Zay's POV:
"This is my favourite picture ever." Charlie gushes as she flips her phone around and shows me an image of her and I dancing at the wedding last night.
Her arm is snaked around my body resting on the back on my head as she pulls me close and mine around her lower back as she places a soft kiss on the side of my neck.
"That's a good one." I agree.
It's a month today until Charlie moves to New York and I'm struggling with the idea more than I thought I would. I have all these worrying thoughts running through my mind, is she safe there? What happens if someone from a rival gang finds out she's there? After all she won't be on her own turf anymore, should she even be going? Maybe I should just go with her.
I sigh softly and stand up making my way over the window and stare out for a moment.
"Zay." She whispers as she places her hand on my arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine Princess, just thinking."
"About?" She questions looking up at me, sadness filling her eyes.
"Your safety in New York." I tell her honestly. "I know you can protect yourself, but you're going onto someone else's tuft what if they come after you?"
"Maybe we should talk to dad?" She nods in agreeance.
As soon as Chet arrives home, we make our way into his office and I explain the worries currently filling my head.
"You could be right." Chet nods. "I've had similar worries but I didn't want to bring it up and scare anyone. She'll have Avery and Ezra as well as her cousin Emery to look out for her, he'll also be at the same college, but does she need more." He thinks out loud
"What if I go to college under a different name?" She questions. "I mean it's easy for Emery he has his dads last name so he doesn't have to worry about people connecting the Raven or Logan name."
"True." Dad nods. "That could work, we'll make you a new ID and I'll speak to school about changing your name as well, I'll tell them it's for some kind of protection." He opens his laptop and takes a seat. "What do you want your new last name to be?" He questions Charlie.
"Cameron." I speak.
Chet raises a brow as he looks at me.
"Well why not?" I shrug now feeling stupid for speaking up so quickly.
"No reason." Chet shrugs and looks back at Charlie. "So?"
"I think Cameron is perfect." She slides her hand into mine.
"Alright Charlie Cameron, let me do my thing, go and find something to do with yourselves." He nods towards the door.
Charlie Cameron, I could get used to hearing that.
We exit the office and make our way back to Charlie's room. "You were very quick to offer your last name" She smiles as she sits down on her bed.
"I figured you'd be my wife soon enough, why not use the last name now."
"You're Sweet Zay, you know that?" She takes my hand and pulls me down into the bed with her.
Laying down next to her I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head softly. "Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?"
"Sure." She snuggles into me.
"In that case maybe you should call P and see if she wants to go shopping so you can buy something new." I suggest.
"What's the occasion?" She asks sitting up looking at me suspiciously
"I want to celebrate my girlfriend getting into the top college is New York, is that occasion enough?"
"I guess so." She shrugs and pulls her phone from the side table. "I'll call P and see what she's doing."
An hour later the girls are out the door and I grab my phone dialling Lane.
"Hey man it's me, I need your help with something."
"Sure thing bro, what can I do for you?"
"Can you and Shay meet me at the jewellers in the city?"
"That's an hour and a half drive man."
"I know, I know, but it's important, please."
"Yeah alright man, it's the least I can do. We'll head off soon."
"Thanks brother, I owe you." I grin into the phone and hang up.
♥
Charlie's POV:
"How are you feeling about leaving us?" P asks as we walk through the mall.
"Don't say it like that, I'm not leaving you, I'm coming back." I pout.
"Oh come on, I'm just kidding." She wraps her arm around my shoulder giving me a side hug. "How are you going to say goodbye to that man of yours though?"
"I don't know." I sigh softly. "I've tried to speak to him about it since I found out I was going all those months ago but he changes the subject as quickly as he can, I guess he wants to pretend like it's not happening."
"But it is." P cuts in
"Well duh P." I roll my eyes with a giggle. "Maybe we'll talk about it tonight over dinner." I shrug
"Where is he taking you?"
"I have no idea, he just sent me to get a new dress so that to me speaks expensive."
"Aw, he's so cute." P gushes "I love him, you two are so good together."
"Do you think he'll wait for me?" I suddenly question out loud
"What the hell do you mean will be wait for you?" She asks confused.
"I don't know, three years of study on the other side of the country, we'll only be seeing each other during my holidays, what if he meets someone else while I'm gone?"
"Charlie, stop that." P shakes her head and we stop walking. "Zay loves you okay, there is no way he'd meet someone else and move on just because you aren't here every single day."
"He might."
"Then I'll kick his butt." She giggles. "You know he's probably worrying about the same thing, what if you meet a college boy?"
"I would never, I love Zay."
"Exactly! And he loves you." She reminds. "Look C, if he was to meet someone else or you were to meet someone else then you weren't meant to be and I know it might hurt if it was to happen, but I honestly don't believe it will, I think you've found your forever."
"I hope so."
"Right, out of this mood then, let's find you something hot and remind Zay of what he's going to be missing." She links arms with me and we begin to walk once again.
I arrive home at around 2 PM and am greeted by Mom the second I walk in the door.
"Where have you been? I wanted to spend time with you." She pouts
"I'm still here for a while mom, we have time." I remind her.
"I know." she sighs "It's just not going to be the same without you."
"I'm going on a date with Zay tonight, do you want to help me get ready?" I smile.
"Yes!" she says excitedly and we run upstairs together.
♥
I spend around an hour and a half getting ready and it was nice to spend time with just with Mom, just the two of us. She helped me with my hair and make-up and she was actually pretty good at it, I should have assigned her as my personal make-up artist years back.
"Mom." I ask as I sit down on the bed for a moment.
"Yes honey?"
"Did you know dad was the one right away?"
"Pretty much." She nods with a laugh as she sits down next to me. "Your father was an asshole from the second he opened his mouth, but there was something about him, the words coming out of his mouth and his stunning eyes and face just didn't line up, I knew he wasn't as badass as he wanted me to think he was."
I laugh loudly at Moms words, she always tells it like it is. "And dad knew as well right?"
"He acted like he didn't like me, but we all know he did, I mean have you seen me? I'm hot." She jokes, both of us laughing.
"You're too much." I continue to laugh until our laughter dies down.
"Why are you asking me this though?" She questions "Are you having second thoughts about Zay?"
"No." I shake my head. "Quite the opposite really, I know it's been just under a year since we started seeing each other but I really think he's the one, and I'm scared me leaving for college is going to break us."
"You know sweetheart if it's meant to be this is the best test you can trial. Your father and I went though some hard times and we came out the other end just fine." She offers a small smile "And besides Zay loves you as much as you love him, and if he hurts you, I'll kick his ass."
"Thanks." I smile and give her a big hug.
"You better get ready he'll be here soon."