Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 46

PREVIOUSLY: She wished they were back at the house, drinking hot chocolate and wearing his sweater and her uggs. Not wearing his hoodie and her jeans, counting down to the second she had to say goodbye.

"VIP boarders at gate thirteen, please prepare for boarding," a nearby speaker announced. Ellody bit her lip, realising that she was VIP, and gate thirteen.

"I guess that's you guys," Zach said quietly. Ellody shook her head, wanting to stay in this moment forever, but her heart was starting to race, and she wrapped her hands around his neck.

"I want to go back to the house with you," she whispered. Zach sighed, pulling her legs around his waist and sliding his arms around her back, pulling her into him.

"I would also like that, but I'll see you soon. And you three will have so much fun together," Zach insisted. Ellody's chin wobbled a little, and a tear slipped down her cheek. It fell on his arm, and he pulled away to look at her face. His eyes glazed over as though he was going to cry as well, and Ellody couldn't bear to see him sad. She put her head back on his shoulder and pretended they were at the house, in his room, on his bed.

"Hey guys, what did I miss?" a voice asked behind them. Ellody identified the voice as Tatum's, and she didn't feel the need to reply.

"We're about to board," Christina answered. Silence descended on the group as another announcement came out of the speaker above their heads, asking for them to board.

"Ignore what I said, we're boarding now," Christina added. Corbyn stood up and stretched, throwing his arms open and scooping Christina into his chest. Zach slowly stood up, keeping his balance with the chair.

"OK Ellody, I'm sorry to say it, but it's time to go," Zach whispered. She shook her head, her heart hammering in her chest and more tears brimming in her eyes.

"No," she replied, her voice scratchy. Zach gulped, and Ellody knew it was just as hard for him as it was for her to say goodbye.

"Can you put your legs down? Or I'm gonna fall over," he mumbled. Ellody dropped one leg, then the other. She was dragging this out as long as she could, but it was inevitable. It suddenly occurred to Ellody that everything bad happened between them while they were apart.

"But Zach, after you left..." Ellody paused, and she pulled away to watch his face and see if he knew what she meant. He sighed, and his forehead wrinkled.

"Yeah, I know... but this time, it's going to be OK. I got you," he promised. Ellody knew he was waiting for her to say it back, and she didn't want to make him wait.

"I got you too. For real," she added. He smiled and let her go, taking half a step back. Ellody wished he hadn't, because suddenly it was all too real.

People were standing up around them and putting bags on their backs, preparing to board. Ellody watched them go out the corner of her eye, but she couldn't take her main focus off Zach.

"The time will fly, I'll see you soon. It's only... a few weeks," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Tate walked to the end of the line of chairs, raising her eyebrows at the couples.

"We can't stand around all day," she reminded them. Ellody sprung forward, hugging him again, knowing this would be the last one for a while. Her face was wet with tears, and their cheeks brushed against each other's. Zach took a deep breath, holding her close for a few seconds before kissing her forehead. His touch made Ellody want to scream and cry and smile all at the same time.

"Bye, baby," Christina said behind them. Ellody could hear them kiss before Christina joined Tate in the line.

"I love you," Ellody whispered in his ear.

"I love you," Zach whispered back.

And just like that, she let go, and quickly hugged Corbyn goodbye. It hardly registered in her mind that she was hugging Corbyn, because suddenly Tate appeared at her side and gently guided her away.

"Come on, Ellody. It'll be OK," she smiled. Ellody nodded, adjusting the bag on her back with her laptop inside to watch movies on the plane. Christina had her ticket stamped, then Tate, then Ellody. Christina blew a kiss to her boyfriend before soldiering ahead. Ellody wondered how she did it so easily. She turned around at the last second to see Zach standing next to Corbyn, his hands in his pockets and half a smile on his face. He winked at her before running a hand through his hair. Ellody smiled back, wanting to run back and refuse to leave, but Tate took her hand and led her away.

"What movies do you have downloaded?" she asked as they walked down the tunnel to the plane.

"A few," Ellody mumbled. Her mind was stuck on Zach, like she'd left her heart back there at the gate, and only her body was walking on this plane. Without Zach... it wasn't the same. She wasn't the same.

~

ZACH'S POV:

"Come on, man. Hoodie up," Corbyn reminded him. Zach nodded as they walked past the big group of girls at the next gate. A couple of them looked up, and Zach tried to keep his head down, but one of them stood up.

"Zach Herron?" she called. Zach, lost in his thoughts of Ellody, turned to look at who had called his name. Corbyn grabbed his arm and tugged fiercely, shaking his head.

"Never turn around when it's such a big crowd! Maybe if there were only a few girls, but there's about thirty of them!" Corbyn hissed. There was a sudden commotion as some of the girls also stood up, starting to walk behind them. They were whispering and giggling to each other, and Zach felt strangely scared. And a little mad. All I wanted was to say goodbye to Ellody, and now there's a thousand girls following me. Why did I turn around? Why did Ellody have to leave?

Corbyn pulled out his phone, raising it to his ear and muttering into it. He was having a conversation with someone, and Zach hoped it was guaranteeing their way safely out of this airport.

"OK, I'll see you in about two minutes then," Corbyn said, hanging up on whoever it was.

"What's happening?" Zach asked. He hardly knew where they were, but Corbyn definitely did.

"Caspary is coming to get us. He was originally parked in the actual car park, but he said there's a way out through this exit here," Corbyn said, pushing open the door that led to bathrooms.

"Wait, bathrooms?" Zach muttered. He could barely keep up with Corbyn's legs. They walked through a tiled hallway, and bathroom doors were scattered randomly on either side. Females, males, disabled, parents with kids...

"Exit," Corbyn said suddenly, pushing on a door labelled authorized personnel only, and Zach didn't have the energy to question him. Sunlight blinded both guys, who paused to let their eyes adjust. Someone called out to them, and Corbyn ran forward. Zach blinked a few times, and a giant staff car park formed in front of him.

"Zach, hurry up!" a voice shouted. Corbyn ran back to grab Zach's arm, and the pair ran towards a black car. Corbyn pulled open the back door, and a familiar smell of mint reached his nose, and Zach immediately climbed in the car.

"Thanks, Caspary," Zach sighed, clicking his seatbelt on and leaning back in the car seat and knowing he was safe.

"Yeah, thanks man," Corbyn added, pulling his phone out of his back pocket as he sat down.

"We gotta get out of here before I get fined," Zack muttered, accelerating and turning the car around. They drove around a corner and through a gate that Zach was sure wasn't supposed to be open for them before they entered the main car park and left the airport. 

A/N - hey guys i hope you're all enjoying the story so far!! sorry i'm not updating so often anymore, but i go back to school properly next tuesday (i live in australia), which means i may have more time to write because i'm not doing online school and there isn't so much pressure. i love you all :) don't forget to vote and follow my fan acc @ zachs_churros on insta