| After brunch, Lacey and I helped Diana clean up the kitchen. We got the job done quickly and moved ourselves out to the deck, where Walker and his oldest sons were sitting, watching the little kids play in the yard. It was a beautiful, sunny, warm, day and watching all the activity was tiring for me. I sat in the chair next to Taylor and he took my hand. I just sat and listened to the conversation the others were having, content to be in the midst of a family who cared about and loved each other so much. I relaxed in the sun and closed my eyes. I must have dozed off, because I was shocked into reality by the ice cold stream of a super-soaker water gun. My eyes flew open to see Zac standing there, laughing hysterically, still pointing the gun at me. "Drop it, sucker! Or your behind is mine..." I threatened. "Oooh, I'm so scared, Jess. What are you gonna do if I don't?" he challenged and hoisted his weapon and aimed for me again. I looked to the chair next to me, but Tay was gone. "Ohh, yeah..lookin' for your BOYFRIEND to protect you?" Zac taunted and sprayed me with the gun. I stood up, wiped water off my neck and looked at Zac with an evil grin. "I'm givin' you 2 seconds to run, smart-ass, then you better say your prayers... ONE..." he started to back up, grinning, "TWO!!!" I leapt off the deck and lunged at Zac who dropped the water-gun and took off. I chased him through the yard and the little kids and Jessica stopped what they were doing to watch, giggling. I finally caught up to Zac and jumped onto his back, hooking my arm around his neck and dragging him to the ground with a thud. I laughed and twisted his arm behind his back, not hard, just enough to keep him down. I had my knee on his lower back and I had to torment him, just a little. "Whatcha gonna do now, tough guy? Picking on poor innocent sleeping women like that.." I tugged his arm a little. |
| "Jess..." he was laughing too hard to defend himself..."let...me up...and ..you'll find...out...." he managed to get out. "Oh yeah...hehe...I'm soooooo scared Zac." I joked. "I'm gonna let you up now, so behave yourself, ok?" I said, "don't make me tackle you again..you might get hurt, dude.." "OK..I'll behave.." he said a little too quickly. I let him up slowly and braced myself, I knew he'd try something. After all, I'd made him look bad in front of his little sisters. He rolled to his back and got up slowly, still trying to catch his breath from laughing. He looked at me and brushed grass off his clothing, a wicked smile spreading across his face. He lunged at me suddenly so I stepped to the side and watched him fly past me. This was too funny. "Bring it on Zaccy..." I taunted, "you won't be able to lay a hand on me.." He dove for my legs and I did a forward flip, right over the top of him. I turned and grinned, "Wanna try again?" I teased as Jessica and her younger siblings watched, giggling. "C'mon, Zac...you're such a big man..picking on women and children..oooh.." I said and wiggled my fingers at him. He laughed and came at me again, trying to tackle me from the shoulders or some other body part. I sommersaulted underneath him and rolled away from his grasp. I jumped up and stood. smiling at him. "Three strikes and you're out, buddy. Better catch me this time.." I challenged. He ripped his shirt off, because he was starting to sweat, and tossed it the other way. I made the mistake of watching where it landed. "Oh no!" I exclaimed as Zac's arm went around my neck and he had me in a headlock. "Ok, Mr." I grunted, "You asked for it.." "Shyeah..right...NOW what are you gonna do? You are so caught..." he laughed. |
| "OH NO, I'm NOT!" I grunted again as I planted my leg behind his and hooked my foot behind his foot. I used both arms and yanked his up from around my neck and twisted my body slightly, ducking my head out of the way. Then I shoved and watched as he landed on his rear end with a thud. "Strike three, geek boy," I giggled, "You sure you wanna tangle with me anymore?" I asked, shaking my head. He sat there laughing as the girls and Mac cheered, still giggling. I turned my head and winked at Jessica. She smiled and led the others back t what they were doing. I heard more grown up sounding cheers coming from the deck, both Zac and I looked up to see that we had quite an audience. We looked at each other and laughed and I gave Zac a hand to help him up. The little demon pulled me to the ground and pinned me. "ZAC! When I am up YOU ARE SO DEAD!" I giggled. He had my arms pinned over my head and his body was to the side of mine. I had full use of my legs, his mistake. I pushed his arms up with my pinned wrists, just enough to leave me space to squeeze through. I turned my body and wedged my leg under his, then pushed on his chest with my shoulder, flipping him on his back. I pinned him to the ground with my knee on his chest and one foot on his thigh. I heard more cheering coming from the deck. Ike, Lacey and Taylor's parents were watching the whole thing, laughing. I looked for Tay but I didn't see him. "Now what Zaccy-poo?" I teased, "You gonna be a good boy so I can let you up, or do you want me to humiliate you some more?" He was still laughing. "Jess...I ...will...kick..your ..butt if it's the last thing..I do..today.." he said. "You think you can, big guy? C'mon then.." I challenged and let him up. I backed off and let him catch his breath. |
| "Gettin' tired? I can go easy on ya.." I tormented. He came at me again, smiling, aiming low so I back-flipped away from him and landed facing him. "Come on Zac...you can do better than that! Or can you?" I wiggled my eyebrows at him. He tried one more time and I felt a pair of arms go around my waist and drag me away before I could flip away from Zac again. I was spun roughly around to stare straight at Taylor, who looked angry. "Tay? What?" I asked, shocked. "What are you doing? You just are able to walk...yesterday you were taking pain pills every four hours....JESS...what are you trying to do?" he ranted, "Jake told you not to use your leg for anything but walking, ALL week.." "Taylor! I am not doing anything to hurt myself...Zac had it coming...it's not swollen or sore and if I thought I'd hurt myself I wouldn't have even consider putting the little monster in his place..STOP IT! I'm not a baby.." I said angrily. "Tay, dude..take it easy..I messed with her till she had to do something, she's a lot tougher than you think she is.." Zac tried to soothe him. "WHY did you do it then, Zac? You know she could hurt herself badly, you were standing there when Jake looked at her leg..." his eyes flashed angrily at his brother. "Taylor! Stop! he hasn't done anything but be his usual self. YOU are being over-protective. My leg is fine. I was just goofing off, not working out...I'm not stupid.." I looked at him and shook my head. "Jessie, c'mon...you know what Jake said.." he began, but I lost my temper and cut him off. "In case you haven't NOTICED," I said angrily, "JACOB doesn't have the anatomy to be considered my mother any more than you do. I'm not stupid, Taylor. I wouldn't have hurt myself.." "Jess..." he began, just as angry. "I saw what you did to your leg...it's not healed yet, it can't be." I took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "I can't believe you'd hurt yourself, just to horse around with Zac..." he muttered. "Now you sound like Eric," I grouched. |