Watch Me

Chapter 19

******************************18+ stuff ahead...you were warned*****************************

"Ok, that was definitely a different type of restaurant," Colton said as he drove them back to her place. "Four different types of buffets at once. We have got to go back."

Zoe laughed. "Adam found it like two years ago on a date and then suggested it to us."

"I'm surprised you guys haven't gone there for the after audition dinner there," Colton said.

"Too far. The Red Dragon is closer, and Mrs. Chang likes it when we all go over," Zoe said. "Besides, we like having Buffet City as our thing."

"Ok, I can see that." They sat in silence for a few minutes. He noticed Zoe looking out the window for most of the ride there and now back to her place. He reached over and grabbed her hand with one of his and gave it a squeeze. She turned and smiled at him as she laced her fingers in with his before turning towards the window again, tracing his thumb with hers. "Zee?"

"Yeah?" she answered.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked carefully.

She sighed. "What is there to say about it? Apparently, whoever it is that's after me has decided to threaten people close to me. I mean, really, what can I say about it." She let go of his hand, keeping it on her leg. "First, it's you. Next will be Sarah and or Davis. Eventually they'll get to Mack and Kristen, right?"

He could hear the uneasiness in her voice as she tried to keep herself composed. He gently as he rubbed her leg. They pulled up to her apartment building. He shut off the car and took off his seatbelt to face her. She sat there, still in her seatbelt, staring out the window. "Baby, look at me, please." She turned and looked at him. "We're all going to be fine."

"I know, but it doesn't stop me from feeling guilty about putting you guys in this situation."

"Don't give in to your fear. You're stronger than that Zee."

"I'M SCARED!" she shouted at him as tears filled her eyes. "I'm scared, I'm angry and the worst part of it is I feel helpless." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I could handle it if the threats were directed just at me, but Colt, they put that picture in the men's locker room. They blacked out your face. That was for you, not me." She felt her heart tearing at the thought of him getting hurt, but she knew it would rip apart if she had to let him go.

He took her face into her hands and kissed her softly. He felt her calm down a bit before he pulled back. "Let's go upstairs and finish this conversation, ok?" She nodded as they got out of the car and grabbed their bags out of the trunk before they headed upstairs.

Once there, they both took off their shoes and put their bags in Zoe's room. Colton made his way to the couch as Zoe went into the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the fridge before joining him. She opened it and sipped it before she put it on the table. She leaned back on the sofa with her eyes closed, praying for the strength to finish their conversation. She opened them and turned to face him. "How are you feeling about what happened today? Everyone is so focused on me, but really, this happened to you."

He laughed softly. "I'll admit, I was pissed. Still am if I'm honest with myself. But, overall, I can handle it. I'm a little more afraid of what's going on in your head right now."

Zoe looked at him. "I'm more angry than scared, but I can admit I am a bit more frightened than I was when it was just a threat against me."

"Why? I'm a big boy, I can handle myself," he said as a joke. He watched as she got up from the couch and started walking away from him. "Zee, really, there's no reason to..."