'Ms Kaylee Bell and Mr Zachary Knight are to be appointed legal guardianship of Scott Knight if something would ever happen to the parents, Jenna and Patrick Knight.'
They say everything can change in the blink of an eye.
It did for me.
Yesterday...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I tap my pen against the table, listening as Professor Ramos finishes his lecture. This is the last class of the day before Zach is picking me up to see the new house.
"Alright students, that's all for today. Remember to submit your essays by Wednesday next week."
I gather my things and put them into my bag and stand up, slipping on my jacket as I make my way towards the exit.
"Miss Bell, could you stay for a moment?" professor Ramos asks. I turn back and walk over to his desk where he's standing, waiting until the room clears.
Professor Ramos is the youngest professor on campus and he is also known for being overly friendly with the female students. He had once earned a black eye for crossing boundaries with a girl and the question of how he is still teaching here remains.
"Yes, Professor Ramos?" I ask, fidgeting with the ring on my finger.
"I've graded your last essay—it was very well written," he says. "There's a meet-up on Friday with some literature students at Kick's. You should join us."
"I'm not in literature, and I'm busy that day," I decline politely, not wanting to spend any alone time with the man.
He sighs, taking a step closer. Uncomfortable with the proximity, I step back and just as he is about to say something again, a knock echoes.
"Ready to go, Kaylee?" Shane's asks from the doors. I move away from Professor Ramos, and turn to see Shane glaring at him. I nod and walked past the professor and towards Shane as he mutters, "I hate that guy."
I nod as we walk out of the building towards Zach's parked car. Shane climbs into the backseat while I take the passenger seat.
"Hi," I greet Zach when I'm sat.
"Hey," he replies before turning to Shane, "and what are you doing?"
"I'm coming with you guys to check out the new house, obviously," Shane retorts, rolling his eyes.
"No, you're not. Get out," Zach states, firmly.
"Oh, come on—"
"Out, Shane."
"You're such a fucking buzzkill," Shane pouts before getting out, and slamming the door shut. Zach starts the car and drive out of the parking lot, before navigating through the busy streets.
Twenty minutes later, Zach turns into one of the more luxurious parts of the city. We pass by a couple of houses before he slows down in front of a huge driveway.
"Wow," I breathe, and get out of the car to follow Zach inside.
The interior is warm and inviting directly from the hall, with golden hues giving it a cozy feel. We walk in further, to a spacious kitchen. I run my fingers over the countertops, taking in the view of the living room beyond.
"It's already furnished," I note, looking back at Zach.
"Yeah, my furniture will stay in the apartment. I'm thinking of renting it out. Come on, let's check upstairs," he suggests.
After walking through the whole house and garden, I'm impressed by Zach's choice. It's a beautiful house, albeit a little too big. There are four bedrooms, all en-suites, a kitchen fit for a family of five, a huge family area, an office, and two additional bathrooms. The back garden is beautiful and expansive, and I know Scott will love to run around here once we move in.
The drive home is filled with discussions about moving in next week and finding a tenant for Zach's apartment. We drive by my parents' house, and pick up Scott before heading back to the apartment. I get Scott ready for bed, before going to my room to change. After a quick shower, I put on a fresh set of pyjamas, tying my hair into a bun and then head to the kitchen.
"I ordered pizza," Zach calls from the living room. I grab two Coca Cola cans from the fridge and join him. Zach is lounging on the couch in a pair of pyjama bottoms, his hair is still damp from his shower. Once the pizza arrives, we eat it in silence while watching an episode of New Girl.
I leave the two last slices for Zach and lean back to get more comfortable on the couch. I don't know when I fall asleep but the next time I open my eyes, Zach is clearing the table and shutting off the TV.
I sit up and rub my eyes. As I try to stand, I lose my footing because the blanket is tangled around my legs. Just as I'm falling, I feel strong arms circle my waist.
"Woah," Zach says, "Easy."
I shake off the blanket before looking up to thank Zach when I become aware of how close we are. I can feel him breath on my skin and his lips are inches away from my own. My eyes move up and connect with his eyes that have darken.
"Thanks," I murmur, and try to get some space between us but Zach only tightens his hold.
I swallow hard when I notice him inching closer.
If I pucker my lips a little bit, we'd be kissing.
Oh my god.
I look from his lips to his eyes and see him focusing on my lips. I let out a shuddering breath and just as I think he's going to close the gap between us, he realises me and just walks out of the room, without another glance my way.
