Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Vega POV.

"Where's Zach" I got out as soon as I spotted Noah and the cheeky grin he gave me made me pause and take in my surroundings but nothing was off or out of place.

"Hey calm down. I might have exaggerated Zach getting hurt a bit. I just needed you to come out here".

I swore. "That was not freaking funny. I thought Zach was hurt" I threw at him because I'd gotten way too affected and frantic once I heard the news.

Andrianna cleared her throat. "Calm down Vega, I'm sure Noah didn't mean to make you worry".

"Yeah, well he did. Why did you call me out here anyway".

Noah smirked, and I couldn't help but notice how similar to Zach he was. They were living together, and of course, some of his habits might have rubbed off on Noah. "It's a surprise".

Andrianna clapped, squealing excitedly like she was in on a secret I didn't know about. "Really? Is Zach also in on this surprise".

Noah made a zip sign over his lips. "You'll have to find that out yourself. Come with me, Vega".

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why should I? What if this is another prank of yours".

Andrianna made a frustrated noise In her throat. "Oh come on Vega, just give it a rest already. Let's just follow him ok? I'm starving, so I'm hoping this surprise involves food"

"Why are you always freaking hungry" I grumbled, then stared at Noah. "Fine, let's go see this surprise of yours".

Noah grinned then whipped out a blindfold. "You have to wear this first".

"No." I glanced around, noticing that there were a lot of students that were moving around us. If they saw me being led by Noah and blindfolded, they'll definitely gossip, and follow me to try to unveil all the drama.

"But you have to. Do this for me please" Noah begged, batting his thick lashes twice.

I groaned, then nodded in agreement when Andrianna gave me a look that screamed say no and you're dead.

Noah put the blindfold over my eyes too slowly than was normal, then he grabbed my hand and I felt my anxiety shooting out of proportion as he led me to whatever surprise it was he had prepared and I couldn't help but worry. What if this was all a plan to humiliate me, what if what happened with Ryan repeated itself? Could I bear it if I was made the school clown a second time? The first time, I succeeded in pushing all the bad memories out of my head, choosing not to dwell on it much, but it didn't stop it from haunting my memory, especially anytime I let go and gave my heart out, the thought of being publicly disgraced lingered at the back of my mind, and being rejected by countless of guys through the years didn't really make me all too confident about myself.

"We're almost there" he whispered into my ear and I nodded and tried my best not to start chewing on my nails because I was freaking nervous.

Noah stopped me, and I think he was going to take away the blindfold from my eyes but he just turned and walked away, and I'm left standing alone unsure if I should take the blinds off or not.

"Um, Noah, can I take this off now huh". I called out, my heart thumping in my chest when I heard someone approaching me.

"You can take it off now" Zach's voice sounded right against the shell of my ear and I shuddered as sparks trailed up my spine and I fought not to rest against his warmth.

I raised my hands and tugged the blinds off as I turned to face him, the green of his eyes sparkling as he smiled at me and my heart somersaulted making my breath hitch in my throat.

"Zach" I got out, sounding almost out of breath because he looked mouthwatering good and his scent was intoxicating.

His hands trailed against my cheek, his gaze intense on mine and my heart panged against my chest. He gently grabbed my arm and turned me around until my back was to him. My eyes widened as I took in the decorated platform in front of me, the world that was written in bright colors registering and causing me to release an audible gasp as I turned back to face Zach in surprise.

Zach Dante didn't do this sought of things, Zach Dante never asked anyone to be his girlfriend, and if by some miracle he had, it had never been a public confession but here he was staring at me like I was the sun his planet orbited around.

I didn't know what to say, but I couldn't tear my gaze off his face or wonder about how the people standing around were reacting to this. It was insane. I didn't know what to feel, or what to do.

Zach took my hand, and I just watched him, helpless and unable to think or breathe even.

"Vega, I know that we haven't known each other that long for me to be asking you this, but I just had to because I've fallen in love with you," he said and my breath hitched again. "I know I'm not perfect, but I'm going to do my best to make you happy, I'm going to do better, be better, so will you give me a chance Vega? Will you be my girlfriend" he asked, his eyes lingering on my face and my throat dried up.

Could I do it, break his heart even though this proved that he was really in love with me and wasn't just playing?

My voice came from a distance even to my hearing as I smiled. "Yes, Zach. I'll be your girlfriend. I fell in love with you too, and I'm more in love with you now."

Zach's lips curved in a blinding smile and then his mouth covered mine as flashes of camera went off but I couldn't even acknowledge that.

The way he kissed me made my skin burn and the blood flowing through my veins felt like fire as his fingers kneaded, trailed, and explored my skin while his tongue plunged into my mouth, dueling with mine as he consumed me, his taste like an aphrodisiac that got me high the longer I kissed him.

I could lie to myself and say that he was a playboy so he deserved to get his heart broken but he didn't. He deserved to be loved because he'd lacked so much of it with all the shit he went through in his life even tho he played it off like it didn't matter, but I guess I was more selfish than I thought. I needed to win the bet.

He stopped kissing me, his glazed eyes filling with worry as he rubbed a thumb against a tear that had slipped down my cheek.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his voice so soft and caring, that it made me feel like a monster inside.

"Nothing. I'm just happy. I really love you Zach" I confessed, holding his gaze and hoping he saw that I was telling the truth, that when the time came and he found out about me being in on the bet, he'd think about this moment and know that I was truly in love with him.

He smiled and pulled me closer and I inhaled his scent deeply, greedily because I knew our love was on borrowed time and that there was no way one of us wasn't going to get out heartbroken when we ran out of it.