Even In Pieces [Bxb] Chapter 20

Zachary

After everyone is done fussing over Everett’s ankle, they finally decide to be professional and do their jobs. Leaving Everett to judge their performance while sitting there with his copy of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. He has been skimming it relentlessly, trying to pay more attention to details, so he can help all of us more. It’s kind of endearing to see him working so hard when he is not even getting paid. Then again, he does get a whole new experience that many other literature majors don’t usually get.

“What?” Everett asks, “You’re staring.”

“I am just wondering how obsessed you are about that book since it has markings all over it,” I tell him.

“All my books do,” Everett shrugs pointing at his worn out book, “I have read all of Shakespeare’s so many times most of it is stuck in my head permanently.”

“Me too,” I shrug.

He stares at me confused.

I sigh. “Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,
And be it moon, or sun, or what you please.
And if you please to call it a rush candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.” I quote the lines from ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ to prove my point.

This time he stares at me completely dumbfounded. His lips part and then close. I almost laugh but hold it in, but I can’t hold back the smirk.

“You’re quoting Shakespeare,” He deduces, grinning.

“Why? Did you think you are the only one who can?” I ask.

“No, but I didn’t know you could.”

“I work at a drama theater, most of us can quote lines of a drama, especially when you have worked here for more than five years.”

“You have worked here for more than five years?” he asks.

I shrug.

“Jesus, Zachary. No wonder. You can probably quote all kinds of stuff,” he shakes his head a little.

“Just plays. Unlike you, I can’t quote any novels,” I assure him.

“Didn’t expect you to,” he tells me. “There’s a lot about you that you don’t tell.”

I give him a shrug, before turning away from him and heading off, trying to get away from where this conversation is heading. And what scares me most is that I’ll let him lead us there. Knowing that If he pushes hard enough, I’ll let him. But he doesn’t, he doesn’t push for anything he asks and then waits for me to let go of those things I never had anyone to tell. Those things that I have kept with me for so long that giving it up makes me terrified. And still, I can’t lie to him, because he knows when I lie but mostly because I can’t make myself do it. I don’t want to.

I want him to know me.

I clench my hands. We have known each other for three years but never known who we are really. All I knew was that he was hot and a complete jerk. Now though, He knows more about me than I am comfortable with, and I still give in. I don’t even know why? We aren’t even friends. No, actually what even are we? Frenemies? I cringe. Enemies with benefits? Does that even make sense? Fuck buddies? Better than the ones before.

Maybe it will pass. Just like everything in my life does, it keeps for a while and then goes away. I hope it does go away fast. It’s not like sleeping with him is going to make me get feelings or something. I don’t even think feelings are something I am capable of feeling. After all this time, I guess someone actually seeing me for who I am has made me way too comfortable. I sigh.

Better to think about what I can do with Everett when I got him back in my room. Who am I kidding? I have been thinking about that the whole day especially when I sit and the sting from the bite he left on my ass makes me want to punch him. And makes me grin to myself.

Everett

“No, I think it needs a bit more color.” Sofia’s insisting voice brings me out of my book and towards the stage. Sofia and Mason are trying to paint a cardboard piece cut into a… what the fuck even is that? Zachary is right there with them sighing at their antics. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

Carl comes over and shuts Mason and Sofia’s up and Zachary just laughs at whatever he says. Carl. Gives him a pat on the shoulder before leaving. The rest of the day passes by like a tornado, but my attention was completely taken by Zachary. Between starting at him like a creep and imagining him naked my book is completely forgotten.

The moment we reach his room I throw myself on his bed. He looks at me with discontent and I smirk at him.

“C’mere,” I pat the space next to me on the small bed.

“I need a shower.”

“Fuck shower.”

He sighs but comes over anyway. He lays down next to me and I wrap my arms around him, bringing him closer. I press my face to the back of his neck and he leans back to me.

Too much. There’s too much involved here. I am not stupid, I already knew my feelings about Zachary aren’t just about sex. I don’t think it ever has been. A part of me thinks that it is the same for Zachary too. Except he won’t ever admit it without me pushing him to, but that would just make him leave faster. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking, he probably doesn’t think much of this except a good fuck.

“You’re thinking too loud,” Zachary whispers.

I slip my hand under his shirt. He exhales.

“Then I am going to stop thinking,” I flip him over so that I am straddling him.

His hands go around my shoulders as our hips press together. “I need a shower.”

“Later. After I am done with you.”

He raises his eyebrows at me. Then in a swift move he flips us over so that he is on top. I grin up at him.

“And what exactly are you going to do to me?” he asks.

“By the looks of it I am not the one doing anything tonight.” I pull him down to me by clutching his shirt. Our lips meet and a drumroll erupts in my ears. Then my phone rings. I groan as Zachary pulls away to sit on my hips, his ass over my groin. It takes everything in me not to let out a growl. He smirks at me knowingly. But then motions me to take my phone. I check the caller ID and immediately pick it up when I realize who is calling.

“Hey mom.”

“Don’t ‘hey mom’ me you little shit. Not a single call the whole week and now I have to call you to remind you that it’s your brother’s birthday this Sunday. You better make it here Saturday evening or else I swear to God I’ll burn down your mustang.”

My mom actually grunts. Zachary Bites his lips to hold of the laugh that’s threatening to burst out of him. I narrow my eyes at him, but that’s when I get an idea.

“Yeah mom. I’ll be there. And I will also be bringing a friend.” I smirk at Zachary and wait for him to realize what I mean. It didn’t take long, and he shakes his head furiously. My smirk only grows wider.

“Yep, he’ll be staying over too,” I say to the phone.

My mom sounds ecstatic by the news and finally says a goodbye. I say it back and cut the call.

I look over to Zachary who is staring murder at me. “You son of a bitch.”

“You don’t have any plans on the weekend. Hence, you are coming with me.” I shrug at him.

“Jesus Everett. It’s your brother’s birthday! It’s a family event.”

“Nah, it’s just my parents and my other three siblings. Also, lots of my friends have been to my home.”

“You’re serious?” he asks.

“It will be fun. I mean I have visited your home, so now it’s your turn.”

Zachary stiffens on top of me and my hands clutch his waist. “That wasn’t my home. Mother’s house doesn’t have a place for me.”

My throat grows dry. That’s the first thing he has told me about himself that includes his parents without me having to ask for it. Some part of me is extremely happy, but the other one wants to shred his mom into pieces.

“So you stay with your dad?” I ask.

He gives me a sad smile. Then shakes his head. “No. I don’t have a home.”

I feel like I got slapped. I stare at him. “So where do you stay during the holidays?”

He shrugs. “Carl and Jessica let me stay with them.”

I grab his shirt and tug. “Come to my home. Please?”

Maybe he heard something in my voice because he relaxes in my arms. He looks at me for a moment before saying, “Okay. I’ll go.”

I kiss him. He returns it. Our clothes get thrown away, and we become a tangle of limbs. Everything feels like a dream. The thing about dreams though, is that you wake up from them. But I am not waking up from them without pulling Zachary with me. I want him to know what it feels like to be in a home and I know the best place to do that is with my family.

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