The Cabin by the Lake

I walked up the steps to Ryan's apartment building. I held my coat close to my body. The wind was something fierce today. Zac and I were leaving by plane the next morning since driving would take too long and we didn't want to waist time with the Winter Classic being so close. I was giving Ryan his present...a custom made white lingerie ensemble with 51 embroidered on the back. We said we wouldn't do gifts, but I wanted to leave Boston with something to remember my by. I wouldn't be able to really see him until after the Winter Classic. I fixed my makeup and hair in a mirror outside the apartment and then knocked. Melanie answered with a smile and called out to Ryan. He seemed shocked to see me, but I guess that's what happens when you don't tell him your coming over. We went into his room and he sat on the bed. "I wanted to give you your gift..." He titled his head, "I thought we....I didn't get you anything." He looked at the floor. I smile and nodded, "I know, but I couldn't resist." I turned away from him and dropped my coat, then turned back around to him. I walked over and straddled him, kissed his neck. He grabbed my waist and took me off his lap. "Em..." I looked over at him. "I'm just...stressed you know?" I suddenly felt...embarrassed. I grabbed my coat and wrapped it around me. "We haven't...in a while you know? Is everything okay?" He nodded, "Everything fine baby. I'm just...it's fine..." I knew something wasn't right, but I just smiled. "I'm gunna go...I still have packing to do." He nodded, I had hoped he begged me to stay...but he didn't.

I got home, nearing tears. Zac was sitting on the couch drinking beers. "I didn't expect you home so early." I nodded, "me too..." He turned towards me, "you okay?" I shook my head no, "Ryan didn't like his gift." Zac nodded, "Just return it? Maybe get something else? What was it?" I walked over to him, finished his beer and set the bottle on the table. I took off my jacket, reveling myself to Zac. "Me." I walked back to my room and before I closed my door I heard Zac say, "I would never turn that down..."



The cabin was in view, and it was more beautiful than ever. The snow had a nice little blanket covering my little cottage and the lake. Zac helped me bring in my bags and turn on the heat. It was ice cold in the cabin. Despite that, Sam was happy to be in the nice little cabin. I put a blanket on the couch for him so that he wouldn't freeze. Zac rubbed his hands together, and blew into them to keep warm. "We'll wait for this place to warm up, come over for some breakfast at my house. Sammy can come too." He picked up Sam and kissed the top of his head. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose..." He laughed, "You're always welcome, come on." We got back into his truck and did the 2 minute drive to his house. Spending all summer with him, living behind his house...I never actually saw it.

It was beautiful, homey. It wasn't a giant mansion, it was...normal. The ideal house I always wanted as a kid. Zac opened the door to his home and yelled for his mom. Diesel came running past Zac and towards me. I bent down and pet him and gave him a few kisses. Sam and Diesel got along perfectly, it was as if they already knew each other. A short blonde woman came in with an apron on and she hugged Zac. She looked so fragile in his arms; how did she ever raise him? "Mom, this my Emily." I shook her hand and she smiled, "The stories Anne told me...Its so nice to finally meet you!" I smiled, "You knew my grandma?" She nodded, Zac wasn't the only one looking out for her. "I actually made her recipe for blueberry scones today." I smiled wide, I hadn't had those in years. "Come on in, they're almost read."

Their house was exactly what you expect the house of an only child to be like; everything about him. He showed me his bedroom, his family room, the living room, the deck the came off the back of the porch, showing a beautiful view of the lake. "Hey, I can see my cabin!" Zac smirked, "I know." I looked over at him, "Have you been spying on me this summer?" He shrugged, "I let you have your privacy. But if you were out in the morning doing your exercised or photography, I may have looked once or twice." I gave him a playful shove and he wrapped his arms around me, "Lets get inside before we freeze to death." Zac's mother was shorter than me, but she was a strong woman. She had to be to deal with Zac. She shared baby pictures of him and told embarrassing stories. It made me wish I had a family to do this to me...I was on my third scone was Zacs mom went to the store to gather some last supplied for Christmas dinner. "Will you be joining us Emily?" I shrugged, "I don't think so." Zac rolled his eyes, "You're not being alone on Christmas." I rolled my eyes back at him, "I wont be alone, and Ill have Sam!" Zac's mom laughed, "We will have plenty of food. Your company will be more than welcomed." She waved goodbye and Zac and I sat in the dining room, munching on our scones.

"You're not staying in the cabin alone for Christmas." I smiled at him and took his hand, I wanted to tell him that I wanted to more than anything join their family for a Christmas dinner. "I've only had a Christmas dinner once, with my grandma a few years ago." He put his other hand on top of mine. "Ryan told me...about how you got Sam...about your family." I took my hand away and looked at the crumbs on my plate, was this why he was acting weird? "He didn't mean to...he thought I already knew..." I just looked at my plate and counted the crumbs. I wasnt mad. I was just...caught off guard. "I've only ever had one family Christmas dinner..." He slid closer to me and rubbed my back. "Then come to mine. Meet my crazy family." I looked over at him, "Why are you so nice to me?" He laughed, "You're my friend Emily, I know you were upset when we left. And I don't want you to be upset." I shook my head, "What did we talk about the night of the Halloween Party?" He sighed, "I don't remember." He took my plate and brought it into the kitchen. "Zac..." I stood up, and he just washed the plate, "Forget it Emily. I dont remember. It was too long ago." I nodded, "okay." I grabbed my jacket and went back to the cabin with Sam.

Notes

Sorry for the long delay! I finally have a computer again!
Let me know what you think! Another chapter will most likely be up later tonight! :)