| Mia |

Watching Gloria interact with her father was making me happy and. . forlorn too.

It's always the tiny little moments that affect you the most.

For instance, him looking at her with such unconditional love in his eyes. Smiling at his daughter left and right. . ruffling her golden mane and then getting a glare from Gloria as she said "Dad!"

I couldn't help but get that sinking feeling in my stomach.

The pit deepening.

Because I had been in her place. I was the apple , orange , banana . . everything of my dad's eyes and it still breaks my heart that I was using the term was.

He was. .

We were. .

I was still trying to get used to his absence. Trying to get used to with the past tense.

I wrote the words on my dad's gravestone.

It's engraved in my writing.

Dad, no smile is brighter than yours,

No laugh is richer than yours,

No hold is gentler than yours.

It was as if I left a piece of myself with him. It was watching over him. Telling him that he had a daughter who will keep visiting him. Keep praying for him.

It definitely wasn't ideal to sneak at your best friend from behind a marble pillar.

I couldn't help myself.

I was missing that feeling and I. . wanted to witness it. Feel it's warmth from far away—

"It's you again."

The deep voice nearly made me smash my head against the stupid pillar and what a horrendous sight would that have been! With my glasses mashed up!

Feeling like an volcano was about to erupt, I whipped around about to give him a peace of my mind and—

Zack!

He had a light smile on his face.

Freaking Zack . .

My mouth was open and nothing came out of it.

"You. .you—," I struggled.

"It's me. The one and only." He suddenly grinned and oh my God! What happens when a hot guy grins at you?

You get excited!

Excited enough to pee your pants!

"I have to go." I said now pushing up the glasses sliding down my nose.

The grin morphed into a smile.

"That wasn't what I was expecting. "

"What were you expecting then?" I blurted out, turning red the next second.

Why did I just say it?

He kept looking at me with those sleepy sexy eyes. .as if he wanted to look right through my soul.

"I would tell you that only if . .I can take you out." He said softly watching my reaction.

To say my face reacted one minute late would be an understatement of this century, I was like did he say what I think he did?

"What?" Was all I said.

I know lame and dumb but that was all I had. At least I was talking back. That was something.

"Go out with me. On a date." He said softly, leisurely. Taking his time with the words.

I didn't have to think much.

It was written on the wall.

"No."

That was such an direct refusal , now he was the one having no expressions on his face and after few moments his face morphed into.... disbelief? surprise? Bewilderment?

"No?" He repeated raising his brow.

I nodded.

He chuckled slightly. "Why? Did my face scare you?"

"No and that's what scares me." I said gently and then I straightened up and moved ahead . . leaving him behind.

With that dumbstruck face.

The truth was my legs were shaking. I had sweat all over my body. My heart kept asking me if I actually said no? Nada?

But. .

I had to.

There was no other choice available.

I mean look at the guy. Six feet tall. Blue eyes flashing. .body to drool and drizzle over and then look at me . .

I was happy and perfectly content with the way I looked like because people who perceived me as undesirable had their own opinions that I didn't mind that at all.

The fact was. .we didn't belong in one pod.

He was from higher chain of food and I was . . struggling with so much . Depression was an added plus point. I was thankful to God I had gotten over it. . but still I could feel it creeping up through nooks and cranny.

And now add a hot guy to the mix. .it spelled a quite familiar word.

D I S A S T E R.

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I was quickly making my way through the parking lot and stepping around people. The couples were usually the worst since they wouldn't budge from their place with their tongues doing the tango.

Just as I was moving out with my head down, someone fell into step right beside me.

I glanced at the body expecting it to be Gloria but lo and behold—

"Zack?"

"Sweetheart." He answered looking straight ahead.

I know I know I looked like a tomato because what the actual frack? !

"Ew . Don't call me that." I cringed visibly.

"Why? Aren't you one?" He glanced at me , his blue eyes wicked. .and the sunlight was hitting at his face at such a perfect angle. .

"I'm anything but that." I said and— he suddenly pulled me towards his side by my arm— I nearly avoided the speedy skateboard guy coming my way.

He let go of my arm.

I took a deep death. A deep enough to pull all the oxygen around me. Alright! This was getting too much and completely out of my zone.

Mia zone was being threatened and trespassed!

So I kept my mouth shut until we were out of the school, out of the building and I was walking hastily towards the pavement so I could get over with this!

As soon as I moved towards the pavement— I stopped.

And turned towards him.

Zack too copied me . .

We were face to face .

"I think this is going way too far. I don't like guys hounding me alright—"

"Have you been hounded before?" He asked curiously.

I rolled my eyes.

"That's not the point, sweetheart! When I said no, it meant no!! News flash! It didn't mean you need to try harder!! No amount of you following me around like a lost puppy will change my mind." I said it right to his face.

An unreadable look passed through his eyes .

I thought— I saw something in his eyes but maybe it was the sunlight.

"Will this change your mind?" He asked now gesturing towards the — a convertible! A deep red flashy convertible that was parked right five feet away from us.

Somehow it made me feel even more pissed off than I already was.

"Listen buster! That might work on others but not on me and quit following me around! I'm not going on a date with you in this life! You know what? Sell that car and buy yourself a personality!!"

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