𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘 || 𝐆𝐗𝐆 ||

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

Zara

My parents arrived home after a few more hours, they brought us some food, sandwiches and fruit to be exact. So now we are all sitting downstairs at the table with the food set out in front of us.

Me and Noa are sitting on one side of the table, my parents on the other side. My car and phone have been returned after the two apologised to Noa about what happened. They even got her cake, which shows my parents adore this girl and I can see why.

"Would you like a drink?" My father questions everyone as he gets up to go to the kitchen.

"Apple juice please."

"Just some champagne."

"Anything, I don't mind."

My father pours a glass of apple juice for Noa, another for me, and a glass of champagne for my mum.

I've seen that these adults keep bottles of expensive alcohol in this kitchen and act like they don't know that it's all there. They don't even drink it on special occasions, well unless they think everything is a special occasion then they must do.

Noa eats another sandwich that is sliced into rectangles as they are going "picnic style", I have noticed that she loves the cheese sandwiches. The cheese, ham and tuna sandwiches are her personal favourite from what I have observed.

"How was school?" The woman across from us asks, quickly regretting what she just said once she saw Noa put her sandwich down and take in a sharp breath.

"Excuse me, may I go to the bathroom?" Noa clears her throat and my mum nods. I watch her leave the table and head over in the direction of the bathroom. Once she was out of sight, I turn to my mum who gives me an apologetic look.

"I wasn't thinking, I will apologise when she returns." She quickly speaks up and I nod as I take a bite into the sandwich.

"I think my day went well, work went okay and we went out for lunch at this cafe, I'm sure you would love it." Malcom returns with the drinks and sets them all out in front of who wants what. We thanked him and then my parents went into their own conversation.

I sit here awkwardly. not knowing exactly what to do as Noa isn't here so I am unable to speak to her, and because my parents are in their conversation. So I guess I will have to sit here and wait for Noa to return.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for her to do so. She greets me with a smile and I return the smile once she sits down.

My parents quickly end their conversation once they realise we are all back. They turn around and also smile at her, I then notice the way the room fell silent and the tension grew from how it was before.

My father drinks a little of his drink and I eat another sandwich to distract myself from whatever is happening.

"So, would you like to go on a walk or something? You know, just to pass the time?" My mum questions the girl sitting beside me.

"I don't mind, it is still raining outside so I don't think a walk is the best idea. How about a movie?" She raises a brow and my parents both nod in agreement.

We all finish off the food which takes quite a while since there was so much food in front of us. Not all of it was gone, we did leave a few things off each plate for leftovers and snacks later on.

Once everything is wrapped up, the plates are washed and drinks are finished followed by more being poured, we head towards the living room and take a seat.

Noa sits down beside me and my parents are on their own sofa. I don't know what film to watch, I don't think anyone knows what we want to watch but here we all are, sitting down looking clueless at the screen.

"Let's watch some Disney or how about just something random?" The woman across from us suggests and we all nod in agreement. She takes the remote and puts on some random film, none of us has seen it so it is something for everyone.

~~~

Hours pass, the film finished around an hour ago and it's almost eleven and I am back in my bedroom with Noa. Her parents are letting her stay the night as long as we take care of her which we will do.

She lays with her head on my chest, her fingers drawing light shapes on the palm of my hand and she's flicking through a photo book that's dedicated to ballet.

It has every show, practice, achievement and just anything that has value to me in the book. I would take photos, or my family would and then we would print them off and put them into one of the slots in the book. It has years worth of memories stored in there, I keep it in the drawer of my desk most of the time. The cover is painted, I found a set of paint and brushes and just painted stars on there until it created a nice cover.

"When was this taken?" She asks, pointing at one of the photos which was from a few years ago. It was when I received some flowers from my grandparents after one of the performances. I was over the moon.

"A few years ago, after one of my performances, I got some flowers from my grandparents," I respond and she hums with a smile on her face.

The picture is only me holding some roses, I was casted as the Sugarplum Fairy so I was all dressed up as expected, I looked tired which is understandable since I just performed for two and a half hours.

"Carter?" I whisper as my fingers mess with her hair. She looks up at me without saying a word, she just stares into my eyes, "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Her cheeks heat up and turn into a light red shade, her smile then grows as I cup her cheeks and kiss her lightly.

"I know I have already told you this, but when you dated my brother I was extremely jealous since I was still in love with you. So maybe it explains why I have been waiting for you since we broke up. It hurt seeing you with him because a part of me knew you and I could've had something again. Clearly, I was correct." She confesses, the words slip off her tongue like water flowing and each word warms my heart.

"I gathered, I saw the way you would look at me, and then the way you looked at your brother. I missed you though, Noa. I wanted you but your brother wanted me, and maybe dating him was an attempt to move on but I was crazy to think it would work. I have always loved you, I never stopped and I never will." I smile while I look down at the girl laying on me.

"I once again see a future with you, Zara." She admits, turning her body to face me and she continues to draw shapes on the palm of my hand.

"You are my future." I allow the smile to widen on my face as I watch her own smile grow too, and the blush darkening too.

"I love you, Blondie." Her voice comes out as a soft whisper but still causes my heart to flutter in my chest. She never fails to get this reaction out of me, and she knows it too.

"I love you too, Carter."