~ Zoie's POV ~
"So, what's up?"
Zoie waited as Landon started shuffling uncomfortably. He was raking his gorgeous blonde hair with his hand. His bright blue eyes looked nervous, maybe even a little scared.
"Land? You okay?"
"Uhm, are you going somewhere?" Landon asked, purposefully diverting attention.
"Landon, I know you don't come into my room at 9 in the morning just to have small talk," Zoie shot point blankly, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "What is it that's so important that it can't wait until tomorrow?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow," he said. "Your dad is sending me to mediate this business deal with a company in London. I'll be gone for a few weeks,"
"Oh, I see," Zoie uncrossed her arms. "So I'm not gonna see you again until I go back?"
"Probably not, which is why I gotta talk to you,"
Zoie narrowed her eyes, waiting patiently.
"Okay..."
Landon stared at her for a moment. Then, he sighed and chuckled dryly.
"This is... gonna be pretty weird for you to hear..."
"What's going on? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. But I just know that after I say what I'm gonna say, things aren't gonna be the same again between us,"
"What are you talking about?"
Landon opened his mouth like he was about to speak, but he stopped himself. Whatever it was that he wanted to say, it must be really difficult to say because he kept diverting away.
"Oh, guess what? I was doing some packing yesterday and I came across this thing buried deep inside my closet," he said suddenly, pulling something out of his jacket pocket.
It was a small flower of some sort. A corsage to be exact. The purple rose stitched to it had dried, but Zoie remembered what it used to be. It was the corsage she wore to her high school junior formal.
"Oh my God! I can't believe you still have this!" she gaped excitedly, taking the corsage from his hand.
"That was quite a night we had," he smiled.
"Funny you said that, I can barely remember anything," she laughed.
"Well, I remember everything," he said meaningfully.
Zoie looked up at his bright blue eyes. For a moment, she was lost. She was transported to that night three years ago, to the same gorgeous blue eyes staring back at her...
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- - - - - Three Years Ago - - - - -
Zoie sat on the kitchen counter stool with her arms wrapping her legs. She was in her pajamas. In front of her was her phone, deadly silent, you could've thought it was turned off. She'd been staring at it for a while now, and it was getting pathetic.
"Someone will call, hon," her mom suddenly spoke up.
Zoie turned around and saw her mom and dad standing by the doorway.
"Ugh, this is all your fault!" she groaned and grabbed the phone, getting off the kitchen counter.
"Me?" her mom looked confused. Zoie wasn't allowed to go to dances before and her mom fought her dad this time to finally let her go.
"No, it's daddy!" she squeaked, turning her sharp gaze at Damon. "If you hadn't had to vet all my friends and the guys in my class, someone probably would've asked me to go to the dance!"
"You don't need some stupid guys to go to a dance," Damon shook his head casually. "Just go with your girlfriends,"
"Ugh!" Zoie could only groan in anger as she stomped away.
"Zoie," her mom tried to stop her, but Zoie just kept running toward the stairs.
"Leave me alone!"
Zoie slammed the door shut and threw her body on the bed. She checked her phone again, this time, she went to Instagram. She watched all the stories and photos her friends posted. Everyone in her year was getting ready for the junior formal. Everyone was coupled up and they looked good. Zoie wanted nothing more than to fit in. All her friends in her class got asked out already, even Winnie Peng who was a transfer student from China who didn't speak a word of English. Even she got a date. Zoie kept waiting until the last minute, thinking maybe someone would bail or anything like that and she'll end up with a date. But no. No one was calling or texting her.
I guess no one wanted me...
* KNOCK * KNOCK *
The sudden knock on the door pulled Zoie out of her daydreaming. She wiped a single tear that fell off her cheek and turned her body away.
"I said, leave me alone!" she yelled, thinking that it was her mom behind the door.
"Zee? It's me,"
Zoie heard a different voice. She quickly got up, straightened her hair and face, and raced to the door.
"Landon?" she gasped, opening the door to find Landon standing in front of her. He was wearing a dark navy-colored suit and a purple tie.
"Hey," he beamed, smiling that megawatt smile.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm taking you to the formal, duh," he said casually as he walked inside.
"What?"
"Why aren't you dressed yet?" he narrowed his eyes at her, then he glanced at the purple dress that was hanging behind the door.
Zoie was confused. Landon was a couple of grades above her, and he actually graduated already. He had no business going to a high school dance.
What is he doing this for?
"Did my mom ask you to do this?" she shot point blankly.
"Your mom?" He looked confused. "No,"
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Why not?" he shrugged. "You said yesterday that you don't wanna go alone, and all your friends got a date already,"
"Well, yeah, but-"
"So let's go together!" He cut her off. "It'll be fun. I can see some of my old friends again,"
"Your friends?"
"I have underclassmen friends too,"
"Landon-"
"Come on, less talking, more getting ready, we're gonna be late!"
Landon was now whisking her into the bathroom. He also pulled the purple dress from the hanger and shoved it to her, closing the bathroom door shut. Zoie was acting like she wanted to protest, but secretly, she didn't. She wasn't protesting if Landon wanted to take her. He was a total sweetheart and her bestest friend in the world. Going to this dance with him would actually be fun. Not to mention, all the girls in her class would be so jealous because they all had crushes on Landon when he was there.
And so, that was the story of how Zoie went to her junior formal with Landon. He was such a thoughtful guy, he even got her a purple corsage that matched her dress.
Zoie walked into the lavishly-decorated ballroom holding Landon's arm and every eye turned to see them. People that she didn't know were greeting and talking to her. Landon, was of course, a total star. Everyone loved him and was so excited to see him again. Zoie never felt this much positive attention headed toward her before. Normally, people whispered and said stuff behind her back, about how uptight she was, or how shady her family was, stuff like that. But with Landon, the Golden Boy of Sacred Heart Prep, no one dared to look at her like that.
"Hey, Land..." she whispered as she pulled him closer. They were standing in the corner of the ballroom, watching people dancing and talking in the middle of the dance floor.
"Hm?"
"Am I not pretty enough?"
"What?"
"Is that why guys won't ask me to the dance?" she paused for a beat before adding, "You're a guy. You can be honest with me,"
Landon looked at her like she was crazy.
"Zee, you're the prettiest girl I know," he said matter of factly. "The only reason why boys don't ask you to go to prom with them is because they're intimidated by your dad and brothers. It has nothing to do with you,"
Zoie's breath was caught in her throat.
"You... think I'm pretty?"
"Well, duh," he chuckled. "Did no one ever tell you that?"
...No...
Zoie didn't have to say it out loud, Landon could read the answer on her face.
"People probably don't say it because they assume you've heard it all the time, but yeah, I think you're very pretty," he said again.
Zoie's heart suddenly beat faster. She was feeling something in her stomach too. Some kind of butterfly. Her cheeks blushed bright red and she couldn't stop it.
"Will you dance with me?" she asked, diverting his attention.
"Absolutely,"
The moment Zoie and Landon hit the dance floor, the night turned around for the better. She never had this much fun before, being so free and feeling so pretty. She also made new friends and that was great. This girl Emma even shared her flask with her. That was Zoie's first experience with alcohol and though it didn't taste the best, that was everything she ever wanted. Friendship. Fun. And a sense of belonging.
After a whole night of dancing, Landon had to somewhat carry Zoie out of the ballroom. It was 1 AM when they finally left. She drank a little too much and walking in her heels seemed impossible. Landon ended up holding her shoes for her and she put an arm around his neck for support.
As they were waiting outside for the car to pick them up, Zoie suddenly felt sad about leaving. Tonight was the best night she's ever had. But after tonight was over, just like Cinderella, she'd have to go back to her prison. Who knows if the friends she made tonight will stay her friends after Landon is gone?
"Zee? Are you crying?"
Landon was quick to notice something was off. Zoie quickly wiped the single tear that fell off her cheek.
"What's wrong?" he pressed.
"I know this is stupid, but... I don't think anyone's ever gonna wanna marry me!" she slurred and screamed.
"What?"
"Think about it! I can't even get a date to a high school dance. Who's gonna want me now?"
"Zee, you're being ridiculous, stop," he laughed, but Zoie didn't find this amusing. She was serious, glaring sharply at him.
"I'm never gonna get married, Land! I'm gonna be a lonely plant lady! I can't even have cats because I'm allergic!"
"Zee, stop," he shook her body with both hands to get her attention. "You're an amazing girl and any guy's gonna be lucky to have you. I promise, one day, you're gonna find someone and you'll be happy,"
"What if I don't?"
"Then I'll marry you,"
"What?"
Zoie's heart suddenly dropped to the floor.
"Let's make a pact," he said with that gorgeous boyish smile. "If you're still single when you turn 30, let's get married,"
"Ha-ha. Very funny," she rolled her eyes, trying to hide the fact that she was excited about this pact.
"I'm serious," Landon said, holding out a hand. "Do we have a deal?"
Zoie was frozen. Her heart was beating so fast. She glanced down at his hand and back at his face. Those beautiful kind blue eyes were staring deeply into her soul.
Maybe he's kidding, maybe he's not. But I'll play along.
"Deal!" she said excitedly, shaking his hand. "Can we make it when I'm 25 then?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoie held the corsage in her hand, and every detail from that night came rushing through her brain. It really was a memorable night. Joking or not, she did get a marriage proposal and it was fun.
"So..." she laughed nervously. "You're going to London, huh?"
Landon shrugged and smiled.
"I think your dad wants to see me deal with big clients. See if I can handle the pressure, especially that I'm thinking about... marrying his daughter,"
Zoie's mind went blank for a moment.
"Oh! Ha-ha," she started laughing nervously. "You're funny,"
"I'm not joking, Zee," Landon kept a straight face. His eyes were dead serious. "It was never a joke to me,"
Zoie swallowed hard. Where was he going with this?
"Landon, before you go there, you know that I'm with someone right now, right...?"
"I know, but this isn't about him. It's about me,"
"Landon," she warned him.
"You're the one who told me I should speak out. Love isn't meant to be kept in a cage, right?" he said meaningfully. "Honestly, Zee, I've tried to keep it in. All these years, I didn't wanna risk not being your friend. And I didn't want anything to change between us. And I thought it was okay... I don't have to have you like that. I can just be your friend. Be your brother. Love you from afar..."
Zoie was fully dumbfounded. She could only stare at him as he spoke.
"...A part of me also thought that it was just a dumb crush. With time, I thought I'd forget about you. And I tried to do that too. But every girl I came across, I'm just gonna compare them to you. And none of them compared to you,"
Suddenly and without warning, Landon grabbed her hand. Zoie didn't know what to do. Her mind literally went blank.
"You're the most brilliant, funniest, most beautiful girl I've ever known. I love who you are and I love who I am when I'm with you. Things are so easy and effortless. You feel like home to me and I don't think I can find that anywhere else. So before I make another mistake by letting you go, I think it's time that you know how I truly feel about you," Letting out a sigh, he paused for a beat before saying, "I love you. Not just as a friend. Not just like a sister. I really love you,"
Zoie's mouth fell open, but there were no words. She was like a deer caught in headlights.
"L-Landon... I... I love you too, but not in that way..." she said finally. Her words came out in a whisper.
"Do you really never think about us and what we can be?" he pressed, gauging her expression. "You have, haven't you?"
"That's not the point," she shook her head.
"That is the point. We can be great together, Zee!"
"Landon, I'm in love with s-,"
Before she could finish her sentence, Landon pulled her into his arms and crashed his lips onto hers. Zoie was so shocked, unsure of what was happening, so she just froze in place.
"Hey-!"
And then, the door to her bedroom flew open. Zoie and Landon pulled apart instantly. At the door, she saw Asher standing there.
"Ash? What's up?" Landon beamed. "I thought you're still in China?"
Asher looked at Zoie, then at Landon, and back at Zoie. If she was smart, she'd say something right about now. But again, her brain had flatlined. She could only stand there and look at him.
"No, I just got back," Asher said flatly.
"Oh, well, do you need something? 'Cause Zoie and I are in the middle of talking,"
"No, I see that. Sorry to interrupt,"
Asher's tone was cold. His eyes held no light. Without giving her a chance to say anything else, he turned around and walked away.
"Asher, wait!" she said finally, but he didn't stop.
"Zoie, wait," Landon grabbed her hand, holding her from following him.
"Let me go!" she yelled at him, and Landon was taken aback. So much so that he let go of her hand.
Zoie raced down the stairs as fast as she could. But once she got to the front door, she saw a black SUV speeding away out of the gates.
Asher was gone.
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -