Life is but a Fiction...

14 - Nightmare

I woke up on my couch covered in sweat, still panicked. I quickly checked my call log to see the last person to call was Zacky. It was indeed a nightmare. I took a deep breath to calm myself, but panicked again when I realized it was noon. I missed my morning class. Fuck. I hurried to get myself out the door. I barely made it on time for my 1pm class.

Zacky looked at me.

"Where were you? I was worried this morning." He said.

"I forgot to set my alarm. I have no excuse whatsoever." I sat next to him.

We were asked to choose partners to do another group thing. Zacky and I naturally chose to work together.Then, another girl asked to join, we agreed. She was obviously fangirling, asking about the band the whole time. I was annoyed and I think it showed, Zacky put his hand on my knee and rubbed it lightly at one point when my leg started shaking. I calmed down feeling his touch, I closed my eyes for a second. However, I was still irritated simply hearing her voice, she just wouldn't shut up.

The worst part of it all is that this assignment was going to last for weeks. I'd have to see her again sooner than later. She left when the class was finally over.

"What's wrong?" Zacky asked. "You were late, you were jumpy, angry, even... Something's off."

" Let's not talk about it here. Let's leave, please. Take me to the beach. Or anywhere else. " I begged him.

So Zacky drove us to the beach. We sat down in the sand.

"I wish we would have done the work just the two of us... " He looked deeply into my eyes.

"Yeah, me too, I didn't sleep well, I had a nightmare in which my ex was calling me, telling me he was out of jail and begging me to take him back."

"What are you afraid of? He's gone, right?" He asked.

"I don't know. He was never violent physically. But he was manipulating me, gaslighting me like his behaviors weren't that bad, that I was overreacting. I lost myself for years. I feel I am more myself now than I ever was and I guess I fear I will lose myself again. Or he'll come back for me and won't let go. He'll come to fuck up my peace of mind, I feel it. "

"Well, that's bad. Why don't I try to help you with that?"

"How?" I asked seriously.

"I don't know. I guess I just want to be there for you. Anything you might need."

" That means a lot, thank you. That's why I was in a bad mood. And that girl too."

"She wasn't that bad, was she?"

"Do you really want my opinion about her?"

"I think I know, but yes, please? " He seemed unsure about his answer.

"She was obsessing over you."

"It was not that bad. She is just a fan."

"It was, you just don't see it anymore. You're just used to it. You must like it, you know, being a hot rockstar, sleeping with groupies."

"Is that what you think of me huh? Ouch. It hurts. What did you call me?"

"A rockstar?"

" No, you called me hot, have I heard right?"

I bursted into laughter.

"Zacky, oh Zacky, I love you". I imitated her.

"Stop it, you're making a fool out of yourself."

"How come when I do it, you see it? "

"First, you're doing it way worse than it actually was. And, you're one of the only people who act normal around me."

"She was definitely not acting normal, the way she was looking at you, touching you even." I continued.

"Tell me... Are you jealous?" He chuckled.

" No! Well... Maybe, I don't know. " I smiled.

"There it is, your gorgeous smile."

Zacky pulled me into a side hug. I felt calmer instantly. I stayed there for a moment, laid my head on his shoulder, looking at the waves hitting the shore while feeling the sea breeze on my skin. I wanted to move closer so I could feel his lips, but my heart was beating so fast I feared I would pass out. I just stood still and managed to let him know how I felt.

"I'm so happy here and now with you Z." I murmured.

"Can I do something I should've done Saturday?" He asked, turning his head to mine. My head was still resting on his shoulder, so I raised it to face him. I felt butterflies as he locked his radiant green eyes into mine. I nodded. He placed his hand on my neck and pulled me into a soft kiss. I lost track of space and time. For a moment, there were just the two of us.