I knocked on her door, nervously patting my legs on either side. The door opened, revealing a woman in her thirties, smiling at me.
"Hello?"
I scratched my forehead nervously before sticking my hand out. "Um, hello. My names Brady." I said – well, I more shouted at her.
She smiled in amusement at me. "Ah, good to meet you, Brady. My names Sophie… I'm guessing you're here to see Zoë?"
I nodded. Okay, that's not her mom. Definitely not her mom. Oh shit. I've talked to her mom a couple of times on the phone, so why the hell am I so nervous about meeting her? I shouldn't even be nervous, I'm just friends with Zoë.
Although, she is my soul mate, so that does mean that I will spend the rest of my life with her, so her mom will inevitably become a part of my life, so it would be best if she does like me.
Oh, great. Now I'm even more nervous.
"Did she know you were coming round? Because she's not meant to be back for another ten minutes… and she's doesn't really forget about people?" Sophie asked and my eyes widened and I dug my cell out of my pocket to see the time.
Great. Just great. "Ah, no. I am half an hour early."
Sophie smiled at me and I tried to smile back at her before dropping my gaze to the floor.
Fuck. Now I look like an obsessive weirdo. Should I leave? Come back in half an hour? Or should I stay and drum up a conversation? What about? Oh great, my mind has gone blank again.
Do you know what else is surprisingly blank? Her house. I never once expected her house to be so… modest. It was just plain white painted walls, not a lot of things everywhere. It really didn't scream 'Zoë'. Although, fuck, it smelt like her.
It really smelt like her. Her scent was everywhere. Oh dear. I just realised I've been breathing extremely deeply. Now I definitely look weird. But I just couldn't stop. I just kept greedily breathing in that yummy smell.
"Do you want a glass of water or something?" she asked. Oh great. Now she thinks I'm breathing like that because I'm hyperventilating, not because I can't get enough of the .
"No, thank you." I said, trying to be polite and somewhat normal.
I should just leg it.
I've already made a bad impression on this woman. I doubt things would get any better. If I leave, I could just come up with the excuse that I had diarrhoea or something. At least then they wouldn't think I'm a freak or a smell pervert and banish me from seeing Zoë.
Oh seriously? I did not just think that. Tell them I had diarrhoea? Oh yes, that sure is a great idea.
"Sophie? Who was it?" A woman called as she slowly emerged from the room next door. Sophie smiled as she walked over to who was Zoë's mother.
No, no, no. This isn't good. Fuck, I think I'm sweating. Should werewolves even sweat? That's probably not right.
"Ah, Sarah. This is Brady. He's come to see Zoë." She said, gently taking Zoë's moms hand and directing her to stand in front of me.
What do I do? What do I do, brain? This is not good for me.
"H-hello." I stuttered.
Yes. That is correct. I stuttered. Now I look like a flipping wimp. And they wouldn't exactly be happy with letting Zoë hang around with a 'wimp', would they? A 'wimp' wouldn't be able to protect her. Fuck.
A smile spread on Sarah's face.
"Can she –?" Sophie asked and I just nodded. I'd let them do anything to me.
Oh holy fuck. That sounded a lot fucking worse than I meant it to. I just meant, you know, so that they'd like me. I don't mean like that.
Sophie smiled at me, taking Sarah's hands and bringing them to my face. Zoë's mom then started feeling my face. I didn't care at all – how else would she know what I looked like? But I still couldn't help but find it a tad bit awkward.
"Oh, you are tall," she commented and I just nodded. "Do you love my daughter, Brady?" she asked and I swallowed.
"Very much so." I said, hearing Zoë coming closer to the house – my excitement about seeing her soon growing. Sarah smiled and dropped her hands.
"Good."
The door opened and Zoë closed it behind her, not looking up from the floor. She looked like she was in deep thought. Then she must have seen my feet or something because she jumped about a foot in the air. She let out a breath as she looked at the three of us.
"Hey…" she said and Sophie laughed while I smiled like a dork at her. "Am I late?" she asked, looking thoroughly confused.
I shook my head and she let out a big breath of relief.
"So… let's go upstairs." She said, walking forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me along.
Phew. At least while out of the way of her mom and that Sophie lady I won't make that much of a –
"Urgh!" that was the sound I made when I fell up the stairs.
Yes. I fell up her fucking stairs. I didn't fall down them, oh no. That would be far to normal. I had to just fall up them while they were watching.
When will I stop making a fool out of myself? Oh, what was that? Never? Right, yes. Of course.
Zoë laughed. "You alright, Brady?" she said, trying to hold down her laughter as she helped me stand up, then walked slowly backwards up the stairs, as if to try and help me walk.
I tried glaring at her, but her laughter and the happiness in her eyes is just too much not to smile at.
"Shut up." I mumbled and she grinned as she led me into her room.
I could easily tell this was her room. It was what I expected her whole house to be like. It was busy, messy, crazy and packed full of stuff. And she had photos on her walls… like everywhere. There were loads. There was barely any free space on her walls. And there were just loads of random things everywhere. And clothes on the floor. She had a desk which was covered in stuff, apart from the middle, where there was a square of tidiness, which had a camera placed in the middle. It was obviously her most prized possession.
I grinned at her and then went back to admiring all of the photographs on her wall. I laughed at one, where all of the girls in her group were dressed up in like a torn dress or something, and then Zoë was standing there in a pirate costume. Zo smiled at me.
"I was entering this photo competition and they only agreed to be my models if I dressed up for them, and there wasn't a way in hell I was getting in a dress, so…" she explained and I grinned at the way they were all clearly laughing hysterically, while Zoë stood in front, arms out, a happy smile on her face as she looked at the camera.
There were also loads of pictures of bands as well as her friends, family – as well as what I think is her friends family – and quite a few of dogs. There were also a couple – to my great anger and annoyance – with Liam in. I still wasn't over him hugging her yesterday.
Anyway, we spent the rest of the night just talking, and Zoë seemed to have forgotten about me making an ass out of myself in front of her mom and Sophie – who she said helped her care for her mom, and had other the years become something akin to an aunt to her.
Argh. Argh. Argh.
I love Zoë so much. I can't wait to finally tell her.
I was sitting cross-legged on my bed, my back against the wall, my music blaring as I stared at the wall opposite when there was a nock on my door. I knew I should move. I know I should answer. I knew I should go and do something… but I just couldn't be bothered.
"Umm, I know you're in there so I'm just going to go ahead and open the door now." Brady called over the other side of the door.
Okay now I'm ready to move. Oh, hell. I'm just wearing a vest top. I tend not to wear anything in front of people that is as revealing as that; it's really not good if I bend over or something. I scared this junior high kid to death one time. Not good.
"Yeah? Umm, okay. Right, I'm now opening the door…" he said as he opened the door and I fell to the floor as I tried to scramble off my bed.
"Shit!" he shouted as he ran forward, picking me up. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, waving him off as I turned my music player off, pulling a jumper on. "Fine, fine. I'm absolutely fine."
He frowned as he looked at me disbelievingly and did this little thing he does where he looks like he's sucking the inside of his lip – it's so cute. I nodded again, sending him a small reassuring smile and he sighed, pushing a strand of hair off my face. His fingertips brushed against the side of my face, sending off a sort of buzz to my skin. I loved it when he did small things like that. He was just adorable. I'd never thought I'd meet someone so insanely adorable as he is.
We stayed like that for a moment until I cleared my throat and stepped backwards, away from his relaxing warmth. "Hey." I said and he swallowed and nodded. I took that moment to admire his Adams apple. His neck is just gorgeous.
"Hey."
"Have fun at school?" I teased, walking over to sit on my window seat, pulling my knees up to my chest. I hadn't been to school in a little over a week. I would usually get up early to for a long run with Liam and Ava – running had become my release again lately, so I was going twice as much – and then I'd spend the day at Moose's, like I had to day, or with Annie, looking after her younger siblings and then I'd come home. Brady would usually come over at some point. I know it sounds stupid, but it was really lovely to know that he cared enough about me to come around every day.
He smiled and sat down opposite as I rested my head against the window. "Oh no. I didn't go in," he said, shaking his head. "I'm stupid so they said it doesn't matter if I don't go in every now and then; there's no hope for me either way."
I smiled. "At least they're truthful."
He nodded, smiling, and then bit his lower lip lip.
"Did you sleep much last night?" he asked after a long moment of silence.
"Is it that noticeable?" I said as I smiled sleepily at him.
He rubbed my leg soothingly, smiling softly. "You should try and get some more sleep, Zo."
I shook my head, dragging me eyes away from his beautiful face to gaze out the window, to the forest, which was only a couple meters away from my house. "No point." I shrugged.
"Come on." He said, opening his arms out wide, motioning me forward into his embrace. "Come here." He prompted and I smiled and crawled onto him.
I rested my head on his chest and his arms wrapped around me, pulling me snug against his loveliness.
"How are you?" I asked. I always felt so much better in Brady's presence, and to be holding him so closely; it was like he was slowly rebuilding my heart.
"I'm brilliant right now. Sorry I came later than usual," he said quietly, stroking my back slowly. "What have you been doing today?" he asked as his other arm drew lazy circles on my arm, which was by his side.
"I walked to Moose's. Moped around at hers. Ate some chocolate. Moped some more. Then I walked back. Generally the average day."
He sighed. "Oh, I'm sorry, Zo." He murmured softly, kissing the top of my head – insert girly high-pitched squeal here – and he turned onto his side slightly so I was cornered against the wall/window, closer to him. Which was fine by me.
I draped my arm over his waist, still leaning my face against his chest. "Don't be sorry for anything, you douche."
He just grinned his usual grin at me when I pulled back to see his face. Brady really has such a lovely face. He has really strong features; his face is real masculine.
"You're beautiful." I blurted out and he looked at me with this weird look for ages.
Crap. Just go and be stupid, why don't. Yes, well done, me.
"Sorry… I," I started but he cut me off by pressing his lips to mine. I gasped against his perfect lips, those feeling that I'd been longing for coming back straight away.
He quickly pulled away – much, much too quickly. "I'm sorry!" He said, slapping a hand over his mouth, his eyes wide.
I swallowed and shook my head, breathing out deeply and he started to panic. "It's fine, Brady." I said, pulling his hand away from his mouth.
"No, it's not. Shit, I'm so sorry!"
"Brady, it's fine…"
"Oh, god! I shouldn't have done that." I should have left his hand over his mouth. Why would I really care so much? He was a fucking brilliant kisser.
"Brady?"
"I'm so sorry. Oh, fuck."
"Brady!"
"I don't know why I did that. I shouldn't have. I'm so sorry, I should have better control – I promised myself I wouldn't do that and then I–"
I did the only thing that I thought was going to shut him up: I kissed him.
Yep. That worked.
I put my hands on his neck, pulling him closer. I just can't ever get enough of him. Everything about him is so freaking perfect, that to kiss him… it's fucking phenomenal. He groaned loudly, rolling us over so he was on top as he kissed me as hungry as I did him. I wrapped my legs around his as I pulled him against me tighter. The blissful felling which seemed to spark excitement in every single cell of my body came back and I let out a moan as his wonderful electrifying hands met my skin.
He let out a soft of growl, which was highly arousing, and he pulled my legs up, wrapping them around him tightly. He supported himself with one arm while his other hand made it's way up my top. I pulled my face away, gasping for air as he massaged my breast and sucked on my neck.
Soon, I pulled his face back to mine, kissing him with as much passion as I could. All I'd been thinking about lately was kissing him, and I'd been trying not to, but now I was I wasn't gonna waste it.
I ran my hands up his back, happy that he wasn't wearing a top. How is his skin so soft? It's really too damn addictive to touch. I swear to god he moisturises daily or something. Just to taunt me.
He started leaving soft pecks up and down my neck, leaving his hand flat against my stomach until he pulled back, laying above me; looking directly into my eyes. The room was filled with silence, apart from our heavy breathing. Our chests rose and fell against the others and I leant up - the look in his eyes becoming too much - and I kissed him again. Jesus. I really love kissing him. I love it so much; I think it may be my one favorite thing to do. Yep. Definitely. I pushed him over, trying to get closer to him, completely forgetting we were just on my window seat… we fell to the floor.
That broke us apart. Yep. Ouchie. I rolled off of him and after a moment we both sat up.
"Oh woops." I said, wincing. He breathed out deeply, nodding.
We sat in silence, trying to regain our breath. It was a slightly awkward silence and I didn't know what to say to break it, so we just sat there.
Mostly I just wanted to jump him, but thought that wasn't the best idea, so I just tried not to look at him.
He had his legs bent slightly upwards and his hands were flat out on my carpet and his eyes were closed tightly.
"I'm sorry." We both said at the same time and he opened his eyes to smile at me, the both of us letting out a relieved breath.
"You shouldn-" we both started again and I laughed.
"I'm sorry, Brady. I shouldn't have done that." I said and he shook his head as he put his hand on my ankle, as he was sitting by my calves.
"Don't be silly, Zo. If I remember correctly the deal was that I got to make out with you every so often." He grinned at me and I rolled my eyes as I stood up.
"Then you don't remember correctly. The deal was a kiss on the cheek." I said as I gave him my hands to pull him up. He grinned at me.
"Really? Oh well. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be fine with this new arrangement." He said cheekily and I couldn't not smile at him.
See what I mean? He was just freaking perfect. How could he always be so happy and lovely?
I bit my lip as he held onto my hands once he stood. I hated that I couldn't be with him; that I was stringing him along. I didn't want to do that – not in a million years. I wanted him to go find some gorgeous girl who was equally as perfect and for them to live a perfect life together, but I couldn't. I was just too damn selfish whenever it came to Brady.
He sighed as he rubbed his thumb up and down the back of my hand. "I understand, Zoë. You don't have to worry about it."
I nodded, looking up into his happy eyes. I love Brady's personality. I love it so much.
"I'm just going to the bathroom… okay?" I nodded at him and he smiled and exited my room.
I sighed, rubbing my face with my hands before falling back onto my bed.
I was sorry. I was sorry that for some reason he wanted to hang out with me. He was so amazing; he should be hanging around with some equally as fantastic, someone who could love him. But like I said – I'm too selfish to let him go. And I hated myself for it.
I don't understand why he's hanging around. He shouldn't. I'm just stringing him along. And I need to stop it. I hate girls who string guys along. I really hate them. Because it's not nice to him, is it? I mean, normally, guys just wave goodbye. I don't know why he's okay with being 'friends' with me when I throw my self at him like that.
Oh fuck. I really am a slag, aren't I?
Yes, I am. I discovered that when I slept with him.
Argh.
Why can't things ever just be fucking simple for once?
I sighed and stared up at my ceiling until he came back into the room.
"Come on," he said, dragging me out of my thoughts as he got onto my bed. I started to protest – knowing my restraints wouldn't stop me from having a repeat of last time. "You still need to sleep, remember?" he said as he slouched down on my bed, pulling me on top of him so I was yet again on his chest.
"Okay." I mumbled.
"Good girl."
I laid my head down and I could hear his heartbeat, which soon lulled me into seep. That combined with his lovely warmth and his yummy smell was just too much.
It was slightly annoying how I could never sleep without him here, but then as soon as he was I was out like a light. And when I was with him I wanted to spend as much time as humanly possible awake and alert. I hated feeling like I wasted precious time with Brady.
"I love you." He whispered, but I could only grumble a response; I was already far too close to sleep to respond properly.
Brady's POV
I know I've probably said it before, but she makes the most adorable noises when she sleeps. It's not like she's snoring or anything, she's just breathing very deeply. And ever so often she'd do a cute little sigh. Her deep breathing was so relaxing I could feel myself drifting off to sleep. I kissed her forehead as I stroked her hair, letting my head drop backwards. When I know that she can't sleep, I then can't sleep because I'm thinking about is how she can't sleep and worrying about her. So now I was okay. It seemed impossible to be anything but calm and peaceful when around her. She was so ultimately perfect, what would be the reason to not be happy?
Unless she was upset or in danger. Then I definitely wouldn't be happy. No, I'd be far from happy. I'd kill a person if they ever tried to upset or endanger her. But she wasn't in danger and she wasn't upset. She was fine, she was asleep, and so I calmed down and just went to sleep too. Zoë doesn't usually let me touch her this much because she feels like she's 'stringing me along', which is ridiculous; I'd still be following her around with or without the string. Oh shit, I sound like a fucking stalker again.
About five hours later, we both woke up. She'd been facedown on my stomach and her hair had got wrapped around her, practically suffocating her.
She laughed while gasping for breath as I, in absolute horror, pushed her hair out of her face, untangling it.
"Thank you so much, Brady. You know, you just saved my life."
I sighed as I ran my fingers through her hair. "It isn't funny, Zoë. You very well could have died."
She laughed even louder at that and I rested my forearms on her shoulders, my hands in her hair at the back of her head. "What are you laughing at?" I asked her and she smirked, trying to hold down her laughter.
"Aw, I'm sorry. It just seemed a pretty shit death. Being suffocated by my own hair while on another person." I rolled my eyes at her and she smiled at me as she placed her hands on my arms. "I'd wished I'd have a better death than that, you know?"
"No, Zoë. I don't know. I do not want to think about your death at all. Because it's not going to happen." I said and she snorted.
"Not going to happen, eh?" I nodded. I didn't care if it sounded stupid. I just wasn't going to let it into my brain that there would be a time when she wasn't there. The pain would just be too much to bear. "You're ridiculous, Brady." She laughed.
"I'm not. You're being mean to talk about something like that in front of me." I said and she raised an amused eyebrow at me. "Apologise."
She laughed loudly. "I'm sorry." She said through a beautiful smile and I nodded.
"Much better."
"Brady?"
"Yes?" I answered as she rolled off me – which I didn't like at all. But she let me wrap an arm around her and she leaned into me.
"If you order me to do something again I'll eat Collin."
"Why Collin?"
"Because you'd die without your bromance with Collin." She laughed and I rolled my eyes.
"Be quite and sleep some more."
She looked up me, her eyes wide and a little angry from me ordering her again. "I'm joking! Sheesh, woman." She continued to glare at me till I grinned.
"Idiot." She muttered and I smiled and kissed her forehead.
I loved kissing her forehead. Not only do I love the feel of her skin against my lips, but I also love the way her heart speeds up without fail whenever I do it. Ah, how I love my werewolf abilities to be able to hear her heartbeat.
I don't know how long passed, I was drifting in and out of sleep for the past couple of hours, but it was getting light outside again when it started.
Screaming.
Loud, horrific, terrified screaming.
Zoë was up like a bolt, practically jumping down the stairs. I was quick behind her. I hadn't heard anyone enter, but if Zoë or her mother was in trouble, I was undoubtedly going to protect them.
But when she burst through her mother's bedroom, nothing was happening. She was just lying there, screaming, her eyes closed as she thrashed about.
"Mom, mom," Zo said, jumping onto the bed, shaking her mother. "Come on, wake up," and then with a guilty look, she started slapping her mothers cheek lightly.
She sighed when her moms eyes flittered open, however her mothers distressed face didn't fade. "It's me, mom. It's just me. Please, you're safe. Please, mom, you're fine. Calm down. Nothings going on. No ones here to hurt you."
When I realised she was just dreaming, I backed out into their living room, wanting to give them privacy, even though I could still hear them.
"Zo-Zo-Zoë?" Her mom said in a small, frail voice, the terror still evident.
"Yeah, mom. It's just me. It was just a dream." Zoë replied as her mother continued to breathe deeply.
I didn't know whether it would be best if I left – to give them privacy – or if I stayed – in case Zoë wanted something later. I know after hearing my mom scream like that I wouldn't want to be alone.
"He's not here, mom. No ones here to hurt you. You are safe."
I decided that I would wait for her, and then I'd just let myself be kicked out if she didn't want me when she came back. Although the risk of her being angry at me would hurt, I didn't want to ever not be there for her.
About an hour later, Zoë walked in. She looked a little shocked when she saw me, her eyes heavy with tiredness.
"I thought you'd gone." She said and I shrugged.
"I didn't want to leave you."
She looked up at me, her big eyes filled with such emotion and she bit her lower lip. I could tell that this wasn't the first time she'd been woken up by her mother's screams. It was really horrific. I couldn't imagine what that must be like for Zoë, or what her mom must be going through… to be so frightened…
I put my hand on the side of Zoë's face and she leant into it. After brushing my thumb across her cheekbones, I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, leaning my head on top of hers.
"Thank you." She mumbled and I just stayed still as she wrapped her arms around my waist. My life hadn't been perfect – having usually absent parents isn't that great while growing up – but compared to Zoë's life, mine felt like I was the luckiest kid ever.
"Want some breakfast? But you have to be quite so my mom doesn't know you're here."
I grinned at her. She's such an optimist sometimes. Even though she's been through so much shit, she's still happy and gets on with her life. I love that about her. Admittedly there are days when she's the most pessimistic person I've ever met, and she won't even get out of bed, but in the end she gets up and carries on with her life.
"Sure." I said, trying to keep touching as much of her as I could as we walked through to her kitchen. "What are you doing today?"
"I'm going for a run with Liam and Ava." She said, nodding at my look. "Yes, with Liam. What really is your problem with him? Oh, and tonight we're sleeping in Annie's shed."
"Her shed?" I asked. That really doesn't sound safe.
"Yep." She said. "Richard built it ages ago and we started sleeping in it a couple years ago. 'Cause he's so protective he used to come down to check on us, like, ever hour." She smiled lightly in memory to herself.
"Does this shed have locks? A fire alarm? A burglar alarm? A telephone line?"
She turned to me, a highly amused look on her shocked face. "It's fine, Brady." She said. As if that would soothe my worries. "Yes there are locks, no there isn't a fire or burglar alarm. There isn't any electricity in the shed. However, there is nothing in the shed that will start a fire, so unless the shed sets itself on fire, we're fine in that aspect."
"What if someone comes and tries to kill you? Oh, no, Zo. I really don't think you should sleep in a shed." I said, properly panicking now.
She smiled up at me as she put her hands on my arms. "Brady, calm down, okay?" she half laughed. "We've done this plenty of times before."
"Not necessarily helping your argument." I muttered and she rolled her eyes.
"Stop being a drama queen. If someone wants to kill us, then it doesn't matter if I'm in a house, a shed or a tent."
"Still not helping."
She smiled at me. "Sorry. What will help, though?"
I thought about it. I had decided unconsciously since she told me that I would be sleeping outside that freaking shed in wolf form tonight, but I couldn't really tell her that. I brought my hands up to play with her messy hair and she kept her hands on my arms near my elbows.
"Call me – when you're there and then every hour till you go to sleep. And you have to tell me when you're going to sleep so I know so I won't panic. And you have to call me the moment you wake up." I said seriously and she laughed. She laughed harder when she saw I was being serious.
"Oh, Brady! What about every three hours?" she bargained.
"One hour."
"Every two and half hours?"
"One hour."
"Two hours?"
"One hour."
"Brady!" she whined, dragging my name out. Damn girl knows how to get to me. "You don't seem to understand how this negotiating thing works." She actually went to the extremity of pouting.
I sighed. "Fine. Every two hours." I said reluctantly and she grinned.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I tried not to smile at her. "This is better for you 'cause there's no way I'll be able to remember every two hours, so if you'd of said one you would o' been worrying your ass off when the calls didn't come."
I glared at her. "Kidding!" she said in a 'sarcastic' tone. But when she saw my look at her she became serious. "I will definitely remember to call."
"Promise?" she sighed but nodded and I smiled at her. I leaned down to kiss her, which in retrospect I shouldn't have done, and she moved her face to the side so I kissed her cheek. I didn't care though. I knew she wanted me.
I kept my face against her cheek. "Be careful, okay?"
She laughed and shoved me away. "You make it sound like I'm going off to war, not going to a friends to sleep in her garden."
I grinned at her, trying to pull her back. "Shh, I'm taking advantage of the situation to make you call me."
"Oh, you little minx, you." She said as she turned around. I laughed and swooped down, kissing her cheek.
She pulled a face at me, but I knew she loved it.
Ah, I love my Zoë. I don't care if I have to stay up all night and listened to a bunch of girls having a sleepover.
Actually, maybe they'll talk about me.
I wrapped my arms around Zoë's waist from behind. She leaned back against me, her hand on one of my arms. "Brady…" she sighed.
She seriously seems to think that if she doesn't let me touch her, or see her, that I'll go off her and find some other girl. She's silly. If anything, not touching her is just making me want her so much more.
I blew on her hair, loving how it moved about. I kept her tightly against my body and she leaned even further against me, leaning her head against my collarbone when she gave up with the idea that I'd let her go.
Zoë's POV
The moment I walked into the shed, she knew. I didn't even have to make eye contact. She just knew. She can read me like a freaking book. And to be honest, I liked it. I liked having someone who knew me so well – knew me so well and were constantly trying to make sure I was okay. There are plenty of people who don't have someone who cares for them so much in their lives.
She looked at me in the way that said 'are you okay?' and I nodded. She then gave me the 'we'll talk in private, yes?' look and I nodded again. Well, we won't talk much. Like whenever my mom has another nightmare, we just sit there together for a while. There's nothing to say and she knows she can't comfort me, so we just sit in silence. I like it.
"Zoom!" Kat shouted, jumping on me. "You're half a minute late, you little shit!" she said as she gave me a noogie, the both of us now on the floor.
"Argh, get off of me!" I groaned and swatted at her as she continued to rub her knuckles against my head. "And no, I am not late!"
"She's right, Kitty-Kat. She is, in fact, two minutes early." Nicks said and I stuck my tongue out at Kat.
"I am never late."
She just started rubbing her knuckle over my head harder.
"Get off of her, Kat." Babs said as she walked past us, a massive bowl of popcorn in her hands, settling down on the massive king sized bed located in the middle of the shed.
With a sigh Kat did as she said. "Hey! Why do you do what she says?" I moaned, rubbing my head as I stood up.
"Err, because if I don't Babs won't help me with my homework." Kat said in a stupid voice, as if it were the most obvious thing ever.
I shoved her and jumped on the bed, laying my head on Ava's stomach. "How are you all?"
There were a chorus of replies and we dove into a deep conversation about random things. And, true to my word, two hours later I slipped out of the shed, and called Brady.
"Brady-Brady-Brady-Bradykins?" I sang when he finally picked up.
He laughed. "Yes?"
"I'm alive!"
"I'm glad." He said through a laugh.
"Yep. So… what are you up to?"
There was silence for a moment before he cleared his throat. "Erm, not a lot, really."
I frowned at why he suddenly got awkward.
"What the hell are you doing, Zo? Get your ass back in here; Babs just found the Dr Pepper!" Annie shouted and I waved at her, telling her I'll come in a second. When Babsie starts drinking Dr Pepper she just doesn't stop. And I love that stuff.
"Right, well, I have to go, Brady."
"Yeah, okay." He sounded a little disappointed and it broke my heart.
"Speak to you in two hours?"
"You better."
"Okay, bye." I said, smiling. I love how Brady is sometimes.
I hung up and bounced back into the shed, locking the door behind me – Brady would be proud. "You better save me some of that, bitch!" I shouted as I jumped down next to Babs, who smirked at me while drinking.
"Who did you call?" Ava asked.
"Brady." I replied and they all went quite before giggling – well, Annie and Moose didn't, they're incapable of making suck a 'cutesy' sound. "Oh my god, shut up!" I groaned.
"Guys!" I moaned when they started prodding and poking me, ruffling my hair.
"Our ickle Zoë's got a boyfriend." Kat sang childishly.
"Oh, come on!" I groaned, burying my face against Moose's stomach – who was grinning at me. "We're just friends."
"Yeah, yeah. You keep telling yourself that." Annie said and I laughed sarcastically and then stuck my fingers up at her, still hiding my face.
Nicks got up and went to the iPod docking station that belonged to Babs – it was powered via batteries, as there wasn't any electricity in this shed.
"I know the perfect song for you to sing to Brady, Zo." She said, and then the song 'I Wanna Have Your Babies' by Natasha Bedingfield started to play. "You should serenade him. This song would make him get the hint you want to be more than 'just friends'."
According to the others it was fucking hilarious.
"You're all horrible, horrible people." I moaned as I rolled off of Moose – whose stomach was moving too much from laughing to be considered comfortable. I laid flat on my back as they sang the chorus to me. "I do not – argh! Just shut up!" I groaned.
They seemed to find my embarrassment and anger even funnier.
Luckily the song ended and I let out a sigh of relied, even though they were still laughing at me. However, the next song to come on was 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem, and then all my anger just flew out the window as we started singing along. We got proper into it. It was like our favourite song three years ago. We can all happily say we know the words to the chorus, and the introduction. However, Moose knows every single word. She totally pimped out on us by rapping the rest of the song. It was beautiful.
Out of all of Nicks was the best singer – by far. Her parent's had dreams of her becoming an international singer, getting a contract and all of that. I think that was one of the major reasons they were so upset with Nicks diagnostician; she wouldn't be able to pursue their dream. That's why Nicks doesn't really sing that much anymore.
After that 'Bad Girlfriend' by Theory of a Deadman came on. Damn, I love that song – I know all the words. They're probably my favorite band of all time.
We started head banging to the beat, which eventually evolved into us having our own little moshpit on the bed, each of us having our own amazing air guitar solo.
And then 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor came on. Babs moved to turn it off, shooting a weary look at Nicks, but I stuck out my arm, stopping her and starting to sing the song, keeping my eyes on Nick.
"First I was afraid; I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong. I grew strong, I learned how to carry on." I sang. The others looked at me wide eyed, thinking this wasn't the best song around Nicks. But she just grinned at me, joining in, and soon the others were, all of us singing the song with all we had.
And then it got to the end, where Nicks took over, singing the last
"I've got all my life to live, and I've got so much love to give. And I'll survive. I will survive. I will survive." She sang, like, proper loudly. Sometimes I forget just how brilliantly she can sing. She hasn't sung properly in a while and you forget how talented someone is after time. But she is – she has one of the best voices I've ever heard in my life. She stopped singing, breathing loudly and the music slowly stopped. Babs turned it off as we stood in silence, staring at Nicks.
"Come here, all of you." Moose said, opening her arms and we all ran at her, starting to cry. Well, Moose didn't really cry. She likes to stay strong for us. Annie usually tries not to cry, but it seems she's lost the will not to – which is one hundred percent understandable.
We all crawled onto the big bed, holding each other in a seven-woman hug. It's not like we don't talk about Nicks' health. We do, a lot. We're open about it. We just never discuss about what could happen… about what would happen if she did die.
Well, Nick and Moose had a long conversation about what Nicks would like at her funeral and what she would like for us all to do if she died. But the rest of us just wouldn't listen to her talk about dying. She wasn't scared of death. She was fine with it – she thought her time had come. What she couldn't deal with was leaving us all. And none of us could deal with losing her. Moose was just better at keeping control, whereas none of us could think about a life without Nick. She was… words couldn't describe how phenomenal this girl is.
"Jesus Christ." Annie sobbed, wiping at her eyes. "All we ever do is cry now. I'm fucking fed up of it."
I nodded in total agreement, pulling Nick against me and crying into her neck. "I fucking love you, Nick." I mumbled through my hiccups. I wasn't particularly the cutest crier.
Annie was right. I'm crying too much lately. It's highly annoying. I'm gonna have to toughen up again.
It just wasn't fair. Why did she have to have this illness? She looked perfectly fine on the outside, why did her insides have to have something wrong? It wasn't fair. I don't think any person deserves to die, but there are paedophiles and rapists who I'd be a lot less upset about having the illness that riddled Nicks' body.
I couldn't think about growing up without her. It just wasn't going to happen. You know how people don't usually stay friends with everyone they know in high school – they just drift apart? Well, that's not happening to us. We're staying together through everything. And Nicks will be there too. We will be ninety year olds in a nursing home, chasing each other around in our electric wheelchairs. I won't think of it any differently.
Because, honestly, I don't think we'd survive it. As a group – I don't think we could carry on seeing each other everyday without having her there. It would be far too painful. And it would feel wrong.
I pulled Nicks tighter to me, kissing her forehead "I love you too, Zo." She replied through her sobs.
Okay. Permision to kill me granted. It's been a while since I updated, I know. And I'm very sorry! But as I have said to those who reviewed in replies, I've been hella swamped. Firstly, I got a virius. Then, I got mountains of coursework. Then, I got friends who make it their goal in life to stress me out to the point were I can't even do anything. Then, I had a short story to write for English CW. You may be thinking that as a fanfiction writer I should jump at the chance to write a story. But oh no. If you've read my 66-chapter-long story Unsuspecting, then you know that I simply cannot write anything 'short'. My love is to develop characters. And Also, for these stories they're my ideas, which I've come up with over time - which come from other books which I like. But when someone comes to me and says 'Write a story. No more than 2000 words.' then I'm fucked. Seriously, this chapter alone is more than eight thousand words. So I was royally screwed with that. And it turned out so terrible that you beautiful readers would be ashamed of me. Anyway, so overall my life has been very stressfull, so I haven't had much time to write. However, I did get this killer long chapter done for you. I've also been writing little bits for another story that I've thought of, but I'm telling myself not to post it up here until I can at least get this story to where I want it to be. It's a Seth imprinting one, would anyone be interested in reading? If you do I may honour you with a summary? ;D
So, yes, I have been very mean with this chapter, but please give me a review? I cherish each and every one of them - good or bad! (And don't hold back, I want to know every single thing you think about this. I don't care if it's 1000 words of how shite this is, I'll love it all the more)
Is Zoe annoying? I can't help but think she's getting to be. And how long do you think you guys can hold out till Brady reveals all? Because I've already wrote the scene, even if I don't want to put it up yet.
And I tried to make them seem less British, are ya proud? I put favorite and everything! You won't believe how many times I had to delete 'bloody' in this. Oh! That reminds me, what do you Americans use as a bad insult? Cos I've found most of the stuff we Brits use aren't what you guys say. So please, insult me! Aha.
I shall leave you now, thank you so much to everyone who is reading this as well as those who review!
Thank you all! :D