Unconditionally

Zack looked at himself in the mirror one last time, before heading to get his shoes on. He looked at his watch before putting it on. He was running late. He had apparently spent more time than normal getting ready. He grabbed his phone, texting Brian.

“I’ll be there in a bit, I’m running a little late.” -Z

It wasn’t long before his phone vibrated again.

“She isn’t here either. Maybe she bailed.” - B

Zack sighed secretly hoping that she would show up. He had been thinking about it since yesterday when Brian told him that she was going to be there.

“Nah. I doubt it. Maybe she’s running late too. I’ll see you soon.” -Z

He shoved his phone back into his pocket before putting on his shoes and heading downstairs. He grabbed his keys from the hook by the door and his jacket off the coat rack before locking up and heading toward the car.

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Zack looked around the bar as he entered, but didn’t have time to find anyone before Brian was in his face.

“Dude, we gotta go?” Zack looked at him with a confused look.

“What?.. I just got here.” Brian nodded.

“I know but, Charlotte had a flat on her way here and she needs help.” Brian stated pulling Zack back toward the entrance.

“Who is Charlotte?” he asked before it hit him. That must have been her name.

“The girl.” Brian stated.

Zack nodded. “Oh.” he said, rubbing the back of his neck again. He had a pattern of doing this. Usually when he was nervous or about to do or say something he wasn’t sure about.

“We can take my car.” Brian said.

Zack moved in the direction of the car. He wasn’t sure about this. He wasn’t sure about anything. There was a knot in the pit of his stomach. The thought of meeting someone new made him nervous.

“You can just go.” Zack said, turning back toward the bar. “I’ll be alright here.”

Brian moved toward him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You have to come with me.” Brian argued. “You can be her knight.”

Zack laughed hysterically. ‘Her knight?’ He quoted, in a mocking tone, still laughing.

“Come on, man. You can go save her night.” Brian looked at him with a frown. “Please?”

Zack looked at him trying hard not to laugh. “You want me to go out there and change her tire and save her night?” he asked. “Then what?”

“Then you come back here and have some drinks and take her home.”

Zack shook his head. “You’re fucking ridiculous.” he spat. “Get in the car.”
Zack made his way back around to the passenger side of the car, getting in, as Brian got in on the other side.

“You’ll thank me for this, Zee.” Brian stated.

Zack scoffed. “I wouldn’t count on it.” he said. “Nothing is going to happen.”

Brian looked over at him as he pulled out of the parking lot. “You can’t just spend the rest of your life afraid that someone else is going to do you how Gena did you.”

Zack knew that Brian was telling the truth, but he couldn’t let his wall down. Not yet, if ever. “I know I can’t, but that doesn’t change the fact that I probably won’t.” Zack admitted. “I’m just.. I can’t handle that again.”

Brian looked over at his friend as he drove. “I know how you felt about Gena. I know that you loved her and that you loved her for a very long time, but I also knew how she was from the beginning. I honestly don’t see how you were so surprised when she did what she did.” he confessed.

Zack nodded. “You’re right.” he agreed, looking at Brian.

Brian sighed, gripping the steering wheel. “I just want to see you happy again is all. If things don’t work out with you and Charlotte then alright. I just want you to try.”

Zack shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into this.”

Brian smiled, knowing that he had won. That was when the pair of headlights, on the side of the road, appeared up ahead. “That must be her.” he said, pulling the car to the side.

The headlights shined on her as they pulled over. That’s when Zack got a good look at her. She was pale with red hair that was way down her back. Not like the normal ginger red hair, but burgundy red. She stood about five and a half feet, and if his eyes weren’t lying to him, she had curves in all the right places. Zack pursed his lips, getting out of the car after Brian, making his way over to her.

“Zack, this is Charlotte.” Brian introduced the two of them.

Charlotte smiled widely at Zack. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” she said.

Zack only wondered what the dick had told her about him. He could only imagine. He changed the subject quickly. “So, you need us to change your tire?” he asked.

Charlotte nodded. “Yeah. Just my luck to be stuck out here in the middle of freaking nowhere with a flat and no way to fix it.” she said pulling her jacket around her.

Brian noticed, piping up. “If you’ll let me get my things out of the car I need for this then you and Zee can head back in my car and I can fix yours up and head back after.”

Zack glared at Brian. He knew what he was trying to do, but Zack, being the person that he was, put on a smile and offered. “Yeah, that would be fine.”

Charlotte smiled wide. “Are you sure? That wouldn’t be a problem?”

Brian shook his head. “Not at all. Besides, it’s too chilly out here for you to be standing around.”

Zack chuckled. It’s Huntington Beach. August. It’s probably seventy-five degrees. He thought to himself. This was all part of his plan.

Charlotte gave Brian her keys, and he got everything he needed to change the tire with, before sending them on their way back to Johnny’s.

Notes

This is kind of a dull and short chapter, but there's more to come. I may or may not post another by the end of the night. I'm trying to stay a few chapters ahead so I don't quit this one. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks to all my viewers and the ones that voted and commented.