Inevitable // Zach Mitchell // [2]

Chapter Six

I start to bite my lip nervously. I'm anxious to hear this long overdue explanation.

Zach takes a deep breath, "When we got to college I was excited to be with you every single day, it was like a dream come true. However as the weeks went on I couldn't help but notice that you were excelling at everything, literally everything! You're at the top of all your classes, you're the captain of the track team and literally everyone wants to be friends with you! I just couldn't help but feel like I wasn't good enough for you."

I'm stunned. I can't believe he felt this way and kept it bottled up. I move a little closer to him, "Why didn't you just talk to me Zach?"

"I wanted to! I really did, but I thought you might think I was over analyzing everything and being paranoid. So I just kept it to myself for a while. Then one day Amy noticed that I wasn't focusing in our study group so after everyone left she made me tell her everything. That's when she produced the vodka and said it would make me feel better. I wasn't thinking clearly so I just kept drinking. Then she kissed me out of nowhere and that's when you walked in!" Zach spoke, his voice now shaking.

"Why has it taken you so long to talk to me about this? You know, properly? It's been so long." I whisper.

He runs a hand over his face, "Because after what I did, the kiss, the drinking, I felt like it justified me not being good enough for you. That's why I didn't fight for you as hard as I should've. I gave up. I shouldn't have but I did. I'm sorry."

I don't know what to say. I had no idea of the complexity of the emotions he was feeling during that time.

"I forgive you." I choke out.

He raises his head, the twinkle back in his eye.

I move toward him and place both of my hands on his chest. His arms find their way around my waist.

"From now on we tell each other everything okay? Countless deep and meaningful conversations? Deal?" I smile.

He grins, "Deal."

Zach moves his face down to mine and captures my lips in the perfect kiss. I move one of my hands up and rest it on the side of his face before moving it into his hair.

He pulls away and rests his forehead on mine.

"I've missed you." He whispers.

I giggle, "You're such a dork."

"We should probably get back to the truck before Claire and Owen." Zach sighs.

I nod, "You're right. Speaking of my brother, he can't know about us until we are off this ship and in a safe environment. I'm gonna need time to figure out how to tell him."

Zach swallows nervously, "How mad do you think he's gonna be?"

"Not that mad, don't worry! He'll get over it." I say with a reassuring smile.

I'm completely lying through my teeth right now. Owen is going to be furious.

•

We arrive back at the truck with six 2 litre bottles of water.

"Dani what the hell? I thought I told you not to leave this truck?" My brother says with his hands on his hips.

I start to pass around the bottles, "Okay you can't be mad, I just went to get water! It's a necessity that we all need to survive."

"Then why did Zach go with you?" Owen asks quietly so only I can hear him.

"I just needed help carrying all the bottles, don't worry about it." I say while looking him directly in the eye.