Bi-stressed

CHAPTER 48

I wake up at 3 in the afternoon to find no one at home. I've been asleep all morning and no one even woke me up. I check my phone to see if Zac messaged. Not only his message but several missed calls from him. Plus I have two missed calls and a message from my mom, a message from Halsey and a message from Shawn and Hardin.

I call up my mom as soon as possible and let her know I'm fine or else she'd be worried. After speaking to her, i read Halsey's message which says *"Mom, Louis and I have taken Bethany for a check-up. Didn't want to disturb you."*
Then I call Zac but he doesn't answer. Shawn's message says, *"Did Zac like it?"* I decide to leave him on seen and call him up in a while. I open Hardin's text, *"Did you watch the new Riverdale episode? It's so interesting!"*

*"No, not as yet."* I reply.

*"You gotta watch it now! Watch it before I give you any spoilers."* His text arrives within seconds.

In the same second, there's a knock at the door.

"Who's it?"

I open the door and to my surprise there are three familiar faces standing in front of me.

Zac, Luna and Hardin.

Zac's got a huge Teddy bear and a bouquet of flowers in his hands, Luna's got the same Teddy and a bag of chocolates and Hardin's  on his knees, holding out a ring in his hand.

"Happy Valentine's Day babe! I've got you your favorite flowers and this huge Teddy bear." Zac says.

"No, but you love chocolates more than flowers!" Luna smiles broadly and then winks.

"This ring is for you. Someone can be madly in love with you and still not be ready. But now I am. I'm ready to be with you like you've longed to be with me. Remember, I told you to wait for the right time. Let's make this time right." Hardin says. 

"Ugh, what is going on?" My head begins to spin and I fall to the ground...

When I open my eyes, I see a blur image of Zac's anxious face staring at me and find myself in his arms.

"Are you okay?" I hear the same  three familiar voices asking me.
I shut my eyes again. After few seconds, I feel Zac's hand touching my face.

"Lexi, what happened? Are you okay?" I only hear Zac's voice this time.

I open my eyes, look into his, then hold onto him and hug him tight.

"Why are you crying? What's wrong?" He asks.

"They were just here. They were-" I sob.

"Lexi, there was no one here. It's only me."

"No, I saw them also. You'll three were-" I stammer and cry.

"It's only me. Come here." He hugs me tight and wipes away my tears.

"These hallucinations are terrible." I cry.

For few moments, I cling to him and cry, then he caresses my hair and says, "Happy Valentine's Day! See what I've got you."

"Same to you." I smile and see the same bouquet of purple anemones in his hand and the huge Teddy bear lying on the couch besides. I take the bouquet from his hands and the fragnance of the flowers fill the room.

"I love these. How do you know my favorite flowers are anemones?"

"I know everything." He smirks.

The bear is double the size of me. It's really huge, soft and cozy.

"I'm definitely gonna sleep with this teddy." I say in excitement.

"For now, I want you to sleep with me." He grabs my butt and pulls me closer to him leaving no space between us. He squeezes my butt while kissing me. We make out for about half an hour then he helps me cook something to eat. After having lunch together, we lie down on the couch and I lay on top of him.

"Do you think, everything will work out between us?" I ask him, my chin resting on his chest.

"Yes. I'm sure it will."

"Are you sure, you wanna marry me?"

"Yes, I'm hundred percent sure. I wanna marry you and spend every second of the rest of my life with you."

"What if you find someone better?" I ask.

"Why will I? I've already found such a beautiful soul like you. I will never ever be able to fall in love with someone else. It's only and always you. I love you." He says, staring deep into my eyes.

"I love you more. I hope your love for me never dies and you continue to love me this way. Please, don't ever change." I smile.

"My love for you will never die. Each and every day, I'll love you even more. I just can't wait." He holds my hand in his and kisses it.

"Wait for what?"

"Wait to become successful in my career, marry you and settle down with you."

"Ten years to go."

"The last time we spoke about this, you said nine to go." He raises his brow.

"It depends baby. Don't rush into anything. We should learn to walk before we run." I wink at him.

"Okay then. By the way, by next year I'm applying for US and so are you."

"I'm applying for higher studies to Belgium. My aunt out there spoke to me about it and told me to apply after school or college."

"Oh, that's nice. So your mind and heart is still in the medical field."

"Yes obviously. You know, being a vet is my dream job."

"Yes, I know and I hope and pray to God that you be successful in this journey."

"Thank you. Just imagine me having my own clinic, curing animals I love and coming home to a delectable meal made by you."

"Yes, I can just imagine for now. Can't wait to make it happen. By the way, winter wedding or summer wedding?"

"I'd like to have a summer wedding at a farmhouse but I was thinking of getting married to you on the same date we started dating. So like it'll be a December wedding."

"It looks like you've planned everything already." He laughs.

"Yeah, I have. I've also decided the wedding theme and colour unless a new colour is invented by then." I join him in laughter.

"Wow. So where do you plan to settle down?"

"Umm, what about New York or Australia? Also, I wanna visit Venice with you. I love that place and I've always wanted to visit it." I say in enthusiasm.

"Okay sure. I would love to settle down in Australia too but then we'll have cold Easters and hot Christmas."

While we're talking and planning about our future, Aunt Steph and all arrive home. She makes everyone tea and Louis gets us chicken cheese samosas to eat.

"Oh wow! Mhmm, so you'll are celebrating Valentine's Day?" Halsey smirks.

We both smile at each other and nod.

After playing with Beth, Zac walls me home and stays for dinner since my mom has cooked for us delicious karahi.
They both be busy discussing about the recipe while I take a second serving.

"This is delicious." I say, licking my fingers.

After dinner, Zac goes home and I decide what to wear for the bonfire at school. I call up Lyra and she helps me out. I wonder if Kim is coming for the bonfire. I haven't spoken to her much, lately. Anyways it's up to her if she wants to or no. She definitely must be knowing about it. I remember our good old days and how close we used to be. I wish those days could come back and  we all could be that close again but then I remind myself. Nothing can be the same again. We'll never be the same.