sure why he got scared.

''Are you sure? I'm almost positive we did,'' 

''You're thinking of The Boy. The one where this lady had to babysit a doll and, she thought the parents were crazy, '' 

He nodded,'' Yeah and then she found out the um the thing,'' 

I nodded. He didn't know what the thing was because he had a pillow over his face the whole time.

''I don't get how you can watch horrors. They're so boring and creepy,'' 

''Tell me you don't love the adrenaline rush it gives you. It's so exhilarating,'' 

He smiled at me,'' You watch it for a boost of adrenaline but still won't do go-karting with me,'' 

''Go-karts are death machines that run on lawnmower engines. That could leave you physically incapacitated or even worse, dead. Do you want to be dead? I'll tell you this, it's no cakewalk,'' 

Zack looked me dead in the eye before he started shaking with laughter. One would think I were an old-time Jerry Steinfeld telling jokes back when his wealth didn't exist and he was funny. 

''I'm serious, stop laughing,'' I told him lightly hitting his arm. This just caused him to crack up more. I should have hit him harder. 

I rolled my eyes and returned back to my partially melted ice cream. 

''Do you like Mindy?''  

''I don't know her that well so no,'' I threw his words back at him when I asked him about Kevin.

It wasn't to be snarky but, it's just the way it was, I don't know her so I can't like her. 

''I guess I deserved that,'' he said and went back to his ice cream. 

''The twins miss you, by the way,'' 

Van and Nessa,the twins, are Zack's youngest siblings. They adore me and I love them. Our dynamic works out well, especially for Zack, who usually leaves me to babysit them. This year they are turning three. Zack's mum said I could help out with the party planning.  

''I miss them too. I was talking with Daniel when I heard them in the background. I swear they were born yesterday.'' I laughed.

I recalled how they were off in the distance doing something mischievous and naughty, no doubt. 

''You talk to Daniel? Why?'' 

''I like him. He's so sweet plus am I to just ignore him? He knows where I live you know,'' I said, matter of factly.

Daniel was Zack's brother, he and I are friends. He tells me all about his life while we play games-well he plays and, I just exist. I have been told that I'm good at giving advice and boy does he need some. Imagine being seven and having girls chase you like Wild E. Coyote chases the Roadrunner. That's crazy. 

Zack and I talked about everything and anything for a little while longer. We discussed where to apply to for colleges and universities, we chatted about getting summer jobs and the End of Year Prom. It was fun, I missed doing that.

The End of Year Prom or EYP was a prom at the end of the year for seniors only. All throughout high school, we would hear stories from past seniors about all the crazy things they did and saw. One year, some girl jumped off the roof. Every year the EYP would be held somewhere only the seniors know about and, you couldn't go in without the code. It was a very important event that Zack and I have been planning since the first time we stepped through the doors of our high school. 

''Ready?'' he asked as he helped me slide out of the booth. 

The ride to his house was better than the one going to C.C. It was mainly because I wasn't mad at him. 

''Home we go,'' he said as he put the car in drive and I put on my seatbelt. 

...............................................................................................................

Zack screamed and jumped up. He shook his head, ''Not doing this,'' 

I laughed at him. I was grateful for his outburst because the ominous music was really starting to get to me. We weren't watching The Lodge because he caught on to my lie so, we decided to watch A Quiet Place instead. 

''Fine, we can watch some cartoons,'' I gave in as I took up the remote to look for something to watch. 

''I'm glad we're okay,'' he said to me all of a sudden.

I smiled. It was nice to be on good terms. I just can't help but wonder how long this is going to last. It was like a heavy, dark cloud floating over my shoulder constantly. All I could do was wait for it to burst and rain on my parade. 

Quite the life to live. 

''I'm going to put on Shark Tales, you think you can handle that?'' I asked with a smirk on my face. 

''Haha, funny,'' he said and threw a popcorn kernel at me from across the room.

He was getting water from the mini-fridge. He handed it to me and, we cuddled and continued to watch the movie. I looked up at him and smiled. He kissed my forehead and smiled back. At that moment, that simple moment, I doubt I had ever been so happy.