I wake up still in the tree house with Zack's arms around me. Today is his birthday and I plan on making it special. I'm not sure how to wake him up so I gently shake him.

"Zack," I say, "get up." he slowly starts to open his eyes.

"morning." He says groggy.

"Good morning birthday boy." I sing.

"I thought that you would forget." He groans.

"How could I forget something this important?"

"You forgot to do a two-hundred point project, is that not concentered important?" he asks.

"Not in my book." I say. "We need to go home and change so we can get your birthday started."

I take a shower in my bathroom and Zack takes a shower in Dexter's bathroom, Zack has been using Dexter's bathroom since he started living here. I put on some jeans and a t-shirt, then I run a brush through my hair and throw it into a ponytail.

On my way to the kitchen Dexter, Dean, Tony, and Gavin are setting at the table with huge grins on their faces.

"How was it?" Dean asked as I get out a pan and eggs.

"How was what?" I ask. Dean rolls his eyes.

"The kiss, how was the kiss?" Tony asks.

"Oh," I say, "which one?" I ask as I make scrambled eggs and pop some bread in the toaster.

"He kissed you more than once?" Dexter asks.

"Yes, yes he did." I say. I put the eggs on a plate and pull out bacon.

"Is that for us?" Dexter asks.

"no." I say.

"You are the best girlfriend any guy could ask for." Tony says.

"I'm not his girlfriend." I say.

"yet." Dean adds. I roll my eyes. Do I want Zack to be my boyfriend? What if- hot grease lands on my arm.

"Mother-" I stop myself before I can finish that word. I put the bacon on the plate and set it on the table.

"Where is Zack?" Dexter asks.

"I might have locked him in the bathroom." I say. "Now go away, all of you." I say and they all leave. I go to Dexter's bathroom and remove the chair from under the door knob. When I open the door Zack is standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. I smile innocently.

"Why did you lock me in the bathroom?" he asks.

"So I could make breakfast." I say. "Let's go eat before it gets cold."

"Where are we going?" he asks.

"It is a surprise." I say.

"Can I drive?" he asks a few minutes later.

"You don't know where we are going." I say.

I park my truck on the side of the road. I grab my backpack out of the back of the truck and hand Zack his.

"How did you know I like hiking?" he asks.

"Lucky guess?" I say.

"I would hike in these woods with my mom." He says.

"Really?"

"yeah." He says.

"Come on, you lead the way." I say. We start walking. As we walk around Zack points out things like what tree it is just by looking at the leaves.

"Were you a boy scout or something?" I ask.

"I was." I smile.

"If I ever get lost I hope I get lost with you." I say and he smiles.

Around noon he shows me a beautiful place with a waterfall. I reach into my back pack and pull out a blanket and some sandwiches. We have a picnic by the waterfall.

"I want to tell you something." Zack says.

"Anything." I say.

"You know my mom died in a car accident right." I nod my head. "I still remember that night like it happened yesterday. My mom was setting in the passenger's seat, I was setting in the back and my dad was driving. But my dad was drunk and he wouldn't let my mom drive, he said he was okay to drive." His eyes start to water. "We were just driving and every now and then my dad would swerve. But my dad started to drive on the wrong side of the road and there was another car coming from the other way. My dad jerked the wheel then our car drove off the road. We hit the ditch and started to roll. Then we hit a tree and stopped. I can remember opening my eyes and seeing my dad getting out of the car. He made me get in the driver's seat and he sat where I was." A tear falls down his cheek. "When the police got there he said I was the one driving." Another tear falls. "The next day I found out my mom was killed on impact. And my father blamed me for killing her. No one knows the truth but my dad, me, and now you." He says.

"I don't mean to be rude but why did you pick me? Why did you tell me this?" I ask.

"I just wanted you to know." He says.

~****~

When I wake up zack is not on his mattress but there is a note.

It reads: "Dylan,

Yesterday was my father's trail and he was found innocent. I know he will come for me and I did not want to put your family in harm's way. I'm sorry to leave without saying anything, I hope you will forgive me. I'm glad I was the one who found you in the locker room. I loved every second I spent with you, I wish there were more.

Forever and always, Zack"

I run out of my room and down the stairs. His truck is gone.