Take Me Back to Start

Zacky practically had to bed Jolie before she finally agreed to spend the day with him. He decided he wanted to go shopping and then had some things to do for his clothing line. When she finally agreed, he picked her up and they went straight to the mall. Back in the day, Zacky and Jolie use to spend time shopping together often. Zacky was much more into fashion than anyone else in the group, aside from maybe Val. The guys definitely weren’t going to go with him, so Jolie became his designated shopping partner.

“So, are you going to tell me what we’re shopping for?” Jolie asked lightly as they walked side by side glancing in the windows of the shops.

“Well…Um…There’s a girl…” Zacky started with a light blush on his cheeks. “I should have known it was for a girl! So, tell me about her,” Jolie prompted. As the two started looking for an outfit for Zacky, he explained that he asked a girl named Lilly out on a date.

Apparently, she was a bartender at Johnny’s Bar and he had been trying to convince her to date him for the last two months. She finally gave in to his persistent asking. Jolie knew that Lilly wouldn’t regret saying yes. Zacky was a complete sweetheart, regardless of what his nickname implied.

After a couple hours, Jolie and Zacky finally found an outfit for his date tonight. It was easy to just talk for the two of them. He was nervous for the date and she tried to help calm him down. “Trust me, okay? You’re going to be fine. Lilly is lucky to get this chance to go out with you,” she genuinely said as they sat in the food court with smoothies in their hands. She had mango while he had strawberry and banana. “First dates are always scary, just take a deep breath. The first time I went out with Alex I was terrified. I thought I was going to make myself look like an idiot, but then it ended up being an amazing night,” she said without thinking.

Zacky’s face fell a little bit when Jolie mentioned Alex. It was the first time since she came back that she talked about him and he was shocked that it was in such a positive light. While nobody was exactly sure what happened in the past three years, they knew that it all resulted in Jolie ending up in the hospital. From what Scott said, it was almost definitely Alex’s fault. If her actions said anything, it confirmed that idea.

Jolie noticed Zacky’s crestfallen look and bite her lip nervously. “Uh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Just, don’t be nervous, that’s it. Come on, we should get to your office space so you can get some work done before your date,” Jolie said trying to sound casual, but it was obviously forced. Zacky accepted it anyways and the pair headed for the car.

At the Vengeance Academy office, Zacky headed into his personal office to do some invoices and such. He suggested Jolie looked around checking out the designs and such. She wandered off looking at the different styles and drawings that were tacked up on the various idea boards. She traced her finger along a design or two remembering how much she loved to draw. Without wallowing, she moved up to the big open window looking over the town.

Sudden inspiration hit Jolie seemingly out of nowhere. She couldn’t remember the last time she had such an urge. She snuck a blank piece of paper from a work station and started to sketch a bit by the window. The next thing she knew, she was lost in her work and had no clue how much time passed. She was finally drawn away from her work when she heard Zacky say, “Holy shit, that’s fucking amazing. I almost forgot how good you are. I need you on my team, Jo. That design is killer.”

A little out of it, Jolie glanced up at Zacky and back to her work. She suddenly felt embarrassed and crumbled up the paper. “It’s nothing, Zack. I would just make your clothes look like shit. It’s…I don’t draw anymore. I’ve moved on from that. I don’t even remember the last time I tried,” she said suddenly a bit cold and distant.

“Talent and passion like yours doesn’t just go away,” Zacky argued, “I honestly don’t believe you’d stop making art. And I thought we were past being embarrassed over your work since I found it the first time?”

It was one of those days when thirteen-year-old Jolie was staying with the Bakers for the evening. Matt was supposed to come over, but his mom insisted he stay home. Instead, Jolie sat on the window seat in the Baker’s living room with a sketch pad in her lap. She was completely lost in thought as her pencil moved over the page. Her father had been extra distance ever since her mother passed away. While he explained it as just work, she suspected it was more than that. Mom’s medical bills left a huge debt for the family and Jolie knew that she reminded her father of her mother.

“What’s that?” Fourteen-year-old Zacky asked all of a sudden, drawing Jolie from her thoughts. She moved instantly to try to cover up the sketch, but he gently placed his hand on hers. “You know that’s really good, right? I mean, I’m not a huge art dude, but it’s really nice,” he complimented it with a gentle smile.

Slowly, Jolie slide the sketch pad out from under her arms and nervously let Zacky look through the pictures as had been drawing. “They’re kind of sad, aren’t they? Are you okay?” he asked her a bit concerned.

A tear slipped down Jolie's cheek as she leaned into her friend. “I don’t think Dad wants to come home anymore,” she said in a whisper, “I love being here, but sometimes I want to just be with my own Dad.”

Zacky wrapped an arm around his smaller friend and rubbed her arm. “It’s going to be okay, I promise. Your dad just needs a little more time. He loves you too much to stay away, you got that? So, let’s talk about something happier. You really know how to show how your feeling in these drawings. Can we show Papa Gates? He’d appreciate them a lot, especially the one you did of him,” he tried to brighten Jolie up a bit. She seemed hesitant to share the pictures more, but he insisted. Finally, she agreed to next time she was at the Haner’s.

Jolie cleaned up her things and wiped her eyes, so she and Zacky could go do something. “Zack?” she questioned as he headed towards the stairs. He turned around to face her. She gave him a bright smile. “Thank you,” she said simply.

“Things change, Zack. I just lost my passion for it. I really don’t know the last time I worked on anything. It’s just not in me anymore,” Jolie insisted standing up and running a hand through her hair. “It’s getting late, you should probably get me home so you can get ready for your date,” she once again changed the subject. It was her specialty.

Instead of fighting, Zacky nodded his head. He knew she was closed up again. When Jolie got home, she asked Zacky to let her know how the date went before she went inside. She glanced down at her phone after feeling it vibrate. “The clock is ticking. Coming home yet? I’m a mess without you…barely eating and can’t function. Come home,” the text from Alex said making her heart drop.

“Almost…I think Dad is starting to relax more. I’ll be home soon. Please make sure you’re taking care of yourself,” Jolie replied very quickly, “I’ll buy my bus ticket to get back.” Jolie sunk down on her bed feeling conflicted. What was even going on in her head anymore? She laid back closing her eyes.

It was a bit of time before she was suddenly surprised by her phone going off one more time. It was Brian this time, “Can I come over?” That was all it said, very simple. Jolie hesitated to reply before finally telling him he could, just let himself in.

It was only about ten minutes before Jolie could hear the front door open followed by footsteps coming up the stairs. The bedroom door revealed Brian. He didn’t even really say anything at first. He hesitated at the door behind closing the door behind him. Jolie shifted to the side of her bed more and gestured for Brian to join her. He flopped down next to her making sure to leave a good distance between the two of them.

The pair just laid together in silence until Jolie turned on her side looking up at Brian. He made slow movements to put an arm around her waist. She tensed up straight away unsure if she was comfortable at first. He noticed how she was feeling and started pulling his arm away. She stopped him from moving. After a moment, she shifted again so she could bury her face in his chest. He tightened his arms a bit around her. She drifted to sleep feeling warm and safe.

Shortly after falling asleep, Jolie’s phone vibrated from the nightstand. Thinking it might be Scott, Brian carefully leaned over to grab the phone. His stomach dropped when he saw a text from Alex, “Buy your bus ticket home soon. I can’t wait much longer.”

Notes

Dun, dun, dun! Trouble heading this way. Mostly a fillerish chapter, but I hope you guys enjoyed it! Thank you so much for everyone that takes the time to comment! Please keep letting me know what you think! :)