~ Zoie's POV ~
Zoie let out a big huff as she slammed her luggage shut. Summer was coming to an end, and all her clothes were packed and ready to go. After wiping off the sweat from her forehead, she stood up and headed into the bathroom. She took off her shirt, getting ready for a shower, and then she noticed something in the mirror. Staring right at her was the necklace Asher got her. The letter A sitting quietly on her chest.
Unable to hold it together, Zoie's eyes started brimming with tears. Almost two weeks had passed since Asher had left and she was still dealing with the aftermath. In the first few days, she tried calling and texting, but it was as if his phone was off completely. She then tried asking around, asking Talia, her brothers, and even Landon, but none of them knew where Asher was. He just disappeared into thin air, he didn't even say goodbye to his own mom.
The rest of the time, Zoie went all over town looking for him. She went to his office in the city, to his favorite bars, and she even went to the cemetery where his dad was buried. She was sure that he'd at least be there, but he wasn't.
Days turned into nights and nights turned into days. Every night she cried herself to sleep and every morning she saw her dreams turned into ashes as he was still not here. No one had any answers and she had no option but to accept her fate. Some days she felt strong like she can go on, but on other days, she felt like breaking apart. And the worst part was... she didn't have anyone to talk to about it.
Zoie was alone, completely alone. Her internship was over last week and she was spending the rest of her time at home. She didn't feel like talking to anyone, so she mostly kept to herself in her room. Her mom noticed something was off because she was being so quiet, but her brothers just chalked it up as her being moody. Maybe it's her time of the month, they said.
Zoie stared at her reflection in the mirror and her hand went to touch that necklace. Suddenly, she was taken back to that moment in Christmas when Asher gave her this present.
"It's A and Z. It's you and me. The first and the last letters of the alphabet," he said as he put the necklace around her neck. "I may be your first, Zoie, but you're gonna be my last,"
Tears began rolling down her face again. No one had impacted her life as much as Asher did and to think that he left her just like that? Did any of this not mean anything to him?
Zoie wiped the tears on her face as she got into the shower. She turned the water on and let the sound drown out her cries. After about an hour of crying in the shower, Zoie dried herself and her face, picked herself up, and went out the door like nothing happened.
Today was her last day at home as she was going back to college tomorrow. If there was any chance she could see Asher again, it would be today. Zoie made her way down the stairs and grabbed a random car key from the console table. There were several car keys just sitting there in the bowl. There were her brothers' Maseratis and Ferraris, her mom's Mercedes, and several other cars that belonged to her dad. Zoie had grabbed the key to the convertible Audi and she was pleased with it.
"I'm just going to Target, no need to follow me," she said to one of the guards who were guarding the door. And before he could respond, she was already out the door.
Zoie jumped into the Audi and started the engine, but just before she was about to drive away, she heard a voice.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Zoie turned around and saw Landon. He was just pulling into the driveway in his white Range Rover.
"Somewhere," she said as she quickly started the engine. But for some reason, the engine wasn't starting.
"What's wrong with this thing?!" she groaned and started the car again, but the engine wasn't turning on.
"Miss Zoie!" Suddenly, one of the guards raced outside, holding up a phone. "I have orders from Mr. Van Zandt not to let you go out!"
"Oh, please!" Zoie smacked the steering wheel in frustration. Her dad probably controlled the car from his phone or something like that so she couldn't start the engine.
"It's alright, she's with me," Landon spoke up suddenly.
Everyone's eyes now turned to him. The guard listened to the phone for a moment, nodded his head, and turned off the call.
"Come on, I'll drive you," Landon nodded at her.
Feeling like she had no other option, Zoie got out of the Audi and went into Landon's car, stomping her feet as she walked past the guard.
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"Zee, what are we doing here?"
Landon was just blindly following Zoie's direction as she followed her Google map. They drove into the cemetery grounds, straight to Adrian Luciano's grave. He was confused, but he followed her anyway.
"I just... want some place to think," she answered without giving too much away.
Zoie took off her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. She took in her surroundings, the place was empty as usual. The tall trees swayed with the soft wind blowing and the warm sun was shining up above. It was quiet and there was an air of eeriness around.
He's not here, is he...?
Zoie started walking around Adrian's mausoleum. She looked everywhere. There weren't any signs of him. Not even a flower or a note was left behind. She was sure that he would somehow turn up here. She was so convinced. It was still inconceivable to her that he would leave just like that.
Is this... really it?
"Zee, is everything okay?" Landon asked, he was still walking behind her. "You've been acting kinda strange lately..."
Zoie's heart grew more and more hopeless. Everywhere she turned and everywhere she looked, there was still no sign of him.
He really left... just like that...
"Zee, what is it?" Landon pressed.
Zoie couldn't hold it anymore. The dam burst and tears flowed out of her eyes like there was no tomorrow.
"Zee?" Landon looked worried. Zoie went ahead and buried her face into his chest. He was taken aback at first, but he quickly recovered. He pulled her into a hug, letting her cry her eyes out on his shoulder.
"He... left me..." she said in between sobs.
"Who?"
"D..."
"He left you?"
Zoie's entire body felt like breaking. If it wasn't for Landon's arms holding her up, she'd have fallen to the ground.
"He didn't say a word to me and he just disappeared..."
"He ghosted you?" Landon hissed. "Bastard!"
Zoie only cried harder and gripped onto Landon's shirt like she was holding on for dear life.
"Zee, I'm so sorry..."
"My heart hurts so bad," she croaked. "And I feel so alone... I think I'm gonna die..."
"You're not gonna die. It's gonna hurt for a long time, but you're gonna be okay," Landon said reassuringly, pulling her face up so she could see him. "Look, I'm coming with you tomorrow. You're not gonna be alone. And I'll make sure that you're gonna be okay,"
Zoie couldn't stand looking into Landon's eyes. She closed her eyes and more tears trickled down her face. Landon let out a sigh and pulled her back into his arms, stroking her hair gently as she wet his chest some more.
"Sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall together..." he whispered to her ear. "It's gonna be okay... It's gonna be okay..."
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Zoie spent hours in the cemetery crying her eyes out with Landon. Once the sun was setting, they headed back home and she was still crying for the rest of the day, even as she lay in bed at night. Her mom actually prepared a big dinner for her last night at home with all of her favorite dishes, but Zoie didn't bother coming down for dinner. Landon told everyone she was sick, some kind of stomach flu, and that at least gave her some much-needed time alone.
Later that night, Zoie lay in her bed facing the window. She had stopped crying for a moment, and she was remembering the time Asher sneaked into her room through that window. She'd give anything in the world to have him appear in that window tonight. Anything.
"Ash..." she whispered.
There was no response. There was no one under that window.
"I miss you..." she said as tears began falling down again. "Please come back..."
And that was the last thing she remembered before her tired, swollen eyes drifted into sleep. And in her dreams, she saw his face again. He was smiling that boyish smile, coming into her room through that window. And that made her happier than anything in the world could ever do.
"Ash..."
"Ssh," he cooed. "I'm here, sweet girl,"
Asher lay on the bed next to her, his face was only inches away from her. Zoie never felt more relieved. This must be what peace feels like. She closed her eyes and inhaled his familiar, masculine scent.
"Don't leave me..."
"I will never,"
Zoie went to bed smiling that night. But when she woke up the next morning, reality came down on her. Ash wasn't there lying next to her. He was never there at all. He came and left like a hurricane, wreaking havoc on her life, and then leaving just like that. Disappearing into thin air.
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -