At first, I thought he was kidding. I rerouted my gaze from the treehouse and set it on Zach. He was watching me carefully, standing a few feet away so I could have my space. A chuckle escaped me, waiting for him to laugh or something but it never came. Instead, he kept watching me with those worried eyes and my chuckle died down. 

"What do you mean, Zach?" I asked him, my voice laced with demand. 

His chest rose with a deep breath, his hands stuffed inside his pockets. He looked at the ground and slightly kicked a rock that was on the floor, among the grass. He really gave an impression of just a little boy at that moment. 

"Zach!" I snapped, trying to get his attention. 

A sigh left his lips, his mismatched eyes once again on me. "Please, don't freak out just yet, okay? Go into the treehouse. See if you remember anything," he requested, his voice filled with a plea. 

I was growing so frustrated I stomped my feet against the ground for a moment. A huff parted my lips simultaneously, a glare tossed in his direction. But he looked genuinely remorseful. Did it really turn out that the only person I still trusted was also hiding something from me? Enough with the secrecy! Nothing I would find out could make all of this worse. Zach seemed to be on my side through everything that's been going on. He was the one asking me the real questions without an ulterior motive behind them. At least it looked like that. Until that very moment. I didn't know whether to throw something at him or do as he asked and go inside the yellow treehouse. 

My head was spinning, I just wanted to wake up from this mess that somehow became my life. I exhaled and ran my fingers through my blonde hair. He didn't speak again and I couldn't out of sheer fury I felt. I looked back at the treehouse and my feet made up my mind for me. I started walking across the meadow towards it, eventually hearing Zach's heavy steps behind me. I didn't look at him, not until I reached the ladder leading inside the treehouse. I hovered my hand next to it but refrained from touching the woodwork. 

"What is this, Zach?" I asked again and his sad eyes looked at me. 

"You and Maya played here when you were kids," he answered and looked up at the treehouse. The sun above the forest lit up half of his face. 

"And?" 

"And I saw you paint it. I didn't mean to go through your things the other day, I'm sorry. But I saw your painting and asked your sister about it. I figured it might help," he added and set his eyes on me. 

I paused, blinking. "Wait, that's all?" I asked, confusion vivid in my tone. 

He nodded his head. 

"Why would Maya tell you about this? She doesn't even like you." 

He watched me for a second then shrugged. "Maybe it's that nurse." 

I wasn't fully believing it but he had no reason to lie to me so far, right? Why would he start now? I wasn't sure if his answer was the full truth but the one thing I did know was that I've been here before for a fact. You don't just dream about places like this to realize that they might exist. I was sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me but there was only one way to find out. I didn't know what happened in this treehouse but the feeling was bittersweet. Maybe Zach truly was just trying to help. 

Facing the ladder once again, I began climbing upwards. I entered the inside of the treehouse and got up to my feet, taking a look around. The place looked clean like someone had been here recently. There was no dust or dirt on the couch pushed into a corner nor the blankets laying on top. There were two chairs on the edge by the window made out of real glass. It didn't look like some backyard-made treehouse. It was firm, waterproof, and clean inside. 

Without truly thinking about it, I approached the couch and reached my hand behind it. I wasn't even sure what was guiding me at that moment, what distant memory had entered my head but I pulled out an old photograph. I saw a photo of me and Maya as children in front of the treehouse. It must've been spring, judging by the trees in the back of the picture. On the right corner, you could clearly see another child, a boy but there was only half of him before the photo cut off. It was a little blurry so I couldn't make out the resemblance to anyone. 

Zach muttered something behind me and I looked at him.

"What?" I asked. 

"I just asked what did you find," he said and gave me a small smile. 

"It's a photo. Of me and Maya when we were kids," I said as I took a seat on the couch. He approached me with cautious steps before he took a seat next to me. "I don't know who that is, though," I added and pointed at the boy on the edge. 

Zach frowned a little at the photo before he shrugged his broad shoulders. His inked arm reached back to drape over the backrest. "Maybe just a childhood friend." 

"Maybe ... " I muttered, more to myself than to him. I kept looking at the photo and the longer I looked, the more uncomfortable I felt. I couldn't be more than four on the photo. I turned it around and a date was written on the back. May 5th, 2002. Yeah. Four years old. I've seen that date before. 

I turned my arm around and looked at my wrist and the very first date tattooed into my skin. May 5th, 2002. What the fuck. 

Panic was suddenly vivid on my face and Zach blinked at me. 

"What's wrong?" he asked and straightened up. 

I turned my wrist and the back of the photo to him and his calloused digits wrapped around my hand gently. His thumb brushed over the dates and a frown pushed his eyebrows together. After a few heartbeats and what felt like forever, his eyes finally met mine. 

"What happened that day?" he asked quietly. 

My lips parted but no sound came out. How was I meant to know? I was so young but if something so important happened that I needed to tattoo the date on myself, I surely would've remembered. But that was the thing. I didn't remember. 

I felt like I was going to be sick. I leaned forward and rested my forearms atop my thighs. Zach was alerted instantly, he straightened up, his hand on my back. The bottoms of my palms pressed against my eyes, not caring if I risked smearing my mascara. 

"Just breathe, Via. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you here," Zach said, his voice slightly trembling and I knew very well he was putting the blame for my current state on himself. I shook my head in silent protest and finally lifted it up. 

"No, don't be. At least you're not trying to hide things from me," I whispered, praying to whatever god was up there that it was true. 

"Right," he replied, his tone mirroring mine. 

I turned to face him, features softened. "You wouldn't ... Right?" My voice was so small I hardly recognized it. But right then and there, I needed to know more than any other time that he was still having my back. That he would help me find out the truth and not try to keep me from it. He could see what it was doing to me. He could see all the ways I was falling apart and he wouldn't be so cruel and let me, right? He was the one keeping me together. 

His hand moved from my back and touched my cheek. His beautiful eyes settled on mine. His palm was so warm and gentle, a contrast to his rough skin. I closed my eyes at the contact and let a slow breath part my lips. 

With his other hand, he took my own and pressed it against his chest. "I promise I won't hurt you," he said softly and I opened my eyes. There was sincerity audible in his voice and it somehow eased my mind. It wasn't a direct answer to my question but it meant something. Maybe it meant more, maybe less. I couldn't really decide. 

I looked at my hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat against it. It took me a second to realize the rhythm of mine matched his. Our eyes met again and I held my breath. All he did was try to do something nice for me. I couldn't afford to doubt him too. If I did, it would mean I lost everyone. 

His thumb brushed over my cheekbone and my fingers wrapped around the front fabric of his black T-shirt. He leaned closer and I met him halfway before our lips connected into a soft kiss. My eyes fluttered closed, feeling his other arm snake around my waist. His lips felt so soft as they molded mine in a slow manner, his breath bouncing off the tip of my tongue. I shuddered slightly as his fingertips traced my spine and let go of his T-shirt to move my hand on the side of his neck. My head tilted to the side as we deepened the kiss and I thought my heart was going to break through my chest. 

Breaking the kiss and putting an inch of space between us, I rested my forehead against his own. A smile etched on my mouth, the pad of my thumb tracing his jawline. But my breathing remained heavy. So heavy. Too heavy. 

　　"Come oooon!" I exclaimed, tugging on his hand to urge him to pick up the pace. His laughter boomed behind me and he kept his steps slow on purpose, simultaneously pulling my hand back to keep me from running towards the treehouse. 
　　There he was. The man whose face I still couldn't see. But this time it didn't really bother me for I felt such joy in my bones. 
　　"I'm coming, I'm coming," he playfully whined and took a few quick steps, lifting me up from the ground. I laughed and my feet kicked the air, my hands flying to cover his own around my waist. 
　　"You're such a fucking idiot, put me down!" I yelled through a burst of laughter and he obliged but kept his arms in the same place and we stumbled a few steps forward. "Oh my god, taking you anywhere is a goddamn nightmare!" I teased him. 
　　He laughed behind me and let go of me so I could run towards the yellow treehouse. I climbed up as fast as I could and stood in the middle of the room, my arms elevated in victory as the man popped his head inside. 
　　"Beat you to it!" I announced with a proud grin on my face. 
　　He pushed himself inside, still chuckling. "Cheater. I didn't know there was a competition in the first place." 
　　I stuck my tongue at him and moved to the window, looking at the view. "I can't believe we took this long to come here again," I breathed and sat down on one of the chairs. 
　　"Good thing Maya was maintaining this place. It's been what ... six years since we last come here?" the male asked as I heard the couch creak behind me under his weight. 
　　I nodded my head in thought and turned around to face him. "Last time we were here you tried to kiss me on that couch," I announced and wiggled my eyebrows. 
　　He cleared his throat, almost choking on his breath for a moment. "I ... Did not!" 
　　I laughed and pointed my finger at him. "Yes, you did. We were twelve and you were acting weird and then you started leaning in!" I accused him and somehow I knew he furrowed his eyebrows. 
　　"Nuh-uh!" 
　　Rising to my feet, I approached him, still taunting him. "You did, you did, you did!" 
　　A squeal left my lips as he suddenly grabbed me and pulled me down to the couch, his fingers pushing into my side to tickle me. I squirmed and kicked my feet for a moment, trying to get away but he had me in a firm grip. 
　　"You're so annoying," he murmured as the motions of his fingers stopped, and instead his hand rested over my side. 
　　"You're annoying," I replied like a child, sticking my bottom lip out into a pout. 
　　I knew he smiled even if I couldn't see it as he tucked my hair behind my ear and leaned down, kissing me softly. 

I woke up with my head against Zach's shoulder. My body stirred and I felt his eyes on me. His palm was rubbing my upper arm, keeping me in a safe embrace. I lifted my head up and took a deep breath. 

"Another one?" he asked, sounding worried. 

I nodded my head before returning it to his shoulder. He pressed his lips to my forehead and I closed my eyes. "What happened this time?" 

My fingers subconsciously traced the outline of the tattoo on his bicep. "I was here with someone. A guy. I told him that ... He wanted to kiss me on this couch when we were twelve. I think we were like ... eighteen or nineteen in the memory." 

His movements stopped for a moment and I tilted my head back to look at him, only to find him already looking. "Who was it?" 

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip and shook my head. "I don't know why but I think it was the boy from the photo. The strangest thing was that I felt so happy." 

His fingers moved through my hair and he squeezed me just a little closer. My slender arms wound around his midsection and I took my time just feeling his warmth. Nowhere in the world, I felt safer than in his arms. 

***

Zach grabbed one of the blankets and we made our way back onto the meadow, deciding to catch the sun while it was still upon the sky. He spread the blanket over the grass and plopped down, arms and legs stretched in all directions, taking the majority of it. 

I laughed and jabbed his side with the foot of my sneaker. "Move!" 

He playfully grumbled and scooted to the side, folding his arms under his head, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the warm sun rays. I sat beside him, my arms wrapped around my knees, my head tilted back. 

Every day was such a roller-coaster and half of the time, I didn't know which way was up anymore. 

A quiet hum bubbled up my throat as he pushed his finger under my top on my back and began drawing an unknown pattern on my skin. Goosebumps adorned my flesh at the gentle caresses and serenity washed over me. A light smile rested on my lips. 

From the flashbacks I had gotten until then, I couldn't fathom what could possibly be so bad I shouldn't remember. What was my mind preventing me from knowing? Everywhere I went, everywhere I've been, the world around me was filled with memories. I just needed to find the triggers to properly unlock them. 

Looking down at relaxed Zach, I couldn't help but smile at the sight. I figured my mother, bless her soul, would've given me grief if I brought a man like him home. She would frown over the tattoos, especially the one slightly sticking out from the collar of his T-shirt. His hair was always messy, you could tell the only thing he truly did was run his fingers through it a few times after washing it. Then whatever happened, happened. But he was sweet and a little awkward due to his size. He was clumsy and goofy and it just didn't match the outside. And I liked him. I really, really liked him. He was good to me. 

Leaning down on my elbow, I rolled to my side. 

He opened one eye to peer at me and chuckled. "What?" 

I smiled and shook my head. "Nothing. I was just thinking how you're nothing like I thought you'd be." 

At that, his second eye opened and his head turned a tad. "I'm ... sorry?" 

Chuckling, I waved my hand to dismiss his words. "No, not like that. Not in a bad way." 

He visibly relaxed but grew more intrigued. "What did you mean then?" His arm was now caught under me but his fingers on my back did not stop from sliding over my lower back. 

"I just meant that ... Well, you look like you're supposed to be this mean, bad-ass guy ..." 

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'll have you know I'm very bad-ass," he protested but sounded completely unaffected, even a little proud though there was playfulness visible on his visage. 

I rolled my eyes and grinned cheekily. "Yes, I'm sorry. Very bad-ass." 

He chuckled quietly. 

"I just mean that you're really nice and I might've judged you the first time we met. Even though you acted like a complete dork even then." 

He gasped and placed his hand on his chest. "You're breaking my heart right now." 

I wrinkled my nose and leaned to him, smooching his cheek. "Don't be a baby, now." 

Dramatically, he gasped louder this time and his head shot up, wide eyes looking at me. "Oh, you didn't." The arm that was under me tightened around my waist to keep me in position, his fingers of his other hand flying to my side, tickling me until I had tears in my eyes. I could feel my stomach muscles cramping from laughing so hard. My frail fingers tried to grab his arm but he was too quick and slipped from my grip each time. 

"Zach!" I exclaimed, a tear actually rolling down my cheek and he stopped, leaving me with my chest heaving up and down in an attempt to catch my breath. "Oh, my stomach ... " I complained and let out another chuckle. I held my hands up in front of my stomach, keeping his fingers away from me. "Oh my god. That was mean." 

He looked awfully pleased with himself as I fell limp against the blanket and stared up at the blue sky. "I really can't take you anywhere," I mumbled and heard him chortle. 

"Could be worse," he replied, nonchalantly so. 

That feeling. That feeling right there awfully resembled the one from my memory. But I didn't want to think about that just yet. 

Zach propped himself on his elbow, half of his upper frame hovering above me. I turned my head lazily and brought my hand up to his nose to poke the very tip. "Boop," I mouthed and he smiled. That damned dimpled smile. 

Gently, he took my hand in his grasp and moved it over to his cheek. His face neared mine until I could feel his mouth possess my lips into another kiss.