Out of Time

Chapter 28: Together

You only miss the sun when it starts to snow.

Azriella grunted and turned off the radio, Where the hell is he? She asked herself. A sift knock disturbed her thoughts, she ran to the door—excitingly.

"Hi!" Max hugged her and handed her a bouquet of flowers. Roses.

"Max..." A tone of disappointment slips off as she spoke.

His eyes furrowed, "Are you expecting someone else?"

"N-no. I just thought you were someone else. Come in, mom's waiting for you." She stutters as she stepped aside to give him way.

"Marshall!" Azalette greeted him with a sweet smile.

Max bowed down and tries to hide his smirk. "Good afternoon Mrs. Montgomery."

"I'll just take a call. I'll be right there." Azriella stated and sprinted outside.

She opened her phone and dialed Eli's number. It took 5 rings until someone finally answered the phone.

"Hola mi amiga! Que?" Eli answered.

Azriella rolled her eyes as she sighs, "Do you know where Zacharius is?"

"Negativo." She responded, "Que? You miss him?" a tone of excitement floated on her words.

"No, I just need to ask something." Azriella cleared her throat, "Okay then, I'll have to go." She didn't waited for a reply she just hung up. Before turning the door open, she glanced at the amethyst-purple sky.

"Here." Azalette handed him bags of chips.

"We'll go upstairs. Come here Grumpy." Azriella spoke as she grabbed Zero with her hands.

Azalette's brows furrowed, "Why would you take Zero?!"

They went up to her bedroom, she twisted the metal handle on her white wooden door, the scratches from Zero's paw were visible on the right bottom of the door. Her minty walls and band posters welcomed him. He wandered his eyes around, the floor creaks as they stepped on. Within few more steps his feet already met the white carpet sitting under her bed.

He went to her vanity and examined the polaroid pictures pinned on her bulletin board. Her mom, Eli, and—Zacharius... He said to himself as his eyes landed on each face. A picture of them caught his attention, "I can't remember this." He said as he took the one that includes the both of them, and Zach.

Azriella placed Zero on her bed before approaching him, "Eli took that picture when we were watching beauty and the beast, she may have tilted her camera a little more to the left she didn't notice that she wasn't on the frame." She laughed as she pinned the picture back to its place.

He grabbed the guitar sitting on her swivel chair, "May I?"

She nodded and took Zero back to her lap. He placed his capo on its sixth fret. He started playing Realize by Colbie Caillat.

"You miss him?" Eli's words kept repeating on her head. I don't why would I? The presence of him irritates me. His broken humor kills me. Why would I miss him? I mean—it's been almost a week since I last saw him. Fuck this long weekend. She said to her mind while caressing Zero and watching the man she believes she's in love with.

From inside her head-- he seemed like an eerie silhouette but up close he had a whitish-dark definition. She recalls the first day she met him, he was annoying, he has these pale aqua blue eyes that kept on staring, he made me roll my eyes every day, he made me feel like I was the worst person he ever met, but he also made me feel alive, with or without the gifts he gave me, he made me realize things aren't as bad as I think. He gave me a fucking cat, he made me love the things I hated the most—She stopped. He made me love the things I hated the most. She repeated. It was like she was put under a spell.

"Do you miss him?" The voice of Eli kept repeating.

"I would be the happiest if you say yes, either way I won't stop loving you." Marshall placed the guitar beside them.

"Yes." Azriella went back to her senses after she spoke.

"Yes?!" Marshall stood from the bed, "Dawn?!" He exclaimed.

What?! Azriella wore her tight smile, "Yes!"

**

"Have you told them already?" Mary interrogated.

Zach scratched his nape and took a sip on his orange juice, "I haven't."

"Why?!" Mary exclaimed, "You can't hide this to them forever."

"I won't, maybe if we find a donor and the operation is already sure. I'll tell them." Zacharius responded.

"Zacharius Leo Payne—" Zach took her words, "I'll tell them when the time is right."

"Have you heard anything from Xy?"

"She's arriving tomorrow, I'll keep in touch." Zacharius responded, "But for now let's just enjoy our lunch."

"Zach..." She held his hand, "What happened?"

Zacharius widen up his eyes and took another sip, "Nothing, don't worry."

"Then why is she not here? I haven't seen her almost a week already." Mary interrogated and pushed herself more.

Zacharius placed down his fork and grabbed the napkin to wipe the grease on his lips, "She's already with someone else."

"Why do you care? You told me you're just friends. You made sure and proved it to me." Mary glanced at his eyes—he can't bring himself to meet it. "Zach, I know you know that I know."

"We're better off as friends Mary."

"Then why are you acting up?" Mary pushed herself more, "Why do I feel like you're hurt?"

"Because I am..." He bit the final slice of his steak.

"Does she know?"

"No."

**

"What do you want to eat?" Marshall asked.

Azriella opened their refrigerator and wandered around, "Whatever you want to cook."

"Azi, I'll just drop on a convenience store. I'll be back asap." Azalette kissed her cheeks and went to the door.

Marshall grabbed the rice and went on the stove, "Just sit there."

Azriella watched him flipping the rice over and over. The pan danced along with his body, he poured the chopped meat and poured oil. "Seriously Dawn. I am the happiest. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove you that we'll be great together."

"Stop being so cliché you already earned my yes." She laughed.

"I won't stop. I love myself when I'm with you."