Tap. Tap. Tap.

I roll over and bury my face in my pillow. I pull my blanket tighter around me and I’m just about to fall back asleep when I hear Eli.

“It’s your turn, Sheridan!” The sound of his voice causes me jump wide awake. My heart races as my eyes dart around the room but I begin to feel slightly more relaxed when my eyes land on my door, still shut and locked securely. I take a deep breath and run my hand through my hair. I was beginning to think I dreamed the whole thing but there it was again.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Sheridan!” Eli yelled. “Get the fucking door!”

A quick glance at the clock tells me it’s just before three in the morning, mom was early tonight. Usually, she doesn’t come home until the early morning hours. Still, I climb out of bed and slowly unlock my bedroom door. Light from the living room floods the hallway and I step out into it, noticing Eli’s door is ajar. I’ve been leaving the light on, terrified of Eli jumping out at me while on my way for a middle-of-the-night-glass-of-water.

I reach the front door, prepared to catch my drunk mother but there’s no need. “Zack?” I rub my eyes and pull my tank top down, covering my midriff. Suddenly, I feel stupid since only a handful of hours ago, I was standing in front of him in my bra and panties. “It’s 3 A.M. what are you doing here?”

“Hey, sorry. Were you asleep? I saw the light on and just thought you might still be awake…wow, I didn’t even take into consideration that it might have been your mom or brother. I’m an asshole.” Zack shakes his head and then clears his throat. “Anyways, can we talk? It’s important.” He looked exhausted and I wondered if he had even been to sleep yet. He was wearing glasses and his hair was a bit of a mess but he still wore the same clothes from earlier.

“Are you okay?” I asked him. Had the consequences for getting in a fight been worse than expected? I didn’t know much – well, anything – about Zack's parents, were they the type to kick their seventeen-year-old son out for fighting? Even if they were, what was he doing here?

Zack doesn’t answer immediately. His eyes slowly search my face as he nibbles at his busted lip. “It’s just…earlier today, I saw the scars on your arm. I don’t know how I didn’t notice them before and I’m not sure how recent they are but…I can’t stop thinking about them. I just…I don’t know, I wanted to check on you. Make sure everything was okay.”

“Zack –” I try but he interrupts me.

“I know it’s late but I had to come. I tried to wait until morning but…it can’t wait,” he finishes.

“You can come in,” I tell him, pushing the door further open. Zack nods and enters the house. I shut the door behind him and then motion for him to follow me to my bedroom.

“Shut the door and lock it,” I instruct, making my way to the bedside table and turning the lamp on. I didn’t think Eli was stupid enough to attack me with Zack in the room but better safe than sorry. Zack looks confused at my instructions but does as he’s told anyway. I sit down on my bed and open my mouth to say more but before I can get a word out, Zack is speaking.

“Sheridan, I know we don’t know each other all that well. You don’t have to tell me everything, hell, you don’t have to tell me anything. I just…I want to – no, I need to know you’re okay.”

“Zack –” I start but again, he interrupts me.

“Wait, just…one more thing. I rehearsed this on the way over here so if I don’t say it I’ll regret it.” He pauses, waiting for my approval. I can’t deny how cute he was in this moment; I smile and nod. “I think you’re great. You’re smart and funny. In these few weeks, you’ve turned out to be a really good friend, so I mean, I’m here if you need anything. If you need to talk or if you need to just beat up on someone…I’m a good punching bag.” He points to his face, smiling.

I laugh and his smile grows wider. “Sit down,” I tell him.

Again, he does as he’s told but this time I can’t help but notice the smile that was just etched on his face began to rapidly fade. As the bed shifts under his weight, I begin to feel sick with apprehension. This conversation could go one of two ways. I could assure him that everything was okay or I could come clean about everything, including Eli.

I wasn’t ready to have that conversation about Eli, I don’t know if I ever would be ready. How do you tell someone about the type of things he did or does? I wasn’t ready to have the conversation about the scars on my arms, either but maybe it would be best to put everything on the table right now. I mean, if Zack was going to stop talking to me because of my past – and present if I tell him about Eli – better now than later, right?

Wait, didn’t I just think that same thought earlier at the beach? I thought Zack was going to stop talking to me the instant he saw the scars, but he didn’t. Instead, he showed up here, he lost sleep because he wanted to know I was okay. Maybe Zack wasn’t the type of person I was accidentally making him out to be. Maybe it would do some good to come clean about everything to someone that actually cared. Maybe he could help me get rid of Eli. Or maybe after I come clean about everything, he decides he can’t handle how damaged I am. Maybe he decides it’s too hard to care about someone so fucked up.

I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not all of it, anyway. “Zack, I’m okay,” I tell him. It was true. Right then at that moment, I was okay. Honestly, in most moments when Zack was around, I was okay. That’s another thing I won’t reveal to him, though.

“Okay,” Zack says softly.

I run my hand over my scarred arm. “These are from when I lived in Kansas, so they’re pretty old. I haven’t…” I trailed off. The word cut wouldn’t slip past my teeth, “…since then.” That wasn’t a lie either.

“Okay,” he nodded. I could see the relief wash over his face. “Sorry, it’s just…I had a friend that tried to kill himself and I just don’t want that to happen again.”

“I don’t want to kill myself anymore. I just want to make my dad proud,” I tell him, looking away.

“I can understand that. We all want to make out parents proud,” he nods.

“It’s a little different for me, though,” I reply. Zack shoots me a confused look. “It’s a long story.” Zack nods and silence blankets us.

After a few moments, Zack clears his throat and starts to get off the bed. “Well, I’ll let you get back to sleep. I can let myself out.”

“Hey, how did breaking the news to your parents that you got suspended for fighting go?” I ask him.

Zack shrugs. “Well, the good news is I didn’t get grounded.”

I raise my brows. “And the bad news?”

“The reason why I didn’t get in trouble was because they were too pissed off to give me a punishment. So, I’m sure it’ll be bad when they finally do.”

“Ah, that sucks.”

Zack nods and then shrugs. “Yeah, but whatever.”

“So,” I start off slowly, “I guess you better stick around and hang out with me while you can.”

“What?” Zack smiles. “Don’t you want to go back to sleep?”

I shrug and pat the bed. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Zack laughs and sits back down on the bed. “Your mom won’t mind?”

“Nah,” I tell him. “My mom’s…out.”

Zack nods and looks around me room for the first time. “So, this is where the magic happens?” He gives me a wink, causing me to blush.

“Oh, please,” I laugh. “You’re the first guy that has seen this bedroom since I moved in.”

Zack looks at me. “Ah, so that’s why you wanted me to stay?”

“What?” I ask as Zack shrugs and says “Okay.”

In the quickest movement, Zack grins and moves towards me like he’s going to kiss me. My breath gets caught in my throat and for a moment, I think my heart stops. Then, at the very last millisecond, Zack shifts and kisses me on the cheek. I instantly felt the blood rise to my face.
Zack laughs as I playfully shove him. “I really should get going, though. I can only imagine how pissed off my parents will be if they find out I’ve snuck out. I’ll show you my magic another time, though.”

“Oh, my God,” I laugh. “Shut up.”

Zack stands from the bed, still laughing. I stand up too and follow him as we walk out of my bedroom, down the hall and to the front door. “If you don’t hear from me in a few days, I’m probably dead.”

I smirk. “You deserve it.”

“Ouch,” he fake pouts, gripping his heart.

“Well, it’s true.” I smile as he opens the door and steps outside.

Zack laughs. “You’re probably right.” Before I can respond, he’s pulling me into a hug. The once laughing, joking mood suddenly turns serious again. “I’m glad you’re okay, Sheridan. I’m here if you need anything at all. Ever. I mean it, okay? Even if you just need someone to talk to or someone to just sit there with you while you feel like your world falls apart.”

I tighten the hug as I feel my chest tighten. I take a deep breath, hoping it wasn’t too obvious to Zack. “Okay,” I tell him. “Thank you.”

Zack doesn’t pull away immediately and I wondered if maybe he knew I wasn’t telling him the whole truth. If he did, I hoped he understood why. After a long moment, however, he pulls away, gives me a smile and a wave before disappearing into the darkness.

Notes

Thank you guys so much for the continued support. I love writing for you guys so I'm glad some of you enjoy it! Haha. Thank you for rating and subscribing. I'm hoping to post another chapter next week.

Oh, also I have a question for your guys. The first being is this storyline going too slow for anyone? (Not the updating, but the actual storyline. I know I need to update quicker haha)I'm kinda trying to take my time with Zack and Sheridan's friendship/etc but I don't want it to be boring. If it is going too slow, please don't hesitate to tell me! I'm open for any suggestions/ideas, just leave a comment or send me a message! Thanks again. You guys are the best.

Thank you to DaphneG, Avengedlover, MeRi, HometownGlory, countzackula6661, and Christina934 for commenting!

Title Credit: Faber Drive “Second Chance” Altered Line