"Just being there for someone can sometimes bring hope when all seems hopeless."

-Dave G. Llewelyn.

Chloe's POV.

"Shh...it's okay," I hold Zach under the cold shower drenching both of us while he clings onto me for dear life. I bite my lower lip in an attempt to stop my tears that are threatening to fall out, "I-I'm sorry,"

His voice is barely a whisper as he continues to let out harsh breaths, "Don't be," I tell him kissing his cheek as I pull away a bit from him. I'm sitting on his lap while he's directly sitting on the cold stone shower floor facing me with his arms holding me against his body.

The second he told me about the uncontrollable urge, I knew what to do, something I was told to do by Linda when he was supposed to come home with me. My hands make their way up to his face, wiping out the tears that never stopped rolling down with the shower, "I-I thought I could get through this alone like last year but even last year I had to lock myself up in my room,"

I finally let the tears roll down my eyes with the water with his revelation, "I missed you sugar," he says resting his forehead against mine while his breathing evened out.

"I missed you too jerk," I say making him smile while he extends one of his hand to remove the strands of hair sticking to my face. I hated seeing him this vulnerable, but again like the ray of light in the darkness, I was happy he didn't relapse and instead came back to me for help.

He leans forward, turning off the shower but holds me close with his arm around my waist, "I'm better now,"

"Let's get you out of here," I say, getting off him while trying to ignore how our clothes were clinging to our bodies, "I can clean myself up, you can go now,"

I raise an eyebrow at him as he stood up barely having any energy left in him, "Stop making a fuss about things," I said dragging him to the dry area out of the shower and unbuttoning his shirt making him let out a shaky breath while taking the support of the wall.

Removing his shirt, I try not paying attention to his perfectly sculpted body while I could feel his gaze on me, observing everything I did. Unbuttoning his pants, I hear him let out a low groan as my hand grazes his member making my breath hitch, "Take those off,"

I tell him once his pants were off, leaving him in his boxers but end up meeting his hazy gaze for a mere second before turning away to the shelves to grab a bathrobe. Closing my eyes, I patiently wait while holding the bathrobe in hand before his warm hand touched mine, making me flinch before grabbing the bathrobe.

My face was burning with the heat I was feeling all through my body, not good Chloe. Stop being stupid!

"Need help with your clothes too?" I hear his voice making my jaw drop at his question, "Shut up idiot,"

I shake my head before turning to face him covered in a bathrobe before grabbing his arm and walking him out of the shower. To be precise, my shower, "Sit here, I'll just change and be back in a minute,"

I tell him, forcing him to sit on my bed while he has this annoying smirk stuck on his face, "What?"

"Nothing, go change before you fall sick," he says making me shake my head with a smile at his concern. I kiss his forehead before walking away, shivering a bit. I close the door of my walk-in closet as I stepped in before letting out a shaky breath, what was that?

There was second where I almost thought he was going to kiss me or maybe he's just not thinking straight with the whole situation. Knowing better, I stick to believing the second option. I peel out the wet clothes and put them aside before grabbing a white t-shirt and shorts with some essentials.

I wipe my wet hair with a towel once I'm fully dressed and pick the wet clothes up before stepping out, "Zach?" I call out to him as I find him missing from where I left. Walking out of my room, I quickly notice the washing machine running in the small laundry space and see Zach standing there with his shorts on.

"What are you doing?" I ask him sighing before dropping the wet clothes in a basket next to the machine, "Just put my wet clothes in the laundry,"

He shrugs walking towards me tired making me shake my head, "You need to rest Zach,"

"I know that," he mumbles as I follow him into the living room before he dropped down onto the comfy couch, "Come here please?"

He asks me while making space next to him and I sigh before sitting down next to him, "Thank you," he says draping an arm on my shoulder before pulling me close. Snowy gets on top of the couch in the remaining space and snuggles onto my lap.

"Don't thank me, silly," I feel Zach relax against me and let out a breath before resting my head on his shoulder, "I ordered pizza,"

"When? In those five minutes, I took to change?" I ask him surprised, "Yeah, I'm starving," I chuckle as he turned on the TV.

I could hear the thunders outside making me cuddle closer to him. This is one of those few moments where words didn't have to be said, it was just a perfect moment between two best friends. Sometimes I wish there was more to it but again, we take what we get, right?

~•~•~•

My eyes sting with tears as I finally notice Zach relaxing again while rubbing his back. This is the third time already and it's killing me to see him suffer that way, "I'm feeling better now," he mumbles against my neck still holding me close.

I could feel his heart falling back into a calming rhythm against my chest while one of his legs hold mine down in place on the bed, "Need some water?" I ask him but he only holds me tighter.

"No, just don't leave my side," I just nod sighing while running my fingers through his hair in a calming way, at least he called it that. It's four a.m. and well neither of us could sleep, I'll probably just take an off tomorrow and force him to stay home instead of torturing himself with sleeplessness and work.

Feeling his steady breaths against my neck, I realize he's asleep and the tiredness finally washes over me. Closing my eyes, I relax in his arms let the sleep flood over me.

~•~•~•

"Stop that Snowy. That's enough French toast for you," I say while Snowy continues to pull at my leg and I continue making breakfast for Zach. Taking the last slice of French toast of the frying pan, I turn off the stove with a sigh before turning to Snowy with my hands on my waist.

"I told you, no," I say sternly trying hard to keep up my serious look and he turns away hanging his head low. Damn, why did he have to be so adorable? I grab the box of his food and refill his bowl before ruffling his fur.

Turning on my coffee machine, I walk back into my room where Zach is still asleep, "Zach," I call out in a low voice as I got closer to my room, "Chloe,"

I realize he's talking in his sleep and rush to his side, "Don't leave me please," I hold his face in my hands and tap on his cheek slightly in an attempt to wake him up while feeling my own rush of emotions, "Hey, I'm right here. Wake up,"

His body is cold with sweat making me take off the duvet and shake him awake, "Wake up," I sigh when his eyes finally flutter open. He blinks them a couple of times before his blue eyes finally meet mine, "Are you okay?"

I ask him and he just pulls me closer by wrapping his arms around my waist. Sighing I get onto the bed completely and let him hug me, this wasn't like him. As much as I loved how he held me in his arms, it was scary how vulnerable he seems right now.

"Good morning," he finally mumbles with his head resting against mine, holding my head to his naked chest, "Good morning," I close my eyes getting my racing heart in control. What is he doing to me?

"What time is it?"

"Eleven," I reply keeping it short while his fingers run through my hair making me wonder if he did feel something for me. Maybe not? I'm just me, nothing too attractive like the girlfriends he had.

Snowy gets onto the bed startling me, "Damn, Snowy!" I squeal while Zach laughs still not letting me move an inch, "Come here boy,"

He calls Snowy who settles down next to me instead of going around to Zach, "Guess he's got a favorite," I could feel him let out a small laugh while extending an arm to Snowy who literally is resting his head on my waist. What's wrong with him today?

"Hey! Stop that!" Zach tickles my waist ever so slightly making me squeal and slap his arm with wide eyes, "What's wrong with you both?!" I ask looking at him and then Snowy who's making no movement whatsoever, to get off my hip now. Didn't I just make a sudden movement when Zach tickled me? Cause it sure doesn't seem like it affected Snowy.

Rolling my eyes, I gently push Snowy off me before getting away from Zach. Okay, I tried to but he pulled me back, "I made breakfast for you," I tell him making him raise an eyebrow but what clouded my mind the most is our proximity. His face just about two inches away from mine and his gaze switched between my eyes and lips.

"French toast is going to taste horrible when cold," I say with all the words I could muster up while trying to get away from him. His eyes scan my flustered face for a second before his grip on my waist loosens, "I do hate cold French toast,"

He chuckles while I get off him trying not to meet his gaze, I'm sure my face is flustered pink, "You should call the restaurant and let them know you're not going today," I tell him finally recovering from my flustered state.

"I'm not going?" he asks me confused as I get off the bed and face him, "Yeah? I took an off too, get some rest today,"

"I can't do that sugar, I've got a meeting today," he says standing up in all his half-naked glory. Shut it, Chloe. I walk over to him, stopping him from walking any further.

"Nah, you're staying back and there's no room for argument," I say crossing my hands over my chest making him sigh, "Please?" he asks me but his face clearly didn't reflect the disappointment, instead he was trying to bite back a smile.

Rolling my eyes at him, "No. Stop being a baby about it," I say before walking out of the room with a smile of my own making its way to my face. These tiniest things about him gave me enough reason to smile sometimes.

I look at the envelope on the fridge and sigh before walking up to it and tracing my fingers of my name that's written across it, "Got to open you up later tonight," it's about time I open it and read it. At least I can guarantee Zach not disappearing on me this time around. Or at least I hope he doesn't.

~•~•~•