Chapter 12
Zachary
It was not right. I knew it from the second she pressed her lips onto mine. Melanie may have been hot or whatever, but it was wrong. She was pretty, sure and every other guy had wanted to go out with her since middle school. Okay, so I had been attracted to her once, but that was nothing more than a tiny crush. It had faded away, once I had gotten to know her. She was not right. She was not Alex. I pulled away from Melanie, disgusted that seconds ago my lips had been attached to hers. The way I had imagined, it was supposed to be Alex, not Melanie.
"What are you doing?" I exclaimed, wiping my lips desperately trying to take back this whole thing. Melanie blinked back at me confused, her lips still puckered, and her body inches away from my own. I pushed her away, shaking my head wanting to rewind time, go back to the moment when it had been just me and Alex.
"Um, what does it look like," she looked at me as if it was obvious. I wanted to puke.
"Why are you kissing me, Melanie? I don't even like you!" I protested, backing away to enlarge the distance between us. Melanie rolled her eyes, frustrated.
"Zach baby, don't lie to me. I know you've been wanting me since the day we met," she winked at me. Yep, I was definitely going to be sick.
"Melanie, I don't want you! I don't like you, I don't even want to be near you right now!" She blinked again, more annoyed than hurt. She had obviously thought I was just some stupid toy she could pick and play with when she got bored. She couldn't kiss me whenever she liked. Especially when I was having a moment with someone else. A special someone else. "Don't ever try that again! I'm leaving!" I rushed out of her sight, ignoring the cries of my name. I needed to find Alex. That was when I clocked. The snap of the branches, the footsteps. A terrible feeling took control over me as my stomach plummetted to the ground with a sickening thud. No, no, no.
No.
Alexandria
I had no idea where I was going, or where I was for that matter. I wanted to run back home and into my bed so I could be comforted by my family. But I had long since learned to lock up my emotions. I didn't want to worry anyone. I didn't want to seem weak. Even though I really was. I was always told since I was young that I cried too easily. That I was sensitive. I didn't want to be. I was always crying, making everyone worrying, making everyone angry. I wanted to make people's lives better. Not worse.
"You're not going to cry," I hissed in a forced whisper, wiping the glistening tears from my cheeks as I walked. I didn't care where. I just walked. I was so caught up in trying my hardest not to cry, I didn't even notice the footsteps until they were too close. I didn't want to have to see him ever again. Because I knew that he would make me cry again. I didn't know why.
"Alex!" Shoot. His deep voice full of what seemed to be concern echoed through the trees but I couldn't see where from. I didn't care either. "Alexandria!" Deep breaths Alex. Deep breaths. You are not going to cry over some boy. I am too good for that. He wants to kiss Melanie Parker? Let him. My life definitely does not revolve around some boy.
Blocking my thought, a hand grabbed my wrist, preventing me from continuing on, pulling me back into him.
"Alex wait!" Don't cry, don't cry.
"What?" I asked rather harshly. I so badly wanted to get out of there and run home. I couldn't stand being near Zach anymore. I cast my gaze to the ground, using all my will not to look directly at him. I hated him so much for being so...
"Where are you going?"
"Home," I replied bluntly his grip tightening on my arm as I tried to wriggle out of it. He was going to make me cry, wasn't he?
"Alexandria, what you saw, that wasn't-" Oh, God, he was going to try and explain himself. Well don't bother Mr Benedict.
"Don't bother," I said, trying to pull myself free but instead he stepped an inch closer. "If you don't like me, I'm fine with that."
"I can't not like you, Alex. You're..." Great. He didn't even know what I was. Heck neither did I. I was probably too strange and weird for him. "Amazing." A current ran through my body when he said that. He wasn't lying. My gift told me that much. I wanted to fall into his arms, but... He didn't like me really.
"Seriously? Zach, just go. Please." But he was not going to listen.
Alex, believe me. The realisation hit me in the chest with full force. His voice. In my head. My eyes flickered over to his, and he held my gaze, willing for me to answer back, say something, enlighten him. But all I could manage was...
Zach. His eyes widened, and his hand fell into mine, his fingers interlacing with mine. I had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to do.
It's you. I shook my head, pulling away from his hands.
"No this is wrong... I-" Zach frowned at me.
"Alex what are you on about? You're my soulfinder. Mine." I felt like a piece of property. Just there for someone to claim. When was someone going to finally acknowledge that I was an actual real person here. Soulfinder. Seriously? At a moment like this, I couldn't even comprehend the meaning of the word anymore.
"I have to go." But before I could do anything, say anything else, Zach pulled me closer, into him, his strong comforting arms wrapping around me protectively, as his lips pressed onto mine. He was my soulfinder.
Zachary
Of course I had kissed other girls too in my lifetime, but this kiss was much, much different. In the best way imaginable. I had never thought that a kiss would ever make me feel this way. It was phenomenal. Firecrackers exploded in my stomach, as I pulled Alex closer by the waist, her hands resting on my chest. I cupped her face with a hand, her cheek slightly wet from tears. I had made her cry. I was awful. I wiped away the tear from her cheek, tracing her jaw gently with my finger and tilted her slightly, the silvery light reflecting off her beautiful face. I don't know when we pulled away, but by the end, we were both breathless. I smiled anxiously at Alexandria, her body still close to me, my hands still looped around her waist, and hers still around my neck. I never wanted to move. Ever again. I wanted to stay like this, with Alex pressed against me, her body warm against mine, knowing that no matter what happened, no one would be able to take her away from me. And I was not going to let them either.
"I am so sorry Alex. I didn't kiss her. She kissed me, but then before I could-"
"Shut up." I blinked. Say what? A smile played on her lips, and I couldn't help but return it.
"Excuse me?" She rolled her eyes and I chuckled softly, pulling her closer to me, so that we were almost one, our hair glittering silver in the moonlight shining above us in the clearance. Talk about the perfect romantic atmosphere.
"I believe you, doofus. I'm your soulfinder remember?" I wanted to kiss her again, but maybe she wanted to take things slow? Doofus. God, I loved it when she said that. "What are we going to do now?"
"I don't really care. As long as I'm with you, it's alright with me," I replied, tucking a loose strand of her hair gently behind her ear. Alex chuckled, her smile lighting up my heart like bright fairy lights. I kissed the top of her head, cherishing the fierce blush flooding her cheeks. I could not believe that this amazing girl was actually mine. "You wanna see something cool?" Alex raised her eyebrow at me, as I looped my arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to me, her head still resting on my chest as if we could stay like that for millennia.
"What?" I tapped my nose mysteriously enjoying the inquisitive look I got in return. I loved her face expressions."Oh come on, please tell me." She showed me her famous puppy dog eyes and I wanted to kiss her again, but I was still breathless from the first one. I didn't want to overdo it or anything.
"Darling, I must admit the puppy dog eyes are legendary. But..." Her face dropped. "You're not getting a word out of me. It's a surprise." She rolled her eyes snuggling into my chest, as I chuckled.
"I'm going to find out anyway..." Alex really was a stubborn girl.
"Nuh-uh. Not a word. Go on then, close your eyes."
"Do I have to?" I tilted her face towards mine.
"Um, yes. It's called the element of surprise." She rolled her eyes again, but obediently closed her eyes. I guided her to the place I had so badly wanted to bring my soulfinder to ever since I had seen this scenery myself two years ago. It was the first time I had come here with someone else. I was not alone anymore.
"This is what I wanted to show you."
Alexandria
I opened my eyes, bracing myself for whatever was to come. But nothing could have prepared me for that. It was beyond beautiful. I had never seen anything like it. We were standing at the top of a hill, overlooking the fields and the autumn trees. The full moon glistened, casting its magical silvery glow upon the park. A perfect reflection glowed back on the surface of the still lake that wound its way through the field, flowers straining their stems to bathe in the moon's magical light. Two silhouettes in the distance neared each other and gradually I realised that they were deer. Two deer uniting under the moon's blessing. I could relate.
"I think there's a shooting star too," Zach whispered from behind me. I smiled back at him, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He was stunning. The silvery light of the full moon outlining his killer features, his deep blue eyes engulfing me whole. "Over there." I looked over to where he was pointing and sure enough he was right. A bright ball of light travelling across the sky, its thin streak of a tail closely following, adding the cherry on top to the breathtaking scene in front of us. It only lasted for a second in front of my eyes but forever in my heart. It was the first shooting star I had ever seen.
"Zach," I whispered, turning my head to face him. His eyes were still on me, smiling that award-winning, heart-throbbing smile of his. Then I realised something. He had not taken his eyes off me. Not even to look at the shooting star.
"Alexandria." Just my name. It sounded amazing rolling off his tongue, each syllable defined. With that, he tilted my chin so that my face was aligned with his and kissed me, firecrackers exploding in my stomach.
Yes finally they're together. Sorry it took so long for this, but I hope it was worth the wait. Zach and Alex are so adorable, aren't they? This chapter, to your pleasure I hope, is longer than any of my others. Should I keep it this length or not? Your reviews are so supportive and you guys are all soooooo amazing (No exaggeration). Plese keep the reviews coming, even if it is just a couple of words. The feeling you get when you realise that you have another review is AMAZING. Thank you for all the reads and for all the support. Any ideas or suggestions are also happily welcome. Also, I was wondering if the villain should come in earlier or later in the story. Anyway, thank you ever so much. You guys are so awesome for bearing with me. Love you guys always xxx
