Lick [Zac]

[Ariana Simone]

Rubbing her side tenderly as she winced, Ariana walked through downtown, seeking out an ice cream shop. She thought she deserved it after the beating she took today. Did Lupe really have to hit that hard in a sparring session? She was going to bruise tomorrow! Rolling her eyes at her instructor’s overeager urge to pound her into the ground (all in the name of exercise, of course!) she trudged down the street, feeling a bit overheated.

She had to admit that she enjoyed her kickboxing sessions every Wednesday and Friday. The workout was fantastic and it helped for her to have actual permission from someone to let take her frustrations out on them physically. The only down side was the inevitable bruises that showed up later after one of her sessions. But by now, she was pretty used to it. The best part was that the Andersons willingly fronted the bill every month. It had been their idea, really. They had wanted her to take a self defense class, since she was far out of the state and relatively on her own. When she had suggested kickboxing, they were surprised but happy that she went along with their proposition. A few days after arriving at Hammel, she had signed up for lessons and had been in love with the sport ever since.

Finally she caught sight of a Dairy Queen. Hurrying down the sidewalk, she pushed open the door eagerly, happy to see that the line was blessedly short. She barely took notice of the glances cast her way as their eyes took in the sight of her in the pair of short gym shorts and a tight tank top that had become her customary work out outfit. When she got to the front of the line, she ignored the teenage cashier’s awkward gawking, flashing him a charming smile as she perused the menu. ”Hm…Can I have a medium Reese’s peanut butter cup Blizzard, please?” She asked sweetly, completely unperturbed as the guy ogled her breasts. Oh, the woes of being a female. You know it’s bad when you get used to guys rarely making eye contact because they are otherwise distracted with other parts of your anatomy.

After a stuttered out reply and handing over some cash, she waited impatiently for her snack, a grin crossing her face when the ice cream confection was set down in front of her. Grabbing it up, she headed for a nearby park, eating her Blizzard happily as she found her own park bench. Leaning back, she let out a sigh, licking up the sweet remnants on her spoon sedately. Sometimes she wished for simpler times again, before everything had happened.

[/blockquote]

[Zachary LaRousse]

Money has never been a problem for Zachary. Spending it on various things, most of the times trivial and inane, is as normal to him as breathing. His mom tried her very best to teach Zac the true value of money (Gabriella, unlike Antonio, came from a middle-class family and had experienced hardships she hoped Zac wouldn’t suffer through), but her efforts were apparently overshadowed by Antonio’s willingness to give Zac his every need, effectively spoiling the kid. (It also didn’t help that Gabriella died early; aside from the fact that the voice of reason vanished, Antonio spent more and more on Zac, seeing it as his way of not making Zac feel Gabby’s lost that much). When Antonio realized the error of his ways (with the help of Cedric, of course), it was already too late. Lavish expenses were already imprinted on Zac’s DNA, and the jerk-ish attitude didn’t help much either.

So it goes without saying that Zac’s trip to Pilot Ridge is to once again shop for clothes. As it seems, his trip to the local mall with Rivers just a few days ago was insufficient, prompting the Hammel prince to drive towards the quiet town and indulge himself. He would’ve gone to Milan or Shanghai, but apparently his private jet privileges are still suspended. And what’s worse, his resident Hammel stylist, Rivers Diveaux, has something to attend to, leaving him to fend off for himself.

Blissfully driving on his red Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, Zac went around town twice to check on the available shops. He was a bit disappointed on the lack of diversity (Vermont is far from being New York or Sydney) but he figured there’s nothing he can do really. So after an hour or so of speeding through the Pilot Ridge (effectively dodging police officers), he finally went out of his car, ready to once again waste his money on clothes he probably wouldn’t wear twice anyway.

-xxx-

Only 30 minutes has passed and Zac’s already got 10 bags at the back of his car, and he’s only been in three stores. He was on his way back to his car (due to the lack of parking space around town, Zac had to park his car near the town plaza and walk towards the shops) with another three bags on his hand when he saw something in the corner of his eye. A seemingly attractive silhouette alone at a nearby park bench. A smirk formed on his face as dirty naughty thoughts starting forming in his head.

He slowly approached the girl from behind, ready to turn the LaRousse charm if ever she senses him from behind and turns. Stealthy as a mouse, he crept up from behind the girl and messily slumped himself on the bench, not even bothering to look at the girl.

“Gosh. Why must today be such a hot day?” he mumbled, as if talking to himself but making it a bit too loud so the girl beside him will notice. If his trick must work, it must look as if the girl noticed him first, not the other way around.

Unfortunately for him, the girl was anything but a stranger.


ooc:
Yey. I love the idea Ari. HAHA. ;3.
Meh. Car description paragraph sounds Twilight-y, forgive me. Haha. And I also apologize for the (possibly) bad choice in cars. Despite being a guy, cars never entered my realm of interest. >.<.
So just for reference (more for forgetful me than for you. :P.) I shall put a link to the car's image. (Unfortunately they have the teal-ish color, which Zac does not like. Haha. :P). Haha.
Thanks Ari! :3.
- Jam

[Ariana Simone]

The park was pretty quiet, despite the fact that it was close to five o’clock already. There were a couple of people scattered throughout the grassy landscape, a few kids squealing on the playground about fifty feet off. She was content to watch them for a bit, smiling slightly as they tumbled around in the sand and slid down the slides. Those days for her were long past, but it was nice to reminisce once in a while about what had been. Chuckling a bit as one of the youngsters did a face dive off the swings only to bounce right back up, Ariana wondered what it would be like to be a kid again. Her childhood had ended at age nine.

Leaning back against the bench with a quiet air, Ari sucked on her spoon some more before she felt someone look at her. It was a peculiar sensation when you couldn’t see someone but knew they were there just by the way the hair on the back of your neck stands on end. She didn’t turn around- what was the point in that? She just continued her people watching, biting her lip as the temptation to see who was staring at her started to become overpowering. As the person (a guy, most likely) lounged down beside her, exclaiming about the weather, she found something very familiar about his voice. Turning to face him, she wasn’t very surprised to see Zachary sitting there.

“I don’t know, Zac. Maybe because the sun is in the sky?” She tilted her head, rolling her eyes. He thought he was so smooth with the ladies, didn’t he? Not many could remember a time before Zachary LaRousse was an all out flirt and all around jerk, but she could. Yes, she definitely could. Glancing over at him, she wasn’t quite certain whether she was happy or not to see him here. It had been a while since they had seen each other outside of classes. Though she had a feeling he hadn’t known who she was before he had sat down. If he had, she wondered if he would have just walked away while he had the chance to go unnoticed. Too late now.

Shaking her head, she crossed her legs, dipping her spoon back into her ice cream, trying to remain calm. “What are you even doing in the park? This isn’t usually one of your favorite places to be, is it?” Her face was mostly neutral, with a small smile curling on her lips. Really, she had no idea how to react to Zac anymore, so she’d just go with the flow. What else could she do, really? Licking at her spoon, she glanced at him covertly, waiting to see how he would take it.

OoC: You know, I find it quite funny that you chose something close to my dream car as Zac’s car. I’ve wanted a Porsche 911 Turbo for about two years now. XD Just thought I’d throw that out there.
-Ari

[Zachary LaRousse]

“Oh. I see. So the sun’s to blame for all the heat I’m experiencing right now. I like that. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re brainy t-woah!” Zac almost fell out of his seat, shopping bags and all, when he saw Ari staring straight at him. He was just about to turn his charm on full blast but all that was suddenly put to stop when the so-called lady of his affection revealed her true self to him. “Ari? Ari? Ariana Simone?” he blinked repeatedly, making sure all this wasn’t a dream.

He did not just do that. No, he didn’t. It didn’t sound like a flirty message. Nope, not one bit. Zac’s mind was racing. He just did not commit a grave mistake. He wasn’t an ordinary guy to do such elementary mistakes. No, he did not just flirt with his ex.

Perhaps it was a little known fact that Zac and Ari went out. Granted it was during the times when Zac was still the bratty yet adorable kid, i.e. a long long long time ago, but still it counts (doesn’t it?). Ari wasn’t exactly Zac’s first, but he enjoyed her company so much that even though they’d broken up they agreed to be good friends after the ordeal. And it worked, somehow (they became more of frenemies than friends, but still the bond was there). Zac treasured the said friendship and he did not want it all to go to waste by the implications of his statement.

Or then again, maybe Zac was thinking too much. That Ari didn’t see that as a flirty statement or something to that extent. Maybe she just saw it as a random comment made by a random stranger that happened to be the all-but-random Zachary. After all, her reply was all but bland. A-matter-of-factly and bland. Ari knew Zac a little better than others (if not a lot), surely she can identify a joke from a real one, right?

Ari’s question somehow calmed Zac’s panicking mind. It gave him a hole to squeeze into, to somehow erase the awkwardness he might’ve created with his statement. “Well, what else? Isn’t it obvious? I came here to see you. You know how much I missed you Ari.” Playfulness and sarcasm carefully intertwined so you wouldn’t know which it is really. Zac’s specialty, to say the least. He even added his cheeky grin and eye-smiles. Anything to mask his supposed romantic motives with more playful and mocking ones. “Don’t tell me that you don’t miss me too? I’d feel so sad if you do.” He then changed his playful expression to a puppy pout one, trying so hard to look cute (aegyo, as the Koreans put it, isn’t really his greatest skill).

“Don’t you want me here with you?”


ooc:
Hah. I really am a mind reader then Ari. >. *makes weird sci-fi-ish sounds*
- Jam

[Ariana Simone]

She couldn’t help it. When he finally noticed who she was, the expression on his face was just so hilarious that she burst out into laughter. I mean, he nearly fell off the bench! She ignored the flirtatious connotations of his remarks, knowing they weren’t exactly meant for her ears. Glancing at the shopping bags, a few of which were now on the ground from his panic attack, she knew he had most likely been on another one of his shopping sprees. They had gone together a couple times when we had been going out, though he was the one who usually picked out things for her to wear so she would ‘look good’ next to him. It still made her laugh a bit thinking about it. ”Yes, Zac. Last time I checked, that was still my name.” Smiling, she shook her head, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

She leaned back against her bench, watching the little kids for a few seconds while she let him find a way to dig himself out of the hole he had accidentally dug himself into. This would be interesting. If anything, Ari knew that Zac hated making mistakes, and on his part, this was a big one. Not that she really cared, but he of course would, which would inevitably make him change the subject. After the few years that they had known each other, Ariana had learned to read Zachary well. Just by watching his eyes she could see the thoughts flying through his mind, the rare panic leaking through just a bit. Anyone else probably wouldn’t have been able to see it, but Ari was a quick study and being an actress, she knew how to read facial emotions pretty well.

Finally taking a bit of pity on the poor boy, she asked him her questions, licking her ice cream off her spoon. She frowned as she noticed she was almost out. Glancing over at him, she smiled at his comment. ”Oh, Zac, you know I miss you too. I especially miss those shopping trips.” She eyes his bags, raising her brow and smirking. Truthfully, she preferred making her own clothes, but their trips were entertaining to say the least. Playfully, she tapped his nose with a slender finger, chuckling mockingly. ”Of course I want you here with me. I’ve just been wondering where the heck you’ve been. I haven’t seen you in forever.” She pouted cutely, her eyes going wide and puppy-dog-like. She really did miss his company, though she’d never tell him that. Wouldn’t want to inflate that ego any more than it already was.

Tilting her head, she scooped out another bite of ice cream, lapping it up slowly before finishing and starting to look for a trash can. Seeing one only a couple feet away, she took carefully aim and shot it through the air, smiling as it landed cleanly inside. Doing an internal happy dance, she smirked, draping her hands across the back of the bench as she leaned back, relaxing. ”So how have you been, Zachie-boy? It’s been a while.”

[Zachary LaRousse]

If Zac wasn’t that egotistic, he’d tell you how relieved he is that Ari simply shrugged his comment off and promptly moved on to the next topic. If he wasn’t so obsessed in maintaining his so-called cool image, he’d say that his encounter was a close one. If he was less into him and more into other people, he’d say that he should’ve known better than to double check if he was talking to the right person or not. Unfortunately, such is not the case, and seeing Ari riding softly with his diversion, he’d tell you that this was his plan all along – that his unflattering fall and awkward stutter were all part of the act.

Ignoring the rather mocking nose-tap (it wasn’t that mocking, but considering the beating Zac’s ego took in less than a few minutes, his ego’s still in quite the fragile state), he gave Ari a sweet smile and slowly stood up, dusted his shirt and pants off then put his shopping bags on top of the bench. He stretched for a bit (his arms ached after the fall) then said, “I know you miss me. Everybody does.” Yes, a Zac conversation always involved a narcissistic comment from the said individual, and since Ari had been one of Zac’s longstanding friends, surely she was used to such retorts. “Wow, how’d you know I’ve been into one of my shopping trips again? Whatever could have given me off?” he said sarcastically yet playfully at the same time, giving Ari a playful pinch on the bridge of her nose, “You are so so smart Ari. That’s why I like you so much.” If Zac had been in his previous state of mind, he would’ve checked his words carefully and would be so upset that he let another one slip again.

Ari’s next statement caught him by surprise. Maybe it was because of Ari’s artistic prowess or the cuteness she exhibited when she made that perfect puppy pout that Zac was clearly confused if she’d only been joking about the whole ‘I’ve been wondering where you’ve been’ reply or it was really true. Could she really be wondering about what had happened to Zac? True, they weren’t talking that much since last year, but it wasn’t because they had a conflict or anything, it was more of their respective schedules. And even though they now had drama together, they rarely talk talk, most probably because Zac was busy hogging the spotlight to care about anyone else during class.

Zac sat down beside Ari, carefully hiding his confusion with more bravado and irritating confidence. “You do know that ice cream makes you fat,” he joked, playfully poking Ari’s side as she finished her cup, “Or are you going for the chubby-obese look now?” Ari was far from chubby, and knowing Ari, it would take a while for her to become one. He clapped loudly as Ari shot her cup towards the trash can easily. It wasn’t an easy feat, and Zac was sure he’d have a hard time getting it right. Fortunately Ari won’t challenge him to do anything that stupid, he hopes.

“Nice. Didn’t know you were such a great shooter,” he laughed, “We do have a lot to catch up on.” Zac missed Ari because of this. He loved the small talks they had together. Zac has told Ari a lot of things he would’ve even dare tell anyone, which just proves how much he values this friendship of theirs. “Well, I’m fine, and charming and hot and irresistible, as always, but the other three are a given so it’s a bit redundant stating them,” he chuckled, “And as we’ve previously established, I’ve been in one of my trips again. Got grounded once more. So I had to settle for the dingy shops around here. How about you? Anything else I should know about, aside from the sudden skill in shooting and the chubby-transformation?”

Seems it was a good thing that Zac took a detour after all. It may not have been what he was expecting but he’d be lying if he told you this wasn’t any better than that.