Home is where the heart is at ~ Zachary Merrick (book 2)

~1~

~Alyssa~ *three years later*
Now, where'd we leave off? Oh yeah.

It's currently 2008 and I'm months away from graduating. Zack was right, I am going to be valedictorian.

All Time Low was getting bigger. They released an EP in 2004, their first album in 2005, and they had released a new album in September.

They were currently on tour for it.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them greatly. I was incredibly proud of where they were and actually were signed with a record label in California.

Zack and I were still going strong. Even though I was only sixteen when he graduated, my parents trusted him.

Zack got along with Dad. He'd help him with any work on the house if needed and had some great conversations together.

Mom was just happy that I found someone who cares for me and treats me well. And I care for him and treat him well, too.

For my sixteenth birthday, Mom surprised me with a card, announcing that I would become an older sister to a little boy.

In April of 2006, Mom gave birth to Malachi John. And he's my best friend in the whole world. Of course, being nearly two, he was pretty smart.

He wasn't the only new member for our family. For our one year anniversary, Zack surprised me with a puppy.

A eight week old border collie named Cookie.

He named the dog just minutes before he surprised me with him. He told me that as soon as he brought Cookie to his house, he stole a plate of sugar cookies from Sam and ate them all.

I found it pretty funny and the name was adorable.

Cookie was my companion and made sure I was happy when I was missing Zack, or if I was having any trouble with school.

At school, I was a normal popular.

Max was expelled from school just two weeks into her junior year; my sophomore year. All the people who cowered from her came out of their shells and the school wasn't as bad.

I got along really well with a lot of the kids and made many friends. The guys were worried that I'd be all alone at school once they graduated but I was okay.

Lisa was still around and her, Sam, and I would have girl nights every few weekends. It was nice to have some people to look up to still.

And here we are now, reaching April 2008.

With graduation inching closer, Zack and Malachi's birthdays, and more, I was getting more and more nervous.

However, I have it figured out.

Hopefully.