Zac hesitated. There was considerably less room than there had been in the bed at the motel.
"Look, it's not like we're going to be fooling around Zac." Z informed him. "I know Mary Anne. She's a smart, understanding girl. If she was aware of the circumstances, she wouldn't have a problem with it."
Zac eventually accepted that.
**********
Sometime in the middle of the night, Ripples and Twinkles were awake. As you've probably noticed, they were not Z's biggest fans, so they decided to do something that they considered a rather mean thing to do to her.
Besides, they thought it would be funny.
As Zac and Z lay there fast asleep, Ripples and Twinkles awkwardly managed to pick up one of Z's arms and drape it across Zac. Giggling they draped one of her legs over one of his as well.
Ripples and Twinkles were sure how long Zac and Z stayed like that as they soon fell asleep. But the cheeky pair woke up shortly before dawn, noticed their victims were no longer positioned like that and decided to do more dirty work.
Let's just say Zac nearly freaked when he woke up and realised that parts of him were touching part of Z that he wouldn't have even considered touching, and vice versa. When he heard Ripples and Twinkles burst out laughing (which woke Z up) Zac figured out what had happened.
It would be safe to assume that Ripples and Twinkles would never do anything like that again!
**********
They were still working on the wreck. There had been a number of cars involved and getting road crews access was extremely awkward.
Z did not consider those good explanations, but she had to deal with it. Her main concern, of course, was that one of Gretel's people would turn up.
That and Zac had a distinct feeling that Z didn't entirely trust her friends. But then, Zac was having a hard time believing that Z actually trusted anyone.
It was well after breakfast before the road was finally cleared. Z had rung the Hanson house the night before and informed them that they would be late. She rang them again this morning to tell them they were finally on the move again, but would be taking a less direct route back.
**********
"So, why is a guy like you dating a girl like Mary Anne?" Z asked.
Zac stared at her.
"Oh, wow, this must be a first. You're actually starting a conversation with me that doesn't involve powers in any way, shape or form."
Z gave an amused noise.
"I'm dating Mary Anne because I like her." Zac went on.
"She just doesn't seem like your type."
"How would you know what my type is?"
"Oh, it's just that she doesn't appear to be... the most attractive girl in the world."
"Why should that make any difference?"