Capture 18+

Chapter 4

I stared at the sky it's a beautifully lit night, the sky is full of dimly lit stars. My eyes began to well up with tears, I remembered what life back at home was like.

Every Friday night my mom would make dad get off of work early to spend the afternoon with us, they would come to school to get me and then we would drive to the beach where my favourite ice cream parlour sat, I would always get cookies and cream which was my favourite flavour.

Antonio the old man that ran the ice cream place would come running out to greet me and my parents every time we went, he was a widow having lost his wife in his late 50s and he never ended up remarrying instead opting to adopt a small dog he used to follow him around everywhere, he even had his own little kennel at the ice cream parlour.

After that we used to go walk down to the beach and just talk and walk on the beach for hours, sometimes when the weather was really nice mom would pack our swimsuits for us and we go down swimming.

My dad used to buy us a seafood pizza at the end of the day, which we used to eat right by the ocean and then we would go home and enjoy a movie night.

I miss her, but not just her I miss my family after she passed it hasn't been the same, she held me and my dad together but after she died we hadn't been the same.

"Are you okay?" A voice called out startling me, I jumped in fright, looking towards the Franco's house Zach came into view sitting on the roof "I'm fine Franco" I muttered just loud enough for him to hear "You don't seem fine" he spoke gesturing towards the tears that were just sliding down my face seconds before.

"Why don't you come on up it's a way better view from up here" he said smiling at me a real and genuine smile "And how do you expect me to come up there" I said with a sly smirk as I looked at the distance between my balcony and his roof.

"Right" he dragged on I rolled my eyes at his slight pout, "Move your ass over Franco" adrenaline pumped through my veins, it was a while since I did what I'm about to do and I just hope I don't fall to my death.

I made my way to the door taking a deep breath I ran leaping from the balcony, I made it on the roof by an inch. Zach looked at me horrified "Why the fuck would you do that?" he exclaimed making sure I wasn't bruised.

"You wanted me to come up here, didn't you" I questioned looking at him, making that jump took me back to my previous life, I can't lie and say I don't miss some aspects of it mainly the adrenaline rush it gave me.

"Not like that, you could have gone to the front door and I would have let you in" he said flabbergasted.

"Have you ever snuck out before?"

"I never had to sneak out before, they let me do whatever. But I wouldn't want to sneak out either way I don't want to worry mom more than I already do"

"Why would she have to worry about you?"

"There's a lot of things you don't know about this town Bella"

I looked out at the view, trying to evade his intense stare, he was right it was way better from up here. The ocean glistened under the moonlight even with just looking at the waves crashing against the rocks I could feel all my problems fade away.

I leaned back resting my back against the roof tiles looking up at the star filled sky, his words left me contemplating what it is I don't actually know about this town.

After a moment of silence Zach spoke "The stars are magnificent aren't they, you know that there are stars that come in pairs" I looked at him seeing him enticed by the night sky.

"They are called binary stars most of the stars you see are made of two stars but there are also stars with more than two stars" I couldn't help but look at him in wonder.

"How do you know so much?" I asked him fascinated at this new profound knowledge "I guess I have always been fascinated about the stars since I was young".

"They always intrigued me. Ever since I was a little boy I used to wait till my mom tucked me in bed and they I would come here to watch the stars" he continued a small smile forming on his face "That's so sweet" my response came as I looked up seeing the true beauty of them.

"What about you Bella?" he questioned turning towards me "What about me?" I asked getting back into a seating position "Who is Bella?" he said in a deep show game voice putting his pretend mike to my lips which caused me to chuckle. "Well Zachary I moved here from the city of angels and I'm an only child" he laughed at the mimic in my voice.

"What made you guys move here?" his question brought tears back into my eyes, I hung my head trying hard not to let the tears flow.

"Hey hey look at me baby girl" he spoke softly lifting my head to meet his beautiful eyes, "Tell me what happened" I took a deep breath "When I was 17 years old my mom got diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, 5 months later she left us." I spoke trying to force a smile on my face "Just like that she was gone" as I spoke the last sentence I couldn't keep the sobs at bay.

Zach immediately pulled me towards him tucking my head in his chest, he didn't try to quieten me down, he let me cry into his chest, I cried hard, I cried for the loss of my mother, I cried for everything that happened after her death, I cried for everything I lost in Los Angeles.

"I'm here for you baby girl" he whispered kissing the top of my head "And I'm sorry you had to go through that" he continued pulling me until I was sitting in his lap. I couldn't help a sigh that left my lips as my sobs quietened down, I rested my head against his chest feeling the rhythm of his heart beat drum against my head.

I couldn't help but feel safe and comforted in his arms like for some reason or another I belonged there and that was a scary feeling.