𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 | 𝐙𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥/𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲

23. Monopoly

It had been a couple weeks since the incident at the park, and Jack and I had been hanging out almost every day since. It was scary to say, but I felt so comfortable with him as if we'd been friends our whole life. It felt like I was finally becoming happy.

But of course there was still something stopping me from moving on. Or should I say, someone. I had still been seeing Daniel appear places, sometimes even when Jack and I were hanging out. Today seemed to be one of those days.

"That's not fair! Zach, tell her it's not fair!" Jack exclaimed, pointing at Reese. We were in my bedroom playing monopoly and Jack had just landed on Reese's property. "Pay up, bucko. This ain't my first rodeo" Reese sassily stayed, holding out a hand to Jack. He sighed, paying up. "I don't even know what that means" he admitted.

"Me either" Ryan chimed in. She heard it on tv and hasn't stopped saying it since" he said. The four of us laughed. I looked over at Jack and watched how his face lit up when he laughed, and how the corners of his eyes crinkled up. He was beautiful.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I saw a figure standing in the hallway. I tilted my head, trying to get a better look through the small gap of the door but it wasn't hard to tell who it was seeing as no one else had seen anyone.

I looked over at the other three. "I'm just gonna go to the toilet real quick" I mumbled, standing up to leave. "Be quick" jack called out behind me. "If we don't destroy your sister none of us have a chance with this game."

I gave him a warm smile, nodding as I closed the door behind me. Once I was out, I peered down the hallway. I looked left and right but caught no sight of Daniel. I sighed, walking towards the bathroom. I pushed the door open and was met with cold blue eyes.

"Hello" he greeted. I leaned against the doorframe, taking him in to my sight. "I missed seeing you, you've been gone for a couple of days" I admitted. Daniel nodded. "Doesn't look like you missed me that much" he retorted. I rolled my eyes.

"Stop talking about Jack like that, you know there's nothing going on" I scolded. He poked his tongue to the inside of his cheek, a look of jealousy overcoming him. "But it looks like you want something to" he stated blandly.

I bit down on my bottom lip, not wanting to confess he was right. "I can't do this right now, can't you come back later?" I suggested. I wanted to get out of having this conversation right now. "You know I can't control these visits" Daniel replied, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Seems like you can since you so conveniently show up whenever me and Jack are alone together" I mumbled under my breath. Daniel cocked and eyebrow. "Want to speak up, darling?" He asked sarcastically. I gave him a dull look. "Come back later or don't come back at all."
And with that being said, I slammed the bathroom door shut.

I took a deep breath before walking back in to the bedroom. "Zachy, it's your go!" Reese cheerily yelled. I laughed, picking up the dice and rolling. I moved my piece and ended up landing on Ryan's most expensive property. I didn't have enough money to pay up, but luckily Ryan was distracted on his phone. Jack quickly swooped up the dice and had his turn before Ryan could notice.

"It's your go now Ryan!" Reese told him. He put down his phone and looked at the board. "Hey wait a second. Zach landed on my property! Pay up big guy! Or whatever Reese says.." Ryan commanded, sticking his hand out.

Jack cleared his throat, seizing everyone's attention so he could dramatically pull out the sheet of game instructions. "Rule 11: If a player does not notice someone has landed on their property until after the next person has their go, they are prohibited from demanding payment. Sorry Ryan, better luck next time" Jack patronised, giving me a victorious high five. I chuckled at how adorable Jack looked, being so invested in the game.

"You'll regret that Avery" Ryan sulked. Jack gave him a cute side smile. "Come on Ryan, just look at Zach. Poor guy is hardly gonna make it through another round" Jack insulted, causing Ryan to burst out into laughter. "Heyyyyy" I whined, pretending to take offence. Reese let out a little giggle.

I smiled, looking around me. It felt so good to see the people I loved happy and to be a part of it. Looking down and smiling, I felt the formation of tears lightly sting my eyes but I refused to let them fall.

"Oh no Zach's gonna cry cause he's a loser!" Reese pointed out. I laughed, wrapping an arm around her. "How can I be a loser when I've already won just by having you guys?" I questioned sentimentally. "Ugh Zach that's so cheesy" Ryan complained, rolling his eyes jokingly. Jack simply smiled, his eyes meeting mine.

"Yeah... we are winners."