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Zac's parents had just left, and he and I were cleaning up the living room a bit.
"I really think they liked you." Zac said as he brought some empty glasses to the kitchen.
"Really? I hope they did." I replied when he returned a few seconds later.
"Ya, I could tell. Just the fact that when they were leaving, they insisted that you call them David and Starla was enough. They never do that! Plus, my mom hugging you about a hundred times was a dead give away."
I laughed. "I guess so."
The doorbell rang, and I ran to get it.
"Oh, hi Amy!" I said, a little surprised to see her. "What's up?"
"Not much," She said, "I was just heading out to the mall, wanted to know if you wanted to come with me."
"Oh, I totally would, but..."
"Who's at the door?" Zac yelled, heading toward us.
"Zac's home?" Amy asked, looking nervous. "I thought he was still gone for another month?"
"He is. He's going back tonight, but he showed up last night to surprise me. He had a couple days off." Zac came up behind me and stuck his head out the door. "Zac, this is my new friend Amy." I said.
"Hi Amy." He stuck his hand out, shaking hers.
"Uh, hi..." She was obviously at a loss for words.
"Chlo, I'm going to head upstairs. I've got to get ready for my flight." He said.
"Alright, I'll be up in a bit."
He headed up to the bedroom, and Amy watched him the whole way.
"Wow..." she muttered.
I laughed. "You do realize that you are drolling over my boyfriend, right?"
"I'm sorry Chloe! I can't help it. He's just so hot." She laughed. "And I seriously can not believe that he came all the way back here to surprise you! That's mega sweet."
"Tell me about it." I smiled.
"What's that smile about?" She asked with a grin.
"We just...had a really fun night yesterday, that's all."
"I see." She giggled. "Well, I'll let you get back to your man. Give me a call tomorrow or something." She headed for her car.
"Will do!" I replied, then closed the door and headed upstairs.
When I entered the bedroom, Zac was packing up a few things. "I should have taken this stuff with me the first time." He said. "Would you believe I fogot my friggin' Ipod?"
"Oh no, you poor baby! You must have been lost without it!" I joked.
"I didn't think I would even be able to survive." He replied with a smile.
I helped him pack up a few things. After we were all done, we layed down on the bed together. Pippi jumped up and joined us.
"I really don't want to go for another month." Zac sighed, taking my chin in his hand.
"I don't want you to go either. But, it's your job, so you have to."
"I know..."
He leaned in and kissed me gently. When he pulled away, my lips were still tingling. I pulled him back towards me for more, so he kissed me back, a little harder, and ran his hand up my shirt. I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled him back into me any time he pulled away, even a little.
"No fair..." He said suddenly, under his breath.
"Uh, what?"
"I have to go to the airport, and now you've got me all worked up."
I laughed. "You have to go now?""
"Unfortunitly, yes."
I sat up. "That is no fair."
"I know." He climbed off the bed and adjusted his clothes. "Are you coming to the airport with me?"
"Of course." I stood up as well.
He picked up his bags, pet Pippi on the head, and headed out the room. I followed him. When we got outside, he put his bags in the car and climbed in the drivers' seat. I hopped in the passenger side, and we drove off. We arrived at the airport about fifteen minutes later. I waited with him until it was time to board the plane.
"I'm gonna miss you." He said, kissing me on the forehead.
"I'm gonna miss you too." I replied.
"Next time I have to go away, I'm arranging to so that you can come with me."
"I am prefectly okay with that." I smiled.
"I love you Chloe."
"I love you too." I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him.
He wrapped his arms around me, and hugged me tight. After that, I stood and watched him head toward the plane. Once I couldn't see him anymore, I turned around and headed home. I stopped for gas on the way. When I got back to the house, I curled up on the couch with Pippi. I didn't even realize I was tired, but within minutes, I fell asleep.
I woke up half an hour later to the sound of my cell phone ringing. I jumped up and grabbed it off of the coffee table.
"Hello?"
"Chloe? This is Starla, Zachary's mother." She sounded upset.
"Oh hey Starla..."
"Chloe!" She yelled. "There's been an accident!"
"What...what happened?"
"It's Zac..." she choked, barely able to speak. "His plane...it crashed. Oh god..." She started bawling hysterically.
"No, there's got to be a mistake.." I said in disbelief. "Is he..is he okay?"
"I don't know...I don't know..." she cried.
"No..." I whispered.
My heart felt like it exploded in my chest. Tears blurred my vision. A giant lump formed in my throat. I felt like I was going to vomit.
"Nobody is telling me anything!" She cried.
"This can't be happening..." I could hardly speak. "The police, or...whoever, they must know something."
"All the have told me is that there were six survivors. I don't know if any of those were my son." I could hear her voice tremble.
"Only six people lived?" My stomach, my heart, everything inside of me did a nose dive. I could hardly stand to even say those words, much less, think them.
This had to be a nightmare. Or a horrible joke. It wasn't real. There was no way that this was real. I tried as hard as I could to wake myself up, but no matter what I did, I was still inside the horrible nightmare. I wasn't waking up. It was real.