Song: Heart Made Up On You by R5 performed in the telenovela; Violetta

Chapter Thirty: Cue the dramatic tears that always come out in soap operas

"Oh God!" He ducked down in the car.

"Wh-" Before I knew it, he had dragged me down too.

We had just arrived a good distance away from Tate's so I didn't see any reason he needed to bend down in the car and yank me down too.

"Ouch!" He released his tight grip from my hand and muttered, "Sorry."

I sat a little higher, not to cramp my abdomen. "Now, why are we ducking? What are we hiding from?"

"Wren was about to enter, but he spotted my car, and I think he's coming this way."

Hell! I shot a panicked look at where Wren was coming from. "What do you think he would say when he sees Avery in your car?"

"I think the situation would be highly misinterpreted."

It really would. He would think that I was with Zane, like that, and it would hurt his feelings.

Don't you think it's the time to?

I know I should, but- 

You had no problem hurting Axel's feelings.

That's different. Axel is a jerk. Plus, Avery doesn't exist.

Excuses, excuses! You still have to tell him, though.

I know. Because not doing it would be leading him on and I won't want to do that.

"I agree."

I sat up straighter. I already thought of what to say.

"What are you doing?" He hissed at me.

I shrugged. "Hiding is plain stupid. It's not like you could make me disappear. And there's honestly no point." I turned to where he was about 10 feet away with a confused expression. "He's almost here."

Zane looked as if he was contemplating, before he sat up straighter and wound down the windows.

I turned to Wren as he was now at my side. "Avery?" His eyes flashed to Zane. "You came here with this dunce?"

I chuckled at the name while Zane just stared at him blankly. "Really?"

Wren shrugged. "I just can't help myself. So..." He gestured between the two of us. "What's going on here?"

"I was on my way here and the dunce was passing me on the road so he offered to give me a lift."

"Would you guys quit it? I'm not a dunce."

"Okay." We muttered at the same time. We turned to each other and laughed. I was about to look away, but his eyes caught me in a trap. Metaphorically. I was like a stupid fish falling for bait, when I could easily look away.

I didn't need to because he blinked and started, "So Avery, would you like-"

I cut him off. I literally couldn't hear the rest of his sentence. It would make this a lot harder than it needed to be. "Look, Wren. You're a really nice guy and a great friend. I love hanging out with you, but not like that." I said in a very soft and low voice as I stared at my palms on my lap. A part of me felt really guilty for reacting to him like this when I treated Axel in a completely different way. But the other part, the bigger part, justified my actions. It was probably because I was hard-headed and hated admitting I was wrong.

I snatched a glance at him. He was looking at his hands he had rested on the open window. I turned to Zane and he was looking at me. I didn't want to look away because, damn!- he was beautiful. Wait- isn't beautiful for girls? Whatever it was, he was sure it. I knew he was handsome before, but I guess my feelings for him was making me see him a whole new light. Without any flaws. Arghh! Love makes you so weak.

Love?

I meant like. Like makes you so weak. I just didn't put it that way because it just doesn't seem right.

God! I felt so uncomfortable. Could someone say something to break the silence? I was usually good at it, but then again, I wasn't the one who usually caused it.

I turned back to Wren, and now he was looking at me. At least that meant he would say something. Right?

He opened his mouth to speak.

Right.

"And you wouldn't want to try? We're so good together it could turn into something beautiful."

I kept my eyes on him. "I can't." 

"Why not?" He murmured.

Due to the fact I'd been spending extra time with the dunce, I think I'm starting to become one. "I'm in love with someone else."

You are?

Partially, at least. I think. Who knows what love feels like, really?

"What?" They both asked at the same time.

Wren and I turned to Zane with perplexed looks. What is he so shocked about?

He stuttered. "Love- love is a- you know- strong word."

"So?" I blurted out. I was actually very curious to what he was implying.

"You know, it's just weird hearing people say it." He made awkward gestures, that didn't make any sense, with his hands.

"Weird how?"

He gave me a pointed look. "This isn't interrogate Zane and his opinions time. Cue the dramatic tears that always come out in soap operas."

"That only happens behind the scenes." Wren deadpanned.

This is actually going well. He's not questioning me about who I'm in love with or pressuring me more. Who knew it would be this easy?

"So.." He dropped his hands from the windows, put them in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his feet. He wore a plain grey long-sleeved shirt. He had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had ripped jeans on.

"So..." I trailed off, leaving him to finish what he started.

"Do I know this guy?" I guess I jinxed it! Classic.

I could say 'Yes. He's your best friend actually.' That would just be it!

But you don't have to reply any of his questions. It's all your business.

Yes, but he's my friend.

I shrugged. 

Liar!

I started lying from the start. What's the big deal?

I know. I'm just meant to call you out when you do bad stuff, remember?

You're a little too late for that.

"Does he go to my school?"

I shrugged.

He gave me an incredulous look. "Are you even friends with this guy?"

I nodded.

"Since she's all of a sudden suspiciously mute, we better go in."

Wren turned to Zane. "We?"

"Yes. I was on my way over."

"The last time I asked you, you said you didn't want to come here."

"Well, people change..." He paused. "Feelings change."

I was still staring at Wren, but I had a huge urge to turn to him to see his facial expression when he said that, so maybe I'd be able to understand what that meant. But something in me didn't want to and I went with that.

"Uhh...okay." He turned back to me. "Avery, I'll walk you in."

Let me think about that. I mean, it's just a harmless offer. I would have agreed about a month ago.

But it isn't a month ago. It's now. This is different.

It's not.

"Sure."

Without a backward glance at Zane, I opened the door and got out with my bag. All through my short and silent walk to Tate's with Wren, I didn't hear the door open and I wondered what Zane was still doing in the car.

When we walked into Tate's, I walked fast towards Benny's office so if Wren wanted to say something I won't be there to hear it. Was that rude?

Nah!

"Benny!" I beamed when I walked in on him, settling in his chair. He wasn't the nicest person, but I'm sure he had a heart somewhere deep, deep, deep down. Maybe a little deeper than that. Just kidding! Benny is a sweetheart... Sometimes. 

He looked up at me, his mouth set in a grim line. "You're fired."

My jaw dropped. "No. You don't understand."

"And I don't want to. You've been absent and late way too many times."

He's exaggerating!

Every time I tried to utter a word, he just shut me up. So I did the next best thing. I walked up to him and raised my shirt, for him to see the purple-ish swelling.

I tried talking again, hoping he won't shut me up this time. "I was in an accident after my shift on Sunday. And my mum was in an accident yesterday. So my time was spent in the hospital."

He looked up at me with apologetic eyes, but I knew he'd never say the actual word. "Wow. Bad luck!"

"More like bad omen."

"They're the same thing."

"False." I smiled largely at him when he frowned at me.

"I guess you're not..." He trailed off, wanting me to understand what he's saying without actually saying it.

"Fired." I backed away slowly as he looked back towards the book in front of him with a bored expression. When I got to the door, I pointed out one forgotten detail. "I guess I'll see you in the next three weeks."

"Okay. Wait, what? What-"

Before he could finish I was already out his door. 

Let's just hope he won't fire you.

He loves me like his daughter. I'm sure he won't.

He literally fired you when you walked n.

I'm sure he didn't mean it.

I looked around for Zane hoping he came in, but he wasn't there. I guess there was no 'we', then.

I began towards the car, trying to avoid Wren, who was, luckily, backing me. I started down the road to Zane's car. When I was almost there, he rushed out of it, eyes angry. I rushed to him with a questioning look, but he just walked past me and back towards Tate's. He stopped at the opening that led to the side door- for workers only. The opening between it and the next building. After his eyes searched the alley, he ruffled his hair aggressively.

"Stop or all your hair would fall out."

He didn't turn to me or acknowledge that I said something.

I walked to him. "What is it?"

His eyes flickered down to me as if just noticing my presence. And to think I thought he was staring at me when he rushed out of the car. 

What were you expecting? Hugs and kisses?

A girl can always dream.

"I thought I saw something." He muttered.

I raised my brows. "Something?"

"Someone." He paused. "Him."

He didn't have to say who Him was, I just knew. I mean, who else would it be? The thought alone that he might have been following me made all my hairs stand straight. Except the one on my head, of course. I hope.

I've been trying to hide the fact I was scared shitless. I just didn't want that little occurrence to affect me. For all I knew, Jaxon could have moved to another country. Continent, even. I didn't want to be the girl who cried when the door tweaked open. It's not like I went through a traumatic experience. I was only just almost kidnapped. No biggie, right?

But what if he did take you? If you actually got kidnapped? What if Zane wasn't there when you needed him?

Zane. I lifted my eyes that were on my feet to his eyes. His beautiful emerald eyes. His eyes were locked with mine and I didn't want to look away. I literally wanted to throw away the key, if it meant this moment could last forever. Just me and him. Together. Alone.

"It's okay to be scared." He voiced out my thoughts.

I gave him a small smile. "You know me so well."

I could've denied it. I could've looked him right in the eye and told him I wasn't scared, but I didn't. It won't do any good.

"How could I not?"

"I'm a closed book."

He smiled. "Not to me."

I couldn't even deny it, because I wasn't sure how I acted around him. I didn't think it would be any different from how I acted around others.

I didn't reply and I just stayed there looking up at him until he opened his arms and engulfed me in a hug.

I literally did a double take. It was the first time he'd hugged me, that we've ever even been this close and I was rooted to one spot. I didn't move my hands around him. I think I was in shock. Oh God! It felt so bloody good to be hugged by him. Apart from his chest being hard as a rock, he felt so warm and cosy, I actually considered spending the rest of my life there. In his arms. Forever. I inwardly sighed at the thought.

You are taking forever to hug him back. What do you think he'd think?

Oh...right!

I put my hands around his waist weakly at first, and his hands tightened around me. I nestled my head in his chest and hugged him tighter too. Not tight enough to stop his breathing, though. I'm not that much of a nincompoop.

We both just stayed there, comfortable in each other's arms, not giving a care in the world. I didn't care that we were on the street. I didn't care that I was dressed as Avery. And most importantly, I didn't care what people would think when they saw me in Zane Rivers' arms. And I didn't think he did too. I think I loved this man. Keyword being 'think'.

Somewhere deep down, I wanted to tell him how I felt and hope he would feel the same way, but the smarter part stopped me before I embarrassed myself, reminding me of his precious Angel.

I tried to see this as more than a platonic hug, but that's all it was. A friend comforting another friend. And I was okay with that. As long as I got more Zane hugs often. 

Too bad moments like this don't last forever.

"Guys?"

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Sorry, this came out a little later than my usual updates. I've been busy, but I promised myself I would at least drop this before I decided to relax. So here it is.

I hope you liked it.

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