"I do mean it. And that is how couples say goodbye…" Anna says in a sweetly playful voice. "I do miss you." Zack's heart pounds against his ribs in a way that has nothing to do with adrenaline from earlier arguments. "Good," he breathes out, the single word carrying more emotion that he intended. "Because I am already missing you and we have only been apart for an hour." His fingers trace idle patterns on the steering wheel as he stares up at his dark bedroom window where he will be sleeping along tonight. The thought feels suddenly unbearable. "I don't know how I am going to sleep without you next to me," he admits quietly, vulnerability creeping into his voice. "My bed is too big and empty when you are not there." He pulls the car into the garage and presses the remote button again. The garage door hums as it finishes closing behind him, enveloping his car in darkness except for the dashboard lights.
"Hey," Anna says softly. "It is only temporary. We just got to get through this year." Zack sighs heavily, the idea of waiting a whole year to have Anna permanently in his life feels like an eternity. "Twelve months is forever," he argues immediately, his tone shifting from vulnerable to determined. "I am not good at waiting, Anna. You know that." He runs a hand through his blond hair in frustration, leaning forward against the steering wheel as if trying to bridge the physical distance between them. "We could just run away," he suggests impulsively, the competitive urge to claim her completely overriding practicality. "Pack a bag, skip school Monday morning, and drive until we find some shitty motel where they don't ask for IDs." His voice carries genuine excitement at the thought of cutting their parents out of the equation entirely. "Your dad can't ground you if he does not know where you are. And my dad can't lecture me if I am not home to hear it."
There's a moment of silence before Anna says hesitantly. "As tempting as that offer sounds– I can't. I promised Kyle, I would help him improve his grades. And it is not twelve months; it is more like eight months." Zack latches onto the eight-month detail like a lifeline. Eight months sounds infinitely more manageable than twelve, especially coming from someone as responsible as Anna. "Eight months? Fine," he says quickly, seizing on the shorted timeline. "I can handle eight months. But we are marking the calendar together." His fingers tap against the steering wheel rhythmically, calculating mentally. "November through May– that is eight months total including this summer. Can you promise me we will be done with college application by then?" the idea of plotting their escape together sends a thrill through him. His earlier frustration with his father melts away completely, replaced by the focused energy of someone planning a campaign.
"I am already gathering all the college applications that are out. We can sit together and fill them in next week," Anna said excitedly. "And eight months will feel like a breeze if you include the weekend we will be spending together and school holidays." Zack's competitive nature lights up at Anna's mention of planning their future together. The idea of sitting side-by-side filling out collage applications, choosing their shared destiny, sends a rush of possessive satisfaction through him. "College applications? Perfect," he says immediately, his voice taking on a strategic edge. "We will start with the ones that offer the best financial aid packages. My dad might be a pain in the ass, but he is not wrong about saving money." He leans forward, resting his elbows on the steering wheel as if already visualizing their meet up. "Next weekend– my place. I will clear my schedule completely. We will order takeout, make a list of all the schools we can apply to, and get those applications submitted before anyone else even thinks about it." His tone becomes more serious as he considers their future.
"God, your sexy when you are serious," Anna breathes out through the phone. "I got to go help Kyle with some homework. Can I call you later tonight?" A satisfied smirk spreads across Zack's face at her breathless comment. The idea of her finding him 'sexy' when he is being practical and responsible sends a fresh wave of possessive pride through him. "Sexy, huh? Good to know my serious side has its perks," he teases back, his voice dropping to a lower register. "And year, call me whenever you are done torturing your brother with math." He glances at the clock on his dashboard– already past six PM. The thought of Anna helping her little brother while he sits along in his car feels strangely domestic in a way that warms his chest. "Don't stay up too late though," he adds, his protective instincts kicking in despite their playful banter. "You need your beauty sleep for tomorrow morning." He looks around the dark garage and sits in silence for a moment before continuing. "Hey, Anna?"
"Yeah?" Anna asks curiously through the phone. "I love you too," Zack says abruptly, the words coming out more intensely that he intended. His competitive nature usually keeps him from being this vulnerable, but the though of ending their call without saying it back feels impossible. The confession hangs in the quiet garage, echoing slightly through his empty car. He runs a hand over his jaw, suddenly feeling exposed despite being along in his vehicle. "Shit," he mutters under his breath before speaking into the phone again. "I did not mean to say that so– seriously. But fuck it, you make me say stupid things." His tone shifts back to its familiar playful confidence as he tries to regain control of the moment. "There. Now we have both said the L-word like crazy people. Let's not do it again until after out weekend trip when we are too tired to think straight." Zack unlocks his seatbelt and pushes open the car door into the cool dusty air of the garage. "Thank you," Anna said softly. "It means more than you can imagine. I will call you again later."