Strength Of The World

Peyton was in the shower when Zack's phone rang. "Hey man." He said, answering the phone. "What's up bro? How is she this morning?" Brian asked. "She's doing okay. She has been saying she's fine all morning, but I know she isn't. She's trying to put up a front so no one can see what's really going on." Zack explained to his friend. "I hope this zoo trip does her some good today. I'm just a little worried it's too soon." "We just need to keep her day as normal as possible." Brian sighed, "Keep her smiling and laughing. She needs it." The two men continued talking for a few more minutes until Brian said he needed to go fix his hair, and they disconnected. Zack walked into the bathroom to see if Peyton was almost out of the shower. "Babe, you almost done?" He asked, starting to remove his clothes. He heard her sniffle and her soft reply. "Almost. I just need to rinse out my hair." Her voice started cracking like she was crying, and Zack quickly finished undressing and got into the shower, where his suspicions were confirmed. "Come here, I got you." He pulled her into his arms and she let her walls down completely. She wrapped her arms around him and cried. They stood there for quite some time, until Peyton was finished crying. Zack kissed her forehead, then tilted her chin so her eyes would meet his. "You okay? We can stay home." "No," she replied, "I want to go. We need a day of fun with our friends." She kissed his lips softly and he pushed her back underneath the spray of water, rinsing the conditioner from her hair. Once it was all out he pulled her back into his arms. "I love you, Pey. I'll always be here no matter what." "I love you too, babe." She replied. "Now let me get out of here cause the water is getting cold and I need to get ready." She giggled, stepping out of the water and burst out laughing when Zack squealed as the cold water hit him. "Oh you'll be fine, you probably need a cold shower anyway." She teased.

Once she was all dried off and had on her undergarments, Peyton grabbed a pair of destroyed skinny jeans and her favorite VU Zomby tee. She left her hair in its natural waves and put on just a little bit of foundation, mascara, and blush. She slipped on her red converse and grabbed a gray jacket to wear just in case it gets chilly. She went into the bedroom to find that Zack was still getting ready, so she decided to go into his office and strum around on one of the many guitars he has in there. Growing up with Brian and being so close to the Haner family meant Peyton had learned to play guitar at an early age. She too was left handed like Zack, but that didn't stop Brian Sr from teaching her. She was strumming absentmindedly, lost in her thoughts when Zack walked in the room. "Afterlife?" He chuckled. "Oh, was I playing it? I didn't even realize." She mumbled, placing the guitar back on its stand. "Talk to me, P." Zack said, sitting in the chair across from her. "I'm just anxious." She sighed, picking at her nails. "I just feel like I need to keep moving and keep busy or I'm going to break down. I don't want to break down." "Then we keep busy. Zoo trip today, maybe dinner and a movie tonight if you're up to it?" Zack suggested. "I hear there's a new Mark Wahlberg movie out." "Actually I wanted to see the Pirates one." Peyton said, looking up from her lap with a smile. "Okay. I can do pirates. Come on baby, let's get to Brian's. He wants us to ride together." "Can we drive?" Peyton asked, standing up out of her chair. "Bri's driving makes me a little carsick these days." "Baby, Brian's driving makes everyone carsick." Zack said with a laugh, following her out of the room.

Upon their arrival at Brian and Michelle's house, Brian met them in the driveway as they were walking toward the door. He didn't even acknowledge Zack, but walked straight up to Peyton and engulfed her in a hug. "Well fuck you too, Gates." Zack said with a laugh and went into the house, giving the pseudo-siblings a chance to talk. "Brian, I'm okay." Peyton mumbled into his chest, a fresh set of tears threatening to spill over. "If you're okay, then why do you sound like you're about to cry?" He questioned, pulling away from her to look into her eyes. "Do you need anything? What can I do to help?" "Well, you can stop treating me like I'm going to break." The much smaller woman suggested, "Because I'm telling you now I will break if you keep giving me these big brotherly hugs and caring eyes. I have to keep busy and keep my mind off of it. I don't want to have another breakdown." She said, voice wavering at the end. "I can't do that to Zack again." She whispered. "Okay, okay. I can do that. Well, I'll try my best, how about that?" Brian asked with a smile. "Come on, little sister, Michelle has been losing her mind with worry." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her into the house, where Michelle wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug and told her she was glad she's okay. Once Peyton had calmed back down a little it was time to go. "By the way, we're driving." Zack said to Brian, "Your driving makes my baby mama sick." He joked. "What? I don't fucking make her sick!" Brian said offended. "Actually, you do." Michelle spoke up. "The last time you drove when we went out she had to take some of her nausea medication before we ever left the restaurant." She laughed, Peyton just shrugged. "Sorry bro. Blame the tiny alien." She said, pointing to her growing belly. Brian huffed and rolled his eyes, but followed them out to Peyton's Jeep. They all climbed in and headed for the zoo, Peyton playing DJ and singing all her favorite songs the whole way there.

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