ZACK’S POV
The hug didn’t even last a minute as the second Lee saw Caroline in my arms, he began to bark his heart out at us.
“What’s wrong with you buddy?” Zoe bend down to calm him down.
Zoe’s one touch was all it took to make Lee shut up from the bark. We all were left blank seeing how with a single move Zoe was able to conquer Lee’s heart. It took me goddamn months to make him fall for me while Zoe succeeded even without trying!!!!
“What kind of sorcery is this, Zoe?” I freed Caroline and turned all my attention to Zoe.
“True love it is” teasing me, Zoe winked at me pouring all her love at Lee.
Lee soon began to act as a possessed dog who sprinted around us like rocket, out of enthusiasm and me and Zoe thoroughly enjoyed the moment forgetting everything that was happening around us.
“I can’t believe this dog. He had been treating me so harshly and now he is so soft and loving?” Caroline interrupted the beautiful moment of ours and I stared at her unbelievably.
“Did you do something to him?” I asked her to understand the situation.
“I have no idea. Yeah, one thing did happen. When I was coming downstairs, I stumbled on a toy and did throw it downstairs. Was it his?” she told me casually and I couldn’t believe her. Why was she like this??
“Who else do you think it was? Is there any baby playing there? Dude, it was his favorite toy and no wonder why he hates you so much” I despised her.
“How would I know that, Zack. I didn’t do it intentionally” she justified herself.
“There she goes again” I sighed unbelievably.
“Let it go Zack. We came here to take him for a walk right. Let’s do that” Mike distracted me from the current vibe.
“Let’s go to the beach? I'm sure Lee will love the beach and water” Zoe excitedly asked me and there was no way I was going to deny her!!!
“Shall I also come?” Caroline jumped to ask me.
“No. You shall take a good rest and I’ll take you for a ride tonight” I instantly denied her request.
“Why is that I cannot spend time with you when I want but when you want? Zack, to be honest these hormones are getting over my head and I’m sorry but I'm not able to control them. I want us to live like our old times. If not like that then atheist we can try to mend our relationship, right?” out of the blue, she brought up such an intense topic.
Mike and Zoe were frozen as they had no idea what their role was in the situation but all I prayed for was for them to not leave me here itself. I did want to answer her but along with that I needed them too.
“Caroline, I need peace and that’s the last thing you can give me. That's why I told you I'll go with you at night so that you can get that time you needed me to give me. For now, I need some alone time” I replied to her.
“Is this your alone time? With them you are alone?” she questioned me and she was true!!!
“Well, they keep me happy and not pressured unlike you. I have explained to you a lot that even though we are back in our relationship, I’m not able to feel the same like I used to do. So, stop acting so immature and understand thing because I'm not going to repeat it again and again” I yelled at her and once again she broke into a pool of tears.
“Zack, go to her and talk it out. We shall wait here if you want or else, we shall leave” Zoe muttered to me and I turned to her. Hell, no girl, I need you here with me right now.
“You won’t go anywhere. I need you” I stopped her and held her hands unknowingly. Why did I just do that???
Zoe looked at me with an expression of shock and disbelief and so did Caroline. The girls were immensely shook by how differently I acted with both of them and even I didn’t know why was I doing it.
“Zack......” Caroline screamed my name and stared at me holding Zoe’s hands. In no time, she stormed back inside the room and the way she did it horrified me.
“Why is she running like that?” Mike asked out of anxiety and I hastily rushed to her to see if she was okay.
“Caroline......” I screamed her name in fear and went upstairs to see where she was.
“I don’t want this life anymore Zack. Now I understood that you took me back into your life only because of this baby and not our love” she cried her heart out and shut the door of her room. Holy hell, what was she up to???
“What happened now? Will you please stop these antics and talk to me” I banged on the door to make her open but she was no way going to do it. I was trapped!!!!
“Why Zack? Even after my apology, even after you giving me a second chance, why are you not able to come back to me??? Do you hate me that much or am I now just your responsibility” she was too broken as she poured it all out at once.
“You can't force me to do something I’m trying my best to do Caroline. It's true of whatever you said but I also am damn trying to keep my promise” I tried to console her but from nowhere, my bad boy tone crept up and I was not able to control it. No, it's true that I was not able to act the emotions which I was not at all feeling towards Caroline!!!!
“When will it happens Zack? As far as I can see, you are drawn to Zoe more than me. In fact, Mike and Zoe mean more to you than me. Can you deny that you spend most of your time with them than me??” she questioned me and she was right this time.
“I know. Okay fine, if that’s your problem then I have a solution for it” I ran my bad boy head quickly and a freaking idea popped up. I hope it works!!!
“What is it?” she asked me with hope.
“To know that you’ll have to come out” I played tactically with her and brought her out of the room.
She crawled into my arms the moment she opened the door and hugged me tight. I caressed her to console her and it did work perfectly. Now it's time for me to make my move!!!
“What is it. Tell me now” she asked me with a smile and I tucked her hairs behind her ears.
“I agree to spend the whole day with you and not with them” I told her the idea and her face lit up like sun.
“What? Is it true?” she asked me in disbelief.
“Yes, it's true. I'm ready to do it for you but you’ll have to promise me something” I asked her in a mysterious tone which made her suspicious.
“What?”
“Promise me that you’ll stop complaining to me from here on and will never bother Zoe or Mike. I’ll spend school time with and you spend it with your friends. After coming back, I'll go for work and the time after that will be solely yours. Is it okay?” I asked her and she looked at me like a statue.
For a moment she didn’t move or talk anything and simply kept looking into my eyes. After a minute or 2, I snapped her out of her dream world and then, a wide smile bloomed on her face.
“It’s all I need Zack. It’s all I need from you. And yes, I promise you. No feuds between me, Zoe and Mike” without thinking twice, she promised me and viola, mission successful.
“Then let’s go out and tell them” I smirked at her and took her outside.
Mike and Zoe were playing with Lee the whole time we were inside and when they saw us coming out alright, they looked at each other and smiled.
“Guys, I took a decision and I think that’s the best one to keep peace in between us and my life” not wasting anytime, I told them.
“Why do I smell something fishy Zack?” Mike asked me feeling suspicious.
“Nothing much. I think it's better for us to spend time in the school rather than after it. After school I decided to spend more with her to work on our relationship” I told them my decision and they looked at me in utter shock.
“But Zack....” Mike was about to talk me out of it but Zoe pulled him back.
“Mike, don’t. He is right. That's the best for us” Zoe supported me and I looked her into her shining eyes. Why Zoe, why were you so selfless??
“Zoe but” Mike still couldn’t believe me.
“It’s okay Mike. It's absolutely okay” Zoe calmed him down and somehow, without Caroline’s suspicion, I signed Mike and he instantly understood.
“Are you happy now Caroline. We won’t be a hinder in your relation with him” Zoe told Caroline and she smiled excitedly.
“Don’t take me wrong but this is the best for us” Caroline told her in a helpless tone and Zoe smiled at me.
“Now that everything’s sorted, why don’t you go and get some rest. I'll drop them and come” I asked Caroline and happily she went inside.
“Another win for Caroline huh?” Mike asked me fumingly.
“Nope Mike. It's never her win this time” I smirked at him and Zoe looked at me confused.
“What she said was true, you both mean more to me than her. And so, I choose you above her” I confessed to Zoe and we had a moment of eyes lock.
Feeling overwhelmed, my hands slid onto her and held it tightly. Mike was extremely confused and flabbergasted seeing us hold hands like that but him being him, didn’t take it the negative way. It was a pure moment of friendship between me and Zoe and she clearly understood it. That was how this relationship was supposed to work isn’t it??
“And yeah Zoe, as an apology for whatever that happened now, will you accept my Lee and take care of me while I take care of Caroline? I’m sure he’ll be damn happy with you than he’ll be here with us” I asked her hopefully and that was more than she needed from me.
“My pleasure sire” she teased me and expressed her euphoria for getting it.
“But will your parents allow?” reminiscing why they didn’t have a pet, I asked her doubtfully.
“I’ll take care of that” Mike told us and yes, everything was solved and peace was restored.
But what my suspected the most was about this strange connection which was drawing me towards Zoe unlike Caroline. I knew that it was something more than describable but was my consciousness ready to accept the reality or was I going to bury it taking it simply as my craziness????