𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄𝐒

🆂🅸🆇🆃🅴🅴🅽

"Have you seen the news?" Janel asked walking into Louis's room. Zen was lying down next to him on the bed, "oh sorry. I didn't know Zen was here."

"It's okay," Louis said setting up along with Zen. "What's on the news?" He asked.

"They finally locked Israel up," Janel said with some relief in her tone. "But Stephanie told me his dad is trying to figure out bailing him out."

It had been one week since Israel was found guilty, and Janel wasn't as paranoid as before. And now that Israel was locked up Janel was ecstatic. "I'm sure they'll keep Israel in there for a while. What he did wasn't right, and if they let him out before his time is up they're in the wrong." Zen said.

Israel was given a seven-year sentence. There were some people in school that thought it should've been a longer sentence when they found out.

"And besides they gave him that no bail law." Louis agreed with Zen. "You shouldn't be worried." He said.

Janel nodded, "you're right. Thanks, I needed to hear that." She said before walking out of the room.

"Y'know, sometimes I blame myself for what happened to Janel?" Zen asked once she was gone.

"Why? Is it because of the way I talked to you after it happened?" Louis asked with guilt.

Zen let out a sad laugh, "No... it's just a few days after, I realized that if I hadn't told you and the other guys not worry about Nel being with Israel that maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Maybe if you hadn't been so caught up with me maybe you could've been there to stop her from going with him. I just think about that a lot." Tears start to flow from her eyes. Louis quickly scooped Zen in his arms and pulled her into his lap.

"Zen, I don't blame at all. And I know for a fact Janel doesn't." Louis hated to Zen cry. She rarely cried though, she's always had a tough side to her.

"I know, but it still just crosses my mind."

"Well stop thinking about it. Please." Louis said. Zen nodded wiping the tears away. "I like seeing you cry."

"I'm the ugliest crier I know." Zen laughed.

Louis joined her, "yeah, but you never show your vulnerable side." He said.

Louis's feelings were starting to get stronger and stronger for Zen, he went to her for any and everything. Louis knew he loved Zen, but he wouldn't say that out loud just yet.

"Can I ask you something?" Zen asked breaking Louis out of his thoughts.

"Anything."

"What are you planning to do after high school?" Louis huffed at the question. He knew that question would come sooner or later from Zen. Stephanie and his mom asked him the same thing.

"I don't know honestly." He said. "I've applied to some schools. I haven't checked yet."

"Do you want to go to college?" Zen asked.

"Yes. I actually do. I guess I'm worried about how it's going to get paid for." Louis truthfully.

"I'm sure we can figure something out," Zen said. "You could a student loan or maybe your mom could help you out." She suggested.

"Do you think it would be right to ask for help after not seeing her for so long though?"

"Hell yeah, I do. After leaving you for all these years it's the least she could do." Zen said.

Louis thought about it, "I'll ask her. You still going to Mercer?" He asked.

"Yes. Maybe I'll hold off till you figure out what you doing." Zen said more to herself then Louis.

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"Because I want us to be close even if we don't go to the same school. Mercer is in Georgia, what if you want to stay in Texas."

"Amor it doesn't matter if I wanna stay here. That's your dream school and you got accepted into it." Louis said. Zen's mother went to that school she's always wanted to go there.

"I know, but what would happen to us?"

"Nothing. You would still be mi amor. And besides, you would only be sixteen hours away. That's not that far."

Zen nodded, "what if I told you that I applied to Mercer though?" Louis asked. A smile came across her face.

"You did?!! For me?" Zen was on the verge of ugly crying again.

"Yeah. Wanna check with me?" Louis smiled at her. Zen nodded eagerly as she got out of his lap. Louis went to get his laptop and came back. They started to look through all the colleges that have sent responses until they found Mercer University. After reading it they found out Louis was waitlisted.

"That's good. People who get waitlisted end up getting in sometimes." Zen enlightened him.

"Sometimes. But if I don't end up getting in we'll be okay. Okay, amor?" Louis said.

"Okay." Zen pouted.

~Later That Day~

"Janel I need your help," Louis said as Janel was cooking dinner for them. Zen was long gone. Santana said she spends to much time over her boyfriend's house and she needs to come home for a couple of days.

"With?" Janel asked.

"I'm ready to tell Zen I love her. I don't know how I should tell her."

"Okay well.... you could tell her how you really feel. Just go over to hang out then lay it on her." Janel said excitedly. "You could go over her house tonight. Steph and Santana are going out and Phillip's coming over here."

"Okay, that'll work," Louis said.

"Stop stressing puta. She feels the same, I know she does." Janel pats his head.

Louis was ringing the doorbell to Zen's home. Trying to figure out how all this shit would play out. "Hey, Lou! What are you doing here?" Zen asked when she opened the door.

"I came to hang with you amor," Louis said with a smile. She let Louis in, then they made their way upstairs to her room. "I knew you here by yourself. I bought you some snacks." Louis handed her a bag with a watermelon AriZona, some Flamin Hot Doritos, and some licorice, which Louis thinks is nasty.

"Thank you, papi," Zen said taking the bag. "What do you wanna do? Play a game, watch a movie?"

"Let's watch a movie," Louis said. Zen went over to her movie collection, looking through them. After choosing Parasite they got comfortable and cuddled together in bed.

After the despondency and self-doubt Louis felt throughout the two-hour movie, Louis finally worked up the courage to tell Zen what he's been feeling for her.

"Zen, can we talk?" Louis asked. Zen got worried when she heard how serious he was. Zen nodded, "you have taught me a lot of things along the way of our dating. You have been nothing but a blessing. Not only have supported me but Janel as well.

What I'm trying to say is, I love you, and I want in my life for as long as possible." Louis breathed out.

Zen was completely lost for words. Truth is, she felt the exact same, but she didn't think to believe that Louis would love her with how standoff-ish he is.

Louis was getting scared because Zen was just staring at him, "Say something. Please," he said.

"I love you too, Louis," Zen said. Louis sighed for relief as he pulled her in for a hug and deep longing passionate kiss.

Louis thought at this moment in time nothing could break them up or how he feels for this woman.

Song: I Think by Tyler, the Creator
They finally used the L-word☺️
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