She was drawn to him. The way his eyes danced with her in the darkness. Like two shooting stars on the same path in the night sky. It was almost they were meant to be. If she believed in real love this would be it.

                           ------Jessicca Michelle

ISABELLA'S POV

"Eric, come here. I need to dress you up for the party." I was chasing my super naughty boy as he ran around the room.

"Is it yours, mama?" He asked as he grabbed the diary lying on the study.

Holy Shit !

I ran to hold his hand preventing him from opening it. I could never let my boy touch it. I could never let him know my past with his dad. He would hate his dad for leaving us and I could never let that happen.

"Give it back to me." I faked anger and he dropped the diary instantly.

"What did you do with your hair?" He  covered his mouth when I removed my head scarf.

"I just colored it. Now come here otherwise Viona will eat up all your cake and you'll get nothing." I put his shirt on and buttoned it.

"I know she'll share it with me. I am her best friend." He giggled.

He looked so cute in his little black tuxedo with a bow on his neck. His eyes were a replica of Zachary. He did not get any of my looks, for which I was really thankful.

***

I held his hand and pecked his cheeks. We walked to the party arena as everybody was waiting for us. I didn't know most of the people present there. Most of them were uncle Nicolas' business allies and I really felt like an alien there untill I spotted Erin in the mini bar besides the party arena.

Uncle Nicolas took Eric in his arms and introduced me to Viona's family.
After a while I excused myself to join Erin. I took long strides towards her
when I felt someone's hand on my eyes.

I touched the hands. They were big and masculine. I could feel a male scent.

"Who's it?" I said rubbing my fingers on his hand.

"Disappointed. You forgot your very first male friend." I heard a very masculine voice.

Shit !

"Aoran!" He laughed as he removed his hands from my eyes as soon as I took his name. I was so excited to see him after such a long time.

He looked much more handsome now. His hazel eyes glittered as he looked at me with a charming smile on his face. He really looked so gorgeous. Never in my sweetest dreams had I thought that Aoran could look like as if he just walked out of a fashion magazine's cover.

"Oh my! It's you! When did you come back?" I couldn't stop smiling.

"Just a week ago. Did uncle Nicolas tell you?" He smiled. Wow! His smile was just amazing.

"He and his memory! Gosh! You look so handsome, Aoran. I might cry." I couldn't believe I was meeting my best friend after so many years.

"You have changed so much in looks." He laughed warmly pulling me into a hug.

"I think we can go out on a date." He smirked

"What?"

I felt confused why did he say that dating thing? Was he serious? 

But it was never a thing that he did before. I felt something different in this Aoran. He was flirting.

Flirting with you?

Yeah! The way he looked at me was different. I felt quite uncomfortable. It was really weird that I was feeling uncomfortable with my very close friend. He was staring at me and smiling like a fool.

"So, did you take over your father's business?" I asked him changing the mood.

"I did." He smiled. "And I just started an airline manufacturing startup too." He replied looking somewhat disinterested. His eyes kept lingering behind me. Was he looking for someone?

"Congratulations. That's really nice. I wish you many more success." I pulled up a smile.

When I turned my head I saw my baby boy running all around with little Viona, his best friend. She was a pretty girl with glassy green eyes. Eric had a box in his hand and Viona was running after him, may be she wanted that box.

Just then Eric tripped and fell on the ground. I felt a pang in my chest. I got up and ran to him. Aoran followed me right away.

"Eric, are you alright?" I asked him checking him for injuries.

"These little falls do not hurt me, mama." He showed his hands. "See Viona, I'm a superhero." He winked and my jaw dropped to floor.

What was my boy trying to do? Trying to be hero. Huh?

I helped him get up. Eric looked fine which made everyone return to their places. I saw him holding the box close to his chest like his life depended on it.

"What's there in that box?" I asked him.

"Choco chip cupcakes mom. They are delicious." He eyed toward Viona.

"I want one otherwise you'll lose a friend." Viona said crossing her arms.

"I'm not sharing it with you." Eric hid the box behind him.

"Eric, this is not the way you behave with a friend. Go share it with Viona and remember you don't have many friends." I looked at him with puppy eyes.

"No mama. For cupcakes Viona will have to kiss me right here on my cheek." He pouted.

Viona looked at the box. "A kiss for a cupcake? Forget it you frog."

"I can become a prince if you kiss me" He winked as Viona stomped her foot on ground and ran away.

Oh my !

He was flirting now at the age of nine. These were certainly not my genes. I was shocked to hear those two kids talk like that in front of me.

"Enough Eric! Go and share it with her otherwise I'm not talking to you." I thinned my lip.

"Okay mama, don't be mad at me. Here, have one. These are really delicious." He took out a cupcake and gave it to me.

The cupcake was really delicious. My taste buds knew this taste. I had eaten them before.

Zachary's Mom!

Oh! How could I forget those cupcakes sent by his mom? She was such a sweet person. She even asked me to call her mom.

"Aren't they just yum?" Eric held my finger and I kissed his cheek.
"Yeah, As sweet as my baby. Who gave you these?" I asked him holding his arm and I noticed he winced when I held his elbow. Was he hiding something?

"What happened ? Are you hurt there?" I asked him.

He looked around in every direction for a while and then nodded.

"Show me!" I got worried.

He rolled up his sleeves and I saw his shirt was stained in red.
I was so heartbroken to see my Eric wounded. I held his hand and took him inside the house. I entered the very first room of the house, the library.

I asked Eric to sit on the couch and went to the drawer to search first aid. I took the box and wiped his wound clean and put a bandage on it.

"Now go and share your cupcakes with Viona" I kissed his forehead.

"Okay, mama." He picked up his box again and went back to the party.

I was keeping the first aid back to the drawer when I heard a sound like book fell on floor. I walked in the direction.

"Anybody's there?" I asked.

No reply!

The room was full of all kind of big bookshelves and almirahs. May be I was daydreaming. I turned around to leave and my eyes landed on a book which was placed in wrong manner. I tried to pull the book out, but it was struck. I tried again but then also it didn't come out.

I left the book there and somebody from the other end took that book. I was dark but not that dark I could see the person was a man. He came forward to put the book back on shelf and my eyes landed on his deep greyish blue orbs.

The perfect pair of eyes which was very much similar to Zachary's. His eyes were so mesmerising, blue like sky and deep as an ocean. They were enchanting me. I wanted to see him.
His face. Why did I have a feeling that Zachary was at the other end? But why would he ever come? He would never!

I wanted to look at his face but the books made a wall between us and only his eyes were visible.

"What are you doing here? Everyone is waiting for you outside. Eric has to slice the birthday cake." I heard somebody say behind me. I turned around to find Aoran who stood behind me.

"Oh! Yeah, I'm coming" I said and followed him outside.

My heart was restless. I felt uneasy. His eyes, I knew those eyes. How could I forget those eyes who betrayed me.

I saw everyone clapping and singing merry birthday song as Eric sliced the cake.

My baby turned nine.

My eyes searched for those blue orbs but they were nowhere. My heart was racing and I had many questions which were unanswered.

"Isabella, I want to talk to you after the party." I heard uncle Nicolas who was standing behind me.

"About what uncle?" I asked.

"It's important." He smiled.

"Meet me after the party." He added.

My eyes landed on Eric and Viona playing and spoiling each other's face with the cake icing. I smiled.

***To Be Continued***

Hello !
So we have shipnames of Isabella and Zachary.
1) Źachabella
2) Isach

Which one is better ??

I would love to thank all my readers who have been supporting me so far. I recently checked my stories position. It was #830 earlier and it jumped to #406 today.

Keep showing your support and I'll write you beautiful chapters 😊😊

Good night..