Thirty-two

“I can't believe that this is your apartment building.” Zach said as they entered an elevator.

“Why? the location is pretty good.” Maisie said.

"Not the location. It feels eerily familiar like I have been here before. Like I have lived here before.” Zach corrected.

Maisie didn't know what to say to that, sooner or later she was going to have to tell him that she fell for his ghost.

“I am sure that it is just a case of Deja Vu.” Maisie said flippantly and Zach narrowed his eyes at her. She knew something. And although he promised not to force her to say anything, he couldn't help but wonder about their story. He knew where she lived for Christ's sake. As soon as he is alone, he is going to do some calculations to draw a time frame in which he must have met Maisie.

When the elevator stopped on her floor, they went out of the door and Maisie noticed the dog poop in front of her “not again.” Maisie said with a sigh.

“What?” Zach asked her.

“My neighbor's dog pooped in front of my apartment.” Maisie said.

“That dog needs to be taken down.” Zach said as he felt a serious wave of Deja Vu. “The dog owner stays in this apartment, right?” Zach said pointing to one apartment and he saw the color drained from Maisie's face. He took that as his answer that he was right, and he marched to the door where he knocked heavily on it.

“What.” an irritated voice called out as the door opened.

"If you cannot take care of your dog, I suggest that you put it in a pound.” Zach said in a cold voice.

“Who the fuck are you.” the neighbor asked shifting back into his apartment.

“I'm your neighbor's boyfriend, your dog has been giving her a headache and if you don't train your dog where it should take a dump, I suggest you give up the dog. This will be the last warning you receive.” Zach tells him.

“Screw you, you can do nothing about it.” the neighbor said even though his voice wavers at the end of his statement.

“I am Zachary Stephens and I head a law firm you would be surprised by what I can do or can't do.” Zach said as he gave the neighbor a nod and then walked to Maisie who was already standing inside her apartment, watching everything that was happening with a slack jaw. Zach entered her apartment and firmly shut the door.

“I can't believe that you just did that.” Maisie said with her eyes shining with laughter.

“You were having a problem and I solved it like any boyfriend would do.” Zach said with a shrug as he took Maisie's elbow and took her to the sitting room and froze.

“What.” Maisie asked looking at him weirdly.

“Nothing! Go and change.” Zach said pushing her towards her bedroom and Maisie laughs as she continued walking swinging her hips, but he was too distracted to watch her hips move. His mind was still stuck on the many coincidences that are no longer looking like a coincidence. He sank into a chair only to feel mightily uncomfortable and something was telling him that he would be more comfortable on the couch, so he stood up and down on the couch only for him to feel very comfortable.

Okay, this was strange. He knew the exact room the owner of the dog was staying in; he had a strange flashback that he was staring down a dog who was barking at him from that apartment with the door half-opened. He entered Maisie's apartment and moved towards the direction of her room and she went there. It wasn't like the door of the room was in sight and now, he had a favorite chair? How could he have known all these things? And the way it comes to him it was like he had lived here, and he could probably find his way around in the dark.

“Hey, Zach which hair tie should I use...” Maisie started.

“Use the one that matches your shirt.” Zach called out and he felt like that was not the first time he was calling out like that.

Zach rested his head in his hands as he tried to calm his racing heart and troubled mind.

Maisie came back into the room some minutes later and saw Zach still in that position.” what is wrong "

“I have been having flashbacks to memories I am sure are not mine because the time frame doesn't match and most of those memories include you and I don't know how that is possible.” Zach said in a tortured voice.

Maisie gasp, she knew that Zach would eventually work it out. It seemed like it was a bad idea bringing him here.

“I remembered staring down the dog I have never seen standing in front of your apartment. I remembered that I love lying down on this couch. I remembered the direction of your room even though I am not sure I have been there. I am sure that if I think deeper, I will remember how your foodstuffs in your cabinets are arranged, I don't even know how I know that you have cabinets. You have to tell me why I know these things before I go insane.”

Maisie sat close to Zach. “If I do tell you about it, you would think that I am crazy.”

Zach froze at that. “That is my nickname for you isn't it.” Zach asked as Maisie released another gasp in shock.

“It was.” Maisie said softly. “Before you left...” then Maisie told Zach everything about them, about him being a ghost and following her to work and their quarrels.

“That is weird and should be impossible.” Zach said.

“I was the one who was seeing a ghost, tell me about it.” Maisie said before falling silent.

“You do believe I am telling you the truth right.” Maisie asked softly.

“Of course, I believe you, if you had told me something less fantastical, I wouldn't have believed.” Zach said with a smile. “Thank you for trusting me even knowing that I would doubt your sanity.”

“Hey.” Maisie complains.

Zach laughs. “At least something is still the same. I still get joy from teasing you.”

“Of course, you do. Being sadistic doesn't change even when you are in a coma.” Maisie quips while Zach laughs.

“There she is. The girl who is free with me. You are finally acting free again.” Zach chuckles.

“Well, there is nothing for me to hide for you so why wouldn't I act free.” Maisie asked.

“No reason. By the way, I called in and told them that we are not coming in," Zach tells Maisie whose face went red in anger.

“Why would you do that.” Maisie yells at Zach.

“Because I want us to spend the day knowing each other better.” Zach said softly.

“You know that I can't stay mad at you for that kind of reason.” Maisie complains.

“I know.” Zach said with a smile.

“Brute.” Maisie said feigned anger and Zach smiled because he could clearly remember many times where she would stomp her feet and call him that before leaving. Sometimes in real anger, other times, the anger was feigned.

“Crazy.” Zach replies as Maisie smiles at his answer.