Forever and a Day

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

“But he’s been missing,” The memories of every late night and early morning searches I did in an attempt to find Jake came flashing back like a huge wave coming for an unprepared surfer.

“I can find him. Knowing my brother, I know where he’ll be,” Jake’s brother said confidently.

“Knowing him? You barely know him! You’ve been away from him for like… all of his life! I mean, do you even know that you piss him off?!” Word vomit… complete and total word vomit; what I said was totally uncalled for and I instantly felt guilty for what I had said. He stopped walking so I stopped too.

I must’ve really hurt his feelings. I turned to face him and he was just standing there, still.

“I’m sorry. What I said. It was all wrong and I was in no position to tell you those things and I really didn’t mean any of those that I said. It’s just that Jake’s disappearance has gotten me bonkers. I’m out of my mind for saying those things. And if it’s any consolation, Jake only said that you piss him off when he’s mad at the world, which is like, always… Oops! There I go again. I’m so sorry. I just-…”

He cut me in midsentence and kissed me passionately. I felt fireworks light up the air as he moved his lips to trace mine. It was magic. It was like a feeling of a kid whenever a clown does some sort of magic trick at a birthday party, but this time, it was pure magic. I was happy. It was like an escape to a painful reality. After a few seconds, he pulled away smiling smugly at himself. I stood there motionless, staring blankly at him. The feel of the kiss was still there, echoing inside my lips. I didn’t want the feeling to leave. I want to keep it there forever, so I’d have something happy to hold on to.

“I thought you’d never shut up,” He said laughing.

I was still motionless. He continued walking as he grabbed my hand and held it tight. He was pulling me towards the wrong turn, the wrong direction.

“We’re going the wrong way.” I finally got a grip of reality and said after we’ve walked a few meters.

He gave out a big sigh and faced me. “You could’ve told me earlier. Now we have to walk back an alley and make the other turn,” He sighed again.

“You want me to kiss you again?” He smirked then looked away.

Yes. Yes, please. Yes, yes, yes, please! My brain screamed at him repetitively.

It was strange how I wanted him. He seems to fill the gap in my life that Jake had left, and I don’t even know his name yet. I waited for the other kiss that he had told me earlier. But from the looks of it, he was just kidding.

We reached the intersection again and the rain had stopped. “Which way is to your house?” He asked looking at me quizzically.

My brain asked me the same question. Which way is to our house? His accent was very distracting and I still couldn’t get over the kiss and how magical it felt. Good thing I suddenly remembered which direction our house was. I pointed to my right, the exact opposite of where we were going lately.

“I seem to be a really good kisser to have baffled you like that, beautiful,” He winked at me.

We started walking in silence. There were still two streets left ‘till we reached my house.

“So… I never asked you your name. I can’t refer to you as my brother girl… ex-girlfriend forever, you know,” He chuckled, making me smile.

If it weren’t for his fancy-pants charming accent, I would’ve thought I was talking to Jake.

“Zoe… Zoe Knight. Supposed to be Zoe Morgan but…” I sighed in sadness.