Desire Ch. 17 - Coming Out & Snow Globe

[itztigress3]

Chapter 17 – Coming out & Snow Globe
POV: Emily / Zac
Word Count: 3160


July 12, 2009
-Emily-

We had slept a little later than normal and after breakfast he joined a group, opting for his swim trunks and a t-shirt again today, why he bothered I didn’t know, he hadn’t gotten in the pool all week. Taylor left at ten to take Isaac to the airport and returned about noon. He and I were sitting beside the pool, swirling our feet around and talking about the differences between Ezra and Penny, personality wise when Zac got in the pool, he’d even taken his shirt off. He turned his back to us and I could see what he was talking about.

“Did you do that?” Taylor asked.

“Apparently, I think…I need to cut my nails.”

“Zac!” Jacob yelled.

He turned in his direction, moved hair from his face and waited on Jacob to say something else.

“What the fuck happened to your back?”

Zac pointed right at me. “Ask her, it’s her fault.”

I was sure that nearly everyone looked at me wide eyed; I could see Casey and Alex’s faces and even Taylor’s.

“Can I just melt into the pool?” I asked.

Taylor giggled. “No. You have embarrassed him quite a bit the last two years.”

“Paybacks a bitch.”

“Natalie has left scratches on me too, not that bad though.”

Adam sat down on the other side of me, a good foot away. “Is this a safe distance Zac?”

Zac just smiled. “Another three inches and it will be.”

Alex actually scooted farther away. “So, now that you two owned up. The rest of us pathetic lovers need advice on how to get those noises from women and exactly what a man has to do to get those types of marks?

I looked at Zac, who blushed some and I wondered how much he wanted me to say.

“Honestly?” I asked.

“Yes! Well, I mean unless it is some very strange and very kinky sex thing…” he replied.

Zac actually looked at me a little concerned.

“Define kinky.”

“Hey! Hey! I do not need to know the details of my little brother’s sex life! I already know he’s strange.” Taylor exclaimed.

“I am not strange!” Zac exclaimed.

“Well, you do like rather odd places.”

“The studio is not an odd place Taylor.” I said.

“It is when I have to work there!”

“Wait, they’ve had sex at the studio?” Alex asked.

“Yes, Ike and I sterilized every surface in the studio and the conference rooms!”

I really wanted to shrink down, kind of understood Zac’s aversion to sex talks outside of the bedroom.

“Not bad Zac, and here we thought you were a prude.”

He swam over to us and stood in front of me with his hands on my thighs. “You asked how to get the noises?”

“Yes! None of my previous lovers did that, nothing close.” Alex said.

“You have to know about every single spot.” Zac said.

“Spot?” Alex asked.

Taylor held up his hands. “That’s it! I am out of here!”

He quickly got up and went inside but Casey took his place sitting a safe distance away, but not as far away as Alex.

“Yes. You need to know what turns them on, what works for them, and what makes them beg you for more.” Zac said.

Alex looked at me for confirmation.

“That’s a very good start actually, but it’s not just that. You need a connection and you cannot be selfish either.” I said.

“Selfish?” Alex asked.

Zac gently squeezed my thigh and I looked at him. “What she means is that if she doesn’t orgasm, a real one, then you shouldn’t either.”

Both Alex and Casey raised their eyebrows, but it was Alex who spoke. “Are you saying that you never finish before she does?”

Zac paused a moment. “Not that I can remember. Emily have I ever finished before you?

“Only when that was the intention, but otherwise no.” I responded. I would not tell them he usually made sure it was more than once for me before he did.

Casey fidgeted beside me and knowing he liked Zac I was wondering if the conversation was upsetting him or making him uncomfortable.

“Zac is a very attentive lover, which is the main key. Be attentive; know what she likes, and what works. Make sure you please her and you’ll get marks.”

Zac’s entire face blushed that time; he had not gotten use to compliments regarding his bedroom abilities and skills.

Casey looked at Zac and then me. “Does he really do that a lot? Just blush.”

I nodded. “All the time.”

“Anymore questions?” Zac asked.

“Can she share some of your desires and fantasies, because you never talk to us about sex or anything?” Alex asked.

“I won’t be talking about it either. I already know the answer to that question and he’ll say no. Sorry.” I said.

“I tried!” he said.

We smiled and Zac went back to swimming for a bit. Taylor returned with his camera and proceeded to use Zac and I as his personal models for a while, not that either of us minded because Taylor generally took very great pictures. Most of the ones we had, that were displayed, Taylor had taken. Most were by the pool or overlooking the desert side. He sat down with his laptop when he was done and was deeply intent on whatever he was doing.

The day was kind of low-key, some people were writing but most were just relaxing. Some sunned and swam, others were catching up on sleep, and some were even calling people or returning calls. My phone was inside still and this time off because the calls had come early again.

Taylor finally called us over and showed us the pictures, ones he’d edited and ones he’d posted to the website under Zac’s name.

“Taylor….” Zac said.

“You said the world needed to know, this isn’t posted yet. I wasn’t sure what you wanted to say really.”

Zac took it and typed out a few lines, basically introducing me as his long-term girlfriend. Taylor also updated my picture on the crew’s website and my title. He then closed it out and smiled.

“I’m glad you two decided to announce it.”

“We are too.” I said.

Carrick came out and announced that we were not cooking tonight, but going out. So everyone went and changed if they needed too and got ready. Dinner was held at a Mexican restaurant in El Paso, it was very nice and the food was very awesome. We stayed there for a few hours talking, dancing a bit and cutting up. We left the restaurant about 7 and returned to the ranch.

“I’m going to check my phone, make sure important people haven’t called.” I said.

“Ok.” He said.

I went to the bedroom, flipping the light on and walked to the dresser. There were dozens of missed calls, but all of them were unknown. Amanda had sent one text message which I replied too explaining why it was so late. I turned to leave and saw a box sitting on the bed; it had not been there when we left. The box was white and I could see my name printed neatly on top. There was no return address or nothing to indicate whom it was wrong. I glanced around and nothing else in the room had been moved or was out of place.

Since it was not mailed, I assumed it was something Zac had planned so I walked to the bed and picked it up. I didn’t even recognize the hand writing on the box; it wasn’t any of the boys. I carefully removed the tape that held the lid down and then opened the top. There was Styrofoam inside with a folded green sheet of paper. I picked up the letter and laid it aside, wondering what was inside the Styrofoam. I carefully removed it and lifted the top half off.  Inside the box was a snow globe, gold base with intricate scroll work design around it, but the piece inside is what bothered me. I was looking at the backside apparently and I carefully lifted it up and turned it around, it was a replicated scene of my old living room. Complete with the sofa, table and TV. But there were two figures, one bend over the table the other one standing beside the figure holding what looked like a drumstick.

There was a little button on the front usually meant it played music and there was a “press here”. I laid the snow globe down gently and picked up the letter first, opened it carefully. The words were typed neatly on the page, perfectly lined up and perfectly straight.

My Dearest Emily,

   I hope you like your birthday gift. I was intending on having it delivered on your birthday but a little birdie told me you’d be away from home. I am sure you’ll remember the scene and I am sure you’ll quite enjoy it.

This was not the one I originally planned. I wanted to remind you of the first time I was there with you alone, I am sure you remember that Emily. You were cleaning up the kitchen and I came in, you looked beautiful standing there, you wore black jeans and a red t-shirt. Do you remember that day Emily? If not, let me refresh your memory…

I came up behind you, put my arms around you and told you how beautiful you were. Sure, you tensed up some, but my hands were on your stomach, not where I wanted them to be.  You thanked me for the compliment and when I moved my hands you asked me what I was doing. Do you remember what I said? I am sure you do. I told you I was exploring you, exploring what made you so beautiful. I am sure you remember that day Emily…I’m sure you remembered where my hands were…

What I was doing Emily, was determining whether I wanted to accept your father’s offer. Whether I wanted to consider being your husband, but really I didn’t have to do that at all because I’ve always wanted you.  I’ll –always- want you.

You will see Emily, one day. You and I are meant to be together. One day, you will accept that.

Love – X

 I had no idea what he was talking about in the letter; I didn’t quite remember anything that way. I picked up the snow globe and while I was certain I did not need to press the button, I laid my finger over it anyway and pressed the button. I expected maybe music something he played a lot that week, maybe even his voice, but what played was not either of those. I could clearly hear him hitting me with the drumstick, could hear him talking and asking if I was with Zac, could even hear my own voice tell him no, begging him to stop.  It was the last sentence of the recording that sounded off, it wasn’t anything I clearly remembered from that week. I replayed it twice before I could make out the words I was saying and they were please stop.

The snow globe slipped from my fingers and hit the hardwood floor; glass shattered and that day in the kitchen came back to me. He’d been there all day and I was cleaning up and he had come in, after telling me I was beautiful his hands had moved up and I had moved his hand but he was forceful.  He’d never removed anything, never did anything but move his hands over my cloths but it was the locations that had scared me then. After that, I avoided him until the birthday episode.

“Emily?” Zac asked.

I felt a little faint reached out for the bed as the sounds began to play again. That was something Zac never heard and he paused when it started but when I began to fall he moved, I never hit the floor. 

-Zac-

She had gone to the bedroom to check messages but it was taking so long so I decided to go check on her. I was almost there when I heard glass shatter and I ran, afraid Paul had come back. But, Emily was alone and there was a snow globe broken at her feet and the look on her face was just confusion and fear. I called her name and she reached for the bed but then sounds filled the room. I immediately knew it was her voice and she was begging him to stop, denying that she was ever with me. I paused but I saw her face drain of color and moved, reaching her as she began to fall, I kept her away from the glass and got her to the bed at least, glad I kept my shoes on because I stepped on glass. I got my phone and called Taylor to come to the room, he came in moments later and closed the door behind him.

“What happen?”

“I don’t know, I was coming to check on her and heard the glass, though Paul was back. I ran down and she was standing by the bed looking pale. She fainted.”

He locked the door and then went to the bathroom for a rag and came back, he was checking her ankles and it dawned on me she was wearing shorts.

“No cuts that I see.”

The stupid thing began to play again and Taylor’s eyes got very wide. “Is that…?”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s from one of the days he was there. I don’t know why or how or what the hell is going on.”

He looked through and found the electronic component and managed to turn it off. He then gathered the glass and began to clean up.

“Um, Zachary…You might want to see this.”

He handed me the base and the scene from inside the globe. I recalled the scene from her telling me about it. Taylor and Isaac didn’t know much about what happen beyond that she was hurt badly and what they saw.

“Is that a drumstick? Is that what he used on her Zac?”

I put it aside. “Yeah, it’s what he used Taylor. He found it in her kitchen drawer.”

“Is that why you felt so bad about it?”

I simply nodded and wiped her face off until she came around. I let her sit up and gave her several minutes; Taylor was done cleaning up the remains of the globe.

“Emily?” I asked.

She looked at Taylor who still looked pretty shook up.

“He heard it too Emily, same as I did.”

She handed me the letter and I read it. “Do you know what he’s talking about here?”

She nodded. “It was about a month before my birthday, I was cleaning the kitchen up on a Saturday. He put his arms around me but mid-waist but he moved them.”
I sat down beside her. “He touched you where he shouldn’t have?”

She nodded again. “He stayed outside my clothes. I didn’t even remember that honestly I didn’t know what the hell he was doing. I guess I do now.”

Taylor was chewing his lip. “Where did the snow globe come from Ems?”

“I don’t know. I came in the room and it was in the box on the bed, I just assumed Zac put it there. He’s left surprises before.”

“I’m going to talk to Carrick; the ranch has cameras on the perimeter and the hallways. Maybe it caught who left the stuff. Do you need the police?”

“Well, the globe is broken and the letter is a type writer.”

“Yes. I think we should file the report just because of what’s happening.” I said.

Taylor left to get Carrick and explain what was going on and I stayed with Emily.

“Can I see your phone?” she asked.

I handed it to her and she called Craig, left it on speakerphone.

“Hey Zac, what’s up?” he asked.

“It’s not Zac, it’s me.” She said.

“Emily, what’s wrong you sound different.”

She explained to Craig what had been going on, I never even knew about the other three notes she had gotten. This was escalating from just random calls to more and it was scaring me because they were proving they could reach her anywhere.

“Wow, what would you like from me?”

“The cameras at our house are on, please review them and see if anyone has been there or around. I need you to call my brothers and tell them what’s going on. I would but it’s late already and we need to talk to the police here and we leave at 4 am, once we’re gone and wherever Zac is taking me for this surprise place, he said that reception could be spotty or non-existent. So, I don’t want them to get a voice mail or something.”

“Your house is clear, I’ve checked them a few times to make sure. I’ll call them and tell them and I’ll also assure them you will call when you get home. When you get home I’m recommending you change your phone numbers again, and block unknown or private numbers from both of your lines. The calls only come to your personal phone?”

“Yes.” I said.

“Ok. I’m going to contact my detective friend and see if he can determine who Adam is talking too. The letter wouldn’t have been mailed from him so it had to be some other way.”

“Ok.” She said.

It was quite a moment. “Tell Taylor his pictures are awesome and I approve of them all. I’m glad you finally broke the silence there.”

“Thanks, I will tell him when he comes back.”

Emily hung-up after a few more minutes, she asked what the comments said which he said most were pleasant. Taylor returned and we met the police and she told them everything, turned the items over for forensic purposes and she also told them about the open case at home. We spent hours with the police officers going over what happen before they left. We then re-packed everything, said our goodbyes to everyone, and tried for a few hours of sleep.

Our flight left at 4:30, Taylor dropped us off at the airport and returned to the Ranch, he would be home when we arrived next week. I told her where we were going once we got to the airport because she truly did need to let her brothers, Craig, and Amanda know so I sent the message before we left and then turned her phone off. I was damn sure that whoever was calling, sending packages and notes would not get to her where we were going. The flight itself was short, but we both slept on the way.

I was determined she would have a week without being harassed.