The girl on the bus

Chapter 17 : defend yourself

Author's note:
Hello, it's been quite some time since I last updated and I'm really sorry so I wrote up a longer chapter this ime to make up for the wait. Hope you guys like it🩷

Tilly
Zed is waiting for me in the parking lot and I can't get myself to get out of school. I'm scared, mainly because I messed up earlier when he confessed to me and because Annie is literally dragging me out. "You got this" she tries to cheer me on, but it only works for a second before she opens the door, and I see Zed leaning against the wall. "Okay, my cue to leave" Annie mutters and leaves. Shit. I can do this. I walk towards him and he is already looking at me.
"Hi" I smile as we hug. He smiles at me "hi, you ready?"
"Um I hope so" I laugh and let him lead the way. He is holding my hand firmly,
"Where do you want to go?" He asks, okay here is my chance "can we talk?" His eyes look a bit shocked when I say that,
"Yeah, wait we can go to my gym, it's empty now" he replies. I can't really read him at the moment and we both just stay silent, I hope I didn't scare him too much.

We enter the gym and Zed leads me to the empty boxing rink, we are completely alone here.
He sits down and I follow his lead plopping down next to him. He is watching me, waiting for me to say something. I can tell he is stressed by the way his eyes wander all over me, searching for an explanation.Here it goes.
"I'm in love with you" I say as he stares at me in silence. He watches me carefully his lips slowly stretching into a smile.
"Fuck Tilly you scared me, I was sure you were going to break things off, that I fucked up this morning" he lets out a relieved sigh.
"I didn't know how to react I'm really sorry, I got scared" he laughs at that, running his hands trough his hair. I watch as he shifts closer to me and I reach for a hug. He immediately reacts and lifts me up to his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, so there is no space left in between us. I feel his eyes travel from my eyes to my lips, as he waits for me to give him a signal. I give him one, kissing his lips. He lets out a groan smiling against me, "god I love you so much" he sighs holding my waist firmly. I can feel his heartbeat against me, thumping fast. "Want to try something?" He asks suddenly still hugging me tightly.
"Yes, what is it"
"Do you want me to teach you how to box" that does seem fun, and it might help if I ever have to deal with Kai again, and I guess that is why he is doing it too.
He then helps me stand up, pulling me up with his arms.
"Wait let me get my gloves" he says picking up his giant bag from  the floor. I stare at it intensely waiting for him to pull out first pair of black gloves. He throws them at me, not even looking which I'm grateful for as they land on the floor in front of me because of my terrible attempt to catch it. Embarrassed I quickly pick them up hoping he didn't see it but he starts laughing "That was not so slick" he says turning around another pair of gloves in his hands. These ones are just as big as the ones I'm holding except that they are dark gray and have something written on them. "What does that say?" I ask curiously eying them.
"Oh it's my name" he traces the letters on them. Stepping closer to see better I notice it's just some initials. Now I'm sure that the first Z stands for Zed and the last letter A for his last name Armani. But what is the G in the middle.
"Zed Armani" I read and he shifts his attention back to me. "What is the middle letter for?"
He smirks running his hands trough his hair.
"It's my middle name" that makes me laugh, middle name? "What is it?" I smirk, thousands of various names flocking my mind.
"Guess" he smiles
"Gabe" I shoot out earning a grin from him,
"Keep going"
"Gilbert , George, oh my god is it Geoff" by now I can barely keep back from laughing,
"Tilly, what kind of names are those, Geoff?" He laughs,
"That was the name of my geography teacher" I recall the image of the old smiling man, telling us about the importance of maps and rocks.
"Suiting is it?" He laughs "Geoff the geography teacher" I never even realised that until now and it makes me burst laughing.
"Tell me" I say when we both calm down,
"No" he smirks turning around,
"Please" I sigh following him "I can bribe you" I start and he stops abruptly "I'm listening"
So I take it as a yes and walk towards him, pulling him down so his face is to my level. I slowly place a peck on his lips and he kisses me back.
"Soo" I say pulling away
"Gabriel"
"That is it?" It sounds so gentle.
"Yes" he smiles.