Chapter 3 - Day 365 of Moving On

A YEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

AMBER.

That day never came. It had been exactly a year since the accident, and I had rarely encountered Zach. I tried visiting him multiple times, but I was not allowed to pass through their borders. 

I tried reaching out to his parents, and they let me in one time, only for me to leave feeling more heartbroken than I was.

Zach was no longer the man I fell in love with. It was replaced with a monster who had no regard for anyone around him, even for me. 

I tried to understand him. He lost his capability to walk in that accident, while I was able to come out without any damage except for a small portion of my earlobe that was cut. 

And we both knew it was my fault. He made sure I remembered that. 

“If you weren’t a fucking whore and tried to get laid that night, I could have seen what was going on on the road.” He said those words to me many moons ago, but I still hear it as if he just said it earlier.

I knew after that we could never have what we used to have. The accident broke him, and in return, he was breaking me. 

But as absurd as this might be, I couldn’t lie to myself. I knew despite all the heartaches and the tears I shed for him, he was still the only one my heart was craving for. 

It had been almost a full year of me trying to move on. I tried to go on dates, but I would always cancel at the last minute. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t look at any other man and not compare them to Zach—the old Zach—the one who never gets upset regardless of what I do. 

FLASHBACK.

Amber - 10 years old. 

Zach - 12 years old (almost 13) 

10-YEAR-OLD AMBER’S POV. 

I locked myself up in my bedroom. Yesterday was my 10th birthday, but it was the worst day of my life. I didn’t want to face anyone. Not even my siblings. I was sure Cyrus and Eva would laugh at me. 

I would never forgive Zachary Vernon. Ever again. 

We were playing, and I was having fun. I thought Zach did, too. He teased me, and I fought back. Until I got pissed off because he said I walked like a duck with my ass up and my feet inward. 

I saw the ice bucket. The ice already melted, so I just added more water. 

I discreetly made my way to where he was seated, where he was tying up sticks together for Eva, Abegail, and Sheridan. The sight just added to my annoyance. He was fixing their sticks first before mine. 

So I dumped the cold water onto his head. 

He growled. Really loud. The kind of growl I had never heard before. Not even from Dad. 

I dropped the bucket, and the metal sounded so loud against the tiled floor that my eyes widened. Zach turned to face me. His face was as red as a tomato, and he was dripping wet.

Then he began yelling at me. 

I didn’t understand what he was shouting because I started crying. Aunt Nadia came and told Zach to lower his voice. 

Then everybody came. Everybody heard him shouting at me. 

So I ran away and locked myself in my room. Dad came and spoke with me, and I told him I was okay. A few minutes later, Zach and Aunt Nadia were outside my room. Zach apologized, and I told them I was okay. 

I lied. I wasn’t okay. I still hated him. 

“Amber, sweetheart. Open the door. You didn’t eat breakfast and lunch.” Mom’s voice came again for the nth time today.

“I’m okay, Mommy. I’m just playing.”

“Can Mommy play with you?”

“You’re too old to be playing with dolls,” I answered before pulling my blanket over my head. 

I lied again. I wasn’t playing anything. I was still in bed. I still have my party dress on. I also lied when I told Mommy last night that I was already in my pajamas.

“Can we talk? I need to tell you something.” 

“You can tell it now.”

“Amber Rose, I have a key to your door, and I will open this. Don’t let me take Daddy here, or he’ll be more persistent than me.”

I let out a breath before climbing out of bed. The moment the door opened, Mom’s shoulders sagged. “You’re still in your dress.”

“I fell asleep in it.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “I asked you to let me in so I could help you.”

“I’m a big girl, Mommy,” I said as I hugged her back, only for my eyes to widen because I saw Zach on the other side of the corridor, leaning his back against the wall.

“What are you doing here?”

“He wants to talk, sweetheart,” Mommy answered.

I wanted to shake my head as I was still upset with him, but I didn’t. Instead, I threw deadly glares at him. 

“I will let you two talk if you promise not to shout or hurt each other.”

“I would never hurt Amber, Aunt Andrea.”

“But you shouted at me!” I told him accusingly. “And that hurts too!”

“I’m sorry.” Zach dropped his gaze to the floor. 

“Well, I’m not going to tell who’s at fault about yesterday. I believe your fathers have already spoken to you. And I know you’re both smart, and you have figured that out yourselves. Now, I will only allow you here if Amber agrees to speak with you.” She was already looking at Zach, who was looking at her and meeting her eyes. “But if she doesn’t, you need to go home.”

I swallowed. I had to decide. Fast.  

“Five minutes. Only five minutes.” I said almost immediately.

“Great! Now promise me, no shouting.” Mom shifted her gaze between us. 

“Promise,” I said curtly as I stared at Zach, who kept his eyes on Mom. 

“I promise, Aunt Andrea. I won’t shout or harm Amber.” He replied. 

“Good. If either of you decides you don’t want to talk anymore, feel free to walk out and talk another day.”

We both nodded our heads. Mom kissed my forehead, and she hugged Zach before walking away. 

I pressed my back against the wall, my hands behind me as I looked at Zach.

“You’re really pretty in your dress, Amber.” He spoke when Mom was already out of sight.

“Thank you.”

“Can I sit down here?” He asked.

I nodded. He sat down where he was, which was a little to my right on the opposite wall. I let out a breath and walked toward him, slumping my little frame beside his bigger bulk. 

“Are you still upset with me?” He asked. 

“Yes,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest.

“I bet you don’t want anyone dumping cold water on you without your knowledge. I put on my best clothes yesterday for your birthday, and I had to take them off because they were totally wet.”

I didn’t say anything and kept my mouth shut, biting my inner cheek to stop myself from crying, but my eyes were watering. 

“Are you mad at me?” I asked, my lips quivering. 

“I’m not. I just got caught off guard. Sometimes, I can’t control my outburst.”

“But you never shouted at me like that. It was terrifying, like thunder was in my ears.”

“I always tell myself to have control around you. That no matter what you do, it is not a big deal. I just didn’t expect to get soaked with water. I’m sorry, Amber.” 

I tilted my head to look at him and found him staring at me. His eyes looked sad, and they were a little misty. Was he crying too?

“I’m sorry I ruined your birthday.” He mumbled before he placed his hands inside his pocket and pulled out something. It was a small, golden-colored velvet pouch. He handed it to me without saying anything. 

“Is it for me?”

He nodded. 

“But you already gave me a gift.” 

“Take it. It’s my apology. I asked Dad to stop by somewhere so I could buy you something. From my own money.” He continued to talk as I carefully drew the strings that held it together.

My mouth opened, and I must have let out a soft gasp because I could see Zach smiling in my side peripherals. I wanted to look at him, but my eyes were drawn to the golden bangle in my hand with detailed carvings. It was a bangle bracelet. 

“Is this expensive? It’s gold.”

“Just enough that my savings allowed me to buy. But I can buy you more expensive things when I’m older, and I’m earning.”

“This is beautiful, Zach! I will wear it every day!” I exclaimed and looked at him. I had totally forgotten I was upset just a moment ago. 

He nodded and smiled broadly at me. “Make sure you will raise your wrist and show me that whenever I begin to raise my voice. So I can be reminded that I promise I will never shout at you again.”

I giggled and threw my arms around Zach, hugging him tightly. I knew even without the bracelet, I would still end up forgiving him. I also knew that even if we both knew part of what happened was my fault, Zach would never point that out, and I would never admit it. The important thing was we were back to being best friends.

The five minutes turned into ten and then thirty until Zach stayed and spent the whole day with me, helping me build the diorama I needed for my school project. 

I couldn’t exactly remember the whole conversation of that day, but I knew he told me he could get upset, but he wouldn’t be forever mad at me. That he was still learning to control his emotions, but he promised he would never shout at me again. 

He kept true to his words. He never did, regardless of the many times I threw tantrums or annoyed him—until the accident happened. 

END OF FLASHBACK.