G O L D E N | why don't we |

┃F O U R T E E N┃

"cast your fears away, you should reach for me"- why don't we

"Zach I don't want to argue with you! I'm not in the mood." Emilia walked ahead of the rest of the group on the hiking trail and Zach was following close behind her.

"I just want to talk to you Lia, come on, you can't be still mad at me!" He yelled back grabbing her hand and turning her to face him, the group was watching the fiasco but from a distance back. Emilia noticed them all watching, Daniel looking at her with sad eyes.

"Zach, I don't know what is going on between us or what this is but I can't keep hurting Daniel, or you, I'm not mad at you I just want to understand what you want from me." She said in a whisper and Zach looked down because he couldn't answer, he didn't exactly know.

He wanted to keep telling himself he was falling in love with Emilia, it was true he liked her more than a friend but it was deeper than that and Emilia knew exactly what.

"You can't keep letting her eat you alive Zach, if you love me, if you love her, stop pushing her away and claiming the best friend card on her when you know you love her. It's not helping anything it's making it worse. We aren't in middle school anymore, it's in the past let it go."
Zach shook his head and started walking past Emilia.

"She won't let me. Remember? Emilia, I do love you, I do, but she is all I ever think about yet she won't even give me the time of day."

"You haven't even tried Zachary. I'll help you out but you gotta stop trying to replace her with every girl you see, it's not going to help anything but make everything worse."

Zach nodded slowly then glanced back at his group then looked at Emilia who was watching him.

"But you still like me too, you can't deny it but Daniel likes you a lot. I won't stop you this time." Emilia smiled softly and continued to walk, fixing the backpack on her shoulders.

"You think you can refrain from kissing me?" She teased and he bumped his shoulder with hers.
"Oh shut up."

They all continued walking, following the two who were leading the way on the hike. It was an early morning, a few days after the party and Corbyn suggested they all go on a hike just to get some fresh air. Tensions were high once again and he thought it would be best.

Jonah walked beside Jessie, watching each step they both took in unison.

They hadn't had a proper conversation since she slapped him and he was still conflicted if he deserved it or not. He loved her, he had loved her for so long but he knew her heart was falling for someone else and he would have to let her go.

"Jonah I just wanted to say I'm sorry for slapping you, it was out of line and I'm just so sorry." Jonah chuckled looking towards her, his blue eyes sparkling in the rising sun.

"You said sorry like fifty times after you did it so, apology accepted." He said with a small smile and Jessie smiled back at him.

"Thank you." She said to him and he furrowed his eyebrows.
"For what?"

"For just...being you." Jonah chuckled and blushed slightly.

"No problem."

Leylah walked beside Daniel and Jack, both quiet in their thoughts while Leylah was watching Zach and Emilia laugh and push each other as they led the hike.

After Zach kissed her at the party, she was beating herself up over letting it have the same effect it had on her the first time they kissed. It was so long ago but fresh in her memory and she could never forget how perfect their lips fit together. She touched her lips absentmindedly at the thought.