Quote:
"Remembering you is easy, we do it everyday, missing you is a headache that never goes away."

Chapter 44
Andrea's pov

That night I couldn't get any sleep. I kept thinking about the events that occured the night before. How Andrew was so close to slitting my throat and how Zach saved me.

As soon as he found me laying there, terrified, he called the cops. I don't even want to think about what could've happened if Zach didn't show up on time.

After calling the cops and locking everything so he couldn't escape, he called my mother, Frank and Jake.

They all rushed over as soon as they found out and also had the liberty of seeing Andrew beeing pushed into the back of a cops car.

Normally he would've got six to twelve months in jail or five years but because this was quite extreme he got sentenced to ten years of jail time.

His family was also notified and they immediately made their way to the police station.

Laying in bed, eyes wide open, I continued to ponder on what happened yesterday. As the thoughts continued to form, my alarm clock goes off, awakening me.

Had I really just stayed up all night?

Mia and Savannah had offered to stay with me tonight but I needed some headspace to think which I clearly did do.

My mum and Jake had also advised me to stay at home for the rest of the week but I decided to just go out and socialise rather than being cooped up in my bedroom like I usually am.

I got up and thought about whether I should make my bed or not. After a few minutes I decided not to make my bed so I went to open my blinds.

I was surprised to see that Zach's curtains weren't open. He was usually awake by this time, which is also why he's my alarm clock.

Zach and I haven't really spoken much since last night. He saved me but then once the cops came he got an 'urgent call' and I haven't seen him since.

I know I made the wrong choice by not telling Zach the full story about Rhianna and Andrew but I thought it was in our best interests.

I know that I love Zach and if he's willing to give me another chance then I couldn't ask for anything more but I had to speak to him first. He hasn't answered any of my calls or texts so it is quite hard to speak to someone who doesn't really want to speak to you.

I took the hint and stopped texting and calling him. Perhaps I'll just confront him in school and ask him.

I got up from my unmade bad and after doing my buisness in the bathroom, I got dressed. As always I just threw on whatever and tried to make it look good.

Breakfast wasn't really necessary since I wasn't hungry, so instead of having what I normally have, which is cereal, I took a brunch bar and took it to go.

Heading out the door towards my car, I noticed that Zach's Rolls Royce wasn't parked in his garage and neither was Joanna's car. I stopped playing Nancy Drew and decided that they may have just left early today.

After sitting in traffic for God knows how long, I reached school. Yep, the place we all call hell.

"Hey Andy, I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Some random girl comes up to me and asks.

"Andy. Oh My God, are you okay?" Another guy comes and consoles me.

I walk up to Mia, Savannah and Ethan who instantly wrap me in a hug.

"Hey, you should've stayed at home." Savannah says.

"He's in jail guys. He can't touch me anymore." I say to them. "Anyways, why are all these random strangers asking me if I'm okay?" I ask them.

"Somebody found out what happened......last night and started telling everyone." Savannah tries her best to find the right word.

As I was about to respond I felt a tap on my shoulder causing me to turn around.

"Andy, are you okay? I heard what happened." Rhianna doesn't even act slightly concerned and gives me a huge smile.

"I'm actually amazing. I haven't felt better in my life, knowing that Andrew is locked up and that he can't get anywhere near me is the best thing that's happened since sliced bread and all of that is thanks to you. If you didn't tell me that Andrew was in town I wouldn't have known, so thank you Rhianna." I give her a tight hug and turn away.

Being the better person really does make you feel good.

Ethan continues to talk to some of his friends until I notice that his main brunette friend is not present.

"Hey Ethan, can I talk to you for a second." I approach him.

"Yeah sure." He turns to face me. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask, Are you okay? You know that we're there for you if.." I cut him off.

"Yeah I'm fine. I was wondering.... where's Zach?" I say straight up.

"I have no idea." He quickly says and the bell goes.

He begins to move but I pull him back.

"Don't you lie to me Ethan Parker!" I point my index finger at him.

"I'm going to be late to class. You know how Dean Briggs is.." I cut him off again.

"I dont care if you're going to go sit your finals in there. Tell me where he is." I try to act intimidating and surprisingly, it works.

"Okay. Okay. He's gone to Alabama." He puts his hands up.

"Why has he gone there?" I ask inquisitively.

"I don't know. He just said that it was urgent." He replies and I head to my Ferrari.

"Where are you going?" He yells.

"To go find him." I answer.

"He really doesn't deserve you. You're too good for your own kind." He complements me.

"I'm the one that doesn't deserve him." I exclaim.

"Touché." He salutes me and quickly heads to class.

I didn't exactly know where I was going until I realised that I had to get on an aeroplane in order to get to Alabama. I could've just drove my car but that would've taken too long.

On my journey to the airport, I swiftly book a ticket in my name using some of the left over cash I had from the skateboarding competition.

Entering the airport, I receive a text from Mia and Savannah both asking me of my whereabouts. I text them both the same reply then I lock my phone and put it in my pocket.

Was I really going to go to Alabama just to see him?

The things we do for love.

For the first time in history, I actually agreed with my subconcious.

Once I get through security and I reach the terminal, I take a seat in one of the benches.

The earliest flight to Alabama was set to depart in approximately one hour which meant that I had to entertain myself for 60 minutes straight.

At first I just dazed out the window and admired the landscape but abruptly, a woman just started to talk to me.

"Cookie?" She asks.

"Don't mind If I do." I take a cookie from her hand and munch on it.

"So who are you going to visit? And where is all your lugagge?" She asks me in a sweet voice.

Oh shit, I forgot clothes. It's not like I'm going to stay the night though.

"I'm going to go visit my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend...it's complicated." I explain as I finish eating the cookie.

"Well we've got an entire hour to spare." She offers me another cookie.

"I don't know. We like each other but it seems that everytime something good happens, something terrible follows. And it doesn't help that he's undeniably hot so he can't help but be a ladies man. I guess the universe just doesn't want us to be together." I confide in the stranger.

"What's your name? Sorry for being so abrupt." She asks.

"It's Andy. How about yours?" I shake her hand.

"My names Jeanine." She replies. "And I think I'll be the judge of whether has undeniably hot." She wiggled her eyebrows but I didn't mind. She looked like she was in her sixties.

I grab my phone from my pocket and scroll through my pictures until I find the perfect one. It was a picture of us on my mother's wedding day.

I hand her the phone and she looks at the picture for a while before handing it back.

"Oh, he's something. You better keep him around." She advises me.

"So, why are you going to Alabama?" I ask her.

"I just came back from meeting my daughter and my grandkids. They just moved there recently." She tells me.

It couldn't be, could it?

"You don't happen to be Kaitlin's grandmother?" I ask.

"Yes. I am. How did you know?" She asks.

"Well my boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, is Kaitlins childhood best friend. His family used to be neighbours with Kaitlin." I inform her.

"What's your boyfriend's name again?" She asks.

"Zach. Zach Cowen." I clarify.

"That's Zach!? I haven't seen him since he was probably 11." She tells me.

"Well he's a keeper, don't let him go." She smiles at me before an announcement goes off.

Had an hour really gone by?

"Well I guess that's you." She tells me.

"Aren't you coming?" I was confused.

"Dear, my flight isn't for another half hour." She says to me. "Good luck, I'll see you there." She gives me a quick thumbs up before I hug her goodbye.

I walk up to the plane enterance where they inspect my ticket and allow me to enter. I enter the plane and luckily I had the window seat.

After making myself comfy, I sit down and wait for the plane to depart until I see Jeanine enter the plane.

"You didn't really think I was going to let you get rid of me that easily." She takes the seat next to me as the flight attendant places her lugagge in the cabinet above.

"How did you get in?" I asked shocked, sitting upright.

"I just swapped my ticket with somebody who didn't mind waiting for a few more minutes." She takes her seat next to me and the plane begins to move.

**********

"Andy Dear. Wake up." I hear someones voice.

"Excuse me Ma'am but the plane will be closing in a while. You will have to leave now." She wakes me up.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I look around to as that Jeanine and I were the last ones in the plane.

After getting up, I clutch onto Jeanine's luggage so she didn't have to hold it and we leave through the exit.

"Well, I guess this is it." I say to her.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily." She says to me as we leave the airport. "Do you even know where you're going?" She asks me.

I didn't really think out this plan. Did I? I had no car, no clothes. Nothing. All I had was my phone and twenty bucks.

"I didn't think so." She notices my expression. "Well I guess you're coming with me." She holds my arm and takes me to the bus station.

We wait for a while until the bus finally gets here and picks us up. The ride was quiet and peaceful since it was only Jeanine and I in the bus.

As we drive past a forrest, I notice that I've been here before.

"STOP!" I yell a bit too dramatically causing the veichle to come to a stop.

"Yes Ma'am?" The driver asks.

"Jeanine, do you mind if you ride alone for the rest of the journey?" I ask her and she nods.

"Thank you." I mutter quickly to the driver and step out the bus.

I knew these forrests anywhere. This was where Zach had brought me when we visited last time. There should be a tree house around here somewhere....

Found it.

I climb up the ladders of the tree house to find somebody's back faced towards me.

"Sorry...I didn't know anyone was here." I murmur an apology and the head swiftly turns to look at me.

"Andrea? What are you doing here?" I look at the face I've been longing to see, except it was nothing like that face.

This face had blood-shot eyes and tears in his face. He even had the same clothes from yesterday.

"Zach?" I ask.

"Please don't look at me. I don't want you to see me like this." I hear his whimpering voice.

"Like what?" I do badly wanted to kiss him.

"Vulnerable." He says.

I turned to look at him so that his eyes were finally level with mine.

"Zach, I need you and I missed you and I love you. That's why I can back. You don't need to cry." I wipe his tears.

"That's not why I'm crying." He gently moves my hand away.

I didn't know whether to feel upset or worried.

"Andrea, what are you really doing here?" He asks as he runs his fingers through his hair. He only does that when he's frustrated.

"I don't know. I didn't see you this morning and all I wanted to do was tell you the truth so badly that I bought a plane ticket and can here." I answer honestly.

"Why? I thought you hated me after you broke up with me." He looked hurt.

"I could never hate you, Zach. Perhaps when we met, but not now." He cracks a smile.

"Then why did you break up with me. And don't give me that universe bullshit." He says angrily.

"Well, Andrew came back in town with his new family and when somebody told me this they threatened me and told me that if I didn't stay away from you, they would give him my number and address, which they did. That day in the alley, I saw him. I saw Andrew, that's why I was acting so weird. I couldn't risk my family's safety for our relationship. I'm sorry." I apologize as he clenches his fists.

"Who is this "Somebody"?" He asks referring to Rhianna.

"That's not relevant." I couldn't let him hit a girl.

"Tell me." He says angrily as he hits the wall of the treehouse.

"It was Rhianna." I say.

"I swear, once we get back to Phili, I am going to kill her." I could tell he was angry.

"No you're not." I calm him down by placing my hands on his. "Zach?" I ask and he nods. "What are you doing in Alabama. You didn't have to get away, you could've just...." but he cuts me off before I had the chance to finish.

"Rose died." He says those two words and that was enough for my waterworks to start. Although, I didn't know her that well I still always saw her as the sister I never had.

"When." My voice croaked.

"Yesterday." He says but I just continued to cry and so did he.

He pulls me to him and I place my head on his chest feeling his heart beat, and he wraps his arm around me.

We sit there in silence for what seems like a few minutes but was actually an hour.

"We should get going. My mum must be worried." He says and we climb down the stairs.

As we reach the ground, I couldn't help but kiss him. I pulled him to me and wrapped my hands around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair. He kissed me back in an instant and pulled me closer to him. His hands were gently placed on my waist and that started to move lower. It would've gone elsewhere if somebody didn't interrupt us.

"Woah Zach. I hope Andy knows..." I hear Sebastiàn's voice and turn around.

"Andy!" He screams and hugs me. I also noticed his blood-shot eyes.

"What are you doing here? You're staying for the funeral, right?" He asks.

"Funeral? When's the funeral?" I ask.

"Tomorrow." Sebastiàn replies.

"Well I wasn't planning on staying.." I speak but he cuts me off.

"No worries. You're staying. End of." He says and I know he was trying to act happy but I could see through it.

"By the way, Joanna's calling you Zach. She said it's getting late." The three of us begin to walk to the Cowens' household.

The trek was silent and nice. It gave me time to remember the few moments that I had encountered with Rose.

Upon reaching the house, we enter and immediately everybody turns to look at us.

"Andy, what are you doing here?" Joanna looked pained.

She did just loose her daughter.

I choose to ignore my inner self and answer Joanna's question.

"I came to see Zach but I didn't know...I'm sorry." I end up crying once again.

"Why are you sorry?" Abuela asks.

"For intruding." I say.

"You're practically Rose's sister-in-law. How could you be intruding?" The comment causes me to blush.

"I'll let your mother know you're staying the night." Joanna picks up the phone and behind to dial the number.

"Staying the night?" I ask.

"Well it's better than you flying back and then returning tomorrow for the funeral. Rose would want you there." She wipes her tears with a tissue and calls my mum.

"I guess we should all get some sleep. You two Andy, you can share with Zach." Abuela says to me and I wasn't in the mood to argue and neither was she.

One by one everybody leaves the room until it's just Zach and I in the room. He walks over to me and sits next to me as he holds his hand in mine.

"We should get some sleep. You must be tired from all that travelling." We get up and we walk upstairs.

"I didn't bring any clothes." I say as we reach his bedroom.

"You can borrow mine." He chucks one of his sweatshirts to me and I catch it gracefully.

Without thinking, I take off my clothes and place the sweatshirt over myself as I take off my bra from underneath.

I turn around to be met with a gawking Zach looking at me.

"Shit." I mutter.

"Shit indeed." He says and walks over to me with a smirk as he closes the door behind him.

**********

A/N

I really hope you enjoyed it. By the way, this chapter was by far one of the hardest chapters to write. Both of my friends Aalu123 and IIjumanjiII told me not to kill off Rose but I had to do something which would have brought them together, and it did.

QOTD:Who else cried?

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