Zachary's POV

After the long eventful day, when the Lockwoods and Jaden finally returned home, I walked Sara back to her room or Phoebe's room and asked her to go in and wash up first. She agreed readily. That I found surprising. She did not flirt at all. She really  must have been tired. She did give cast a mischievous grin my way though and that was it.

Once I stepped into the privacy of my bedroom and shut the door behind me, I pulled off my polo shirt and went to stand before a mirror. I briefly accessed my build, it has always been good thanks to much physical workout and sports. I slightly turned my back to the left where I caught the image of the fictional mythical creature, the griffin imprinted with a very special ink on my back. I traced the outline with my finger before returning to stand properly before the mirror. I recalled the eagle on Sara's collar bone. She had clearly wanted to conceal it away. What could it mean?

These symbols, like the one I have and the one Sara does represent a great deal to the Royals. For it is a secret way the Royals identify one another and also the way the experience knowledgeable ordinary man could recognize us. To any other person, it would appear to be a mere tattoo. These symbols and where they are imprinted on the body differ depending on the family. For us Ellicotts, it's the griffin usually imprinted on our backs once born, for the Lockwoods, its a tiger imprinted on the right arm, the Snedakers have a whale as their symbol, the Norcrosses, a bear, the Demarays , a lion, the Gallatins, a falcon and finally the Ellingtons, an eagle but am not sure where it's usually imprinted. I would see father about it later, I thought.

Another thing was strange. I stayed with Phoebe for three months, as a puppy howbeit and yet, I never noticed the eagle on a place as obvious as her collarbone and now, I discover she she was concealing it all along but it couldn't be. Something didn't add up. I definitely had to see dad.

After I washed up, I went back to Phoebe's room to check on Sara and she had asked me to come in after I tapped on the door. She sat cross-legged on the bed while putting on shorts and a see-through polo. She looked peaceful as she flipped through the album I recognized she had purchased earlier that day. Despite there was nothing appealing about the scenario, I still felt drawn to her for no reason at all, Sara was Phoebe's alter ego after all. I averted my eyes and tried to focus on what I was there for.

"You are still up." I commented as I sat on the edge of the bed. She looked up at me briefly and nodded and returned to flipping through the album.

"I want to look at all these pictures over and over again. I want to keep all the memories with me." She said.

"Why do you want to do that?" I inquired.

She paused and looked up at me and smiled ruefully. "Am on borrowed time Zach. I have no life and no time of my own. My body isn't even mine but I don't hate it you see. In fact, am grateful that despite it all, am accepted like a person and got to experience this fantastic day. I couldn't ask for more."

"You could always come  back." I said.

She shook her head. "Am not sure I want to. Phoebe will be alright now. She has good friends who truly care for her and love her. A great family and a set future. In truth, I can't replace Phoebe even if I wanted to. I hate working hard and all I know how to do is play." She said with a shrug and a grin tore at the side of my mouth.

"Since you play very well, you could make money out of it then." I suggested.

"Right? That sounds alright." She said with a mild chuckle and then turned all business. "Thanks Zach for everything. I truly appreciate it."

"You will still get to experience a better day." I told her.

"I would still love this day but I will hope for that day as well. Zach, you know am not scared of death at all."

I furrowed my brows. "Alright. How so?"

"Death is only feared when one is insecure and unsure of his life. I can only fear death when it takes me away before I get to do all I want but I have done all I want to do and am truly happy and content as it is. You are not afraid of death, are you?" She asked and I chuckled.

I took her hands in mine and she watched me, puzzled by my actions. I tucked a strand of hair behind an ear and placed my palm at the side of her face.

"You and Phoebe are very much alike. The only other person I know in this universe who would say all of these things you just did is Phoebe." A frown on her features made me draw away and laugh.

"What is so funny?" She asked.

"You make faces just like she does. 'How are you two different persons?' is the question that has been on my mind all day." I admitted.

"Of course we are similar. She is not a DID patient after all." Sara sulked.

"Sorry if I upset you. How do I make up for it?" I asked playfully.

"Am not sure." She said folding her arms across her chest.

"Okay. Can you block Phoebe out at all?" I suddenly asked and she released her folded arms.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Curious." I said. She stared at me for a while as though debating her next course of action before she finally seemed to cave in.

"I can but only for five minutes at most." She answered.

"Do it." I ordered.

"Why?" She asked.

"I want to make it up to you. In private." I said. She contemplated for a while and nodded.

"Ok but remember it's just five minutes and Phoebe will be mad." She warned. I nodded. "Here goes nothing." She shut her eyes very briefly and opened them. "The time is ticking."

Like a starved lion, I swiftly but gently pulled her towards me, she stared at me wide-eyed unsure what to do and with my fingers in her hair, I slowly descended my lips on hers and kissed her. Her lips froze against mine for a moment but just like the first time we kissed, she responded and I was joyous. At that moment I only cared about exploring the lips that has plagued my whole mind for a while and caressing every inch of that lovely face that has hunted me. Call me irrational but all I knew was that I was in my own dreamland. It went on for a while that I lost track of time and in truth, things were getting out of hand but I could care less at that moment. I was being selfish and whatever the repercussions were going to be, I was willing to pay it all.

But all of a sudden, she drew away and met my eyes and they were different and I realized I was paying the repercussions for her eyes were so pained as though she had been betrayed.

"Why couldn't you keep it in for a while longer? Why did you have to do this now?"

"Phoebe?" I tentatively asked. She moved away from under of me; I had not realized that we were in that position, and covering herself with the bed covers, turned to the other side of the bed. "You came back." I whispered.

"Were you hoping I wouldn't?" She asked and I gently laid a a hand on her arm above the covers.

"I was waiting for you." I admitted. "Lately,  something has been making me restless, too restless to the point of craziness and I needed to fix it." I said.

"All you needed was my body to fix it? Typical Zachary Ellicott." She muttered.

"What are you saying? Please talk to me." I pleaded.

"It doesn't matter now. You failed and Sara broke my last rule." She mused.

"Last rule?" I remembered Sara mention something like it and my eyes caught a notebook on the nightstand. I moved to it and took it and flipped it open. I saw a series of things but eventually found the rules. They were hilarious and straight forward at the same time. The last rule stated. "On no account should you randomly kiss a person especially Zach Ellicott and with my lips and above all, he is my man and I am not sharing..." The notebook was snatched out of my hand before I could finish it. I dared to sneak a peek at Phoebe and she was livid. Her cheeks were also crimson with embarrassment.

"First, you make me share my body with someone else, secondly you take advantage of the situation, third you barge into my personal space without my permission and fourth, you go through my personal things. Seriously? Aren't you being too much?" She said and though the situation did seem a little hilarious, I didn't dare laugh for the life of me. 

"I am so sorry Phoebe." I said with as much remorse as I could muster.

"You should be completely sorry but that won't cut it one bit. You behaved very unpleasantly and I am so mad at you at present. The worst is that I cannot even ask you to get out. What is my problem?" She said frustrated.

"I was irrational and stupid and selfish and should I tell you what, I have never been that  way in my life. It all happened because of you. But it's not your fault, I should have been better and for that, am sorry I failed." I said.

"Don't try to make me feel sorry for you now. It won't work." She said. "Tell me honestly, how many girls have you slept with?"

I thought of how to answer and just went with the first thing that came to my head. "Three."

"Oh my! Wow am speechless. Go on, tell me all about them. Let's hear it." She said sarcastically.

"From what order?" I asked.

She looked at me in disbelief. "Pick any one."

"Alright. The last person was Denise, we were sort of exclusive. The second person was Tanya, an older Mexican girl that seduced me when I was only fifteen and the first person is extremely special to me. She is my first and last love and I would never hurt her for as long as I breathe." I concede. I noticed Phoebe grow quiet and moved away further.

"Then go to her and get out of here if you like her that much." Phoebe said.

"I should do that right?" I asked and Phoebe nodded. "If I go to her, what do you think I should do to make her the happiest lady alive?" I asked and I could see Phoebe was pained but she forced a smile.

"For someone who was ardently kissing someone else only a few minutes back, you seem to mind this special person. I will tell you for old times' sake even though am mad at you. First, don't kiss her or try to do anything funny. Just talk to her, listen and possibly sleep beside her if she 'll let you. Get her flowers and tell her every reason why she is special. That is all I know."

"Wow. You are really Gail Kelly, aren't you?" I asked. Her eyes widened.

"You knew?" She asked. "You are a cruel person."

"No one else knows. It's between us. I promise."

"I can't believe you again. Leave now and go to your special person or whatever." She muttered.

"But it's too late now." I said.

"I don't care. I want to sleep. My body is done in." She said and made to move away but I held her in position by holding onto her shoulders.

"What is it now?" She snapped but it didn't hurt. It was amusing. She was jealous and I liked it.

"You are beautiful. Everything about you is perfect to me. Your eyes, your nose, your mouth, your smile. I love it all."

"What are you playing at now? Let me go so I can sleep." Phoebe said but I didn't budge and she gave up trying to free herself.

"I love your hair colour. The white dress you wore for brunch made me think of white roses and pink petals and a glassy spring. I could only see you in absolute loveliness."

"Are you reciting some poetry because I have to tell you now, it's terrible." She said.

"Am confessing my feelings right now the right way Phoebe. Am not kissing you, am not trying to do anything funny and I don't have any flowers with me to give you but I promise I will treat you well. You were my first and I want you to be my last. Will you accept me?" I asked with a tiny hopeful smile.

"The special person was me?" She asked bewildered. Seriously? She was just getting it. "Wow! But I never slept with you. Ever!" She said.

"Oh you did. Everyday for three months. It was the time in my life I slept the most peacefully."

"If that's the case, you have to pay for using me and my bed to sleep well." She relayed and I grinned.

"Down to every penny, I will pay but first, may I sleep beside you tonight?" I asked sheepishly.

"I can't let you. You behaved so badly tonight and letting you stay would  mean you got away with it and you can't. So, leave." She said with a victory grin. I deserved it.

"Alright. Good night." I removed my hands from her shoulder.

"One more thing." She said. I listened. "Never in your life kiss someone or touch them because they look like me, act like me or remind you so  much of me and could even be me. It has to be me. Ok? If you fail to comply, you are on your own. Understood?" She asked. Assuming the position of a soldier who was taking an order from his commander, I stood on attention and saluted.

"Yes miss." She chuckled and asked me to go ahead but I didn't want to leave and stayed rooted to the spot.

"Oho, are you going to fight with me now?" She asked. I shook my head. "Then leave." I shook my head again. "What is it? You want to sleep beside me so bad?" She asked and I nodded.

"You can't. Tomorrow." She said and my expression fell. "You are using the Killian look on me now, aren't you?" She sighed. "Just sleep beside me already but you still are not forgiven." As she tried to get into her sheets, I beat her to it and I tucked her in and got in beside her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and nuzzled into her neck. I missed doing this.

"Stop. Please. Space." Phoebe said. I must have heard but ignored her because I was tired and fell asleep as soon as I assumed that position. I think Phoebe put off the bedside lamp and slept too. It was memorable.

Sorry for the late post. This chapter mostly concentrated on Zach and Phoebe's growing relationship. I hope it was alright. Am super sleepy and tired. I think I have chemistry test tomorrow but I hope it doesn't hold tomorrow. Perhaps, later during the week.
The next chapter would still be Zach narrating but this time, he and his father would try to figure out Phoebe's real parents and Phoebe would be getting set to leave the Ellicott residence for her home. The next chapter would feature less of our main couple. All the same, thanks for reading. Good night everyone, until next week.