precious ✦ why don't we ✓

[T W E N T Y - F O U R]

we were already three hours into our flight which meant we only had four and a half hours left. everyone flew in first class and i sat next to zach while corbyn and jack were in front of me and daniel and jonah were behind me. tyler, eben, zack, and a few other people were randomly scattered around the front of the plane.

"i'm sorry." zach said, looking at me.

i turned my gaze from the window to zach. "huh? what did you do this time zach?"

he laughed. "nothing major. i just wanted to say sorry for pulling you into all this drama."

i grabbed his hand and squeezed it, smiling at him. "it's okay. it's not your fault. people will find ways to hate on others for the smallest things. when zack first told me that the band i would possibly be photographing for had you in it, i didn't want to do it. i heard so many rumors and bad stories about you that i used those to assume what type of person you were. i was very wrong to do that because you proved me wrong."

i would be lying if i said i didn't have feelings for zach. i think i realized it the first time he stuck up for me and 'fans' told him he ruined his reputation because of me. he didn't care though. he continued to look at me the same and be my friend.

we normally hold hands, which is why i was so confident when i held his. it was our way of reassuring each other everything was going to be okay.

it was a simple gesture, but a sweet one.

<~>

our plane landed with a few bumps, causing me to squeeze zach's hand again. we waited a few minutes after landing and everyone began climbing off the plane.

zach helped me get my carryon and we followed him corbyn and jack off the plane.

we then made our way to the baggage claim. on our way there, i got distracted by a cute purse dog and lost everyone. i didn't know our boarding flight or anything because i don't pay attention to things.

i was about to call someone when zach facetimed me.

"hello?" i answered, looking around to se did i could find any familiar faces.

"eden, where are you?" zach asked.

"i honestly don't really know. i got distracted by a cute little dog and then lost y'all. what's are flight?" i pulled down my white clout goggles that matched zach's. mine still had the tag on them thought because i like to flex like that.

"c7. yeah, just go to that area or something and we'll be waiting."

i nodded, "okay, bye zach."

i headed to the bacggage claim and found the area. i waited for my bag to come around and looked for the boys. i found them watching me carefully, i was assuming to make sure i didn't get hurt.

i felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a man that looked about sixty.

"yes?" i asked, picking up my bag from the claim and standing to stare at him.

"can you help me find my dog? she jumped out of my bag and ran off." i recognized him as the owner of the dog i got distracted by.

did he follow me over here?

"i really wish i was could, sir, but my f-" i was cut off by him grabbing my wrist tightly.

"come with me." he tried to pull me but soon let go when tyler, eben, zack, and all the boys came over.

"is there a problem?" zach asked, wrapping a protective arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him.

"no, not at all." the old man said before walking away.

"c'mon, let's go." tyler said.

zach still did not let his arm go from around me, as if he was scare something might happen to me. "zach, i'm fi-" i was cut off by the sound of screaming girls.

"just follow me!" tyler said from the front as security guards led the way.

"edith!" a girl shouted. i looked her way and smiled brightly, sliding out of zachs group to walk over to her.

i had to bend down to reach her height due to her being in a wheelchair. "hi!"

"oh, my god... i can't believe this is happening. i love you so much. your my idol, your photography inspires me. i want to be a photographer when i'm older. uhm, can i have a picture and your autograph?"

"of course!" i gripped her  phone in my hand and snapped a few pictures before signing a notebook she had with her. "do you mind if i look?"

"go ahead!"

i opened the notebook to find a bunch of pictures. they were beautiful and amazing. "did you take these yourself?" she nodded. "they're amazing! you should really stick with it. i have to go now, but i'll always remember you."

i held her hand and let it go as i walked back over to zach. we walked side by side out of the airport and to the car where everyone was waiting.

"what you did for that girl back there." zach started. "it was really sweet and im sure she really appreciates it."

i smiled. "thank you."