Chapter 26 - BE A MAN ZANE

(The title has nothing to do with this chapter, I just didn't have anything to name it. And it was just my thoughts after I wrote this chapter)

- Zane's POV -

It was awkward to walk back into the arcade but I ran everywhere looking for her. I was gasping for air too which caught more attention from people I didn't really care about. I quickly walked up to Aphmau, "Where is (Y/N)?"

She turned towards me, her eyes squinted, "I don't know, wherever you took her."

I paused for a moment before replying, "She ran away. I thought she would come here."

"She rejected you?" Aphmau gasped, gaining attention from everyone.

"N-No, not exactly. You see, I wasn't the one who confessed," I said, my cheeks red from embarrassment.

Garroth walked up behind me, hitting the back of my head, "I told you to go with it! Why did you reject her?"

"I didn't reject her!" I yelled, making everyone stop and stare. Sighing, I continued, "She accidentally confessed to me when she was rambling about things. Of course, I was shocked and stood there doing nothing like an idiot. In the end, she ran away and I don't know where she went."

"She probably went to a store she really liked to get her mind off things," Lucinda mentioned, still focussing on winning a stuffed animal on the claw game.

"I know just the place," Aphmau grinned, walking towards the entrance of the arcade.

"Wait," I stopped her, "I'm going too."

"No, don't."

"Why?"

"It probably wouldn't feel good, she could feel like you rejected her when you didn't do anything. It's just for the best right now. I'm going to drive her home, everyone else have a good time and go home with Garroth or someone."

"But I didn't bring a car!" Garroth exclaimed from behind me.

Aphmau shrugged it off, "Then walk home."

- (Y/N)'s POV - 

I've been sitting here in Hot Topic doing nothing but thinking about Zane. I was asked by several people if I was feeling okay because I would sit in one place staring at the wall full of shirts for five minutes. Of course, I would say I'm fine but honestly I have no clue. Having all this time to think made this get a whole lot worse. I started to think that maybe because Zane didn't do anything, he was rejecting me. It hurt but I got off that topic and now I'm worried about how awkward the ride home is going to be. Since Aphmau drove all of us, we all have to get in one car just to get back home.

I froze when I felt someone tap my shoulder. 'Please don't be Zane, please don't be Zane.' I turn around to see a woman who looked really pretty. She looked in her mid 20's, black hair and hazel eyes. "Miss, are you okay? You look a bit pale."

"I-I'm fine!" I stuttered, surprised that a stranger asked if I was okay or not. 

"Are you sure? I noticed that you've been in this store for a while."

"Yeah, I just lost my friend that is supposed to drive me back home."

"Do you have your phone? Maybe you could call them."

"I left it at home."

"Do you know their number? I can lend you my phone."

I laughed nervously, "I have a bad memory, I don't remember it."

"Really? Well, I could take you back home, my boyfriend is picking me up now that I finished my shift."

I smiled, "I would appreciate it if you could." 'Now, this way I could avoid all awkwardness in the car ride back home.'

"Peyton!" A guy yelled while coming through the store, running in our direction.

"Lucas!" The girl in front of me yelled back, a wide smile planted on her face. The name caught me off guard and made me look up to see what the person look like.

"Lucas?" I squeaked, looking at my brother hug the nice lady in front of me.

Lucas' eyes opened, looking over at me and smiling, "Hey (Y/N), what are you doing here?"

"You two know each other?" The lady, who I assume is named Peyton, asked.

"(Y/N)'s my sister," Lucas spoke, patting my (H/C) hair. I swatted his hand away, trying to tell him to stop.

"Really? I didn't know that! Can we give her a ride home? She lost her friend that was supposed to bring her back home."

"Yeah, sure." Lucas looked at me suspiciously but pushed it aside, walking out of Hot Topic, his hands intertwined with Peyton's. Looking at their hands made me think of what it would feel like to hold Zane's hand. 'Is his hand warm? Cold? Would be holding his hand be comforting to me?' I shook my head, trying to pay attention to the things around me.

"So?" Lucas asked me, leaning towards me.

"So what?" I questioned back.

"I asked you who you came here with, we're you not listening?"

"Sorry, I zoned out."

"You seem like you zone out a lot," Peyton laughed, smiling at me, "If you don't like zoning out, try and not think and just go with the flow, that's what I do."

"That gets you in trouble, though," Lucas added, grinning at Peyton.

"Hey! You know why I poured water on that lady, she was being rude!"

Lucas chuckled and waved his hands, trying to calm her down a bit, "It's okay, I know that. But you're mischievous side is something I like about you the most."

I tried my best not to gag at the both of them. Seeing my brother doing sweet romantic things with a girl was not something I wanted to look at right now. "U-Um," I interrupted their sweet talk, "Sorry for interrupting but I would like to go home now."

Peyton burst out laughing, "Sorry for not noticing you standing there, I kind of got caught up. We'll take you home, don't worry." She started to continue to walk out of the mall, hand in hand with Lucas, but suddenly stopped, swinging around to meet me. "If you need anything, call me. I'll listen to anything you want to say. And, no, I'm not doing this because you're my boyfriend's sister, I just think you seem like a really cool person to hang out with." She gave me a slip of paper with her phone number on it.

Her saying I was 'cool' really caught me off guard. I would describe myself more as 'socially awkward' and 'The person who sits in the corner of the room eating (Favorite Snack)'.  "T-Thank you?" It came out more as a question but she shrugged it off and smiled at me.

- Aphmau's POV -

I walked back into the arcade, disappointed that I came back empty handed. Zane hurried over to me, an anxious look on his face, "Did you find her?"

"No," I responded, sighing.

Suddenly my phone rang, signaling I got a message from someone. I looked up at Zane and smiled at him, "I bet she's fine, just go and hang out with everyone else."

Zane frowned, "You know I don't really 'hang out' with people."

"It doesn't matter what you do, just go do something," I told him, knowing that if (Y/N) texted me, she wouldn't want Zane to see. When he finally walked away, I took out my phone, looking at my messages.

(If the picture didn't show up, It went like this)

(Y/N) : I caught a ride with Lucas. Sorry for not telling you sooner, I'm home now.

Aphmau: Why didn't you ride home with us?

(Y/N) : i don't want to send why over text, I'll just tell you later today.

Aphmau : Okay well we'll be home soon

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

I put my phone back in my pocket and walked over to Zane. "(Y/N) found her brother and caught a ride home from him."

"Oh," Zane said, looking down at the floor.

"You know, if you tell her today, she'll probably feel a lot better."

Zane looked at me with a determined expression, "Yeah! I'll do it right now!" He took out his phone and was about to call (Y/N) but I stopped him, chuckling.

"You shouldn't do it over the phone, do it in person."

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Summer reading is over with! I have no more of it! The only thing that I have to slow down my writing is band camp (sorry for complaining so much about it btw) and I'm going to Universal this weekend with my cousin, uncle, grandparent, mom, and brother. So, I might not post over the weekend but I promise I will try. I love you Reader~Chans! (In a friend way, I know your heart is taken by Zane and you other husbands by heart.) Have a great day (or night) Reader~Chans!