Wrapped

Chapter 26

Twenty Six- Zach

It's been a week. A whole week since Nick has left. Nick and I try to keep contact by calling or text messaging each other, but it's only at least once a day. Since he's in Florida, there's a little change in time zones, so he goes to be later than I do. He's in school, so I have to wait for him to call me. Plus, he also said that his mom will be wanting to get new phones and phone numbers. Why is that happening?

After Nick leaving, I've been having a hard time taking in the pain that filled my body. I feel like my other half has been taken away from me. So, I take it out in my dance studio. I make my dancers work twice as hard, I yell twice as loud, everybody thinks I'm always angry now. It might be harsh, but there's nothing else I can do.

Today is Monday. Not only that it's Monday, it's my twentieth birthday. I took the day off, leaving Bella to work with my dancers. Pierce isn't even home right now. He's at a friend's house I suppose. He didn't even say, 'Happy Birthday, Zack,' today.

My sorry excuse for a father didn't even call me to wish me a happy birthday. He stopped saying 'happy birthday' to me when I turned fifteen and Pierce was twelve. Sad, isn't it?

"Celebrating alone, again," I sigh to myself and check the time.

1:37 P.M.

Nick wouldn't be calling me for a couple more hours. I really am alone, now. But, on the bright side, I'd rather be home alone than upstairs with Logan and Brandon. Luckily, they haven't been trying to call me up to go party with them.

All I'm going to do today is probably lay on the couch, thinking about life; thinking about what Nick is doing, how he's doing, why he had to leave, all those sorts of stuff.

Before I reach the couch, my phone starts to blare out beeping noises, notifying me that someone is calling. I pick up my phone off the coffee table and look at the screen to see which contact is calling me.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: (407) - *** - ****

I have never seen this number in my life. I don't even know the area code for this number, for sure I know it's not for this state I'm in.

Shakily, I click the answer button on my phone and put it up to my ear. "Hello?"

"Happy Birthday!" A young boy's voice screeches through the other line of the phone.

A smile grows on my face. I know this voice. It's Nick. Why is he calling me at this time of day? He's supposed to be in school. Maybe he got a day off, oh, I don't care. This is great, he actually called me, and said happy birthday to me!

"Thank you, sweetie" I chuckle through the speaker and sit on the couch comfortably. "Why aren't you in school?"

"My mom took me to get a new phone instead. Uh - um, did you get your present in the mail?" He asks with hope filling in his tone of voice over the phone.

"I don't think so, what was it?" I ask having tears brim my eyelids.

Just the thought of Nick getting me something just is tear jerking. Nobody has cared enough to get me a birthday present since my mother's passing. Usually Pierce would clean the apartment or something. But, now that Nick actually got me something, he cares.

"Oh, just a surprise," I could tell he was smiling on the other side of the phone.

It became silent over then line. I don't know what to say, I'm just already happy enough that Nick called me. I hope he's glad as much as I am.

"I miss you," The thought slips out of my mouth and I feel the tears coming back once more.

"I miss you, too, Zack, a lot," Nick replies slowly, his voice cracking slightly. I hope this isn't making him cry.

"Don't worry about a thing, alright? We will be together once again soon," I say reassuringly, but I can't help but have my voice shake when I make my statement.

I can't be so sure if we could get back together soon. I don't have enough money to get both Pierce and I down to Florida, I don't know where Nick even lives. The only way would possible work is if Nick comes back to Maryland, only if his mom would allow it. I doubt it will ever happen.

"I know," Nick sniffles and sighs. "I have to go, my mom wants to talk to me about something. I'll call you as soon as I can, okay?"

I nod, but then realize that he won't be able to see me over the phone. "Okay, I'll talk to you later, then," I cover up, trying to sound pleased again.

"I love you," I heard him say quietly, before I could say anything, I heard the buzz, meaning he hung up.

I stare at my phone in disbelief. Nick loves me. I would have never guess it. My heart feels like it exploded, my hands are shaking with my phone between them, my face feels hot, hot enough to have sweat beads fill on my forehead. This is what love feels like. I like this.

But, why did he hang up on me so fast? Did he feel embarrassed or something? I didn't even have enough time to say 'I love you' back to him. Because I would have gladly said it back. Maybe he's afraid I would have said something that could have hurt his feelings. But, that's the last thing I want, it to have Nick to be hurt.

Almost immediately, I run out of my apartment to the mail bin. I open my bin up and see a folded package inside it. I check who it's for, and it have my name, address, and the address from who it's from, which is probably from Nick.

This is Nick's present, I know it. I never get packages from the mail, besides, he asked if I got his present earlier, so it has to be from him.

I don't even wait to open it inside, I tear the packaging off and see what the present is. All I can tell what it is so far, is that it's a folded piece of paper. I open it up and feel tears rolls down my face. This is the best present I've probably ever received.

It's a collage of pictures of Nick and me. Some kissy pictures of us, some of us hugging, some of us being silly, then there's a picture of just Nick on one side of the paper, and a picture of me on the other side. This is perfect.

I turn the paper over and read the back in cursive hand writing, obviously Nick's. It read:

Even though we are apart, we are still together. I love you, Zack. Love, Nick.

This is just pure perfection.