WHY ARE YOU HERE?

" l' m sorry lil princess I swear by the heavens I didn't know things would turn out this way I promise_"Zayn was apologizing for the umpteenth time.

" Hey it's okay I understand -"

"Maybe you do but what about your sister , your parents too-"

" Noo they'll understand too! " Cherry spoke amidst the several tubes connected to her body which was gradually getting to a vegetable state

"I'll be alright!" She added

Seven year old Zayn couldn't help but feel guilty.

" Yeah I know!" he nodded as though he was sure about it.

Cherry frowned slightly.

" You're sounding as though you can give a second life!"

" Maybe not necessarily giving a second life -" he said with a smile and paused as if the rest is a secret.

He moved and whispered something in her ear and sat back as if nothing happened. "You mean -"

" Shhhhhhhh- " it's a secret! "

" And besides that am a little smart head, ". he said proudly.

" Oh boy don't flatter yourself!"

" Oh am I?

-------------------------------

The Peysons were given two rooms by TheSkyline Hospital in which Cherry had been admitted.

Meanwhile Max was organizing the room she was to be living in for the mean time.

There was a knock on her door.

Perhaps it was Harry because her parents had just gone to talk to the doctor who had been put in charge of Cherry .

" Coming -" she said throwing the small towel on the table heading for the door.

With a single turn of the door knob, the door was open.

Max widened her eyes in surprise on seeing Zach standing at the entrance.

It wasn't Harry as she had earlier guessed.

" Hey-" Zach broke the silence.

" H- h- h-h-e-e y-" she stammered.

" Can l come in? "

" Oh--" she was about to object but his gaze made her swallow back her objections.

" Scare crow! "she cursed inwardly. "

" Sure, why not!" she faked a smile though she was inwardly throwing a million curses at him.

" Thanks."

He was about to shut the door but Max stopped him.

"You can leave it open-" she said.

" For safety purposes!" She murmured.

" Did you say anything?"

"No" she replied sharply

She cleared the small couch .

You can have a seat-"she said and moved to sit on the bed opposite the couch Zach was seated on.

Max sighed .... atleast this room was hospitable unlike the one back at the orphanage.

" So you're fine" Zach asked in an obvious way as if basing on the other time in the lounge area.

" Yes,." Max replied taking note of how weird the environment was getting.

Then silence-

She looked at him with a look that read " why are you here?"

Zach sighed before speaking as if he had read her eyes.

" Well am here for two issues -" he said and paused.

" First _"

" I'll cover the medical bill"

I'll also give you an apartment for you and your family. "

Max glared at him suspicious ly not quite getting what he was saying.

" No n-"

" As compensation" he said as if he had known she'd reject.

" Maybe you should have talked to Mom and Dad instead I don't think I'm in the position to approve your offer. "

" I did!"

" Huh! "

She was taken by surprise.... then why hadn't they informed her yet?

" Did they agree? "

" Your mother suggested I seek your opinion -"

" Then dad-"

" I don't know "

" Ooh I see! "

" Soo-"

" I' ll think it over"

There was silence again. Max looked at the open door.

" Safe! " she thought.

She looked back at Zach and she gasped.

That gaze again-

" Anything else you have to say?" " Mmmm-"

"Why do you look at me like that?" She asked looking at him as if trying to get the answer from his eyes.

Zach sighed.

" And the second reason -"

Max couldn't understand what was going on .

" Are you alright?" She ended up asking.

"I am."

" Actually can I get some water I think my throat is a bit dry. "

Max glanced at him suspiciously. " Sure! " She said and rose moving to the fridge that was in the adjacent corner.

Thanks to the. self - contained room.

She opened and picked a water bottle.

She grabbed it and shut the fridge but when she turned -

It took her a moment to digest what was going on.

" Hey, " Zach whose face was only a few inches away from her spoke his eyes not leaving her face even for a micro second. "

" What do you think you're doing?" She asked looking away .

" What I'm doing -"

" Actually it's the second reason

They could feel each other's breath and heart beat

" The door-" Max stopped her statement midway noticing how close they were.

She looked into his grey eyes .

At the moment their noses were just quarter an inch apart .

She was falling into the temptation.

" Max ," a voice sounded at the open entrance.