Marijuana Breath

“Then this could be pretty dangerous, because you really have been nothing but nice to me and I’m not used to that. And it still feels weird to know you are my match and that I really do feel so comfortable around you.” Zoe lifted her arm and looked at her wrist. She stopped hiding her mark since the night they found out they were matched. There was a knock at the door and she groaned. “Finally. Hold on I’ll be right back and we can stuff our faces with food.” She said slipping toward the door and returning with the diner they ordered. 

“Be careful what you wish for. We had a tough spot for a while but at least now we are starting to work things out again. But I do love them all so much.” Zoe nudged Sam and chuckled. “What can I say, you have to stop giving me a reason to compliment you.” The girl curled more against his side and ran her hand against his leg. “I think no matter what it’s going to be an amazing time.”

“Yeah I mean we are all different with our troubles but we all seem to cause some in the end. Zayden isn’t that bad, honestly I think he has things most put together.” She meant no ill will toward her family, Zoe loved them of course. “I really had no doubt that he’d like you I mean come on. You got the hair, good looks and you’re laid back just like he is.” Zoe said finding it funny to compare Sam to a cat of all things. But her smile went soft and filled with light. “I’d love that.”

“I’m a King, we are all trouble.” She said. Zoe had yet been able to tell her family about Sam and she only hoped they liked him as much as she did. They had to, he was so kind to her and was anything she could ask for… even after years of wondering if this test thing was legitimate she at least knew that she had feelings for Sam. Looking at the cat she smiled. “Yep, it looks like you have passed. Not that I had any doubts for you.”  

“Good, it’s about time I get a blush out of you. Consider it pay back for all those times you made me blush.” She said. Usually it wasn’t a night in that Zoe would be attending, she’d be out at some party, with some bad group of friends but something was so much more appealing to her now that Sam was around to relax with for once. He had that about him. “I hope you know I’m going to be wanting you to come over to do this a lot.”

“Oh yeah, something about that messy curly hair and nice smile really gets me going.” She said. Zoe watched Zavacado, she figured the cat was slightly upset with the room being taken up on the couch but still gave Sam the time of day, leaning against him to be pet. As she watched Sam with a grin the girl turned on the tv and put on the Christmas Chronicles. She’d seem it already but shamelessly loved it. Taking a bit of a move on her part she slid closer to Sam, trying to lean against him as well, now just a sandwich between the cat and the girl.

“I think this awkward twenty three year old is actually very cute.” She said with her soft and sweet smile. Zoe nodded her head and picked up her phone and placing the order. She looked down at the cat and smiled. “Usually I just call him Z, he is really the laziest thing even if he tries his best to act tough when new people are around. The girl got up and lifted the heavy cat, wanting him to join them on the couch, “Do you want to watch a movie? I’m sure Netflix has to have a good Christmas movie out to keep the spirit of things going, yeah? I don’t think i’m over the holidays just yet.”

 Just as if the sound of food called to him in rolled a huge lump of orange fluff. “Oh! It’s the man of the hour come to make sure I get him a side of shrimp.” Zoe said as the cat flopped on the floor. “This is my child, Zavacado.” 

“It’s alright, Sam. You come up with anymore amazing ideas? I want to see some at some point.” Zoe moved into her apartment, still decked to the halls with Christmas decorations. Her first year alone she might have went a bit overboard. “Here is the living room, just get comfortable and I’ll get the menu. I was thinking Thai food tonight if you’re up for that.” She said moving into the kitchen and looking through her drawers for the menu and coming back into the room, jumping on the couch and getting comfortable.

Zoe knew she was more than attracted to Sam. And sure there was the test that proved they were soulmates but there was one test he hadn’t taken and that was meeting Zavacado. If there was any test Zoe trusted it was if her cat liked him. She heard the knock at the door and jumped to get it, opening the door with a smile. “Hey! Looks like you just made it, Zavacado was losing interest.” She joked as she wrapped her arms around the boy. “Come in, I was just going to order some food if you are hungry.”

Zoe’s cheeks began to hurt from smiling so much. How could she have ever known her night would go so well. “That sounds like a deal to me.” She said. “Oh, so are trying to insinuate something here?” She asked winking. “I think we can make some time for you to get to know whatever you want about me.” She said softly. “I’m really glad you came out with me tonight. Even if you almost got in trouble and are soaking wet because if it.” 

“I’ll be sure to text you. And I can annoy you with a bunch of questions about you.” She said with a smile. She really did want to know more about him. She was with her soulmate and wanted to know what that even meant. “Or… yeah we could just kiss some more, I really have no problem with that either.” 

As he pulled away from the kiss, Zoe let her head fall forward, meeting his forehead to hers. She felt a small pull toward him when his arm went around her waist and she adjusted to it. Laughing softly she bit her lip. “Hm… I’m pretty busy but I’m sure I will be able to fit you in somewhere.” Zoe joked, even in a moment like this she couldn’t be completely serious. But she thought about what getting to know her meant. What if they spent more time together and he didn’t like her? She had her secrets. 

“No! You don’t get to damn me! I only get the say in who does that.” She said faking a pout. Zoe looked at him with soft, star stuck eyes. “Really?” She said in a hushed tone. “Good.” She fell right into his kiss of course, it was the easiest thing to do at this point and despite being wet and crammed in a car she really could never imagine a more perfect place to find a match or with a more perfect person.

“Exactly. Now you are getting into this whole… everything is for you to take the blame technique I have going. It’s all your fault, Sam. Damn you.” Zoe said with a soft smirk. It was so easy being like this with him. “Yeah, I know what you mean… you know… I actually hated the idea of the test. Not the idea of soulmates but I guess I thought some government test couldn’t be real.” She said fading quietly the longer she spoke until she came to look at her mark again and smiled. “But… I think I was wrong this whole time. It matched us… and I think it did a pretty damn good job.” She leaned into his touch and smiled. “I’m not crushed. I promise you that.”

“Yes, but what if I take it too seriously and try to move on?” She tested him. Zoe didn’t think she could lose whatever feeling was building in her about Sam, she didn’t know what it was but she knew it had to be special. She felt so nervous as the boy went to lift his shirt sleeve, she knew what to expect because it would be the same mark but it just seemed so strange when those eyes looked back at her and they weren’t coming from her wrist. “Someone better?” She scoffed. Zoe moved in her seat trying her best to pull him in and wrap her thin arms around him, only getting lost in his wet, curly hair. “Why on Earth would I be disappointed?.” She whispered.