| Mia |

"Please. ."

"Please God. ."

Nope.

God didn't listen. It kept going.

The consistent tap tap tap of the woodpecker outside in the middle of the damn night. I felt it drilling holes in my brain!

Groaning and half asleep, I smothered my ear with the cushion but oh my God! The stupid bird kept going. Adamant on killing my eardrums.

It didn't let me sleep!

Cracking an eye open, I glanced at the wall clock .

3:30 PM.

Tap tap tap!

Sighing, I gave up on sleep and  sat up , since I had no other choice left, my back popped at the sudden movement.

I had nothing on my head.  I was staring at the wall while the bird kept doing its business. I was in this zombie- state for the last three minutes . I was groggy . I was pissed.

I needed to defrost .

It took some time. .

Just as the tap tap went up in volume . .my alert brain registered one thing.

A) The rapping didn't stop.

B) It wasn't the woodpecker!

Just as the thought filtered in my head, I cried " Shit!!" and  ripped the sheets back and quickly jumped off the bed. Sliding my feet in the flip flops. .i made a rough bun of my hair.

Shit! It was mom!

It had to be!

Hastily, I zapped past the lounge and the kitchen nearly toppling over the marble floor twice.

"Coming! " I huffed . .all the running making me breathless.

God! Mom must have been standing there since ten minutes! I was going to be grounded for life!

Without thinking, I unlatched the door and snatched it open.

My stray hair flying across my face.

"Mom! I'm sorry ! I didn't realize it's you. . ." I trailed off . Eyes going wide with disbelief.

Heart cracking at the sight in front of me.

"Zack?!!"

My voice was shrill.

He was standing on my doorstep wearing a button down black shirt over brown pants. The sleeves rolled up to his elbow. The caramel hair swept back in waves as if he pushed his hand through it several times and . .he was staring at me intensely!

Accusation in his eyes. .

As if. .I stole his car or something!

Lifting my hand, I waved in front of his face and he didn't blink.

"Yo? Home boy? What's — Zack!"

I was snatched by the wrist and pulled straight ahead! The collision powerful enough to rattle my insides! He engulfed me in a bone crushing hug! His arms going around me— my palms flat on his hard chest— him breathing me in— me trying to breath.

After a few moments I had to say it. .

"Zack, you're killing me." I breathed out. My face squished against his chest.

"You have been doing the same, Mia. " He answered in my hair and if it was even possible . .he pulled me in closer!

His scent filling up my insides. .

My body recognized his form. .the warmth. .the sense of security. .it was so weird to feel so safe with the person I knew since two weeks? How did he worm his way into my life and became my pillar of support?

And possibly heart?

"You're here. You're actually here." Zack whispered softly. .and before I could say anything. .he pulled back slightly. .his eyes smiling at me. Lifting his hand, he cupped my cheek gently. .so gently I didn't feel it and yet I felt it down to my core.

Maybe it's the gentlest of touches that awakens the heart.

And my heart was blazing with . . something. A feeling I couldn't identify.

Staring at him , I couldn't help but cover his hand with mine. Crushing my cheek against his hand.

"You know, what you're doing with me may cost me my life."

A warm smile lit up my face.

"And what exactly am I doing to you?"

I asked with stars in my eyes and he—he leaned in. . taking my breath with each step. . tucking his forehead against mine.

The tip of his nose touching mine.

I was looking at my reflection in his eyes. It was surreal!

"You make me believe in the impossible. "

I had an epiphany. I didn't want to talk at all. I wanted to hear him. I wanted to listen to him till ...I don't know.

"And that is?" I sounded so eager . .so freaking eager. .

Those clear eyes dipped down to my lips and then up again. .his answer was abrupt and sudden.

"Love."

One single word and it flipped my world upside down. To the point I tried to pull back—but he didn't let me— he kept me in place.

The stars in my eyes diminished.

I had  disbelief written all over my face.

"Zack— you can't—no!" I said it wildly while trying to pull back and he caught me around my elbows.

Steadying me.

His eyes boring into mine.

"You think I didn't freak out? You think I didn't give it a thought, Mia? I have been with girls before and none of them made me want to steal the stars! I want to— shit!  How the fuck do I say it?! I want to do crazy shit for you! I want to take you out on dates! I want to hear your voice first thing in the morning! And— you're scared!" He accused , his eyes narrowing down.

Was I?

May be I was!

Every word he said was a revelation he wasn't aware of! How can he say such stuff like— like that?! So sudden? In my face? We were laughing! Kidding around! Sharing secrets and now. .

"You're ruining everything , Zack. You're ruining everything." I said my voice empty. I had stopped struggling.

A flash of hurt passed on his face.

It pinched at my heart!

"Wrong!  I'm setting everything on its place! I have seen you looking at me like how you're looking at me now— you have this thing in your eyes like I'm the only one you can see! It's about time , Mia! It's about time we accept what's right there! I love you! I see it in your eyes! On your face! I see it everywhere! " His nostrils flared at the amount of force he was using.

"You. . .you can't do this to me . Not right now. Not when we had so much going. ." I trailed off. .so aware of his body. .so aware of his proximity. .

He laughed in my face.

The laugh harsh and bitter.

"What we had going on was a pretense!! I don't want you as my friend! I don't look at you as my friend! I can't stop myself from touching you!" He leaned in . .eyes fierce and hard. " I want to keep touching you to survive! I have to!" His voice was raising at every word . .

He was shaking me to the core!

His breathless state was . .it was breaking my heart. Seeing him confess and expecting the same from me. .

"Zack , i-i can't do this right now. . please." I was pleading.

"Alright then. When?!" He asked in a deadly calm voice.

Still not letting me go.

"What the—i need time! You can't pull that on me and—"

He shut his eyes like I was stepping on his patience.

And that's when he stepped back.

Making me feel alone. .lost.

The blanket of safety gone.

He took several steps back. .his eyes not breaking the contact. I felt like going after him. Asking him not to leave! Not to make me feel so...cold.

"One day. You have one day to think . I can't stay away from you more than this. Make up your mind."

×××××××××××××

A/ N

Zack is so hot! I don't know what Mia is on 😒

Um I'm on the way to publishing The Curious Case Of Dennis. Editing as we speak. You guys have seen my journey from the curious case...

To any writer out there,

I had no one to tell me hey! I believe on you! You will make it!

I had no one.

All I had was belief on myself. Belief on my story. I knew what I was writing  was different and I knew it would gain attention gradually. And it did 😏

I used to have FIVE reads per chapter.

So. .the answer to everything is have faith on yourself. If you don't trust your story, who will? 😉