sympathy ~ e.d.

XXV

I finish my homework for Wednesday and head downstairs, still with my headphones in my ears. My mom is nowhere in sight, nor is a meal. I sigh and grab the dinner salad I had bought last time I went grocery shopping. I'm glad I did, I don't need to cook anything, simply open the packet and I got myself dinner.

I take a bite of it while sitting at the dinner table, scrolling through my phone. I got a text from Ethan, asking me if I survived. I text him back I did and less than a minute later, his name pops up on my screen again, requesting to call me.

'Yes, hi?' I answer my phone. 'Hi Zee. I really kind of want to show you something, can you be ready in about forty minutes?' 'Ready for what?' I ask curiously. 'For what I want to show you.' I can hear him smile through the phone while saying that.

'Fine. Any other instructions?' 'Yes, I would wear something warm and take a blanket with you. And drink some coffee now, you'll have to stay awake for some longer.' 'Ethan, it's Sunday night, it's a school day tomorrow.' 'I know, but I don't care. See you, bye!'

I put a few layers of clothing as Ethan had ordered. I also make myself a coffee but throw in some cacao so it's a mix of coffee and hot chocolate. It's pretty good, nice and warm since today was a sort of cold day outside.

I hear a car outside and head out. When I close the door behind me, I remember my mom had actually grounded me. Oh well, too bad. It's not like she's here anyway.

Ethan is wearing his ripped jeans and hoodie and looking really good. I step into the passenger's seat of his car and he smiles at me. 'Where are you taking me?' He looks back in front of him and reverses the car to get out of my driveway. 'You'll see, baby, you'll see.'

We finally arrive at the place where Ethan wanted to go. We're standing at the foot of a hill, looking up. 'Well, I heard you didn't mind hiking so follow me.' He holds out his hand for me to take. I gladly take it and follow him up the trail. 'It's about a fifteen-minute hike, so not that much.'

Ethan stops all of a sudden, and I react just in time to stop myself from bumping into him. He turns around and looks me straight in the eye. 'I want you to close your eyes from here.' 'Ethan, I'm going to trip, I'd rather not.' 'Then get on my back?' he asks like it is obvious. I frown at him and he, childishly, frowns back.

After a slight bickering, it has been decided Ethan will carry me the last few metres. I climb on his back and close my eyes. 'Are your eyes closed?' he asks me. 'Yes, they are, E.'

He starts walking. After a few too short minutes, he lowers me on the ground again. 'Okay, you can look now.' I open my eyes and see a lot of darkness. But when I look better, I can spot the lights of the city. It looks so small and beautiful from up here, so delicate.

'Thank you for taking me here.' 'It gets better. You still got that blanket?' I hand him the cloth I had grabbed from home. He lays it down on the grass and lies down on it. I follow his lead and look up, to find nothing but beautiful stars.

'So basically a lot of shooting stars can be seen tonight.' 'That's so cool, why?' I ask him. 'Well, it has something to do with the Perseid meteor shower; little particles are burning up which makes them look like shooting stars', he explains. 'Someone did their research,' I smile and snuggle up close to him. It is quite cold.

With my head on his chest, I keep half an eye out and even spot some shooting stars, making a wish on every single one I can find.

'Did you make a wish?' Ethan asks me after we both spotted the same one. 'Yes, the same wish now for a few stars.' 'And that may be?' he asks me while I feel his gaze on me.

'I thought if you voiced your wish it wouldn't come true.' 'But I'm curious.' I smile at his childish excuse and sit up so I can properly look at him. He lays his arms behind his head and looks back at me. 'Please?' He's looking so adorable right now.

I place my hands next to his torso and lower myself down to give him a short kiss. 'You're really cute.' He just sends me a smirk.

'I believe this is the category of avoiding the conversation, Zee. What was your wish?' 'If you promise not to laugh.' 'I promise, too curious to back out now.'

I smile and bite my lip while doing so. 'Well, it sounds so childish, but I just want to be happy. Most likely that would be with you, but just feeling better in general.' I watch as Ethan sits up.

'Okay, I've got a question for you.' 'Shoot', I reply. 'Would you like to be my girlfriend?' His eyes look directly into mine and my eyes widen. I wasn't expecting that at all. It takes me some time to get over my initial shock apparently, because Ethan seems to get slightly uncomfortable.

Finally, I break out into a huge grin. 'I'd love to. I'll just have to find a way to make my mom like you at least half as much as I do and we'll be good.' His uneasiness disappeared immediately and he places a kiss on my forehead before lying back down. He pats the ground directly next to him, signaling for me to lay back down so we can watch the falling stars once again.

I look at the boy smiling in front of me and in that moment, I truly felt content. I felt like maybe my life wasn't as bad when I wasn't self-pitying or closing myself off.

Thanks to him, mostly, I had made friends. I mean, Grayson can be considered my friend and I am pretty sure Desiree will be one soon enough.

It was like a moment of perfect realization everything felt like it was settling for the better for once. And it felt amazing.

'So, to seal the deal, aren't we supposed to kiss or something?'

✰

That was the book and the end of Zera and Ethan's story for now :')

I originally planned to make it about 10 chapters long but that didn't really work out, whoops. I just fell in love with Ethan and Zera along the way and didn't know how to end it. This still isn't the best end, but I'll be rewriting a lot of chapters. Also, Des will be added to the cast and that kinda stuff.

I truly honestly want to thank you for the love on this book. It means so much and I know it sounds like I just say that but it really does bring a smile to my face.

:)
xx im