A Shot In The Dark

**Shiloh’s POV**
When the guys’ show finished, Val and I made our way back to the dressing room. Even before we reached the door, we heard the guys bullshitting around laughing loudly. I couldn’t help but chuckle and knocked on the door.

“Don’t come in! We’re naked!” I heard Jimmy shrill out.

It was then that the door opened to reveal all of them fully clothed, “Naked huh, Jimmy?” Val laughed and ushered me into the room of men. It didn’t take more than 30 seconds for them all to come up to hug me. Well, almost all of them, Brian and Zacky stood off in the distance.

I looked at them awkwardly, Brian was the first to approach. He came up and handed me a bottle of water, “Shiloh…can we talk?” I flashed Val a worried look and she nodded reassuringly as she cuddled into a sweaty Matt’s side.

“Yeah,” I nodded and he offered his arm, leading me out to the hallway deserted except for security. “What’s up?”

“I owe you an apology,” he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to force himself to meet my eyes. “Last time we spoke, I was out of line. Majorly out of line,” he amended his statement.

“You didn’t know anything other than what you were told Brian, it’s okay,” I tried to shrug it off.

“It’s not okay, and I’m really sorry that I treated you like shit. You’re a great girl and shit that happened in high school shouldn’t follow you the rest of your life. Especially when someone doesn’t have the whole truth,” Brian apologized sincerely, his eyes almost pleading with me to forgive him.

I nodded and pulled him into a hug, which he returned, “I forgive you Brian. I’m sorry too.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for Doll,” he pulled away slightly. “Just so you know, I’m no longer with Michelle. She won’t give you any trouble.”

I looked at him concerned, “I’m sorry your relationship ended. Do you need to talk?”

He shook his head, “Not right now.”

“Let me know if you do, okay?” I asked and he nodded. I hugged him again and when he hugged me back I looked up at him, “We should get back. I need to talk to Zacky.”

He nodded without prying and offered me his arm, which I took before he escorted me back into the room. “Everything good?” Matt asked curiously.

I nodded, “Groovy.”

“Who says groovy anymore?” Johnny teased me and I flipped him off.

Everyone chuckled and Zacky punched Johnny’s shoulder, “Leave her alone.”

I smiled shyly and looked up at Zacky, my arm subtly going over my stomach, “Zacky can we talk?”

He nodded and came closer, “I think we should, let’s go to the bus, yeah?” I nodded and took his arm nervously. “Guys, give us some privacy, like…30 mins?”

Matt nodded, “Fine, but then we gotta talk about the kiss.” I laughed softly and shook my head knowing that was gonna come up at some point.

“Oh Matty, it was nothing,” Val kissed his cheek and all the guys said something like “uh huh”.

Zack and I walked out to the bus, luckily not many fans were around and there were semi’s somewhat blocking their view. Once safely on the bus, we sat on the couches across from each other. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, obviously anxious. I tried to relax, sitting back a little; my arms crossed over my stomach as naturally as I could make it seem. “Do you want a beer?” Zacky asked me obviously restless and nervous.

I shook my head, “No, but I’ll take a bottle of water.”

He raised his eyebrow but shrugged, “Alright.” He grabbed a beer for himself and a bottle of water for me. He handed me the water bottle and uncapped his beer. “So…what brings you around?” He asked before he took a drink.

“Zack…I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just gonna spit it out,” I said nervously and softly.

He looked at me and sat the bottle down at his feet, “Alright?”

I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes as though this would detour the conversation or counteract the emotional blow that was sure to happen. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered before opening my eyes.

Zacky sat there, frozen for a moment, “Wh-what?” he croaked out.

“I’m pregnant,” I said a little louder as I watched him digest this.

“Are you sure?” He asked calmly, not the reaction I was looking for. I didn’t expect him to jump up and down, but I did expect a little more emotion.

I nodded, “I’ve taken two tests. Val, I’m pretty sure, is gonna make me see someone in Lincoln to confirm it.”

He nodded and sat there in silence for a few moments. The door opened and there was a loud commotion as the guys entered the bus. “Guys I said 30 minutes,” Zacky snapped at them.

“It’s been 30 minutes Z…” Val told him, knowing that he wasn’t himself.

He nodded and silently went to the back of the bus. I looked down at the floor guiltily and felt my hormones flare up. Tears sprang to my eyes and I felt vulnerable and exposed. Val immediately sat next to me and hugged me, “Shh…he just needs to process babe.”

The guys looked torn between Zack and me, “I got her,” Val reassured them. “Go check on Zack.” They all nodded silently and followed Zack back to the bunks.

“I…he hates me,” I whispered out, sobbing into Val’s shoulder.

“No he doesn’t baby, he’s just processing. Everything will be okay sweetheart,” she held me tighter.

“I don’t know,” I whispered and just allowed Val to hold me. Fuck I hate crying.

**Zacky’s POV**
I sat on my bunk, my head in my hands. I can’t believe she’s pregnant. I heard the guys come to the back and I laid down, closing my curtain. Why the fuck can’t I have a moment to process. I growled silently.

There was a knock on my bunk, “Zack?” Matt asked and I heard a creak of the mattress across from me.

“What?” I sighed loudly and rubbed my eyes.

“Come on dude, open up,” Brian coaxed me, “We’re not going anywhere until you talk to us.”

I growled and knew he was right. I opened the curtain and sat up to find 4 men staring at me. Jimmy and Matt sat across the way, Johnny and Brian leaning against the bunk walls. “So, tell us what happened Zee,” Jimmy requested, oddly calm.

I put my head in my hands, my elbow on my knees. “She’s pregnant,” I said softly.

It was silent for a moment and then chatter started up. “Really? How far along? What’d you say when she told you? Are you excited?” They all spouted out almost simultaneously.

I looked at them incredulously, “Guys.”

“What?” Brian asked calmly.

“This isn’t a good thing,” I said irritated with myself for thinking that.

“What do you mean it’s not a good thing? All angels are gifts from above and are to be cherished,” Jimmy spouted off. There’s the Jimmy we know and love.

“Jimmy’s right Zack, babies are a gift,” Matt concurred.

“What’s got you hung up on this?” Johnny asked and sat next to me.

Brian mimicked his actions and sat on my other side as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, “Talk to us Zack.”

“It was one night,” I stated as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“All it takes is one time bud,” Matt reasoned with me.

“Especially if there wasn’t any protection used,” Johnny commented. “Did you wear a condom?”

“I don’t remember,” I told them honestly. Fuck I’m losing my mind.

“Has she been to a doctor?” Jimmy asked thoughtfully.

I shook my head, “She said that Val was gonna make her go see someone in Lincoln.”

They all nodded, “That’s a good idea. It may be a false positive.” Johnny offered.

“Yeah, I mean doesn’t that happen a lot?” Brian asked everyone for reassurance and everyone shrugged.

“The commercials say 99% correct,” Jimmy countered and Matt shushed him.

“Great,” I sighed and it was then that I realized that I was getting emotional. My eyes were tearing up and I quickly wiped them away before anyone could notice.

“Would it be the worst thing in the world if she was pregnant?” Brian asked cautiously, squeezing my shoulder.

“I mean, you guys get along famously, or…did,” Johnny gave me an apologetic look.

“She’s a sweetheart and can hold her own,” Jimmy offered his opinion.

“And, it’s not like she’s some groupie,” Johnny pointed out. They all had good points but I still wasn’t sure.

“Guys, Gates opened up earlier, now it’s my turn,” I decided I had to explain fully why everything was hitting me wrong.

They all sat there quietly looking at me with curiosity, “Okay…”

I took a deep breath in then told them, “Gena and I were just starting to work things out.”

Johnny groaned, “Zee, you guys aren’t good for each other. It’s like a tornado meeting a volcano with you two.”

“Did you just quote Eminem?” Brian asked him shocked.

“Yeah, so what? Point is she’s toxic Zack,” Johnny snapped at Gates.

“As much as I wish I could disagree with Johnny, Zack…” Matt started then rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you remember when we were on warped tour and Black Veil Brides were there?”

“Get to the point Shads,” I snapped at him.

“I’m just saying, she was quick to try and get with Andy. Only reason he turned her down was because he knew she was your girl,” Matt recapped the story.

“Zack, you need to let Gena go,” Brian told me calmly. No judgement in his tone unlike the others.

“So do I just ignore her? I mean we’ve already signed the papers, we just…I just missed her. I knew she was accepted, or thought she was accepted by you guys,” I shrugged.

“Zachary, are you aware that there’s a girl who still loves you sitting out in the front of our bus, crying her eyes out because she thinks that you hate her?” Jimmy asked me, realizing that I didn’t know that.

“She’s crying?” I asked and stood up.

“She thinks you hate her,” Jimmy reiterated, “I heard her tell Val that when we came back here to find you.”

Fuck, I didn’t even think about how she felt. I’m such a shitty guy. I thought to myself and started making my way out to her. The guys followed me, and I found her cuddled up with Val, her sobs somewhat stopped but her breathing was labored. The hiccupping sob that someone gets when they’re super upset.

I knelt down in front of her, “Shi?” I said softly, my hands going onto her knees. The guys standing there with sympathetic looks and Val giving me a questioning look.

Shiloh looked at me, her eyes blood shot from crying and she whispered, “I’m sorry Zacky.”

Notes

What will they find out next? Will they get together? Will more drama keep them apart?

Stay tuned.