Magical Journey of the Elf Queen

Chapter 13 - Little Crush's and Birthday Plans

For the next three days, Katie did nothing but plan my birthday party and even roped my mother into helping, by Wednesday everyone in school got an invite to and I think she might have even invited half the town as well.

To make my 17th that special, my mother got a permission slip and gave a buck load of cash so we could use Sunset Beach River Park to house the huge crowd invited to celebrate with me.

And since whispers of the party created a big buzz within our little town, everyone wanted to come.

We're having drama class in the auditorium, and Mrs Evenly has us cleaning up the stage and props due to the large amounts of dust.

I was leaning against my broomstick, talking to Katie who sat cross-legged while sorting through a pile of clothes when Zack and his brother walked up to the both of us.

“Hey girls!” We stared at the two of them in confusion, before glancing at one another with brows raised. “I heard about your beach party Eva and wanted to ask if my brother and I are invited?”

Tilting my head sideways, I stared at Zack for a long minute. “Uhm, sure, everyone is invited." I state, wondering why they walked up to ask what was already obvious.

Katie made it pretty clear everyone in school was invited on Friday when she stood on top of our table with a megaphone and announced I was having a birthday party during lunch.

Grinning, Zack gave a small nod. “In that case, I’ll make sure to be there.”

“Thanks.” I say uncertainly, and he winked in response, before walking off with his amused brother in his toe.

“Okay, I don’t care what you say, that boy has the hots for you!” Katie exclaimed, a little too loudly for my taste.

“Katie,” I hissed in embarrassment, my cheeks flushing slightly when several eyes glance our way. “He does not.”

“Does too, I mean I always noticed the way he stared at you but I used to shrug it off.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I forget how clueless you can be sometimes,” She mumbled with a roll of her eyes. “Zack has a crush on you, I’ve spotted him gazing at you for months but you’re so oblivious to it.”

“That isn’t true.”

“Oh, it’s so true. He gazes at you in class, and during lunch. Why do you think Melody hates you so much?”

“I don’t know, because she’s such a hateful bitter witch.” I shrug, earning another eye roll from Katie.

“Sure, Melody is a hateful, needy, attention, soul-sucking, bitter witch but that’s not the reason why she targets you so much. She's threatened by you, especially now that Zack has decided to be forthcoming about his feelings.”

“Did you just use the word forthcoming?”

She ignores my puzzled expression.

“Besides, he could have been staring simply because of my sudden change. I have been getting a lot of attention lately, and the party your throwing only made it worse. Three good looking guys asked me out today.”

“Zack always stared at you even before your shift into a gorgeous bombshell. He likes you; you just refuse to admit it.”

“Can we just drop this topic?” I ask, getting irritated.

The thought of Zack possibly having something as simple as a crush scares the daylights out of me.

Katie doesn’t know this, because I never told her, but I used to have serious feelings for Zack long before he even knew I existed.

My feelings for him started when we were kids and he helped me fend off a bully, and ever since my feelings grew until we got to middle school and he started going out with Melody Knight.

I barely managed to get over that “in-love" with him episode with my heart intact, I don’t need any reason to go back to being some dumb lovesick fool just because Katie thinks Zack likes me. I will admit that he’s been acting weird lately, but I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why.

Shaking her head in exasperation, she thankfully dropped the issue. “Fine, if that’s what you want.”

I thought that would be the last time we have a discussion about Zack and his so-called “feelings” for me, but he decided to make an appearance at our lunch table the next day. “Hey Eva, can I talk to you for a second?”

“Uhm…”

I'm a little startled by the sight of him leaning against our table with a smile on his lips as if he walks over to our table every day and ask to talk to me.

“She will.” Katie butted in.

“I will?” I asked, still in a confused daze, and she pulled me to my feet. Practically shoving me into his arms.

“Of course silly,” She said. “And take your time.”

Glaring over my shoulder, I felt like slapping away the hand she held in the air as she wiggled her fingers in a wave with a cheeky grin.

Everyone stared in curiosity when an amused Zack pulled me out of the cafeteria and into the empty hallway, and he led me to only God knows where.

We slipped into an empty classroom just as the bell rang for the end of lunch, and stood in awkward silence for a couple of seconds before I got impatient.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“This is a little embarrassing,” He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish look on his face. “But can you tutor me on biology after school, I’m failing terribly?”