Stella went to the corridor looking for them.
Playground? No.
Cafeteria? No.
Elevator? No!
Where the hell they just vanished!?
While walking past the principal's office she noticed Zach and Madison's bag are in the shelf, so this means they are inside.
But why? What are they doing?
"Does the principal knows that they kissed in the washroom?" She whispered and started feeling bad for Zach.
Suddenly she noticed someone was coming out, oh it's Zach... Stella needed to hide.
She ran to the washroom next to the office and peeked behind the door. Zach felt as if someone was here, but 'no one is here' his brain confirmed.
"Thank you, sir." saying so he shook hands with Mr Blacksmith. Then Mr Blacksmith went back inside and they took their bags out of shelf.
"I don't think principal called them for detention or something, they're totally happy." Stella said inside her head.
"Let's go then?" Madison said holding his hand.
"You go, I'll come along." Zach said.
"Okay, meets me at the cafeteria. I'll have a latte, do you want something?" she asked before going.
"I'm good, thanks." He replied shortly and started to doubt that a few moments ago someone was actually here. He can still feel it's presence somehow.
Zach was looking around and his gaze was on the washroom door, Stella peeked out a little and suddenly took her head back inside again.
"Stella? Is that you?" Zach asked.
Stella's heart started beating faster than never...it has been so long since she heard her name from his mouth, that loving voice.
"Yeah I know it's you. What are you doing here?" Zach suddenly opened the door.
"I asked what were you doing here?" he looked into her eyes. Those were full of tears just about to fall.
Stella turned around as soon as possible and wiped those away. Turned back to him and said, "I was... looking for you."
"And any particular reason to do that?" he asked raising one eyebrow up.
Stella didn't want to answer that. She doesn't even know why either.
"No, I was just curious about where did you guys...vanished suddenly." she said.
Zach just stared at her for sometime and went to the cafeteria.
Stella just watched him walking away from her. Little did she know it was the last time she was seeing him.
Zach sat in front of Madison and he had this crazy feeling of telling Stella that they're going to California tomorrow. He kind of wanted to hug her.
"Have you bought the tickets already darling?" Madison asked while sipping the coffee.
He didn't replied as he didn't even realized that Madison was talking to him. He had this sad expression in his face. He just didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to Stella properly.
"Zach?" Madison snapped her fingers in front of his eyes.
"What?" he asked in a low tone.
"What's wrong? You look... sad." Madison wasn't sure if he was sad or just thinking.
"I asked you something... have you bought the flight tickets?" she asked again.
"Yes, it's tomorrow at 7:30 in the morning." he sounded a little disturbed.
"We must pack our luggage quickly then. Let's go already." Madison held his hand and walked out of the college.
"Oh I'm gonna miss this campus... not really though." Madison said after crossing the gate, looking at the building.
"Let's go." Madison and Zach headed to the lake.
Stella is still thinking about Zach. Why was he in the principals office? What was he doing? Why was Madison also there? What was she doing? so many questions inside her head that she couldn't concentrate on the physics class so she left even though it was an important class before exam.
"Why do I care what he's doing!?" she yelled at herself in the washroom. "I feel like everything he does is driving me crazy! Why do I have to feel like that way? Ughh, damn it!" she punched the door. She wanted to scream so loud but this was her college, everyone would hear her scream and she didn't want that so she tried her best to take some deep deep breaths. She sighed after stopping.
Got out and thankfully it was the time to go home.
She went straight upstairs after reaching home. And straight to the bed after locking her room.
She wanted to get some sleep as she was mentally tired of everything. So she went inside the blanket without even changing her dress.
Soon she was asleep.
She saw a sweet dream.
Just to turn that into a real life nightmare.
Yes.
She saw Zach looking into her eyes, holding her hands and telling her how much he loves her. That he can't live without her.
"You're like my oxygen. I can't even breathe without you."
This stupid emotional cringy line, he said it long time back when their relationship had just started.
Stella remembered this in her dream and what? Suddenly she woke up.
Of course she was loving the dream more than reality. Now reality feels like nightmare to her.
"Living without Zach? Really? I mean nothing is impossible but I never thought about that and I'm never prepared for it either." she said it while sitting on the bed.
Not knowing what to do she looked outside the window, it was afternoon. She thought she should go out for cycling. That should clear up her mind with fresh thoughts & feelings. But her just wanted to lay down like a dead person.
Anyways she made up her mind. Changed into a red velvet colored shirt and black jeans. Wore the bracelet that would match with the outfit and ready to go!
After coming downstairs she saw no one was at home.
"Strange.Today isn't Tuesday that mum would have a day shift. Where'd she go? And Beth must be playing outside." she said while opening the fridge. Drank some orange juice.
She took the keys of their house and her cycle. She was cycling close to the lake and looking at her left thinking if she would meet Zach by chance but suddenly someone came in front of her. She had to give a hard break just to save that person's legs from breaking. He stood there as if nothing happened. Nothing actually happened but could have happened as he came suddenly and Stella's eyes weren't on the road.
"Don't you have eyes Mister!?.... Brandon?" her cheeks flushed looking at him.