| Mia |

The road that I was suddenly on. .It was destructive.

And alluring.

I had no idea how and why it happened but it was happening. The next few days were . . unbelievable.

Unbelievable because I couldn't help but look back and think is it actually happening?

Is it still happening?

Never in million years did I dream about this. . relationship. This weird twisted beautiful relationship with a boy who flashed me smiles when I arrived. Who looked for me when I was absent. Who sneaked up on me.

Zack and I. .we were meeting each other without a single care in the world. The exhilaration , the rush of excitement in sneaking around. .  It was thrilling. .and scary.

In the next week we had met between classes. At every nook and cranny of the building . We had gone up to the cemetery. We had held hands and listen to each other heartbeat.

I was afraid to put a name on to our relationship. Was it actually a relationship or . . .

People cry at the end of a story and I was trying not to cry at the beginning of mine. Beginnings were as petrifying as the end .

And that day we were sitting beside my father's grave. .it was a bright sunny day with the birds out of their best. Day lilies were in bloom . .his knee was pressed up against mine. Our hand palm to plam. He didn't realize it but  he was holding my hand close to his heart. .

Sometimes we would sit in utter silence . Without saying a word . .now I understood the meaning of comfortable silence. It was my own little peaceful world.

"Zack." I called him softly.

He was staring at my father's grave.

"Yeah?"

"This—this happens in dream. If I told Gloria she would never believe me." I smiled and he turned his head at me.

The sunlight was filtering on half of his face. .the ocean in his eyes more clear than usual.

"And you? What about you?" He asked in a light manner.

I looked away from him. .

Staring straight ahead.

"Hmmm what about me. .whatever it is. .whatever that's happening between us. .," I glanced at him, " I'm not afraid of it. "

"I'm." He said in a low voice.

"May I know the reason?" I asked  gently. In the past one week I had noticed he didn't talk much. I was the one with the motor mouth. He was a man of few words and strangely I liked that.

"I mean. .stuff. .things that makes you happy—everything has an expiration date . Too good to be true. The question is when?"

I nodded sort of getting his point.

"I get it but it so doesn't mean to stop living in the moment. Generally speaking , shit happens in the name of love. You know, I'll never get why do people betray each other? It never made sense to me." I shrugged.

"Why do you think people betray?" He asked more like wondered.

"We. .humans have this odd thing inside. They want better than better. I can bet on it that 80% of men would be ready to cheat on their spouses if Kylie Jenner approached them. The rest 20% , my friend. . they're the real men. If a man can't be loyal , he's nothing but an empty vessel."

He didn't say anything.

He never did.

But this time he surprised me .

"My Dad—father cheated on my mom." His emphasis on "father" was bitter but his voice was quiet and steady which allowed me to believe . .he had healed from it. From the trauma.

I didn't know what to say to it.

"I . .am sorry to hear that."

Zack did that. Bombed me with truths now and then when I would least expect it.

He looked in my eyes.

Making my heart rise up in my throat.

No man had ever looked at me like. .this.

The I can't get enough of you look.

"Thanks for being who you're. I hate it when people sympathize . It's not a big deal to me . .not anymore. And it's. .strange. "

"Strange?"

"I have never told this to anyone." He said more to himself than me.

"Your dark secret is safe with me ." I tried to lightened up the mood.

"And you? Are you safe from me?" He smirked . . leaning in. . slowly. . taking his time. .the distance between us vanishing . .his face  a breath way from mine. .

"You're the only one keeping me safe." I blurted out.

And then the next second I thought where did that come from?

No part of my body seemed to be working except my heart. It was running a marathon.

"Close your eyes." His breath fan across my face. .

"No . ." I trailed off and then he gave me a challenging look— the next second my eyes did shut on their own!

His lips were on my jawline.

One of his hand going around my waist. .fingers digging into my skin—his mouth slipped to the corner of my lips— pecking — his arm crushing me to his hard chest — breathless from desire my arms went around his neck. . hugging him close.

I loved breathing him in.

I loved surrounded by him.

It made me happy. Made me wild. Made me wanted to do crazy shit like jump from a cliff knowing well he would be down there catching me.

My thought train didn't make any sense!

Zack kissed the side of my head.

His grip on me so strong I had a feeling he was trying to melt me into his chest.

"I can't get enough of you. "

I couldn't too and that was terrifying.

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The next day I acted like nothing happened.

Everything was calm and cool.

Under control.

I kept nodding my head at Gloria's rambling but my mind was set on one particular blue eyed man—

Ugh! Didn't I say under control?!

I decided to treat whatever was  happening  with a dignified silence. The kissing the touching were setting my whole world on fire buy did it set his world on fire too?

Did it pull at his heartstrings too?

I had no idea .

Maybe I did but I was afraid to voice it.

We were in the cafeteria. Gloria had gone to order our usual stuff when I felt this—this pressure on me.

My skin felt tight and I had to look up— my eyes going around the place and my heart came to life when I found the source of the pressure!

Pair of blue eyes were set on me.

Watching me.

Unflinchingly.

Conrad was talking to him but he wasn't listening and then Conrad looked a pissed off when he discovered that his friend wasn't listening.

I dropped my gaze. .my skin heating up.

The whole eating ordeal felt alien to me. I could feel his gaze burning me from afar but I kept eating to not let my nerves get to me.

But then . .I couldn't take it anymore.

It was so hard to eat or breath knowing well I was being watched relentlessly.

I told Gloria i was heading towards the bathroom and then I got up. Leaving the cafeteria.

×××××××××××××××

I didn't even make it to the class.

As soon as I stepped out, I could hear the heavy footsteps behind me. But I didn't look back.

I knew who it was.

What we had . .what was building between us. .it was chilling my bones. .a stranger mixture of excitement and exhilaration. .

Terrifying.

And what was more than terrifying was. .I was starting to crave his touch. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted his hands all over my soul.

That made me walk faster.

And the person behind me kept the same pace.

I didn't get surprise when his hand slipped in me. When his fingers slid in mine. Jaw taut, he wasn't looking at me. He was staring ahead . . leading now.

And then we turned around the corner . .right to a closet.

I could see the veins in his neck protruding, see his breath going fast— unlatching the door . .he stepped in. . pulling me behind.

The humid air inside made my inside melt but I didn't care at all. I heard a click and a light bulb over my head lit up.

Taking a look around at the dusty place, I could spot the broomsticks and— he whirled me around!

The second I was spun around — my tongue got tied to the roof because his eyes were burning! A mad glint in them as his eyes went up and down my face. . searching all over. . looking all over.

"Zack. ." My voice was soft.

But it seemed like he wasn't listening.

Slowly, he raised his hand and warily I watched as his hand inched towards me... cupping. .my waist. His hand slipped up and down my waist and my body reacted to the familiarity of his touch.

I didn't realize how much I craved it!

"Don't . ." I whispered when he lifted his hand off of my wrist.

He didn't answer.

Again.

Instead he took hold of my hands and we slid fingers into each other's — touching— feeling each other.

He tucked his forehead against mine.

"You're fucking my senses. I woke up and all I could think about was touching you. "

I swallowed hard at his admission.

This time i didn't answer.

I had none.

Suddenly he spun me around. .my back flushed against his body—his arm going around my waist . .his lips going behind my ear—

I had to bit my tongue hard to stop myself from making any sound.

"Zack, this—this is scaring me." I said it out loud.

"Scary enough to make you mine?. .I can't feel myself, Mia. All I feel is you. All I can think about is you . "

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