Younower Imagines

29 | Zach Clayton

You'd been avoiding this moment for weeks, hoping it would disappear.

When the package first arrived, you were excited because receiving mail was always something to be excited about, possibly it was something from a supporter.

But then you saw the return address and your excitement was replaced with sorrow. The sight of his name caused your heart to ache, so you left the unopened box on the kitchen counter, deciding you would deal with it later.

Weeks went by, and all you could do was stare at it mindlessly, wishing it would disappear.

Opening it would mean it was finally over; a thought you weren't quite ready to entertain. You found it so strange that an entire relationship, all the memories and laughs and tears and kisses could be contained in one box.

"Might as well get this over with" you sighed, ripping back the tape and opening the flaps to reveal the contents within, wondering how so much magic could be lost in such a short amount of time.

...

"Don't be nervous," he said, shooting you a reassuring smile.

"You know they love you."

You gulped and nodded, although you didn't quite believe him. To be fair, it was irrational for you to feel so anxious, seeing as you were a childhood friend of Zach's, which meant you had known his parents for years.

But that was before you started dating. This was the first time you was visiting them since your relationship with Zach went public and your dates were photographed and splashed on the cover of every gossip page on the Internet.

His fingers laced with yours, squeezing tightly as he pulled you through the front door of that familiar family house.

A wave of cold air washed over you as you entered and you shivered slightly, tugging on your favorite red scarf to tighten it around your neck.

Despite the fact that it was only slightly breezy, you had worn the light neck accessory as a sort of battle armor. You remembered that the Clayton household was always a few degrees colder than you liked, yet you still felt as though you were home when you walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, mom," Zach grinned as he dropped your hand to hug his mother tightly.

You weren't quite sure how his mother would react, but you let out a sigh of relief when she immediately embraced you as well, suddenly wondering why you had been nervous at all.

"I can take that," Zach nodded towards your scarf. You unwrapped it from your neck and handed it over, only to roll your eyes when he tossed the article of clothing over the back of the nearest barstool.

"What?" he shrugged innocently at your pointed stare, "This way you won't forget it."

You laughed, leaning forward to kiss him lightly on the cheek and feeling your entire body warm when he blushed.

It was incredible how easily you fell back into your old routines: helping Zach set the table for dinner and laughing out of sympathy when his dad told a corny joke.

You conversed easily, sharing goofy stories and antics from your childhood and anecdotes Luke had told you about life on the road and you marveled at how easily strangers could become family.