Chapter 15 :Confiding In A Friend.

It was Saturday, the next morning when Zoey decided to take a long bath. After she was done bathing, she put on some comfortable white Nike tracksuits and tight her hair up into a loose ponytail. She was cautious not to make it very tight because she was afraid it could add to the headache she had already encountered due to lot of crying.

Trailing down the stairs, she could already tell that she was alone in the house.The silence was too much and all that was heard was the sound of birds chirping delightfully outside.

She went into the kitchen and started making herself something to eat.After eating,she was sitting on the couch while watching a depressing love teen story on the large TV screen.However,the story was almost similar to her reality one.And that,got to her so deep.Minutes later,she was curled in a ball as she cried till her eyes became tired and really heavy. The thought of reminiscing about what she had been through and that of abruptly living a new life with a total stranger that treats her like she's nothing really confused and it had her wanting nothing more than to just go far away from everything and everyone.

Shw had not been sleeping long when she was startled by the sound of the doorbell on the front door.She sat up and looked around the room, eyes swollen and red.

"Zoey are you in there?" A familiar voice said as the person continued ringing the doorbell.

She quickly got up from the couch and stumbled to open the door.Her bestfriend seemed to know just when she was in need of nothing but her long tight hugs and genuine presence.

Zoey did not waste time in throwing her hands around Athena and pulling her into a tight hug.

"Okayyyyy bestfriend I can't breathe." Athena faked running out of breath.

They both laughed and Zoey broke the hug.Only for her laughter to cease down and elude together with the brightness on her face only to turn into a worried look.That might have been because she had then noticed how red and swollen her bestfriend's eyes were.

'It couldn't have been that she had been crying all night now,could it?'Athena asked herself and there was only one way to answer her question.

"Just come in,I'll explain everything." Zoey said before she could get a chance to ask any questions.

"But-"

"Athena please!" Zoey said a bit loud."I said I'll explain every damn thing.Now get inside." She said a bit calm this time..

They both went inside and Athena wouldn't stop complementing the inside.

"I come bearing food," Athena said as she set a large brown bag on the table.

Zoey smiled as she sat comfortably on the chair while her bestfriend rummaged through the bag.

"We have Mongolian Beef,Lettuce Wraps,Chicken fried rice ,Wonton soup and strawberry ice cream for desert."

Athena said in an excited tone and a little smile on her face which quickly fell as Zoey stood up and went over to the couch and dropped her head as she curled back on the couch.

Athena sighed heavily as she walked over to her bestfriend and sat down next to her.

"I received a text from Scott saying I should come check up on you since Xander told him that he heard you crying all night."She explained."Basically,they both wanted me to make sure that you're okay and that you tell me what might be bothering you."

She lifted her head from her arms and rolled her eyes.

'How dare he send my brother a text pretending to care about me while he's the cause of what kept me awake and crying all night?'Zoey thought anger burned inside her.

"He also said Xander told him to tell you that he's away on a business trip and would be back on Monday." She added.

"Great!" Zoey growled out.

A part of her was in actual relief because she was just not ready to face him after what had happened. While another part of her was in actual disappoint because she was going to be alone for the next three days.

"Can you at least talk to me?" Athena said in a very low,careful tone.

Zoey was quite for a moment. She stared down on her lap and fiddled with her fingers.

"Am I crazy to say I think I'm falling for him Ath?"Her voice cracked out.

"Oh Zoey..." Athena cooed pitifully."What happened?"

"What happened is that I kind of misinterpreted the kind of person I thought Vincenzo was.I think I let my fantasies get into me so much that I ended up portraying him into this perfect, kind,handsome guy,you know?"She gave out a little laugh of hurt."But meanwhile he is just the same Vincenzo everyone knows. Cold,heartless and the list could go on and on and nothing will change the fact that he is just a sick bastard."

"Okay friend.I know that you somehow thought you might actually change who he really is,but you can never do that.You can never meet a person and get to know them for like what?two days?And think your presence can turn them into saints only because they're known to be devils?" Athena asked,"No.You can never expect or do that.Friend,change is not something you can workout throughout a single night.Change is a process.One which requires time,willingness and hardwork. You have to have time to unpack your reality. You have to be willing to let go of the current chapter you're currently the main character in and start a new different one.You have to work hard in order to make up for the mistakes you might have made in the past and work hard towards getting better and becoming the best.What I'm trying to say is that,you don't really know what Xander had gone through.How he grew up and the main reason that had turned him into the person he is today. It's not easy to open up to someone about the things that had left our soul dying of pain.It's not easy venting out all because you want to rush healing. It's just not easy. You have to give him time and really remember why you're here in the first place. You're not here to diagnose any sort of whatever depression Xander might have.But you're here for only one reason, TO WORK.Just stay out of his way,his business and focus only on yourself. Do you promise you'll do that ?"

Zoey was out of words.She knew her bestfriend was right and that might be the reason the words sting right in her heart.But one thing remained,what her friend had just said to her was exactly what she was in need of hearing.And she couldn't be more grateful for a bestfriend like Athena,like she was then.

She looked at her bestfriend and pushed a smile on her face.

"I promise." She said almost in a whispery.