Rave & Roses {A Rema Fanfic}

48 - ZARA

"Honestly, I don't know what you were thinking clubbing till 4 a.m.!" Stella, my manager, shook her head as she handed me a bottle of water. The photoshoot had come and gone, but I was still nursing the effects of the night before. I groaned, leaning against the hotel wall as she gave me a stern look.

Amber was just waking up when I finally arrived back at the hotel. Her face lit up when she saw me, but she quickly turned to point at the package sitting on the table.

"Something came for you earlier," Amber said, her voice still groggy from our late night.

I walked over, curious, and opened it to find my favorite comfort food: Alfredo shrimp pasta, water, and some hangover meds. A soft sigh of relief escaped me as I took in the thoughtful gesture. But it didn't end there. Nestled in the box was a huge bouquet of blue roses, their petals vibrant against the white wrapping. I couldn't help but smile as I read the handwritten note that accompanied the flowers:

"I enjoyed last night, thank you for coming.
— Divine."

My heart fluttered a little at the sight of the note. The memory of the night before—dancing with him, the way his eyes had softened when I was near, the feeling of closeness I had almost forgotten—came rushing back. It was so unexpected, yet exactly what I needed. I took a picture of the bouquet and the note, capturing the moment, and posted it on Instagram. I didn't care who saw it. This felt personal, but it also felt right to share with the world.

Amber, still rubbing her eyes, glanced at my phone when I set it down. She raised an eyebrow as she read the post. "So, what's the deal with Divine? You two... making up?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I wanted to reveal. But Amber had always been my sounding board, and I trusted her with everything. So I sighed and let it all out.

"I don't know," I began, my voice soft. "It's complicated. I acted like I didn't remember him at first, like I was fine with everything that happened between us, but... when I saw him last night, everything came rushing back. I still love him, Amber. I don't think that's ever really gone away."

She didn't say anything for a moment, just studied me with understanding eyes. I looked away, feeling the weight of everything we'd been through.

"And do you think he's changed?" Amber asked, breaking the silence.

I thought about it. The way Divine had looked at me that night, how hard it had been for him to even speak to me at first. There was hesitation, but there was also something different in the way he approached me—like he wasn't the same person I had left behind.

"I need to know if he's changed," I answered honestly. "I need to see if the man I fell in love with is really still in there, or if he's just a shadow of who he was. I don't want to fall back into something that isn't real."

Amber nodded slowly, then a soft smile spread across her face. "I get it. And, Zara, if you really want him back, you have to make him work for it. You deserve to know that he's willing to fight for you. Don't make it easy for him."

I smiled back at Amber, appreciating the truth in her words. She was right. I couldn't just give in. If Divine wanted a second chance, he had to prove he was worthy of it.

"I will," I said, feeling a sense of determination settle within me. "I need to be sure. I owe it to myself."

Amber gave me a thumbs-up, clearly supportive of my decision. "You've got this. I'm all for whatever makes you happy. Just make sure he doesn't think he can get off easy."

I nodded, my mind swirling with thoughts of Divine, the bouquet of blue roses, and the feelings that had started to resurface. But this time, I wasn't going to let myself fall blindly into it. This time, I would be cautious.