Chapter 4 Seeing Zac Leroy

Mrs Heather and the other sales persons kept having a back and forth conversation but my mind was in a daze. Their voices sounded very far away.

What would I do? How was I going to feed my child? Truly, as my parents had said, being a dropout was so hard.

No organization would take me. I didn't even complete my high school so securing even the lowest job was a far-fetched dream.

"Mommy, please stop crying." Haven's tiny quivering voice had me blinking back tears I didn't know had fallen furiously.

She never failed to produce tears if she saw me crying. And seeing my daughter cry because of me hurt me more than the situation that brought me to tears.

"It's okay, baby. We'll be fine." I stooped to her level and gave her a tight hug, gaining a little hope from that warm embrace.

It didn't matter what I was going through, I didn't regret carrying her to term.

"Let's go home and..."

The sound of a vehicle cut off the rest of my words. I rose to my feet, holding my daughter's small hand, my eyes raising towards the direction of the vehicle.

It was more or less a convoy.

"He's here." Mrs Heather announced.

My stomach clenched as I blinked my disbelief. This was Zac's convoy? Back then, Zac wasn't just bullied for his chubby frame, he was also bullied for not having rich parents like the rest of us.

He was brilliant and had been on scholarship. How...when? I watched, my emotions in a frenzy, as one of the car doors of the vehicles open and one guy in black suit stepped out to open the door of the backseat.

Gasps were heard as soon as the tall, athletic figure stepped out.

Before I could get a good glimpse, his bodyguards were stopping him from being engulfed by people. People who were fans from the look of the bizarre attitudes.

"Zac Leroy! I love watching you play."

"You were a beast in that last match!"

"Please sign my shirt, you're my favorite player!"

Excited voices overlapped and I watched as he smiled, acknowledging his fans. Signing here, taking pictures with them there.

While his attention was focused on the crowd, I took my time to assess him. He'd lost all that fat to a muscly build.

Gone was the boyish chubby face, replaced by a manly, slim face, accentuated by a well chiseled jaw and pointed nose.

I could only see his side profile. He no longer wore his hair in a ruffled manner. It was styled in a distinguished pattern with few wild strands straying to his face...

"Mommy, who is he?" Haven was curious, probably wanted to know why everyone was crowding him.

"He..." I didn't know what to respond. Should I say he used to be a friend back in high school? Though I could hardly call him a friend.

I wasn't really close to him.

Suddenly, he turned and met my gaze. He still possessed those beautiful green eyes I'd always admired.

His lips spread into a genuine smile. He made his way to me, despite his fans wanting more of his attention.

His bodyguards made it possible, though not easy, for him to walk up to me.

"Long time, no see Dahlia." His voice had changed.

It no longer held the cutesy, meek tone it used to.

It was thick and rich and the way he pronounced my name reminded me of honey dripping on hot, delicious pancakes.

I cleared my throat, suddenly embarrassed of where my thoughts had run to. "H-hi."

"Hello, mister." Haven extended her hand, beaming confidently at him, her head raised to take a proper look at his imposing height.

A curious smile brightened his face as he accepted her small hand in his and shook gently. "Hello, beautiful miss."

He stooped to her level so she wouldn't have to keep straining her neck.

Haven giggled at the compliment, not one hair shy. "Thank you. Do you know my mommy? Are you friends? Why are you looking at each other that way? Are you the Zac Leroy that woman was talking about? Is it true you bought mommy's job? Can you get mommy another one? Who..."

"Haven." I was both flustered and embarrassed.

I was always proud of my daughter and her genius mind but sometimes it came with a mouth without filter.

"What, mommy? You lost..."

"It's nice seeing you again, Zac. I'm happy for you but I need to get going." I quickly grabbed my daughter's wrist, ready to bolt out of there before she told Zac Leroy our 'as poor as a church mouse' story in one breath.

"Wait, Dahlia." He gently pulled me back, his eyes understanding and compassionate. "I'd like to take you out for..." He checked the diamond-cut wristwatch adorning his right arm. "... it's past eleven, so it's brunch. I mean I can't see you for the first time in years and you'll just walk away. Please, have brunch with me?"

It wasn't his words that were mesmerizing me, it was this new found confidence that had me still rooted to the spot.

Confidence without arrogance.

But I was ready to turn him down politely. "Thank you, but..."

"Thank you for inviting my mommy and me, but before we agree, what are you buying me? I don't like apple juice or pork. I want hot pancakes, berries, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, banana smoothie and waffles." She rattled off in one breath, leaving Zac Leroy quite speechless.

But that quickly changed into a hearty laugh. "All of that food in your tummy?"

"Mommy calls me a foodie all the time." She grinned.

I was supposed to sternly stop her from her child-like shenanigans but I didn't have the heart to, not when she looked so relaxed and proud of herself. "And a proud one." I added, a bit embarrassed of what Zac would think of us. Of me, as a mother, and my ability to feed my daughter proper meals.

"I don't mind buying you all of that if mommy says yes." He shifted his gaze to mine, silently asking. Pleading.

My stomach rumbled but thankfully, he didn't hear. A reminder I hadn't eaten anything proper since last night.

I nodded. "Okay."

"Great." His smile lit up his face as he led us to his waiting convoy.

Eyes followed us; Mrs. Heather's and the other salespersons. Paparazzi wouldn't stop clicking cameras in our faces and fans kept taking pictures.

Haven did something hilarious; she posed and waved at the cameras, yelling in her little voice. "My mommy is friends with Zac Leroy, the rich guy!"