Zack

I half expected to receive some sort of call or text or something from Evelyn in the passing days or weeks after I left New York but I never did. Hell, I don't even know if she has my number but I know she has ways of getting it even she really wanted to. But did I really want her to? I didn't know what I wanted. I knew what Evelyn and I did was a mistake and I knew I couldn’t allow myself to get close to her again but I couldn't deny what we did didn't feel right. And therefore, I didn't know what I wanted from her. It didn't matter though. I probably wasn't going to hear from her again and that was fine. It was probably for the best.

I didn't tell anyone about what happened between Evelyn and me and as far as I'm concerned no one needed to know. Hopefully, by time Evelyn and I run into each other again it will all be forgotten about.

My house has felt empty without Gena here and that didn't help my emotions. The loneliness had set in and was killing me. I've been going out every night and meeting friends at bars or just going out by myself. I was constantly around people, constantly having random sex but I was still lonely. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever stop feeling this way.

The doorbell rang after a particularly fun night. I groaned and rolled over in my bed hoping whoever it was would go away.

The doorbell rang again and then again and again.

"Fuck!" I half screamed, half groaned. I jumped out of bed and headed to the front door. My head pounded with every step I took. Why the fuck did I drink so much last night?

I reached the door and pulled it open. "What are you doing here?"

The familiar blond looked up to me. "We need to talk," she told me. "Can I come in?"

Ever ounce was screaming 'no' but I opened the door wider and allowed her inside anyway.
"Thank you," she said as she walked in.

"What do you want, Gena?" I ask her rubbing my face.

She didn't answer right away. "I miss you." Her words surprised me and the laugh that escaped my throat surprised me as well. "I'm serious, Zack. I was wrong before. I love you. You're everything I want, everything I need."

I was lonely but I wasn't that lonely. "Get out," I shook my head. I didn't have time for this bullshit.

"No," she grabbed my arm. "I made a mistake, Zack but I've realized that and I'm here to fix it now."

"I've realized I made a mistake too, Gena. Asking you to marry me was a mistake. Thank God you fixed that one for us!" I pull my arm from her grasp. "I'm hungover, I'm tired and quite honestly, I’m not in the greatest mood. So, please Gena..."

She sighed. "You're angry, I get that but..."

"Seriously, Gena? Get out!" I yell. She stares at me and I can tell she’s holding back tears but I don't care. Without another word, she leaves.

I walk into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water and take some pain relievers before I start to walk back to my bedroom. I'm halfway there when the doorbell rings again.

"God dammit, Gena. Can't you take a fucking hint?" I slung the door open. "Evelyn?"
"We need to talk."

"This feels like déjà vu," I mumble.

"What?" She asked.

I groan. "Nothing, can we do this later?" It's a rhetorical question, and I start to close the door before she can respond. She, however, pushes it back open before I can latch it. She walks in.

"No, we can't do this later, asshole. I just flew across the country for this." Her voice is calm.

"Fine. What is it that's so fucking important that you flew across the country to talk to me about it? You do know there are these little things called phones, right?"

For a moment, she seems lost for words but then she softly says, "Why did you leave?"

"What?"

"You promised you would stay and then you were gone," she said.

I rub my face and then I run my hand through my hair. God, I'm so tired. "This is what you want to talk about?"

"Yes, Zack! It really hurt my feelings when you did that."

What was it with all these women today? I didn't answer her. I didn't know what she wanted from me. I never said we were going to be together or even be friends after we fucked, so why did it matter if I stayed or left afterwards?

"What? You don't have anything to say?" she asked.

I threw my hands in the air. "What do you want me to say, Evelyn?"

She shook her head. "You're a fucking asshole."

"Well, some people can say the same thing about you." I tell her. I don't know why I'm being rude to her. Maybe it was because Gena really pissed me off or maybe it was just because it was so easy because it was all I've done for the last twelve years. Maybe it was because I felt like my head was about to explode and my stomach began to churn.

"So, that's what this is about? I hurt you and so now you're hurting me to get back at me?" She shoves her hands on her hips.

I shrugged. "My name is Vengeance for a reason, baby."

She scoffed. "Real mature, Zack. Get over it, okay? Or don't, I don't really care. You can either be mad at me or forgive me don't pull shit like coming to New York to just fucking mess with me."

She turned to the door and grabbed the handle. Suddenly, I realized I couldn't let her leave. If she leaves now then things between us would never be okay again. I didn't realize until this precise moment that I wanted things to be okay between us.

"Evelyn..." I called, but at that same moment my stomach lurched and bile roses in my throat. I ran for the bathroom and emptied my stomach into the toilet. "Fuck," I groan. Why did I drink so much? Why? I collapsed next to the toilet as my stomach lurched again. I sat there for a couple of moments, hoping it would stop before a bottle of water is shoved in my face.

"Drink." Evelyn demands.

The thought of drinking anything makes my stomach queasy but Evelyn doesn't give up. She shakes the bottle until I take it and put it to my lips. I wince as the waster goes down and wait for it come right back up, but it doesn't.

"Thanks," I murmur. She nods and turns to leave the room. I take another swig of the water as I stand, this time using it to rinse out my mouth before quickly following her. "I'm sorry for being a dick," I call. She stops and turns back around to me with her arms crossed. I sighed. "I left that night because I thought what happened between us was a mistake."

"Yeah, I got your note." She rolled her eyes.

"Well, that's the truth, Evelyn. I didn't do it to hurt you, I just...I don't know, but I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to leave after I promised I would stay. I either should have kept my promise or not made one at all. I'm sorry."

She nods. "Okay."

"Let me make it up to you. Let's go have breakfast," My stomach lurched at the thought of food. "On second thought..."

She shook her head. "I should get going. I told my mom I would go see her."

"No," the word slipped out of my mouth. She looked surprised and I bit my lip. "Please, stay. We can talk."

The look of surprise doesn't falter from her face. "Are you still drunk?" She asked.

I can't help but chuckle. "No," I tell her.

She stares at me for a long while but then nods. "Okay, fine but only if you shower first. You smell like a bar."

I smile again and agree, "Deal."

In the shower, I try to think of all the things I want to any to Evelyn. I also remind myself to keep my anger under control. I know it's going to be hard to mend things with Evelyn. I've been so angry at her for so long; I knew this wasn't going to be easy at all.

Once I thought I spent enough time in the shower I turned it off and grabbed a towel. My stomach and head were feeling better and I was grateful.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and walked into my bedroom in search of clothes. I pulled a random shirt out of my closet which just happened to be one of my Vengeance University shirts and then grabbed a pair of jeans. I grabbed boxers out of my dresser and slid those on and then finished getting dressed while making my way back to the living room. I pulled my shirt over my head as I entered the room. A part of me was surprised to see Evelyn sitting on the couch playing on her phone. I guess I sort of thought she would pull a me on me and leave.

"There, all clean and better," I announce.

"Good," she smiled at me. "You look like you feel better too."

"I do," I nod and sit next to her on the couch. "How long are you in town for?"

"My flight leaves tomorrow afternoon at four." She replied.

"Not a very long vacation." I smiled.

She laughs. "Not a vacation."

"You should take one."

She sighs. "Zack, what am I doing here?"

"We’re talking," I raise my brows.

She rolled her eyes. "We don't talk, Zack. We yell and fight but we don't talk."

I sighed too. "I know. I'm trying to change that though."

"Why?" She asked softy.

I don't have an answer for her because I'm not so sure myself. "I don't know," I reply.

She stands from the couch. "Well, maybe I should just go."

"No, Evelyn..." I start but she cuts me off.

"I can't do this again, Zack. I can't think things are going to be okay and then you just disappear again."

I shook my head. "I'm not going to. I’m not telling you it's going to be easy, but...I don't know, Evelyn. I just want to try and be friends. I don't have a better explanation for you."

She studied my face. I wasn't sure what she was looking for or if she found it but she took a deep breath and agreed. "Okay, let's try then."

Notes

Wanted to post this earlier but after work I had to go to this house I'm moving into in a couple of weeks and wait for the internet guy so I'll have internet over there and can keep writing for you all! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Feedback welcome!

Title credit: Good Charlotte "Reason to Stay"

Edit: New Avenged Sevenfold song "The Stage" have you guys heard it? I'm dying. Listen here