you will find me // zach dempsey

eight.

// mia's pov //

"If you didn't like how the other guys were treating you then why didn't you just tell us?" Jess asked as she added onto her question before letting Alex answer, "You know I would've confronted them about it. Hell, Mia has a black belt for God's sake she could've easily kicked their ass for you." 

"I just didn't want you guys to worry. Especially you, Mia. You've had too much on your plate and I didn't want to add to that.," Alex said as I just gave him a small smile. 

"Alex, it's fine. If you had told me, it would've been better than actually loosing you. I know we were never as close as we used to be but I don't want to risk loosing someone else at school." I said as he just gave me a small smile before the nurse came in to tell us that they needed to do some tests on him so we had to leave the room. 

"We'll come back for you tomorrow," Jess said as we said our goodbyes before walking out of the hospital and heading back to my house to get ready for the game tonight.

On the way to my house, we were both debating on whether or not we should really go to the game tonight. I really want to go to support Zach and I even promised him that I would go, but after everything that's been happening I just need more time to myself and so does Jess. But as soon as we got to my house we decided that we'll just suck it up and go to the game. 

"I can't believe you still have this," Jess said as I turned around to see she had pulled out my old One Direction christmas sweater from my closet. 

"Hey! Don't judge me! It's really comfy," I said as I snatched it from her and put it back in my closet while she started laughing. 

"Alright, whatever. But really, why do you still have it?" 

"I told you, it's comfy."

"Is that really the only reason you have?"

"Yeah."

"Who gave it to you again?"

"Someone," I said as Jess just gave me a look.

"It was Zach wasn't it?" She asked as I just ignored her. "Oh my gosh! It was!" 

"Shut up!"

"I mean I know you've had this for a while, but I never new why you got it. Why did he get this for you?"

"It's a long story."

"Honey, we have time."

"Jess, just let it go. We're gonna be late for the game," I said as I put my jacket on and Jess just let out another laugh before standing up from my desk chair to put her jacket on.

Of course, the whole car ride back to school Jess wouldn't let the whole backstory of Zach's christmas gift from a few years ago go as she kept insisting that she has to know why he gave it to me. 

"It's not that big of a deal, Jess," I said as I parked next to Zach's car. 

"At least tell me what other crazy gifts he's given you."

"Can we at least go inside first?"

"Alright, but you have to tell me later or else I won't stop bugging you. In fact, if you don't tell me I'll tell Zach your little secret."

"You wouldn't!"

"Oh honey, I would." Jess said as we both laughed. 

But then it hit me, Jess seems fine but I know she's hiding something from me. 

"Are you okay, Jess?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" 

"Well first of all you and Justin are no longer a thing, and second of all you always ignore me when I ask you about what exactly happened."

"I'll tell you later, alright?" Jess said as I just nodded my head and we headed inside the gym. 

Since basically the whole team was missing today, coach let all of them slide and participate in the game. I've never been too into sports but watching Zach play was always very entertaining. 

"If you take a picture, it'll last longer ya know," Jess said as she took me out of my thoughts and back to reality.

"Shut up," I said as I gently pushed her with my arm. 

"But really, you still haven't told me what you guys talked about. Have you guys talked about your relationship yet?"

"No. Kinda. Maybe."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Jess, I already told you. You already know this."

"But you weren't being specific."

"I told him or at least tried to tell him that I wasn't ready for a relationship right now. He said he already knew. I didn't have to tell him. He even said I was worth the wait. But Jess, I don't know what I should do. Because if I keep him waiting for too long he might loose interest in me and I don't want that. I don't want to tell him that I'm ready when it's already too late."

"If I were you, I'd tell him that I love him and that I'm willing to take the risk."

"I don't want to get hurt again."

"You don't know if you don't try."

"What if the relationship fails?"

"Mia, he's been in love with you for years. Sure he's dated other girls but they meant nothing to him. I'm not sure if he told you this already but the only reason he's been dating other girls is because he hoped that that would help him get over his feelings for you."

"I didn't know that."

"Well, now you do. Just remember and I keep telling you this, he loves you a lot. If he hurts you then just let me know and I'll kick his ass for you. Now, this is a game for crying out loud, let's not be such simps and actually support our basketball team for once." 

"You're right," I said as I wiped my tears off and got into the cheering spirit with Jess.