"How do I get you to stop being mad?" Zack's grip on Evan's collar tightened for a moment before Zack let go, with a frustrated sigh. "Apologize? Yes, you should apologize," he said, his voice still sharp but losing some of its earlier anger. "But it's not just about saying sorry." He ran a hand through his hair again, clearly exasperated by Evan's lack of understanding. "You don't get it, do you? She is not like those other girls who just want gifts and attention. She actually cares about people." The first bell rang loudly through the hallway, signalling the start of classes. Students rushed past them, but Zack seemed oblivious to the time. "Fuck it, I am going to be late for class," he muttered checking his watch. He pointed a finger in Evan's face. "You are going to apologize to her properly. Not with chocolates or flowers or whatever shitty apology you think is good enough."
Before Zack and Evan could continue their conversation, Anna walked down the hallway and froze. She is wearing a black mini skirt and a buttoned up white long sleeve shirt covered by a dark blue jersey. Anna looked between Zack and Evan, the uncertainty evident in her eyes. Zack's head snapped toward the sound of her footsteps, his expression immediately softening when he saw her. The anger in his face melted away, replaced by a familiar cocky smirk. "Hey, baby," he called out, waving her over. "Perfect timing. This asshole was just about to apologize to you properly." Evan's face flushed with embarrassment as she approached hesitantly, his eyes daring between her and Zack. He shifted uncomfortably against the wall. "Anna," he started awkwardly, pushing himself off the wall to face her properly. "Look, I am sorry about how I acted at camp. I was a jerk." Zack crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall with a satisfied grin. "See? not so hard, now tell her what else you did wrong," he said pointedly to Evan. "I shouldn't have treated you like a easy lay," Evan admits softly.
Zack's smirk widened as he watched her reaction to Evan's apology. He pushed off the wall and sauntered over to her, wrapping an arm possessively around her waist. "Seen how much easier it is when you are honest?" he said to Evan, but his eyes were locked on Anna's. "Now tell her why you were such a dickhead about it." Evan's face turned redder under Zack's intense scrutiny. "I… I thought it was just a summer fling, I did not realize how serious she was getting," Evan admitted, looking down at the floor. He finally met her gaze, his expression genuinely apologetic. "I should have been clearer from the beginning. I am sorry for making you think there was more between us." Zack squeezed her side gently, his thumb brushing against her hip. "And what about the chocolate?" he promoted Evan with a raised eyebrow. Evan's face flushed even deeper at Zack's question. "The chocolate was supposed to be... I don't know, a nice gesture?" he said weakly, looking between her and Zack for some sign of forgiveness. Zack let out a short incredulous laugh. "A nice gesture?" he repeated mockingly. "You think giving someone expensive chocolate makes up for breaking their heart?" He pulled Anna closer against his side.
The second bell rang sharply through the hallway, signalling that classes had officially started. Students were now streaming past them. "You better get to class," Zack told Evan dismissively. "And don't think this conversation is over. You are going to make this right." Anna watched Evan walk away and leaned against Zack. "That was unexpected," she said softly. "Unexpected is one word for it," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. His fingers traced idle patterns on her hip as students continued to file past them toward their classrooms. The hallway was almost empty now, save for a few stragglers rushing to their first-period classes. "I cannot believe that asshole though buying you chocolate made everything okay, no matter how expensive they were. You deserve better than some cheap apology," Zack said, his voice filled with disgust. He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze, his eyes searching hers intensely. "You know I would never do that to you, right? Break your heart and then try to buy my way back into your good graces." His thumb brushed across her bottom lip softly. "I would fight anyone who even thinks about hurting you."
Anna looked down the hallway, to where Evan disappeared. "I know, you are different. And I am so glad you are," she said with a soft smile. "I should get to class," she said reluctantly. Zack's grip on her waist tightened for a moment, as if reluctant to let her go. "Class can wait," he said, his voice dropping to that low, possessive tone she loved. "I would rather spend the next forty-five minutes right her with you." He leaned down his lips brushing against her ear as she spoke. "Besides, I don't want you walking into that classroom with Evan's apology still fresh in your mind. I want to make sure you remember who you belong to." His hand slid from her hip to the small of her back, pressing her closer against him. "Forget about English literature or whatever class you have first period, let's find somewhere more private. I need to remind you what it feels like when someone actually cares about you," he murmured against her skin. "You... You always manage to say just the right thing. We could go to the library, into one of the back rooms..." Anna said seductively, a soft blush creeping up her neck. Zack's grin widened at her suggestion, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "The library? Fuck yeah, I love it when you get creative." He grabbed her hand, his grip firm and possessive as he started leading her down the hallway. "Come one, let's go. I want to see how quiet you can be when I am making you scream my name."