So This Is Love?

CHAPTER 22 | 14th Birthday Party Memories

Song is "Arcadia" by The Kite String Tangle. 

CHAPTER 22 ~ Brooke's POV

"Wow," I gasp as I take in my surroundings. Zach is standing in the middle of something amazing that he has put together for me. There are two seats on the ground with lots of pillows and lots of blankets which is a great idea because it's a little cold. There are snacks and lollies in bowls also. And finally there is a white sheet hanging up and a projector on a little table which leads me to believe that we are watching a movie.

"What's all this for?" I ask him and he just looks at me, smiling widely.

"I told you I would fight for you and I am. I want to show you how special you are to me. I don't want to be classified in the same category as Mason. I want to prove to you that I do care and I would do anything to show you that."

"I don't know what to say," I manage to get some words at as I stare at our surroundings.

"You don't need to say anything, Brooke," Zach tells me and I hug him.

"C'mon, let's sit down," Zach tells me and I do as instructed.

Once we are both sitting down Zach turns on the projector and presses play.

I can't help but let out an "Aww," at what comes up on screen. There are heaps of photos of me and him and some of just me. This is so sweet.

Then a picture of Ash's 14th birthday party comes up and I nearly cry.

"I almost forgot about that," I whisper out and Zach pauses the slideshow.

"Yeah, so did I," Zach says as he comes over to sit on my chair which is basically just pillows and blankets so it easily fit him and I. He begins to wipe away 1 stray tear that falls.

"That was so sweet," I tell him and he just encircles me in his arms.

"I was just trying to help you. You were hurt, I could tell, even though you insisted you were fine. The guys teased me so much after that but I didn't care," he whispers to me which just makes more tears fall. And it's not just because what he said was incredibly cute but because I care for him so much and it kills me that I'm struggling to forgive him. I really want to forgive him but it's hard, how do I know he won't hurt me again? How can I give him my heart if deep down I'm not sure if he will break it again.

"Brooke, I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I didn't even know what was happening until I pushed her away, I would never do that sort of thing to you intentionally," he tells me in a hushed tone. I nod at him and a small grimace forms on his face.

"You don't believe me, do you?" he says more like a statement than a question.

"It's not that I don't believe you. I just I don't know how I'm supposed to trust you with my heart when I'm not sure if you're going to break it again," I tell him my worries and he gives me a pained expression.

"I wish we could go back to that night at my house and change everything that happened the next day," Zach comments and I think back to that night with longing. I wish we could just go back, everything was perfect, well not perfect but it was filled with love. For once we had let our walls down and let each other in only for everything to come crashing down the next day.

"So do I but we can't. Things have happened and we can't change that. I for one am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and so I guess that you kissing Alex was just supposed to happen," I tell him with a sigh. And then there is silence. Long, excruciating silence which neither of us know how to fill. Quietly Zach retreats to his own separate seat and plays the slideshow again. Neither of us say anything, neither of us makes a noise as I struggle to muffle the sound of my crying by the pillows and blankets.