TORI'S POV *
"Zach, I..."
I was surprised at what he did. I looked at his face. I was so close to him I couldn't help but blush a little.
'Stop it! Use your brain silly!' I scolded myself and avoided eye contact with him.
This is actually the first time I saw him in casual clothes. He was just wearing a polo shirt and simple pants but the way he looked right now is simply awesome. He wasn't trying hard to be the hot guy in the party but I had to admit, he really looks good and hot!
"Are you blushing?" He asked giving me a smile.
"No! It's just... I'm kinda embarrassed with all these people staring at me."
"No worries, you'll be fine. Besides, everyone knows you're with me now." He moved his face close to mine and put his hands gently on my cheeks. I couldn't take my eyes off him. "See what I'm doing? You
* ZACH'S POV ** "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." Tori hurriedly stood up and walked away."Cute girlfriend, Zach." James said with a grin."Lucas? Seriously?" I asked him directly."What about it?" He answered as if it didn't matter."Let's not play games, James.""It's been my name for as long as I remember, what's the big deal?" He said with a snicker."You told me before you didn't like that name." I stated firmly."I didn't mean that. I kinda like it." James said sipping from his drink."Don't you think it's kinda stupid of you to give out your real name to some stranger you just met?" I said in frustration."She's not a stranger. She's your girlfriend." He emphasized."You just knew that." He's really trying
** TORI'S POV **James' party was kicking off. A lot of people were dancing, drinking, and laughing their socks off unlike earlier. I could tell they're having a blast. The place is more crowded now. As I made my way through the sea of people, I thought of the things James said to me. I just don't get him! I went to Zach as I saw him sitting alone."You alright? Who was it?" Zach asked the moment I sat at our booth."I'm fine. Sonia was just wondering how I'll get home." I said sipping from my drink."You didn't tell her I'd take care of it?""About that... she's not very fond of you.""I can see that. Anyway, you and James had fun?" He inquired with a smirk."He actually apologized. We're cool now, I guess.""Well that's good to hear." He said finishing his glass. "Where is he anyway?""He said h
** TORI's POV** "Looks like someone had a pretty good time." Zach said coldly. We were halfway to my place when he finally broke the ice. All this time from the moment I entered his car, we were so quiet. I could see it in his face that he's not in a speaking mood. I guess I was wrong."Yeah. It was fun." I looked at him and smiled sincerely."I know. So, what do we think of James?" He asked abruptly.Of course I expected him to ask me about his friend since James is the reason we went there. But I was surprised that he's so straight to the point regarding this topic."He's pretty cool. Funny, a bit of a jackass --""--you like him?" Zach cuts me off."What? No, of course not." I chuckled."Of course you don't." He said in a sarcastic tone and then he continued. "You two were hitting
* ZACH's POV * "What's that noise?" I groaned. I slowly opened my eyes and saw people in lab coats and scrubs walking everywhere.I tried lifting my head but stopped as soon as I felt it hurt like hell."Aaaaggh!" I cursed and I lifted my hands to my head. What the hell is this?"Please lie down." The woman in the scrubs ordered."What's happening?" I wondered."You just came from CT scan, dear. I'm Nurse Jackie. Please try to rest. It'll only get worse if you don't." She tucked me in and left in a hurry probably to attend to other people."Wait... What's a CT? Where..." I tried calling the nurse back but she just closed the curtain on me. I could hear people screaming around. I just ignored them, lay down and stared at the ceiling trying to recall what happened.Great. Just great. M
** ZACH'S POV ** After everything that happened last night, it's finally a new day.My head still hurts a little from the accident and I'm hungry. I got up from bed, turned on the media player in my room and started doing push-ups just to make sure I'm in good condition.The song, Keep Your Head Up is playing. Other than the mild headache, I feel normal as if nothing happened.I stopped at twenty and headed to the bathroom to wash up. I was whistling the whole time inside the shower. I've never felt so refreshed after a bath.It was already past one in the afternoon on a Sunday. Walking my way to the kitchen, I heard people talking and something smelled delicious. Boris is cooking something and Tori is sitting at a stool by the kitchen counter."Please don't tell me you're a morning person." I said out loud.
** TORI's POV ** "Here you go." Nathan handed me his jacket the moment I came into the passenger's seat. I took it and thanked him.It's the small things like these that make me like Nathan. He's exactly the complete opposite of some self-centered jerk that I need not mention. "What brings you to this side of town?" I looked at him and waited patiently for his answer."I know you have a lot of questions but I have to drop you off at your place first. Sonia's looking for you." He told me, his eyes still on the road.The whole ride is silent. It wasn't uncomfortable silence, I just felt secure. He is so concentrated on the road. The rain had stopped now and sun is starting to shine up again.I suddenly felt different. It's been a while since I'm with Nathan. I'm kinda used to being with Zach where he never fails to sh
** TORI's POV **"Start talking." Zach ordered the moment we entered the empty room. It's the same room I confessed to him. I'm still kinda wondering if we were still together.I had no idea how to start this conversation. I don't even know why I followed him in the first place. I could feel the tension in the air, speechless.I continued walking forward away from him. Zach just followed me from behind. Then I decided to lean on the teacher's desk with him in front of me. He sat on an armchair not too far from me."So?" He started."What do you want to know?" I asked bravely. He ran his fingers to his hair and looked at me."You don't get to ask, Peige." He smirked and then he continued. "So that was the reason why you never bothered to call or send messages.""Since when did
** ZACH's POV **Late as usual. Why am I not surprised?It's already after class. Everyone's gone home and as usual, I'm waiting for someone who clearly knows I hate delays. I kept on looking at my phone hoping that Tori would be done already.I'm alone, or wouldn't be if I talked to the two geeks passing by. Like that'd happen. It's moments like this that piss me off because I tend to think about anything, what to do at home, where I should spend summer or what's been happening in my life so far.Tori.I hate that she spontaneously keeps popping in my head. I'm still trying to figure out why I'm so smitten.Now, what? I thought as I pictured us together earlier. I felt a little embarrassed. Things like that should've been easy for me. I know my way with girls, but with Tori, it just seems wrong. This is stupid!
Yes,It's true that I have to end the story Must Date The Playboy. I already planned out everything. It just doesn't feel right to end it the way others want it to be, a happy one.What happened to Chloe? Does Nathan come back? Is River really an underdog? Does James and Tori end up together after what happened? And where the hell is Zach?Do you believe in, Love is sweeter the second time around? Do you believe in second chances? Or do you stand to believe in the saying past is past and learn to let go?
** TORI's POV **I woke up with a smile plastered on my face. I stretched my arms to the other side of the bed, expecting Zach to be lying beside me, much to my disappointment no one was there. As I opened my eyes I'm in a bed, alone. I rubbed my eyes and sat up glancing at the surroundings thinking that he's sitting somewhere.I stood up taking a tour around the suite to find him."Zach?"I called out trying to ride along with his surprise.Where are you? Breakfast in bed perhaps? Pondering at the thought of me and Zach together again made me wonder how we're going to face everyone. I assumed when he said those three words last night we had an understanding.He wants me as much as I want him.As I checked the dining area of the suite, I saw silver platters carefully prepared as if a grand feast will take place. One thing I noticed though was a big cup of probably hot choco as if it was just prepared secon
** TORI'S POV **He's here. I heard the bell rang.I barely slept last night. Aside from the fact that I was busy packing for my supposedly vacation, I can't help but think why I even said yes to his offer.Checked the clock and it's four o' clock.Right on time.I can really say that going with Zach to Mexico is really a bad idea. It made me think twice if it's what I really wanted, and somehow I know I can be happy if I spend the next forty-eight hours with him. I had to be selfish. I know it's not going to be as easy as what we thought, saying goodbye and forgetting everything? What if we can't fulfill the promise we agreed upon? What if in the end, I'll keep Zach for myself?I dismissed the thoughts in my head. Today's the day that we'll have to forget everything and act as if nothing happened. We know that we need this. We will forget the lies, the drama and leave everything in New York. It's just going to be
** TORI's POV **"Please. Leave." Zach's words were pleading and I can feel the pain in his voice. His eyes were still closed and it's clear that he doesn't want me near him. I'm somehow thankful that his eyes were shut, because the tears in my eyes were flowing freely. I'm trying my best to suppress my sobs.I watched him for about a few more seconds and then I took my retreat. I can't bear it anymore. I don't want to see him like that. I ran as fast as I can, away from him, away from this premise. I ran outside the school and hailed a cab to my house. There I started to burst in tears.I kept picturing Zach. At that moment, I want to come to him. To take back all the things I said a while ago. That it's not true that I don't love him anymore because in reality, I still do. I love him so much that it hurts.But I can't back out now. I have to do this for Chloe. I once promised that there is nothing coming in between our friendship.
** ZACH's POV **In his own odd way, I guess, my dad, don't know how to be normal after all. He's being a father in his own unique way.Now that everything's settled, all I have to do is clean up my mess. I won't let Tori go this time around. I won't let her slide off the palm of my hands unless she hears me out.I'm ready to tell her everything she wants to know.I went to the third floor balcony, expecting James to be there. But to my disappointment, he's not. I've been calling him to ask if Tori said something to him but he's unreachable.Where in the world could he be?I've been to the studio, the library, and every possible place I could find both of them. I'm very certain that Tori's not with Nathan because he left the next day I learnt about his doings.Honestly, I didn't want him to leave right away but he insisted that he needed this break so that I could have the opportunity to explain everything to Tori.
** ZACH's POV ** 'What's keeping him so long?'I'm at one of our hotels in California where he's staying. It took me not long enough to know his location all thanks to good old Boris.With the perks of being an Anderson, I can do whatever I want. I can ride a private plane anywhere. It saves me a lot of time and time is what I need in this situation. I have to settle this once and for all. It's time to face my father.I've been thinking a lot. How I hate myself right now. Why didn't I hear Tori's explanation before? Why did I leave Mexico all of a sudden? Why didn't I ask for any explanation? And why is it that I waited a week to seek her out?I hate myself for being such a narrow-minded person. The moment I learnt that Tori used me, it never occurred to me that I used her as well. I came clean and only thought of myself. I blamed her for everything well in fact we just did the same. We used each other.If it weren't for Na
** JAMES' POV **I've been avoiding everyone since that very special day. Yeah, sarcasm. All my effort down the drain, what a waste. I wanted to tell Zach that Tori's intention might've been bad at first but she developed feelings along the way. If it weren't for that eavesdropper, blonde, everything was going so well.At that moment, it pains me seeing Tori like that. I don't want to see her in that situation. I've had enough of her misery. The last thing I want right now is to see Tori hurt, again. It's been more than a week already since my planned absence in school. I need to see where things are now. I immediately looked for Tori the moment I set foot in school. Surprisingly she's nowhere to be found. So I just decided to go to the school's third floor balcony hoping that I could find Zach, but to my disappointment, he's not there.I decided to stay there for a while, looking at the courtyard thinking what to do next. I contacted Zach.
** ZACH's POV **"Sneaky as always, huh, Hemmington." After I heard a very interesting story, I immediately went out and go hunt down Nathan.I'm at his apartment. I told Boris to use another number and pretend that Harry's in town and viola the bait is set."Anderson. I don't have time for this. I have to be somewhere." Nathan just continued to walk and ignored me. I'm still standing by the fireplace, busy examining my nails. I have to stay calm as possible. There were still a lot of questions that needed to be answered."If you're looking for Harry, he's not here. You just fell for my trap."Nathan stopped and looked at me disgracefully. "Seriously? We're not kids, dude. What do you want, Zach?""Well, I should ask you the same question, what game are you playing at?" I let that one out venomously. I guess I really can't suppress the anger I'm feeling right now. This guy is un-fuckin-believable.He just laughed sa
**TORI's POV**"It still doesn't change the way I feel about you, Tori. Because despite everything, I still do."Zach's words kept on replaying inside my head. I don't know what to think anymore. I'm so confused. I don't know what to feel. What the heck am I supposed to do now? I told him that I don't love him anymore even if I still do.Why do I keep on lying to myself? Why did I even say that to him? Is it because of the fact that I'm in front of Nathan and James? I'm afraid that if I ever admit to him that I still love him, he might not believe me or worst, reject it. Why am I so stupid for falling for someone like him!"Tori." I was out of my reverie when Nathan called me out. "Are you alright?" Nathan worried.I looked at him and gave him a reassuring smile. It's been a week since the revelation and I really appreciate Nathan for not leaving my side. He's always been here for me.It's also been a week since I last saw Z