Out of Time

Chapter 21: Under the stars

Here goes his tangled thoughts choking himself.

While driving at his highest speed, the wind is whipping through the trees, creaking and groaning like an old rocking chair. His eyes welled up in tears as he pulled his break at his favorite spot. He sat down on the edge of the rock, looked up, clenched his fists, quickly drawing in breaths, hoping the feeling would pass. "Why do we experience things we don't deserve?"

He looked down to his feet questioning his whole existence. A crumping sound took over the tranquility of the area. "Thought I would see you here." Azriella sat down beside him and gave him the plastic bag she was holding.

"What's this?" Zach tried his best not to break his voice down.

"A toothpaste." She responded.

"It's a box of orange juice what do you mean."

Azriella rolled her eyes and looked at him, "Then why are you asking me?"

"What's this for?"

"Just say thank you." Azriella scoffed.

"Thank you." He tried to clear his throat, but the twisted lump remained, drawing his voice tight over every syllable. Azriella leaned her head to his shoulders and sighed deeply, she scooched closer. "What happened? Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah." He didn't bother to look at her, what's the point?

"Are you okay?" She sat in front of him and held his hand.

"Yes, thank you." He plastered on a tight smile.

"You're not." Azriella went back to her seat and leaned her head back, "I've been fooled a lot of times, but you can't fool me on this one."

Zach chuckled and patted her head "No, really, I feel better now," he said a little too loudly.

"You can stop, really." She mimicked "I understand if you don't want to talk about it. Here." She gave him the other pair of her tangled earphones.

Breathe by Taylor Swift started playing.

His lower lip trembled as he struggled to blink back the tears before they dripped down to his cheeks. "I hate myself, for doubting my mother's stories. I don't want to believe a thing he was saying, but I can sense that he is telling the truth. He told me how much it hurts, how long he waited for us to meet again, then when the time finally came, all I ever said is how much I abhor him." He rubbed his chest, trying to ease the ache in his heart, and gulped for air.

Azriella grabbed the juice box outside the bag and punched a hole with its straw, "Here drink this."

Zacharius swept his tears from his cheeks. "Thank y-you." His voice broke over the last syllable. Azriella held his right hand, he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, he can see how her eyes glimmered along with the stars above.

Her scent running through his nose, her palm touching his, and just the thought of her by his side is driving him crazy, but unfortunately due to what happened earlier he can easily cover the unexplainable feeling he has. He hadn't been prepared for such intensity, though he should have been. Everything about Azriella Montgomery was potent. Tonight had the power to change his whole world except, as she'd reminded him, it was one night.

The stars above them give him a tingling sensation, she squeezes his hand tightly while wandering her thoughts above. The air between them crackles, Zach wants to press his body even more against her, to close the gap between them even though they are already squeezing each other.

But he stays rooted to the spot. She lingers for a moment before finally lifting her head to meet his eyes. "Zach?" She spoke. Zach raised his eyebrow before looking at her eyes back. They stared for a moment, and a smirk formed on their faces until they burst into laughter.

"You're really lucky for having a friend like me." Azriella laughs before letting go of his hand.

There goes the thought of us together, friends—we are just friends. Under the stars together, holding each other's hand, being there for each other. Friends...