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

~14~

~Zachary~
I rang the doorbell of Alyssa's house, hoping it would be Peter that answered. The door opened and standing there was Marie.

"Zack! Alyssa's working right now." I smiled at her. "I know. I'm here to talk to Peter about something." She let in in and motioned me to his office.

I knocked on the door and walked in, alerting him that I was here. "Zachary! How's it going?" He looked up from his paper.

"It's going well. I came to talk to you about something?" He put all his attention on me. "So, when we went to your family reunion for Malachi's birthday, her grandfather gave me a ring."

I pulled the small box out of my pocket and opened it. "Oh, my mom's engagement ring!" He took the box and closely examined the ring.

"Ben's your dad?" He chuckled. "I look a lot like him if you see us next to each other," I was handed the ring back.

"So, what are you exactly wanting to talk about?" There was the question I was waiting for. "Well, a lot of things, sir,"

I sat down in one of the open chairs in his room. "When he gave me the ring, proposing wasn't in my mind at all. Since then, I've been really thinking about our future. I know we want to spend it together."

He nodded. "Well, when do you think on doing this?" I smiled slightly. "I was originally going to wait for awhile but the guys have been helping me figure this out and I think I'm doing it as soon as graduation is over and it's calmed down."

Peter stood up and I did the same. "Well, whenever you do it, you have both Marie's and my blessing. We love the way you treat Alyssa and know you make her very happy."

I shook his hand and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir." He chuckled. "I told you many times, you can call me Peter."

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out to see that Alex texted me.

Gaskarth: Lisa's got an idea for your plan. Come over

I glanced up at Peter. "I have to meet up with my friends but thanks again!" I walked out of his office and to the front door.

"Zack?" Alyssa was standing on the staircase, holding a stack of books. "Lyss, hey. How was work?" She set them on a step and walked towards me.

"What are you doing here?" I stuttered. "I-Umm, I- I had a project idea I told your dad about. Anyways, I gotta go."

I opened the door and she grabbed my hand. "Again! You're sneaking off and hiding things from me." I felt awful.

"I'm not sneaking off." She crossed her arms. "Really? Then where are you going?" I could tell her I was going to Alex to talk with the guys but she might try to tag along.

"I have a thing.. and I can't tell you." She scoffed. "I'm done with this. If I can't trust you, then why am I with you?"

My heart felt to my knees. "What are you saying, Lyss?" She put her hand up. "Don't call me that. I'm tired of dealing with you sneaking around and hiding things from me!"

I was hoping she wasn't saying what I was thinking what she was going to say. "Alyssa." My voice cracked.

Something that never happens.

"Zack, I want someone I can put my trust in and will tell me everything." I could tell she was holding back tears but I didn't say anything else.

She let go and I left her house. I could've gone straight home but I ended up going to Alex's. Everyone was there.

Rian and Jack were yelling at each other while playing video games and Alex and Lisa were sitting on the floor, playing cards.

Everyone stopped as soon as they saw me. "Zack, you okay?" I sat on the couch and put my head in my hands.

"She broke up with me."

Lisa gasped softly. "Zack, are you serious?" I nodded and looked at her, wiping any tears that escaped. "Why?"

Jack was being serious for once. "I was at her house, talking with her dad and was on my way here when she saw me. I obviously couldn't tell her what I was doing because that would've ruined everything."

Rian moved next to me and rubbed my back. "Can't you talk to her?" I peered up at Alex. "How? She probably hates me now!"

Lisa stepped in. "I think for now, it would be best to leave her alone. I'm sure she's stressed to hell with graduation and finals."

Graduation.

"Graduation. Shit, what am I supposed to do now?" I want to still go and support her but I don't want to upset her more.

"We'll all still go. We don't have to sit with her parents but she's still our friend." I sighed and leaned back. Rian tried to pull his hand back but I crushed it.

"Shit, sorry." I moved up and he rubbed his own hand. "It's good. So what now?" I threw my arms up, at a loss for ideas.

"I have no clue."