So This Is Love?

CHAPTER 18 | You Don't Understand The Damage You Have Done Now

Song is "Treatment" by Labrinth.

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If I was ya man baby you'd never worry bout what I do. I'd be coming home back to you every night, doing you right. You're the type of woman deserves good things. Fistful of diamonds handful of rings. Baby you're a star, I just want to show you, you are - "Let me love you" by Mario 

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CHAPTER 18 ~ Brooke's POV

"I'm here," I reply, getting up out of bed.

I slide my trackies on over my pyjama shorts and pull a jumper over my oversized t-shirt. I quietly and skilfully make my way out of the house without anyone hearing me. Mum, Dad, Catherine and Jack are fast asleep and don't hear a thing. Ever since Jack met a girl named Samantha at the park he hasn't stopped talking about her. So much so that she is coming over for a play date tomorrow. Jack is elated to say the very least.

By now I have reached my car, I unlock my Lexus and hop in. I place the keys in the ignition and I'm off. It takes about 5 minutes to get to Zach's so I won't be in the car long. I turn the radio and listen to quiet hum of Ed Sheeran playing meaningful songs.

Once I pull up at Zach's house, or mansion I guess either would work, I lock my car and head for the front door. I text Zach telling him to open the door. Quickly I place a folded sheet of paper on the doormat which I prepared before I left home. I step out of view so when Zach opens the door he won't see me. Seconds later I hear the front door unlock and see Zach's confused face at my note.

Turn around

Slightly creepy but that's just the way I do things. Out of the best intentions and mean a lot but sometimes comes off creepy.

As Zach turns around I step onto the doormat and when he turns back around I smile at him. He smiles back at me but I can see through it. He isn't happy but is trying his best to cover that up. Putting on a façade which to all is full proof but not to me, I know him. I know when he's sad he tries to be happy. He smiles but it does reach his eyes like it does when he's happy. He looks to the ground very briefly before he answers and then his response is calm, collected and well thought out. I know when he's happy his smile reaches his eyes. He radiates positivity and his eyes hold so much happiness and many memories, visible to only those who look not just see. He takes less than 5 seconds to respond to anything you say and it's always positive. He has this aura that surrounds him and makes you want to be closer to him, to know him inside and out. You want to know every quirk, every flaw, everything that makes him who he is. I know that when he is confused he takes on average 15 seconds to respond to you. He tilts his head a little, not much and not noticeable unless you look for it. I know he uses his fingers as if he is physically connecting the dots. I know him, not everything, but I know that he isn't happy. Something is going on behind the walls he put up around his true self and I intend on figuring it out. I just want to be there for him, to be the one to tear down his walls brick by brick. I want to let him into my heart and want him to let me into his.

"Zach..." I trail off.

"I need you," he repeats what he said over text but unlike text I can hear the vulnerability in his voice. My heart breaks for him.

"I'm here, I'll always be here."

And then he pulls me into the biggest hug I have ever had but I don't mind. I just want him to understand that I'm here and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. He pulls me inside protecting me from the cold air outside.