My Swimmer (BxB) {Book 1}

Chapter 32

The roads are getting cleared up, so that means the parade was starting, everyone was here except Zack.

Since I didn't eat very much of the funnel cakes, my stomach growled in hunger, since it was cold, my eyes get heavy, they're getting dry from the strong wind.

With my eyes closed, I tilted my head forward down a bit.

I felt something soft, furry, and warm covering my body, I opened my eyes, there was Zack, putting a soft, warm, fluffy, red and black flannel blanket on me.

"What's this?" I questioned.

"You looked cold earlier, even now, only colder."

"Thanks." I held onto the blanket, the smell was definitely new, "Did you buy this just now?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I? Think of it as a souvenir from me." He smiled, then hands me a hot coffee cup, "and here's your hot chocolate."

He sat down next to me, the parade starts off with police officers slowly riding down the street, with their motorcycles and decorated cars.

I took a few sips of the hot chocolate, it burned my tongue a little bit.

The parade goes on and on though the night, when it was close to midnight, the parade was over, some people left to go home, so it's not as crowded.

I couldn't help but be distracted about my stalker, and Zack. I mean, is it really possible that they're the same people? I don't want to accuse him of being a stalker, it may hurt his feelings.

I unfolded my 'stalker clues' paper;

List of Clues:
-2 siblings
-summer(fav. Holiday)
-male
-blue(fav. Color)
-same school as me
-brown eyes
-brown hair
-one birthmark and one tattoo
-Italian food
-Lovely by Billie Eilish

Still, it doesn't really prove anything, it could be anybody, but... the description of his looks could be useful, I just never seen Zack's tattoo or birthmark, only a cute mole on his temples, I should've included that in the question.

He didn't say what would happen if I just guess a few times, 'cause I'm tired of wondering in the middle of nowhere, so I got to get somewhere, but am I ready?

"Payton.... Payton, what's wrong?" Riley asks, nudging my elbow with his.

"Nothing." I forced a smile.

"Something is wrong, I can tell."

I shook my head and walked forward along with others.

Am I being paranoid? Should I just be straightforward?

"Hey guys, I'm going to get some food, anyone want to go with me?" Brandon asks.

Casey agreed and leaves with Brandon.

"Andrew and I will be playing some of the games, we'll be back before the fireworks." Xavier waves us off.

Which had left me with Riley, Zack, and Miles.

I gulped and whispered in Riley's ear, "Hey, can we go to the Farris wheel? I need to talk to Zack. In private."

He looks at me, then nods then tells the others, "Hey, let's go to the Farris wheel, it'll be fun."

The two agreed, so we headed to that direction, the Farris wheel was so tall and visible out of all places, besides the crazy rides.

When we were in line, I told Zack that I wanted to sit next to him.

Finally, I was gathering up my courage to find out, I'm tired of the stalker hiding in the dark. Zack and I sat in the seat, meanwhile, Miles and Riley are at the cart behind us.

"So, is there any particular reason why you're suddenly asking me to sit next to you without me forcing you this time?"

"..." I stayed silent for a few seconds, not know where to actually start.

He only stares at me, just why me out of all views?

Just go with it! "Are you... by any chance, are you my stalker?"

"What? A stalker? Why do you think I'm your stalker?" He half-chuckles.

"Because, according to the description of the stalker, you seem like one suspect, and my first."

"Is there any other proof?"

"Uh, do you have a tattoo and a birthmark? Be honest. Don't play with me."

"...I do." He admitted.

"So..." I took out the paper, and showed it to him, "this is you?"

He reads through it.

"Well? Say something."

He looks at me, I've heard nothing from him, he was awfully quiet, until he finally spoke, "Then, Payton..... will you give me a chance to make you fall for me?"

Do I really know what I'm doing? If finding my stalker and making him stop stalking me means I have to be bothered to be asked out by him, asking me to give him a chance to make me fall for him, would've I really mindlessly agree to the deal?

Have I really thought this through? No, of course I didn't.

I just sat there, frozen, centered in my head with thoughts flowing in my mind.

"Say something will you?" He waves in front of me, trying to snap me out of my thoughts.

But... what can I say?

"Say something, or I'll kiss you." He leans in, I put my fingers on his mouth, pushing him away.

I looked up at him and shook my head in disappointment, "You.... do you think you can do anything you want with me now? You think you have the power to suddenly get close to me? For what? Tease me? Fool me? Why?!"

"Hear me out, I'm not trying to fool you, I want to be closer to you, I want to get to know you better, I also want you to know me better too, because my world mainly involves you only, I also hope that you ca-"

I cut him off, "So you decided to stalk me?!"

"That-"

"No! I need time to think about this, it's my turn, now don't text me, or else I'll definitely block you, and I won't bother reading them." I snapped.

I made it clear to him not to talk to me during the ride, when it was our turn to get off, I threw back the gloves and the blanket to Zack and stand up, "Take these, note this; you can't buy me with money, and don't even try talking to me at all!"

And just like that, I left.

Riley was hollering for me, I ignored him, well, not him, more likely I'm trying to avoid Zack, I didn't want to hear his excuses. I felt like a fool who was lied to, who couldn't see what was right in front of me, the sign were there, right there in my eyes, yet I was so blind to miss them.

Throughout the whole week, I was getting to know Zack better, I was seeing that he was way more than just a bully who was seen as our enemy.

But I felt betrayed, fooled, hurt.

Author: Awe, poor Payton and Zack, sorry if it was a weird way to find out, author's mind can go blank sometimes.