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Okay.  Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the adorableness of Zeek and Austen?  Yes?  Ok *silence*  ...  ...  OKAY. ENOUGH SILENCE.  Did you guys like the last chapter?  Ya?  Nah?  okay.  Oh. and btw, in case you don't know, the song Zeek sang in the previous chapter is "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" by Sleeping with Sirens. *swoons*  Once I get to an actual working computer, I will put the video on thereee...  Okay. I have some things to say at the end, so stick around after the chappie, mmtay?  <3  OH  And I may or may not have a little surprise here for yaaaa...  We all read about the first time Zeek knew he loved Austen...but we never learned about how Austen's feelings started, have we? hehehehehe 

WARNING.  THIS CHAPTER HAS ADORABLENESS SO GO GET TISSUES RIGHT NOW.  OKAY IMMA ACTUALLY WRITE THE STORY NOW.  GOODBYE.  

Chapter Twenty Four- Austen's POV

I loved waking up with Zeek next to me.  I almost always woke up before he did, and I took advantage of that.  I couldn't help but smile and the cute, sleepy smile that was on his face, or the way his eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks.   I honestly don't know what I would have done if he hadn't have made his way into my life.  I know I hated my mother at the moment, but I had to love her at the same time.  It was her who made the decision of moving us from our tiny little home seven hours away, to here.  Obviously I wasn't exactly thrilled.  I had made friends back home, and it was hard to leave them behind.  I promised them I would stay in touch, but we never talked again.  I still had family there, so it was hard to leave it all behind.  But, when I first laid my eyes on Zeek, I knew my life changed.  I didn't realize I was actually in love with him until a couple years ago, although I now know I have loved him all along.  It was actually kind of obvious... We were closer than most boys our age.  We didn't really have any other friends until Naomi and Felicity came along... I wasn't too thrilled with it at first, thinking Zeek would fall for one of them.  He told me once he thought they were pretty, but "not his type."  The only thing I regret about this whole thing, was not realizing my feelings sooner...Or coming clean about it sooner... I had hurt him for so long being with Kylee, thinking that I was just making things eaasier4...fr me anyway.  I ended up hurting us both.  Kylee wasn't always mean.  When I asked her out, she was sweet and pretty,  I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything, but I was pretty popular.  Naturally, because we were together, she grew in popularity too.  Apparently it got to her head and that was when she changed.  She dressed sluttier and joined the cheerleading squad.  She also got a whole new attitude and personality.  The only reason I stayed with her, or even asked her out to begin with, was to keep Zeek from finding out my feelings... I panicked!  I suddenly felt things I had never felt about anyone, and towards my best friend!  I was scared...  I can still remember when I first realized I loved him...I was such an idiot...

Flashback-Two years ago (Age 16)

  "Hey Honey, when is Zeek getting here?"  My mother asked, wiping her brow.  It was in the beginning of August and it was blazing hot.

  "Anytime.  I think I'll wait for him in the pool."  She smiled and kissed my forehead.  I made my way out the back door, slipping my shoes off on the patio, along with my sweat drenched tank top and shorts.  When I reached the edge of the pool, I dove in.  I swam a few laps, not surfacing until I heard another splash nearby.  I wiped the water out of my eyes when I felt something brush against my ankle.  I smirked and dove under, grabbing onto Zeek's leg and pulled him under.  I pushed myself above the surface and laughed , waiting for him to come up.  He didn't.  Zeek had never been the greatest swimmer...He could float and paddle, but that was about it. 

  "Crap, Zeek?  Zeek, are you okay?"  He still hadn't surfaced.  I began to panic.  I quickly dove under the water and looked for him, ignoring the stinging in my eyes.  I saw him laying stiff a few feet away, so I swam as fast as I could and made my way to him, pulling him up.  I pulled him to the edge of the pool and lifted him easily, laying him down.  I pulled myself out of the water and sat next to him.  His lips were pale and his eyes were closed...  Did I do CPR?  Did I even know CPR?  I felt tears prick at my eyes.  What if I didn't do it right?  What if I was already too late?  I took a deep breath and cleared my head.  I put my hands on his chest, right above his heart, and pushed like they did on TV.  Nothing happened... I continued that for a bit.  I was crying big time now... I leaned forward so I could give him air, ignoring the butterflies that were forming deep in my belly at the thought of his lips touching mine.  I closed my eyes and leaned in closer until his nosed brushed mine and I could smell his minty breath blowing softly on my face.

Wait...Breath? 

I jumped back and stared at him wide eyed.  He suddenly got a wide smile on his face and began laughing.

  "HAHAHAHA!  You actually believed it!"  He cackled.

  "It's not funny, Zeek."  He stopped laughing and bent his head.

  "I'm sorry.  I just wanted to be funny."  He brushed his fringe away from his face and looked up at me.  His eyes gazed deeply into mine, like they were studying my every action.  They were big gorgeous orbs of mystery that I couldn't get enough of.  What if that was for real?  What if I did lose Zeek?  My heart dropped down to my toes at the thought.  "Austen, you okay?"  I nodded.  He smiled brightly and sat up, wrapping his arms around me in a tight embrace.  I felt electric shocks zip through my entire body.  That always happened though, every time I touched him... What made this time so noticeable?  Then I put it all together...

The fast beating heart.

The nervous shaking my hands make.

The butterflies/eagles flying in my stomach.

The overwhelming urge to wrap him in my arms and hold him until the end of time...

I was in love with my best friend.

Flashback Over

  I smiled at the happy memory and pulled Zeek closer, kissing the top of his head.

  "Good morning."  I heard a sleepy voice greet.

  "Good morning, Love."  He giggled cutely and lifted his head.

  "Do you know what today is?"  I smiled and nodded.

  "How could I forget?  It's all you've been talking about for weeks."  I laughed and leaned closer to kiss his nose.  "Merry Christmas, Zeeky."

  "Merry Christmas, Aussie.  I love you."  My heart swelled.  I could never get used to hearing those sweet words.

  "I love you too."  He pecked my lips and climbed off me, making me miss his warm body heat.

  "Come on!  It's present time!!!"  I sighed happily and climbed out of bed, letting him pull me upstairs where the rest of his family already sat, apart from his sister who was still sleeping.  She didn't care what day it was.  If you woke her up before noon when there was no school, you should be prepared to lose a limb.  She had told everyone not to wait for her. 

  "Open mine first."  I whispered in his ear.  I watched as he pulled the small box from under the tree and anxiously made his way over to me, plopping down in my lap.  He immediately pulled at the ribbon and let it slip to the floor.  I bit my lip nervously.  I hoped he liked it...

  "Aussie...Wow...It's..Beautiful.  Oh my gosh, it's so pretty!"  I smiled and pulled the chain from the box.  I pointed at the pendant.

  "Read it."  He took the chain from me and read the heart shaped pendant.

  "Rain and wind won't keep me away, as long as you want me, I'm here to stay. -A."  He whispered.  I could tell he had tears running down his face.

  "Do you like it?"  He nodded and wiped his face.

  "Put it on for me?"  I smiled and took the chain again and put it on him, kissing the back of his neck lightly.  "I love you so much."  He turned and kissed me softly.

  "I love you too."  He grinned and climbed off my lap, heading toward the tree again.

  "Your turn now baby."  I chuckled and took the gift from him, setting it on the seat beside me. 

  "Not yet."  I said, noticing his parents had left, probably to give us some privacy.  "I want to kiss my gorgeous boyfriend.  He blushed and sat back down on my lap, pushing his lips to mine again in a fiery kiss.  This boy was perfect.  I knew I needed him in my life before, but I am so happy that he wasn't only my best friend, but now the love of my life.  I knew I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

He was my forever.

My love.

My solace.

Okay, is everyone still alive?  No death from cuteness?  No?  Ok good.  AREN'T THEY SO FRICKEN ADORABLE.  Is it sad that I fangirl over my own characters?

Anywhoooo, as some of you may already know, I entered a couple writing contests... A short story contest (which I sadly did not place in *wipes tear*), and a poetry contest in which I am still waiting for results... Because of the contests, I had to remove some of my writing from Wattpad.  I will most definitely keep you all updated :)

If you haven't already, go check out some other stuffs of mine :)

Vote, follow, share the story, and comment to tell me what you think!!!  LOVE YAAA

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-Ash

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