Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 59

PREVIOUSLY: "Ellody?"

She spun around so quickly that she nearly fell off the stool.

And there he was.

"Zach?"

They stared at each other for what could've been hours. She wanted to hug him. But she also wanted to kiss him, and kill him, and make him hurt as much as she was-

"Are you... crying?" he breathed, taking half a step forward. Ellody brushed the tears off her face and shook her head, attempting to make herself look less like she was about to fall apart. Her feelings needed to stay bottled up until she could get away from him.

But he was in her house.

"What are you doing here?" she muttered, standing up and wiping her hands on her pajama pants that she'd never changed out of. A thousand thoughts were racing through her head, but the most eager one was I'm in my pajamas and he looks so good and this is so embarrassing. Sure, he's my best friend, but he's also the guy that I've spent the last twenty hours crying about over an Instagram post.

"I needed to see you. You saw the post, right?" Zach frowned, searching her face for any sign of recognition.

"Yes." She couldn't bring herself to speak. Did he hear me singing?

"I didn't post it. Management did," he said quickly, taking a deep breath like he had only just begun a lengthy speech.

"Wait, w-what? The one with you and Kay?" Ellody stuttered, confused.

"I didn't post the photo, I didn't write the caption, and I-" he stopped, shuffling his feet awkwardly.

"You didn't?" Ellody clarified, biting her lip. Have I been crying over nothing?

Stuff it. Even if he didn't post it, he still loves her.

"No, I think management wants us to seem like a really good couple for publicity. Truth is, I've been trying to break up with her," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly. Ellody's breath caught in her throat, and she put a hand on the piano to steady herself as she coughed.

"But... she commented and said that she loves you," she sputtered, staring at the floor and trying to make sense of what was happening. Just two minutes ago, she was crying and playing Hard on the piano, and now Zach was in her basement and telling her that he wanted to break up with Kay.

I must be dreaming.

~

ZACH'S POV:

She didn't say anything, then she started coughing, and Zach was worried she was about to cough herself to death. But then she spoke.

"But... she commented and said that she loves you," Ellody frowned, breathing heavily. Zach watched her carefully, scared that she didn't like him. Was I crazy to think I could just come here, tell her the truth about Kay and expect her to believe me?

"I know, but... please believe me, Ell. I had to buy my own plane ticket and sneak out and trust that Jonah doesn't dob on me while I'm here," Zach explained hurriedly, wishing she'd accept what he was saying about Kay. She never liked Kay, it should be easy for her to hear him out right now, but she seemed unsure.

"Then why did you always go back to her? Kay would do something awful and break your heart, but you'd go running back," Ellody argued, crossing her arms over her chest.

Come on Ellody, please believe me.

~

ELLODY'S POV: