Zachery Williams

"Hey, what's up guys?" I put down my lunch tray at our usual table.

Liam and Melissa were talking when I sat next to them. Liam had his arm wrapped around Melissa as they both laughed together.

"Nothing much. How's your plan going?" Liam asked me as he popped a fry in his mouth.

"What plan?" Melissa asked curiously.

"Apparently Zach has a crush on Kayla. He was professing his newfound undying love for her yesterday. You should have seen it baby," he said, giving a peck on her lips.

"Really Zach? That's so sweet," she gushed. "I'm so happy for you guys."

I rolled my eyes at them. "Now, now, lower your voices. Anyway, I have no clue on what to do. It's like my whole mind is blank."

"Why don't you just ask her out on a date first and then go from there?" Melissa suggested.

"That's right. Dude, grow some balls and ask her out," Liam pressed. "Oh here she comes." He started waving at Kayla, who was a few feet from our table. She smiled and waved back, making her way through the crowd and taking a seat at our table.

"So, where's Nico?" I asked her.

"He said he was gonna look around town."

"Who's Nico?" Melissa asked.

"My best friend. You guys should meet him. You're gonna like him."

"Why don't we hang out at the beach near the café tonight? We could grab some beer and have a small bonfire party." Liam shrugged.

"That's awesome. Thanks Liam," Kayla said in gratitude.

"So we'll meet tonight at ten? Is that okay for everyone?" I looked around the table.

"I'll have to sneak out, but who cares? I'll tell Nico. I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you guys," she seemed excited.

The lunch break ended as we planned out little get together. After the final bell rang, Liam dropped me off at home. I went upstairs and started doing my homework. About an hour later, I heard shouts coming from downstairs. I ran out of my room to see what the ruckus was about. My eyes widened in shock as I saw my dad pulling his luggage out of the front door without looking back. My mom was going after him while crying and begging him to stop. He paid no heed and continued to walk towards his car.

My fists curled as anger boiled inside of me. I was mad that he was treating mom like she was nothing. It hurt to see her crying like it was physically paining her. I rushed downstairs and held her shoulders to keep her from running out of the house after dad.

"Mom, stop," I said softly.

"Zach, why is he leaving? Tell him to come back. Tell him to not leave me like this," mom cried harder.

"I'm sorry mom. I'm really sorry," was all I could say. I couldn't tell her the truth about dad. It would kill her if she knew about it right now. Plus, she had to hear it from dad. It wouldn't be right for her to hear it from me. I hugged her as she cried into my arms.

After a few minutes, I got her to calm down. As I walked her upstairs, I saw Lucy poking her head out of her room. She looked scared. I decided I would go and talk to her after settling mom down. I lead mom inside the room my parents shared for almost their whole life together. Their marriage photographs were on the wall. They both looked so happy and in love in those, it was hard to imagine how things had gotten to this point. All that was left now was a broken heart and a broken marriage. How could someone be so happy at one moment and at the next, be in so much pain? I thought about it as I laid my mom on the bed.

"Mom, take some rest, okay?" I mumbled as she drifted off to sleep. She was tired from crying and the way dad left without an explanation must have taken a great toll on her. I kissed her forehead before I left the room.

I went back to my room and dialed my father's number. It rang for such a long time I was sure he wasn't going to pick up. But just as I lost all hope, I heard his voice on the other side.

"Zach, I-" he began to say something but I didn't let him.

"What were you thinking?!" I demanded in anger.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't just stay there, knowing that I was hurting her. I'm so sorry Zach," he trailed off.

"Sorry? Is that all you can say? After all that you've done? How about an explanation? Why didn't you tell her that you're a lying, cheating piece of-" I stopped before I said something I would regret. "Is it because you're afraid of what she'd think of you? Do you still want her to think that you're the perfect man she married? Or is it that a selfish part of you wants her to still be in love with you? Are you that much of a coward? Why can't you just be honest with her like you were with me?"

"It's not like that. You don't understand, Zach. I just don't wanna hurt her." He tried to reason with me.

"And you think she is not hurt right now? She has no idea what happened. She doesn't know that you're the one who's wrong. She thinks she did something to drive you away and she is blaming herself. When you tell her the truth, she might get mad at you but at least it would be easier for her to get over you." I said angrily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to say to her." He stammered.

"Tell her the truth and admit that you were wrong. You know she deserves an explanation. That's the decent thing to do." I replied and hung up on him before he could say anything else.

I sat on my bed and held my head. My head was pounding like a jackhammer. Everything was so stressful. No one should have to become involved in their parents' lives like this. My mind started wandering. I thought about how happy I was with my life just a few months ago. A sudden image of the girl I saw on the beach the night before school started flashed in my mind. Now when I thought about that girl, she seemed kind of familiar but I couldn't put a finger on where I had seen her.

I remembered the necklace I picked up on the beach after she left that night. I stood up and took it out. I had put it in the box on my study table and had completely forgotten about it until now. I guess with all the stuff that has been happening in my life right now, I forgot to try and look for the owner. Besides, I didn't even know where to start.

I was looking at it, searching for something like initials of someone's name, anything that could help me find its owner, when Lucy called my name.

"Hey, kiddo," I felt guilty for forgetting to check up on her. I was too angry then to think straight.

"Zach, why was mommy crying?" she asked.

"Mommy's just a bit sad. But she'll be okay soon," I forced a reassuring smile.

"Is daddy not coming back?" her voice was wavering.

"Yeah, I don't think he's coming back. But we'll still see him," I gave her an honest answer.

"But you won't leave, right?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Of course I won't. I promise I'll always be here for you." I hugged her.

At dinnertime, I cooked for mom and Lucy. I took the food to mom's room. She only ate when Lucy and I said that we wouldn't eat unless she did. After that, I tucked Lucy in with mom. Lucy wanted to sleep with mom and since they were both upset, I figured it would be good for the both of them.

"Mom, Liam asked me to hang out with him tonight, but I can stay with you if you want," I told her.

"No, I'll be fine, honey. You go and have fun, okay? And don't stay out too late." She raised a weak hand and patted my cheek.

"Thanks, mom. I love you." I left, grabbing my keys and locking the door behind me.

It was half past nine when I reached the spot we had agreed to meet at. Liam and Jack were putting the ice box on the sand. They already had a bonfire going and Melissa was making s'mores.

I sat next to her and Liam threw me a beer. I popped open the can and took a small sip.

"Everything okay, Zach?" Jack asked, sitting next to me.

I shook my head and continued drinking. I was glad he didn't try to pressure me into telling him what was wrong.

A few minutes later, Kayla and Nico arrived. She started introducing him to Liam and Melissa.

Nico and Liam hit it off instantly like they were old buddies. My eyes drifted to Kayla, who was smiling and talking to Melissa. I had never seen her smile like that, like she had no worries, and it was simply breathtaking.

"Have you told her your feelings?" Jack startled me.

"What? How did you even know?" I almost chocked on my beer.

He raised an eyebrow and gave me a look that clearly said, 'Are you serious?'

"Is it that obvious?" I sighed.

"Bro, it's written all over your face," he chuckled.

"I'm scared. What if I end up hurting her?" I asked, thinking about my dad.

"Sometimes you will hurt the one you love. But if you accept it and ask for forgiveness, it will ease the pain. They won't forget it, but with an apology, they can live with it. It's impossible not to hurt anyone. But it's not impossible to apologize for hurting them. Right now, you're thinking too much. And in situations like this, it's better to just go for it before you overthink and lose her to someone else," Jack said thoughtfully.

I nodded at him. He patted on my shoulder and went to grab a beer for himself.

"You're quiet," Kayla plopped down on the sand beside me.

"Well, I'm just thinking about some stuff."

"Care to share what's going on in your pretty head, then?" she asked.

"Pretty head? You think my head is pretty?" I said smugly.

Kayla started blushing as she tried to come up with a comeback.

I gave a small laugh. "You're so cute when you blush."

She blushed some more and gave me a playful shove.

"Kayla, would you mind helping me to grab some more snacks from the café?" Jack called.

"Sure, let's go," Kayla stood up.

I watched her walk away but turned when i felt eyes on me. Nico was staring at me and his eyes flickered to Kayla and back to me.

"Do you like her?" he blurted out.

"What is it to you?" I asked, irritated about the way he was looking at me.

"You don't even know anything about her. You know nothing about what she's been through," he stated.

"Are you telling me that you know everything about her?" My voice started to rise.

"Yes, I do know. I was the one who stuck with her when she was going through all that." He stood up.

"She told me she'd explain everything to me when she's ready." I also stood up to face him.

"Hey, guys. Cool it off," Liam tried to intervene, but we both ignored him.

"Are you prepared to know about it? Can you handle her past? Is there any certainty that you won't run away how her life has been? How messed up it is?" Nico yelled.

"You don't know me, so let me tell you. I don't run from the people I love and care about," I refused to back down.

"You say that now, but who knows what'll happen later? One thing is clear. I'll always be there for her."

"You like her too, don't you? What makes you so sure that you're more special to her?" I gave him a searching look.

"I'm the one who saved her life. I was the one who stopped her when she was on the brink of -" he cut off when he saw something behind me.

I turned around to see Kayla glaring at us.

"Nico! Who gave you the right to talk about my life like that?" she snapped.