Chapter Three

REALITY dawned on her.

He was asking for another chance.

And why would he want to ask me for another chance to prove himself unless he really loved me? She found herself thinking.

She silently sighed to herself. I can't be this hopeful.

She looked up at him only to find that he was already looking at her- his eyes full of hope.

She let herself drift away in her own thoughts.

Another chance..

This was too good to be true.

But for how long can I pretend that I can live without him. She thought.

Without his crazy talks, his humour and ofcourse, his love..?

Maybe this was my chance to forgive him for leaving without a goodbye.

A chance to let go.

"Zac?" She said.

His eyes had been closed, but now they fluttered open.

His hands were still on her waist.

She was fighting the urge to bury her fingers in his thick black silky hair and to hug him.

So, she interlaced her fingers- to keep them away from touching him.

"Yeah? You know you can ask me or tell me anything, right? Don't hide your thoughts from me." He said.

Good. She thought. I can be honest with him.

"Umm..maybe I sound stupid or like I don't want you here but..what are you doing back in LA? I thought you had settled in London for good." She asked.

He chuckled.

"Tina...I'm fine with whatever you ask me. Whether it's a stupid question or no. And even if you dont want me here, I know you have a good reason-"

He was saying when she was about to interrupt him, but he held out his index finger and shook his head.

"Please Let me finish." He said. "It's hard for a guy who's born and brought up in LA to adjust in London.

I couldn't help thinking of you and my life here. London is wonderful in a different way- in a way you can't compare LA.

It wasn't easy. I took you for granted, I guess.

I always thought you'd be there around me.

But it's only when I went to London that I realized how much I always needed you."

Alot of thoughts flooded her mind.

"Then why'd you go to London to begin with?" She asked, picking the first thought among the millions that were in her head.

He suddenly paled.

***

There. He thought.

She asked the question that I dreaded to answer.

Well, not because I'm scared of her reaction but more because I feel stupid for leaving her.

And going away, without offering her an explanation.

Without a goodbye.

And so he told her.

He told her everything. About the night when he got the email, the scholarship, his parents weird behavior, how they insisted that he shouldn't go to her and explain why he was leaving.

He told her.

She seemed puzzled after listening to everything.

"My parents thought I was getting over involved with you- I don't know why.. I have no clue why they didn't want us to be together," he said.

"Alright." She said, not wanting to press too much on the matter.

"And," she said "you've been texting me for sometime now and you didn't mention anything about coming to LA." She said, quirking an eyebrow.

"That's because I didn't plan it. We were informed a few days back that we were going to have vacations for a month or so..So, I decided to come here. I just reached this morning." He said, smiling.

She couldn't keep her self still any longer.

She put her hands around his neck and hugged him.

He seemed surprised for a moment but then he returned the hug with equal passion.

He pulled her closer and she held on to him.

She loved the way he smelled of cologne and the way his chest rose and fell with each breath he took.

Most of all she loved the way his muscular arms wrapped around her fragile and petite frame.

"Cristina.." he said in a whisper "I've missed you so much."

Her head rested on the crook of his neck.

His head nuzzling hers.

"I've missed you too, Zac." She said.

"And please don't go away without a goodbye ever again" she said, holding back her tears.

"No, I wont leave. Not ever again. There won't be any goodbyes, Tina."He said, his voice steady and firm.

She broke down in tears.

He held her tighter still as she cried.

She Cried letting all those pent up emotions- which she had tried all those days to suppress- out.

Never had she thought that she'd be so attached to a person that their absence itself would be more hurtful than anything else.

Being attached to a person the way I am attached to Zac could also be dangerous she thought.

There were risks when you are attached to people.

But she thought you get to live life just once. And if I won't take risks then there is no point in living.

But I love him.

I really do.

He is my closest friend.

The only person I can confide in.

Only a few people in life are worth taking the risk for, she thought.

And if it's him I'm taking the risks for, then so be it.

I'm ready.

She thought as she stood clinging to him.

His presence was more than enough to calm and steady her.