Zack's POV
With those last words of Lisa's, Laura runs off. Dammit! She turned 18 last week, and here in our hometown, after this special show, I was going to propose. Finally. But Lisa fucking ruined it!

"Look Lisa, I used you to fuck around. I was an idiot for coming anywhere near you. But remember that. I was using you. So stay the hell away from me and Laura, you hear?"

The bitch just rolls her eyes and turns and strolls away.

"Zack. Go find Laura, now."

Alex's words shake me back to reality. I nod to him, hand him my bass, and run out of the venue. As soon as I get out to the street, another startling fact hits me. We're in fucking Baltimore! She could be anywhere by now, it's a huge city. To no avail, I try calling her cell phone over and over again.

I just walk around for a while, not even knowing where I'm going. I have no idea where she might have gone. It's not like she has a home here.....

That's it! The cottage I first found her living in. I bet that's where she went. The school it's behind is only a few blocks away. I start sprinting, the cold air not even bothering me as it sinks through my thin t-shirt.

Laura's POV
I can't deal with it. I just can't. Now that I'm 18, I'm an adult anyway, so there's nothing Flyzik or anybody can do. I figure I'll go back to my old home just to recollect and try and figure out what I need to do. I tear out of there before anyone has a chance to stop me. Luckily, the venue wasn't very far away.

When I reach the door, I realize just how long I've been gone. It's been over two and a half years, almost three. This place is getting decrepit. Oh well, it has always served it's purpose and it'll continue to. No one will think to look for me here.

I lay on the hard floor, breathing hard and sweating from the show and the run I just took. My thoughts are all so muddled, I can't make sense of anything. All I can think about is Zack, and how much I love him. How much he loves me. So why does everything still hurt so much?

I don't have too much time to ponder that, before the door is flying open, to my great surprise. Startled, I sit up to see Zack. He came for me......and he found me.

"Laura? Oh thank god."

I can't speak. I just hold out my arms to him and he comes and sits next to me, holding me.

"I am so sorry, Laura. She had no right. And what she said is a lie. It killed me to do what I did, because of how much I love you. And I would never do it again. I love you too much."

"I love you too Zack. Everything just seems like a mess. So unstable."

"Well, I can't promise a lack of craziness, but there are a few things I can promise you."

"Like what?"

"I love you, the band loves you, and we're all here for you 100%. I love you. You're my best friend, ever. And the last thing I can promise you, well, it's forever. I want you to be my forever, and I want to give that to you."

"What do you mean Zack?"

He pulls away from me and slowly gets down on one knee. Oh my gosh. This can't be happening. He isn't proposing. He pulls something out of his back pocket. Oh my god, it's a box. He's proposing. Holy shit what do I do?

"Laura, I love you, and I want to give you forever. Will you do the same? Will you marry me?"

He opens the box and I sit there in stunned silence. It's beautiful. It seems like a lot of time is passing, and I suddenly notice Zack looks pretty uncomfortable. I burst into tears and kiss him deeply.

"Yes! I would love to marry you Zack. Forever is all I want."

Notes

So there's only a few chapters left until the conclusion of Zack and Laura's story! Wow, it's been a journey.

Thank you all, you beautiful people!

But gamble with desire. is my favorite, for all sorts of reasons. Just sayin' <3