*15 Years Ago, Zjael's POV*

"Jacky promise me we'll be best friend forever no matter what." I said to the cute little boy in front of me. I'm moving really soon and I still haven't told my best friend, but I had to today because we only have three more days here and that's including today. We were at his house right now visiting with his family. My old sister would be staying with his family. But they wouldn't let me stay.

"No matter what." Jack said and linked our pinkies together. "I pinky promise." He said with a smile. I smiled back at him then remembered what I need to say. "What's wrong? You look sad." He said to me.

"I need to tell you something." I said quietly and looked down.

"What is it?" He asked bending over awkwardly to look into my eyes.

"I-I'm moving in two days." I said and sat down. Jack sat down with me.

"Where?"

"New Mexico."

"We can still talk. Maybe we can even visit each other."

"Maybe. I hope we can, but I want to tell you something else too." I felt like I needed to tell him one more thing before I moved.

"What is it?"

"I umm.....I think I like you."

"I know. That's the point of being best friends. We like each other."

"No not just like that. I think I like-like you."

"Oh! Why tell me now?"

"You should know it before I move."

"Well if it helps. I think I like-like you too."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Zjael, it's time to go home baby girl." My mom said.

"Okay mom." I said as Jack and I stood up. Jack waked with me to my mom's car then hugged me tightly.

"I better see you soon." Jack whispered.

"I'll make sure I see you before we leave." I said then got in the car. "Mom, dad can we please stop by their house before we leave?" I asked innocently.

"Of course, we have to drop Beth off with her things that day anyway." My dad said. I could tell by the sound of his voice he didn't wanna take me away from my friend, but he had no choice and I was only ten, my sister could stay because she's turning 18 soon.

*Three Days Later*

"We won't see each other for our birthdays this year." Jack said sadly hugging me.

"I know....I can't believe we'll be driving all day tomorrow for my birthday." I whined.

"I don't want you to leave me." Jack whined and hugged me tighter.

"Let's promise each other something then." I said and puked away from the hug to look into his eyes.

"Okay, what?" He asked curiously.

"I'll come back to you when I'm 18 and can leave my family, as long as you promise to wait for me." I said to him.

"I will wait for you for as long as it takes." Jack said completely serious.

"Baby girl, it's time to leave." My dad said. Jack pulled me into one more hug, quickly kissed my cheek then watched as I got in the car and drive off. Jack even ran after the car to the end of the street.

*7 Years Later*

Tomorrow's my 17th birthday and I can't wait. My dad's taking me to get some recording stuff. I've gotten really into music lately and was planning on recording my own music. It was about 10:00 pm and I was about to get off Facebook and go to sleep when I got a friend request. It was from a Jack Barakat.

"Jack Barakat? Oh my god, Jack!" I said excitedly and quickly accepted the request. Almost instantly I was on his other and seeing what he's been up to. He now has some blonde in his hair that was pretty cute and he was in his own band now. As I was stalking his page, he messaged me.

Jack: Hey beautiful. Dyed your hair black I see.

I giggled as I replied to him.

Me: Yeah, I got tired of blonde.
Jack: Glad to see you still remember me.
Me: Well, duh! But guess what?
Jack: What?
Me: I graduated 2 weeks ago!
Jack: What?! How?......is it surprising I graduated too?
Me: No, I always had a feeling you would. Also, I skipped a grade, that's how I graduated haha smile emoticon
Jack: That's awesome smile emoticon do you still remember our promise?
Me: Yes, I do.
Jack: So since you've graduated, when will you be coming back? I'm still waiting.
Me: Next year, gotta wait till I'm 18.
Jack: I'll be waiting smile emoticon
Me: Good smile emoticon well, I need to sleep. I've got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow.
Jack: Sleep well Z

I smiled at the message then put my phone down and allowed sleep to take over.

*The Next Day*

My dad and I were at the music store getting recording stuff. I woke up to many birthday messages. Today has been pretty good so far and it's only noon. "Thank you daddy." I said holding onto his arm like I did when I was younger.

"Of course baby girl, it's your birthday and I love you." My dad said and smiled down at me.

"I love you too daddy." I said.

"I love you more." My dad said then a gunshot went off and my dad dropped to the ground pulling me down as well.

"Daddy! No..........no......" I cried. He was shot straight through the head and was bleeding on me. My own father just died right next to me. More shots were going off, so I sat in a corner and cried. I heard someone walk by and stop in front of me. Then they just waked away. One I was sure the shooter or shooters were gone I crawled back over to my dad and cried into his chest till the cops showed up. One came in and bright me outside.

"Who were you sitting by in there?" He asked me.

"My dad. He was the first shot and dead." I said trying to stop crying. It didn't work. The tears wouldn't stop coming. I lost my dad, my hero, my first and only true love in my life as of now. I was bright home after the medics checked me. The cop told my mom what happened.

*One Week Later, Zjael's Father's Funeral*

I still couldn't stop crying. Jack has been trying to talk to me non stop. Somehow he found out about my father's death. I ignored him. I couldn't talk to anyone. I couldn't function. I couldn't eat. I couldn't stop crying. I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I saw my dad die over and over again.

Jack messaged me on Facebook again and I went through all his messages he's sent me in the past week.

Jack: Happy Birthday beautiful smile emoticon
Jack: Did you have a good birthday?
Jack: No "Happy Birthday" for me?
Jack: Oh shit! I am so sorry! I just found out what happened. Are you okay?
Jack: Z, please talk to me.
Jack: My family will be at the funeral, I hope to see you. You're not in this all alone.
Jack: Will I see you today?

I don't want to go to the funeral. I feel like it was my fault my dad was gone and my mom didn't help with that. "You're going. Put some clothes on, or I'm bringing you like that." My mom said walking into my room.

I didn't move. I can't do this. I can't go to his funeral. "Fine. Richard, come help me!" My mom called to my dad's best friend. He has been with us since he found it. I really don't want to see anyone today. Richard came in and threw me over his shoulder.

"You can't miss your own father's funeral." Richard said throwing me into the car and closed the door. He got in the drivers seat and drive us to the church. I feel so numb and alone. Richard puked me out of the car. "Don't make me carry you in there." He said and walked my mom into the church.

I numbly walked up to the doors. Jack was there, he was looking around. I just watched him till I stayed feeling like I couldn't breathe. I can't do this! I ran home and his where no one would find me. Nobody did.

Notes

So this chapter was basically a filler to show you what's going on with Zjael. The next one will be present and it'll be Jack.

Hope you like this. If you do like it, please comment, subscribe, and rate it :)

I have a few other stories too and they are:

Angel
Celebrate The Way That Night Hides Scars
Worlds Over, Time to Die. Nothing Left but our...
So Many Bright Lights Cast A Shadow

-Rose