Song: Happier by Bastille and Marshmellow

Chapter Sixty-seven: A wise woman once said that sarcasm is an art

"Why is it that I can sense your presence?"

I turned around to look at him. It was Tuesday morning and I was heading over to Zane's house to meet him when I noticed Jayden, of course, at the front of my house.

He smirked. "I guess it's our connection."

I rolled my eyes. "Long time no see. Did my boyfriend scare you off?"

"Yes actually. He's quite frightening." 

I laughed at him, "Scaredy-cat."

He rolled his eyes at me.

"So if Zane wasn't the one to scare you off, why have you been AWOL?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "I thought it'd be best if I stay away from you."

I creased my brows. "Why?"

"For your safety. Because of my brother."

"Oh. So what changed?"

He creased his brows in thought and amusement. "My brother. He's happy. And he said he's forgotten about you."

My heart lifted and I smiled so hard my lips felt like they tore. I know we haven't mentioned Jaxon in the last weeks and we were trying to ignore the situation, but the threat still hung in the air. I was scared, but I tried my hardest not to show it to anyone. But now that I heard he was no longer interested in me made me feel a whole lot better and safer. I hadn't felt like this in a while. It felt great. "Do you mean that?"

"That's what he said. He seemed really happy this morning. We hadn't been talking for weeks, but this morning he called me to come to his house and then he apologized."

The look on his face made me ask, "What's wrong?"

"He never apologizes to me. And I mean never."

"Maybe his guilt was eating at him so he decided to apologize to you."

He didn't seem convinced. "Why this morning? Did something happen today or yesterday?"

I shook my head. I didn't even need to think about that. "I haven't seen or talked to your brother for weeks."

"Are you sure?"

"I think I'd be. Maybe he's found another girl he actually likes. Now you don't have to feel the need to be around me."

"I am not just around you to protect you from my brother. I actually like you."

"Aww. I'm flattered. So what's going to happen to his next target? He probably got tired that I was never alone in the night or in a private place like Tate's."

"I don't think my brother just moved to someone else."

"Then what do you think is going on?"

"I don't know."

"Then just let it be. Just be happy that he's happy. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"It is, but it feels so unreal."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Just let it be."

He nodded after thinking it through.

"I'm a free citizen!" I yelled.

He barked a laugh. "Are you insane? It's still early!"

"No it's not. It's about 10 am."

"Yeah. Early."

"I'm free!" I yelled again.

"Now, you're just being dramatic."

I turned to him with a smile. "I know."

He rolled his eyes. "Where are you headed?"

"Oh right, you don't know everything about me now. I'm going to Zane's."

"Okay. I guess I'll see you later."

I entered my car. "A free woman is always free."

We're so stupid.

Don't embrace nonsense.

I could feel him rolling his eyes without actually seeing him do it.

******************

"No." He shook his head. "No. No. No"

I frowned. "But I let you do mine."

He decided that before we went out, he'd do something with my hair. He went with a fishtail braid. He said that's his specialty. And now he won't let me do his hair. Not like I had anything to do anyway. I just wanted to run my hands through it. I am normal, by the way.

"That's different."

"How so?"

"I actually have talent."

My jaw dropped as I gripped on his pillow. "You did not just say that."

"If I say I didn't, would you release that pillow?"

"I'll only release it if you let me do your hair."

He considered. "I'll take my chances."

I shrugged. "Your choice." 

I started hitting him with his pillow as he tried so hard to overpower me. I think he was just letting me win.

Well duh.

I stopped and turned when I heard the door open. In walked Wren. He was looking at his phone so he hadn't yet noticed us.

"I honestly don't understand why I have to-" He cut himself off when he finally looked up and saw Zane and I. His eyes lingered on me for a while before he turned to Zane.

"I didn't know you had company."

"I didn't know you were coming. I thought you planned to stay in until school started."

"I did, but my parents are being overbearing. I'll just go."

He turned to start heading out but I darted off the bed. "Wren wait."

He turned around to look at me.

He didn't say anything so I continued. "Hi." I gave him a small wave.

He just nodded and started heading away again.

"You didn't say a word to me."

"Bye Charvi." He said without turning around.

"Wren come on." Zane said as he went after him out of the room.

I sat down on the bed and thought. Was what I did that bad? I admit I may have played with his feelings by not telling him I was Avery, but I never meant to. I thought he understood that.

I sighed and lay with my back on the bed waiting for Zane to return. Haven't I given Wren enough space?

Zane was back in the room a few minutes later. He raised my head and placed it on his lap. He sighed as well.

"Are we still going out?" He asked.

"I don't know where we wanted to go before."

"We're shopping for your party. I don't want it to be big because you may not like that, but I want it to be special. I mean, you're turning 18. Isn't that a big deal?"

"Meh."

"I guess I'd just go shopping without you. I wanted it to be a surprise party, but then I wasn't too sure you liked them. I should probably hire an event planner."

"You do not need an event planner for a tiny party. You just need people, music, food and games."

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"But I wanted a fountain." He whined.

"Then you'd have to wait till your own birthday for that. A chocolate fountain, on the other hand, I won't mind."

He rolled his eyes as he raised my head up so I was facing him. "Of course you won't. And now if I ask for a vanilla fountain you'll tell me there's no such thing."

I shook my head. "None. We could go shopping for the dress I'll wear."

"You'll look beautiful in anything." He complimented.

"Aww. Do you mean that?"

"No. I just said it because I'm supposed to."

My jaw dropped. "You're just full of sarcasm today aren't you?"

He smirked. "A wise woman once said that sarcasm is an art."

"That wise woman did not ask you to use it against her."

"They always told me to be better than my teachers."

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my shoes and started heading out the room.

***********************

I walked out of the dressing room for the fifth time. 

"How about this?" I struck a pose in the dress I was currently wearing. It was a turquoise blue dress that was tied together by the waist with a bow.

"No." Zane shook his head and so did the saleswoman beside him.

I groaned. "This is not going to turn into one of those extreme makeover days where you can't pick a dress until the girl has tried the 25th one because this is the fifth one and I'm already tired."

"You whine too much, mademoiselle."

"I know right." Zane supported the saleswoman.

"Look Juliette and Zane. I understand you guys are friends, but that doesn't mean you should gang up against me."

They shared a look. "We would never do such." She justified.

I rolled my eyes at them. "Just give me the one you think is the finest out of that pile." I pointed to the pile of clothes on the chair beside Zane.

She picked different ones up. "I can't choose. They're just so many."

I walked there and picked a random one. "I've chosen."

"This is your birthday we're talking about. You can't just choose a random dress."

"Uh... yes, I can. It's a pity I'm not wearing skinny jeans and a blouse."

I took the dress into the changing room to try it on. It was a simple dress with floral print and long sleeves.

I walked out in it. "How about this?"

"Perfect. If you're going for an 80 year old woman attending her 15 year old granddaughter's Quinceañera." Juliette replied.

"What's wrong with that?"

Zane chuckled.

He dug his hand in the clothes and picked one up. "Try this one. I have a good feeling about it."

I took the burgundy dress from his hand and went to try it on.

I put the dress on easily, but had problems with the zip. It was an off shoulder, skater dress with a zip at the back. The zip that just got hooked with my hair.

I groaned and called out. "Juliette!! I need your help!!" I called out.

She didn't answer, but I heard movement. I waited as I stared at myself in the mirror. I actually liked the dress. It seemed to fit perfectly. I looked down at my wiggling toes and by the time I looked back up, I could see Zane staring at me through the mirror.

I turned around. "What? Is it bad?"

"Cherry, you look breathtaking."

I blushed slightly. "Thanks."

"I knew I had perfect taste in clothes."

I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm just having problem with the zip." I said as I struggled with it.

He moved forward. "Let me." 

I dropped my hands and faced forward again. Goosebumps rose on my back as I felt his hands on me. He unhooked my hair and zipped the dress up with it. His hands lingered on my back and I looked at him through the mirror. And for sure, his eyes were on me. 

He turned me around swiftly, pushed me against the wall and started kissing me. They say ignorance is bliss, but this, this gives a whole new definition to the word bliss. And it only felt this way because of the love I felt for him. God, I loved this man!

We broke apart when the door opened. We turned to see who was there and it was Serena. She had a dress in hand and looked very awkward to have walked in on us.

"Sorry, the door was open so I thought this one was empty."

That one's on you, Zane.

Zane sighed. "What are you doing here?"

She gave him a small, nervous smile. "It's my favorite store remember?"

He stared at her for a while before saying, "Oh."

I pushed Zane slightly back from me so I could have free space to move. "I pick this one. I'm going to show Juliette."

I picked my clothes and shoes up and was ready to walk out when Serena stopped me. "No, don't go. I want to apologize to you both."

I stopped in my tracks to hear what she had to say.

She sent a smile to Zane. "I know saying I love you can't justify what I did."

"No."

"But that was my reason. And I know it was selfish and inhuman of me, and an apology may not be enough for the pain I caused you two, but I hope you accept it." 

I turned back to look at Zane, but he was just staring at her with a straight face. "You really hurt me. You know I told you I loved her and you did that and watched me slowly fade away because of it." He paused. "But then again, I've known you since I was 5 years old so I know that when you say you're sorry you mean it. I forgive you."

Her face brightened up like the sun. "Really?"

He nodded with a smile.

She turned to me. "I don't hold any grudge against you." I answered.

She smiled. "Thank you. I hope we can be friends someday."

I just nodded and started heading out. Only to be stopped by CeCe.

"I love that dress. Did Zane buy it for you?"

"You again. Really?"

"You don't have to be so rude. I'm here with Serena. We're friends now."

I turned back to look at Serena. She nodded. "I asked the producer of the movie I just got an offer to act in to offer her a role in the crew."

"So I dropped blog writing."

I turned to her with happiness written all over my face. "Really?"

She nodded. "Now that I'm through with it, I talked to Serena and realized I may have gone a little overboard and I'm sorry."

"As long as there are no more cameras and microphones butting into my private life, apology accepted."

I grabbed Zane by the hand and dragged him to the cash register.

Today was going great. No more crazy stalker. No more Zane-obsessive girl. No more wretched blog entries. And I still had Zane. Could my life get any better?

***********************

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