Zoey woke up the following morning with every intention to tell Mark the truth. The day was going perfectly. He picked her up from their usual meeting place and they shared a coffee together before they headed off to do some shopping. "What ever you want or need babe, I'll get it for you."

Zoey being Zoey shook her head. There was no way she was going to let him do that. She had enough money to get her mother something for her birthday and that's all she wanted. "Don't be silly. I don't need anything anyway; I only need a present for my mum."

Mark glanced over at her and smiled. "Well you may not need anything but I'm sure there's something you want."

Zoey shook her head vigorously. "Nope. Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"That's right. There is nothing I want."

Mark laughed. "Okay, fine but I want to get you something pretty." He said putting emphasis on the word I.

Zoey giggled at the cliché. Her "Something pretty? Thanks but I don't want you to spend any money on me."

Mark shook his head. "Okay, I won't if you don't want me to." Zoey was a stubborn girl and he knew better than to argue with her. However, he had already made his mind up and he was going to get her something whether she liked it or not.

3 hours later …

The two of them had been in Macey's for three hours trying to find the perfect present for Zoey's mother and with great success. They had stopped off for lunch at their favourite restaurant where they had their first date. Half way through the meal, Mark handed Zoey a small box.

Confused, Zoey opened it and gasped. Inside was the beautiful diamond necklace that she had seen in Macey's and had fallen in love with. She couldn't believe she was holding it in her hands. "Mark, how did you … when …why did you …oh my god!" she was speechless.

Mark laughed. "When you were looking at the bags I snuck off and bought it. Zo, I saw your face when you spotted it at the jewellery stand and I couldn't resist buying it for you."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you so much! You didn't have to, it was so expensive!" Zoey exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Yes, I know that but I wanted to. Baby, just seeing your face light up like that made it worth the while." Mark said sincerely. He had never wanted to spend so much money on anyone, let alone a girl but this was different – she was different. She wasn't like any other girl he had slept with. She was gorgeous and she didn't know it, which was such a turn on. He was so sick and tired of all the conventional pretty girls – tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, a size 2 and had a face full of make-up. Zoey didn't need make-up; she had perfect skin and an amazing complexion. Her green eyes always sparkled when she smiled and he just loved her smile. Her lips were a perfect pink and they always showed off her perfectly straight, white teeth. He looked over at her and saw that smile that he loved so much. That's when it clicked. He had fallen head over heals in love with the young girl and if truth be told, it scared him but he was willing to give it a go. Who wouldn't be scared after knowing someone for only a short time? He felt great whenever they were together so why not?

"You're amazing Mark." Zoey leaned over the table and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She couldn't believe her luck and it made her even more determined to tell him her actual age. She swallowed and took a deep breath; it was now or never. "Mark, I need to tell you something."

"Let me guess, you've just realised you have one at home?" Mark laughed but stopped when he saw how serious she was. "Are you okay? What do you need to tell me?" Please tell me you're not pregnant; I don't want to be a dad just yet. Mark thought to himself.

"I haven't been completely honest to you. I don't know how to tell you this so I'm just going to spit it out. Please don't say anything until I've finished."

"Okay." Mark nodded not liking where this was going.

Zoey swallowed again, slightly regretting starting this conversation but knew it was only right to continue. "You just have to know that I care about you a lot! I've loved spending all this time with you - it's been incredible! You are one amazing man and I wouldn't swap you with anyone! I just think you should know that I'm not as old as you think I am."

Mark listened to the last part and started to panic a little bit. She better be older than 20, I don't think I'll ever be able to handle it if she's not. He thought. "Well how old are you then?" he was terrified of the answer but he had to ask.

Zoey looked down and mumbled"17."

"What did you say?" he asked leaning in.

"17." She repeated, still mumbling but a little bit louder.

Did she say 17? Mark started to sweat and panic a little bit more. "Zoey please speak up." He said trying to not let the panic show in his voice but was failing.

His fears were confirmed when Zoey took a deep breath and said very clearly, "17." Mark couldn't believe it. He was stunned. Speechless even.

"Mark, please say something." Zoey tried to take his hand but he moved them quickly before she could which split her heart in two. "Mark will you look at me!" Zoey pleaded with him, tears starting to feel her eyes.

He didn't. He didn't say anything either, regardless of how much it pained him to do so but he just couldn't look at her because if he did, he was scared of what he might see. He didn't want to hurt her but all he could think about was the fact that he as 33 years old and was dating a girl who was fifteen years his junior.

"Mark, please look at me!" she said in a quivering voice. "It's still me Mark, it's still Zoey."

He couldn't hold it in any longer. Still not looking at her, he said quietly, "Still Zoey? I don't think so. My Zoey was a beautiful young woman. You are just a kid." He couldn't believe he had said that because the truth was, he didn't actually care. Without another word, he got up from his seat, dumped some money on the table and despite his best efforts to stay, to sit next to her and hold her in her arms, to tell her that it would be okay, he started to walk out. He was half way out when he heard it the soft sobs coming from behind him. He turned his head slightly and the sight before him shattered his heart in to a million pieces. Zoey just sat there watching him leave tears streaming down her face despite her wiping them away with her hand. He wondered how anyone could still look so beautiful when they are sobbing their heart out. He understood why she lied to him, as he probably would have told her where to go if she had said something earlier and that scared him. It scared him because he realised he wasn't the man-whore everyone made him out to be anymore. He actually understood Zoey and her reasoning for what she did. He walked out the restaurant door and exhaled. He turned round and out the corner of his eye, he saw her just sitting there. He turned round to face the window and at a better look, he saw the tears stream down her face and despite this, she was still the most beautiful woman in there. When he saw her respond to a lady in her fifties when she put her arm around her, he walked away. He had to – he couldn't take the pain any longer.

That was the last time they saw each other.