Brooklyn. She was the type of girl you only found in movies. The way that her hair fell perfectly, even after a night of deep sleep. The way that her lips curved into a smile with no laugh lines, and the way that her eyebrows always seemed perfectly shaped, even when she hadn't plucked them. It was the little things like that which left Zack in such awe over her beauty, but it was the way she enjoyed nature, went full-force into live and found something wonderful in every bad situation that made his heart melt. He knew that he'd never find another girl like her, no matter how hard he searched, which is why he needed to find a way to make her understand just how much he wanted her to be his, forever.


He watched her from a distance as she laid down in the grass, her hands filled with old bread crumbs that she'd brought from his apartment. All around her were ducks, big and small, nibbling on the bread as she released it from her fingertips. Brooklyn would giggle every now and again, attempting to reach out and touch one before they ran away. Zack chuckled as one of the larger ducks waddled right up to her hand and snatched the remains of the bread. With his camera in his hands, he zoomed in on Brooklyn's laughing face and snapped the picture.


How on Earth had he managed to land someone like her, even just as a friend? Any man on this earth with a brain in his head (and a head elsewhere) would swoop her up and never let her go. Why had no one claimed her yet? Part of that was the reason Zack didn't have the guts to tell her how he felt. It was apparent that Brooklyn wasn't ready to settle down, she was one of those girls that just went for things as they happened, but she had allowed herself to become close to him over the last few weeks. They spent nearly everyday together that he was off tour and she even went as far as to stuff some of her clothes in a drawer and prop an extra toothbrush up on his bathroom sink. Surely, she had to feel something for him, even if it was mild.


"Zachary Merrick!" Brooklyn snapped her fingers in front of her face. He was so lost in thought he didn't even realize she'd left the pond. "Where you at, dude?"


"Oops," Zack blinked a few times, offering her a crooked grin. "Guess my mind got away from me. Done feeding the ducks?"


"Yeah. The chunky one stole all of the bread crumbs." She shrugged, flashing her award-winning smile. "So what were you thinking about so hard?"


"Oh, you know, just life."


Brooklyn rose an eyebrow at his words, linking her arm with him as the two started making their way across the park. Zack could feel the heat from her skin as it brushed his own, even with the soft breeze making her hair whip behind her shoulders.


"You shouldn't think about life," Brooklyn finally broke the silence, her fingers tracing circles on his muscles. "If you do, it tends to get in the way. Sometimes I think of life as a movie, like everything is already scripted, so no matter what I do I know I'll end up where I'm meant to be. But other days, I like to think I can create my own path, which still leads me to do what I feel is right when the moment comes along."


"That's something I've always loved about you, Brooke. You're so free-spirited."


"A lot of people see that as a downfall. I say I'm better off without them. Oh, look! Ice cream!"


Zack chuckled as Brooklyn dragged him over to the ice cream stand. She clapped her hands together as she ordered a strawberry cone. He watched as she licked her lips before sliding a five to the man behind the stand, shrugging him off when he told her the cone was only a dollar. Another selfless act.


"Want some?" She offered, holding the cone up to his face, even though half it was already missing.


"No, thanks."


"You sure?" Brooklyn giggled, running the cone along his cheek. "I think you've got something on your face, Zacky."


"Do I now?" Zack smirked, letting his pointer finger run over the cold mess until he collected most of it, and touched his finger to her nose. "Oh, Brooke! You look like a Christmas doll!"


The brunette snickered, wiping the strawberry ice cream from her nose and dabbing her finger on Zack's shirt, sticking her tongue out at him. Zack pretended to pout, making Brooklyn laugh harder. At this, he cracked a smile. Her laugh was contagious.


"You're a goober, Zack," she commented, tugging him along once more. "I think that's one of the things I like most about you."


"Well, since you like my goober-ness so much," Zack stopped walking, making Brooklyn come to a stop with him. He inhaled a deep breath and let his teeth dig into the inside of his cheek. "There's kind of this party tomorrow. See, Rian's girlfriend is flying in tonight and she wants us all to go out tomorrow, so I was wondering if you'd be my plus one?"


"Does that mean you're asking me to be your date?" Brooklyn rose her eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lip. "Because if you are, you should ask me properly."


"Uh, yeah, I guess." Zack could feel a blush coming to his cheeks. "Fine. Will you be my date tomorrow, Brooke?"


"Of course I will, silly. I thought that went without question." She bent over and kissed his cheek, so close to his lips that he could feel his heart ache for the feeling. "I should probably go home tonight, though. I need rest if I'm meeting more of your friends, and I love ya bud, but your snoring is hard to live with."


"I've heard that on more than one occasion," Zack chuckled, shoving his hands deep in his pockets. His heart was fluttering around his ribcage. It was a small step forward, but the girl of his dreams had just agreed to be his date. "Do you want me to take you dress shopping tomorrow? I'd like to spend some time with you before my friends steal you away."


"They won't steal me away, but that sounds nice. Pick me up around ten?"


"Absolutely."


Brooklyn flashed him another smile and continued licking away at her ice cream. Something about her just made him so, so.. Happy. He was definitely falling in love with this girl.

Notes

Not much to have made you guys wait so long, but a little insight to what Zack and Brooklyn are like together. Comments?!<3.