Collision (Zerrie)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Every word I knew completely vanished from my mind and I was absolutely speechless. Jeremy wasn't supposed to be here. I was told by my mother he ventured off to the states. Of course, that was after I returned home from the X-Factor several years ago. He could've been anywhere by now, and the universe thought it'd be entertaining for that to be the same place as me, though I'm not the least bit entertained by this whole scenario.

Jeremy and I, well, I guess you could say we had history, but that wouldn't cover it. He was my first boyfriend, and a good one at that. Wherever I was, he was right there with me, even if it was just emotionally. He supported me and my singing every step of the way, even if it meant I had to leave him as a result of it. The day I left for auditions was filled with so many tears and goodbye kisses, even though we never once spoke the word "goodbye" that day. However, there were countless amount of "I love you's" whispered, afraid if we said them too loud they'd get caught with the wind and travel somewhere far away with it. And really, I don't think the volume of our voices mattered at all, because our "I love you's" did travel with the wind; like I did. Only I came back, looking for someone who was long gone.

"I thought you were in America," the words escape my lips before I even realize it.

"I was," Jeremy said clearing his throat, "but a few people I met there wanted to take a trip up here to Canada, and I joined them."

He sounded different, his voice held a hint of an American accent now. His brunette hair was even a darker shade now, matching the stubble that was forming on his chin. Three years doesn't never seemed like much time to me, but now looking at this somewhat transformed Jeremy, it seems like so long ago.

"I thought you were supposed to be in America," he shot back.

"Not until tomorrow," I said shifting my weight onto my right foot. The engagement ring I was adorning suddenly felt heavy on my left ring finger. It was as if it was reminding me I was engaged and this was not three years ago. I had moved on from Jeremy a long time ago- that was a fact-but if paparazzi were to show up and snap a few pictures of us, I'm not sure Zayn would know that.

"Oh."

An awkward silence surrounded the air around us after that and I didn't know what to do. My feet were still glued to the ground and my eyes were looking at anything but the green-eyed guy in front of me. And his muscular arms that I didn't notice until now.

"I-" he started to say, but Leigh-Anne cut him off with a shout of my name. I remembered we were standing in the middle of a bowling alley and immediately the glue between my feet and the floor vanished.

"I should probably go," I stuttered out. I quickly walked passed him, making sure to keep my head down. If I looked into those enhancing jade eyes I was afraid I might start reminiscing, and that is a road I'd rather not go down again. I walked it-painfully slow-many times during the first few days of the X-Factor and even though I'm over it, I don't want to walk that again.

I only made it a few steps before he rushed out, "wait," and I couldn't help but comply. I shut my eyes tightly and opened them a moment later when I turned to face him.

"Can we,you know, keep in touch?"

I pursed my lips. "Jeremy, you know I'm engaged now and-"

"I know, but I meant just as friends. Is there any harm in that?"

Yes, I wanted to say, but didn't. The way his eyes were shining with hope and his lip was pouted in the slightest way made it impossible for me to give any answer except the one he wanted to hear. That look was all too familiar.