Rewrite The Stars

Chapter 13

After exiting the party and sighing in relief of being excused from the extremely loud music, we got in Zach's car. It didn't take us long to get to his uncle's apartment. The building didn't have an elevator so we had to climb the staircases to get to the fourth floor.

     When Zach threw in the key and opened the door, I studied the house quickly. It was a messy apartment with two bedrooms and small windows.

      “You sure your uncle's okay with this?” I asked, walking inside and taking off my coat.

      “Yeah.” Zach shouted from the bedroom. “He is a doctor and he's got a night-shift at the hospital tonight. So he wouldn't be here in a few hours.”

     He came back, carrying a clean T-shirt and pajama shorts, handing them to me. My cat-woman costume was too tight and uncomfortable that I couldn't tolerate being in it for not another minute.

      “Thanks. Where's the bathroom?” I asked.

     Zach pointed at a door at the back of the small hall and I went there and changed my leather costume into his comfortable clothing; and weirdly enough, they actually fitted me.

      “How about I make us some late dinner? I'm starving.” He said.

      “I'm afraid, I can't help you, though.” I walked him into the small kitchen. “I'm a terrible cook.”

      “Well, it's your lucky day, then.” He said, opening the fridge. “'Cause I'm a terrific cook.”

      “Lucky me.”

      “How about spaghetti?”

      “Works for me.” I agreed and so we got to work.

      “Can you wash these tomatoes and then chop them?”

      “What if I burn them?”

      He gave me a weird look before saying, “Washing doesn't involve fire, Zoe. And neither does chopping something. Have you ever been in a kitchen?”

      “Don't judge, dude.” I said, starting to wash the tomatoes by the sink. “You'd be surprised how many times I’ve burnt something in the kitchen just by looking at them.” He laughed.

      “Please don't look at me for some while, then.” He joked, boiling some water for the spaghettis.

     I don't remember ever feeling this happy with someone. We talked nonsense and we laughed for no reason at things that weren't even funny. At some point Zach tried to juggle, that ended up with a broken egg on the floor, which I cleaned quickly.

     After we were done in the kitchen, we sat over the table and I ate the most delicious spaghetti I'd ever tasted. Zach purred me some wine and got himself water and then stood up, giving a toast.

      “To Zoe,” He raised his glass of water. “May no one ever saves you when you're drowning in happiness.”

     I chuckled and then it faded to a half smile. “To happiness.”

     We were almost done with the dinner and that was when we heard the house's door being opened. My eyes widened in shock when I saw Zach's dad walking in.

      “Hey, Frank.” Said Zach. “You're home early.”

      “Yeah. I finished my shift early.”

     I sighed in relief when I finally remembered Zach telling me that his dad and his uncle were identical twins.

      “Oh, and this must be...” His uncle started, looking at me with questioning eyes. “This must be the lovely lady you've never told me about.”

      “This is Zoe.” Zach introduced.

      “It's great meeting you, Sir.” I walked forward and shook his hand.

      “Sir? Who do you think I am? The mayor?” he scoffed. “Just call me Frank, kid.” He took off his coat and threw it on the couch. “Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend, Zachy? I thought you were gay.” He laughed loudly at his own joke.

      “She's not my girlfriend.” Said Zach.

      “Oh? So you are gay.” Zach just laughed at that and shook his head in disbelief. “Welcome to the Walter family.” Said Frank when he saw me in awe of their conversation. “Actually it's just me and Zach that are like this. The rest are... well... the type you should call sir and ma'am.”

      “You don't have to get into details, Frank.” Said Zach, in a more serious tone.

      “Chill, kid. She doesn't have to worry about these stuff.” Frank grinned. “But your future boyfriend might have to.” He winked.

      “There's more spaghetti in the kitchen.” Zach announced, ignoring Frank's witty comment.

      “Ooh, Food!” Frank's voice rang with excitement as he walked in the kitchen. “So how old are you, Zoe?” He asked.

     “I'm turning eighteen in twelve days.” I called out.

     “February second?” Zach asked after counting the days in his head.

     “Yeah.” I nodded.

     “When's your audition?” he asked.

      “Twenty-third of February.”

     Zach fell silent for a few moments, his usual smile fading away before saying “Can I talk to you upstairs?”

      “Upstairs?” I asked, confused.

      “Follow me.” And I did after Zach grabbed a jacket. He opened the window in the hall and climbed up from the fire-scape-stairs and we ended on the roof of the apartment.

      “It's freezing here.” I ran my hands against my arms in hopes to get warmer, so then Zach gave me the jacket. “Thanks.” I took it and wore it quickly. “So what did you wanna talk about?”

      “Zoe, are you – are you planning on going back to Ohio after your audition?”

      “Well, yeah.” I nodded. “I still have to get my diploma. It's one of the conditions of getting into Juilliard. I know it’s going to be hard to get back at school after missing so much of it, but I think I can manage.”

     By that, I saw Zach looking away from me, sadness feeling his eyes. And just then did I realize...

     I was leaving next month. I was going to leave him.

      “I mean, it's not like you're going to stay in New York, either.” I reasoned. “Didn't you say it yourself that you wanted to visit different places? Maybe you can sometime visit me if you ever came to Ohio.”

      “Yeah.” He still wasn't looking at me. Instead he walked over the edge of the roof, looking down at the city. We both fell silent, standing next to each other and not saying anything.

      “I'm sorry it has to end like that.” I pursed my lips together, breaking the silence. “But maybe we can just enjoy the last month together, instead of being all depressed over something that hasn’t come yet..”

     I was surprised at myself for saying that; this was something that past-Zoe would've never come in terms with and be mature enough to say.

      “You're right.” He finally looked back at me. “Life's too short to be wasted. We should make the best out of it.”

     For a minute, the space between us was filled with nothing but silence before I spoke again. “Hey, Zach?”

      “Yeah?”

      “Can you promise me something?”

      “Depends on what you're going to ask.” He grinned.

      “Can you come with me to my audition?”

      “Of course I will.” He smiled and then brought me into a hug. “I promise.”

     When he pulled away, I just kissed him. I wanted to remember this. I wanted to remember the feeling of warmth against the cold night...

     But Zach pulled away and gave me the goofiest smile he could manage and looked at me with puppy-eyes, “So... err... Will you be my girlfriend for this month?”

     I don't know why, but I laughed at the way he said that. “Yeah.”

     Zach leaned in, pulling me closer to him, his forehead touching mine. I watched my breath evaporate into mist in the frosty air, as the cool wind embraced us like a cold blanket.

     Zach's eyes wandered and went back and forth between my eyes and my lips as his hand gently grazed my cheek. Finally, his hand got fixed on my jaw and he came closer, his lips brushing mine.

      “Zoe...” he whispered. Never had my name ever sounded so wonderful, slipping out of someone's lips. I couldn't be patient anymore. I couldn't resist the feeling anymore. My thoughts had gone wild and I'd lost all my senses. My arms reached up and so I tangled them around his neck and slammed my lips against his.

     Unexpectedly, his hand gripped onto my hips and brought us chest to chest, not letting go. This kiss wasn't a tease like all the others we had shared until then, but this time passion brew from within it. His breathing quickened and so did mine. None of us dared to let go of the other, trying to live that exact moment for a few more minutes, over and over again.