The days somewhat melted together for Zacky. Not in the way they had when he’d left Brian’s house that night, but in a way that was much more comfortable. He’d spend the days talking with his brother on the phone about VU things. Filling his time and devoting himself one-hundred percent to his clothing line made functioning that much easier for him.

At night he came alive in a way, he hadn’t since high school. Saying he wasn’t partying wasn’t at all the case. He took turns with Mat,t switching who drove Johnny around and who drank with him, though more often than not Matt drove.

“Thanks, Matt. I was about to print out the order forms and get shit packed up. I’ll call when I’m done,” Zacky murmured as he hung up his cell phone. He rubbed his face and grinned as he waited for the order forms to print.

“How’s it going, ZV?”

Zacky grinned as he turned to face Val. He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing. Getting some packing done,” he said as he flipped through the few pages in front of him.

“Mind if I help?” Val asked as she sat down across from him.

“Yeah, sure. There’s not too much here,” he murmured as he started folding the shirts and hoodies for the orders.

“I, uh…I talked to Gena yesterday,” Val murmured as she started folding.

Zacky stiffened slightly as he took some shirts from Val. “Yeah? What’d she say?” he muttered as he made a few notes on the order forms and putting the packages in a separate pile.

“She said she wants to talk to you. Said she wants to work things out, Zack.”

“I don’t know if I can do that, Val. I…I’ve finally moved on. I never thought I could make it without her and yet I have,” Zacky said quietly. He played with his septum ring for a moment before he went back to organizing the packages.

“I told her that. So don’t be upset when she calls you,” Val said quietly.

“Are you kidding me, Val?” Zacky muttered as his phone rang. He flipped Val off as he left the room knowing she would finish the work left to be done.

“Hello?”

“Wow. I’m surprised you answered,” Gena said quietly. Zacky frowned as he realized she sounded like she’d been crying.

“Yeah, well, so am I. Why did you call me, Gena?” Zacky muttered as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I wanted to talk. To make things right again.”

“Honestly, Gena, they’re right now. I haven’t been this happy since Taste of Chaos.”

There was a pause and Zacky found himself holding his breath. “What are you saying, Zack?” Gena asked, finally breaking the silence.

“I’m saying I’m tired, Gena. I didn’t realize it until you kicked me out. I’m tired of being pushed around. I’m tired of being treated like shit and I’m tired of being weak.”

“In other words?”

“I finally got over you, Gena. I’m done,” Zacky murmured as he hung up the phone. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair as he stared at his phone. He took a deep breath and smiled as he realized that for the first time in years he was free. Free to do what he wanted.

Now if he could only feel the same way about things with Brian. Zacky shook his head as he walked back over to Val.

“How’d things go?” Val asked quietly.

“Fine. We’re…we’re done. For good,” Zacky said with a small smile.

“And? How are you?”

“Honestly? I’ve never been better.”

Notes

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