"Oh hi Zac." said their mother cheerfully as she opened the door. "Peter's not here at the moment. He's at work."
"Oh, no, that's ok. I was wondering if Mary Anne was here."
"Sure she is. She's in her room. Go on up."
"Great. Thanks."
Zac fidgeted with his fingers all the way to Mary Anne's door. Why the heck was he nervous? It couldn't have had anything to do with Isaac and Taylor daring him to ask her out on a date could it? Nah. Besides, he would have done it anyway, dare or no.
He knocked on her door.
"Come in." said her muffled voice.
Zac opened the door.
"Hey Mary Anne."
"Hi Zac! Back already?"
"Hey, you knew we were coming back."
Mary Anne frowned.
"I did? Y'know I bet Peter forgot to tell me stuff again. Geez, the guy would forget his head if it wasn't screwed on."
Zac smiled. He loved Mary Anne's room. It was so quirky.
"Hey, umm, I was wondering -"
"Oh check this out! I got a new game - oh sorry, you wanted to say something?"
"Uhh, yeah, I uhh…" he knelt down next to her so they were on same level and took her hand. "I was wondering, would you like to go… uhh, go out with me sometime?"
Mary Anne blinked.
"What?"
"Trust you to make me ask again. Do you have any idea how freaked out I was?" Zac told her. "I want to know whether you'd like to go out… on a date with me."
She giggled.
"I'm sorry… I just… you're asking me?"
"Yes."
"I, uhh, well, I never expected you to… this isn't one of your elaborate pranks is it?"
"No. Never. Even Jess will vouch for me on this one."
She smiled.
"Well, uhh, sure. I'd like that."