R.E.M

forty

ARIANA'S POV

"Love is in the air!" Izaak cheered, yelling around the house after making it in from his date with Yara.

Zeke only rolled his eyes, diving back into his bowl of cereal while I was sitting at the island, looking at flights.

"I bought her a promise ring," the Romanian told us, coming in to take a seat on the island, "I think she's gonna love it,"

"That's great Iz, but Ariana's literally trying to work and I can't even finish Love Island and enjoy my breakfast without you yelling," Zeke said, setting his spoon down so he could pause his show.

"The US or UK verision?" I asked him, almost in a whisper.

"UK,"

"What's up with you two, I thought you'd be more excited about Valentine's Day,"

I sighed, shaking my head, "I forgot to buy my ticket last week so I don't know if I can get to her in time,"

"And Saf's gifts are on backorder so I'm just trying not to stress,"

"Damn, you guys have it hard," He blurted, letting out a chuckle, "Zeke you should just buy backup gifts, and Ari, why don't you just tell Greyson so she can get you a flight?"

"Because then she'll know I forgot," I clarified, and Zeke was stressed for me. He knew it would look bad if I forgot to get my ticket the weekend I left for Seattle, especially considering that she was nervous for me to go anyway.

"Or, you could road trip,"

Zeke slapped his hand on his face, "Izaak, LA to New York is two days, she has one and a half,"

"Then maybe she should get driving, she doesn't have much of a choice,"

"You know what? You're right." I said, slamming my screen down, "I don't have another choice,"

"I'll help you pack then," Izaak offered, sliding down off the countertops.

Zeke dropped his bowl in the sink, "No, you can finish dishes, it's your week to do them, man," and Izaak only rolled his eyes, waving us off while Zeke followed me, "I know you didn't seriously forget to buy the ticket,"

"I did," I said, opening our room's door while we both followed in. I grabbed one of the suitcases sitting on our floor, unzipping it while I moved over to our closet.

"Or you don't wanna see her, do you?"

"I'm just nervous to see her, I've never met Madelaine, and what if Greyson doesn't want me there?"

"She invited you and it doesn't matter, you're her fiancée, not Madelaine," Zeke explained, leaning against the doorframe, "You know that even if you accepted the Seattle job, she'd find a way to make things work. She cares about you, Ari."

"I don't wanna lose her,"

He rolled his eyes, a smile coming across his face, "So go get your girl," but he paused for a second, "I'm coming too, just in case anything happens."

"I would love that but I don't wanna put you through third wheeling,"

"I third wheel you guys every day, tomorrow will be nothing different." Zeke shrugged, and I smiled, letting out a small laugh even though I knew he was serious.

Anyway, luckily we moved pretty quickly with packing and loading up the car, so we were able to leave the house within an hour. Izaak stayed behind, insisting he wanted to be with Yara.

***

Twenty hours into the trip, we pulled over at a gas station so that I could swap spots with Zeke after driving for almost a day, nonstop.

As much as I preferred not to, I went inside the bathroom to brush my teeth while he went inside to buy lunch and snacks for this last stretch.

It was cold out, so I was bundled in a coat with sweatpants while Zeke was fine in just a long sleeve and sweats. The closer we got, the more snow was falling, and as much as I loved snow, it was hard for me to drive on the ice. It was weird considering Greyson mainly drove, but I guess having Zeke made up for it.

By the time I was coming out of the bathroom from brushing my teeth, he was sitting at the pumps, filling up the car. "You okay there?" He smiled, seeing me shiver all while dressed warmly.

"Yeah, I'm just not really used to snow," I rolled my eyes playfully, hearing him laugh, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," He let out, opening the car door to use hand sanitizer, "You should get some sleep though. You'll be so tired once we get to New York if you don't,"

"I'm okay, plus I don't wanna leave you awake alone," I told him, just as we were both getting inside the car.

"Oh I'm fine, there's nothing Selena Gomez can't fix,"

I laughed, shaking my head, "I didn't think Greyson was serious when she said you were a Selena Gomez stan,"

Zeke didn't say anything though, smirking at his phone, before scrolling down and finding a song, "Justin has nothing on me," he said, before starting to sing.

It's been said and done.

"It's been said and done,"

Every beautiful thought's been already sung.

"Every beautiful thought's been already sung,"

And I guess right now, here's another one.

"And I guess right now, here's another one,"

So your melody will play on and on with the best of 'em.

"So your melody will play on and on with the best of 'em,"

"You are beautiful, like a dream come alive incredible—c'mon don't leave me hanging," He smiled, looking over at me, although we were back on the road.

I smiled even harder, watching his performance, before I joined in, singing at the top of my lungs.

A centerfold miracle, lyrical.

"A centerfold miracle, lyrical."

You saved my life again...and I want you to know, baby.

"You saved my life again...and I want you to know, baby,"

I, I love you like a love song baby.

"I, I love you like a love song baby,"

And I keep hitting repeat, peat, peat, peat, peat, peat.

"And I keep hitting repeat, peat, peat, peat, peat, peat,"

a/n: omg its been 2 months, but im back