Hostages (Book 2)

Chapter 7

"Stop lying to yourself" Brandon turned back around"you don't want her to go home."

"I actually do...just don't drive fast."

"How are you alive?"

Brandon's and Zachary's head snapped to the now audibly speaking Aria who how confusion and sadness swirling in her eyes.

"There. You didn't do anything. She's just in shock cause a dead person paid for her snacks."

Zachary clenched his teeth. "Drive."

"Take the long way,got it."

The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot and onto one of the many streets. Zachary and Aria locked stares for a while before Zachary tried to reach for Aria's but she pulled away and pushed further away to create distance between them. Zachary sighed and was ready to tell her everything.

"Who told you I died?"

"Naomi."

And that was the answer Zachary knew was coming. He knew that Naomi would go through anything to make sure Aria forgot about him. And this made Zachary hate her even more.

"Naomi told you that and she failed to also say that I was supposed to be going to the local prison but since I had alot of enemies and history in Philadelphia she told them to put me there. Naomi knew that if I was forced to stay in Philadelphia for a long period of time that I would eventually be killed for everything that I done. I--"

Aria shook her head. "Naomi would never do that. S-she told me what happened and she saw what effect it had on me. I cried my eyes out for hours a day...she knew what you meant to me. She wouldn't make up such a big lie and watch me get hurt by it." Her eyes were glossy and Zach took notic of it.

So he spoke more soft. "I know but I'm here your not seeing things..and she told you I died."

Aria switched gazes between his eyes trying to find out if he was really even here. With all the meds they have her on it could be possible. I mean why would a hot guy like Zachary come back to this particular town,after almost being a victim in a murder. Just to tell her that her sister lied to her,she thought.

But she was also thinking that what he's saying could be true. She remembered clear as day what Nia, Theodore and Timothy felt about her feelings towards him. They hated it,they were ready to do anything to separate them from each other which is what they did,they kept them apart for three years and intended more.

Water built up on her waterline as she asked,"Why are you here?"

Zachary was studying her body language the entire time and was confused and surprised by her question. She looked like something was troubling her. "It's okay,Ari. You can do freely around me."

"She tried to kill you,s-she thought you were dead. You could of disappeared once you were released,started a new life and left all your enemies and tie ups behind. Why did you come back?"

Zachary pondered biting the inside of his cheek before he said,"The last time we saw each other ,did I ever say goodbye?" Aria shook her head "I don't know if you still believe what I told you but I care about you. More than any man should ever care about woman. People would consider me physco with how much I care about you."

"And Yeah your right. I could of went to San Francisco and got into the boat business,could of became a millionaire in two years tops. But I couldn't,wouldn't start a life without you being on my mind 24/7. And I would never leave you."

"But you did." Aria whispered as the tears fell.

"I would never leave you without saying goodbye."

"We're here." Brandon's voice silced through.

It killed Zachary to see Aria crying so he looked down at the chair space between him and her. "I read what the doctors and therapists have said about you. What they diagnosed you with,"a sob left Aria's lips making Zach shut his eyes "Whatever they tell you. You're not sick. You're not ill,you're just broken."

He dared to open his eyes and look up to her face and his heart ripped to see her cheeks rosy and her entire face wet of tears. "And I promise that I will fix you. I will help you until those tears become full of joy and I see the vibrance in your eyes."

It only took Aria a second to throw herself into him and cry harder into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her small waist and rested his face in her hair. Aria shook of relief,sadness and above all anger. The relief came from finally being able to see him again and feeling his embrace,the anger which I think you guessed came from her sister betraying her for her own selfish reasons and the sadness of what became of her because of what Naomi told her. She let her actions and words slip her into an impossible recovery state of depression.

She moved her head to his shoulder and smothered her face in his neck. Zachary ran his fingers through her haur while he felt sad at seeing his Aria this hurt,this broken. He felt angry knowing that Naomi caused this with her twisted plan of trying to cry him out of Aria and he felt happy.

Amazingly happy even,always dreamt of being able to hold her after everything that happen. That was pulled him through and to be on his best behavior so he never got more time. When Aria got the bags and left Zachary and Brandon stayed parked to watch her get inside safely.

"I don't mean to be a dream crusher or anything like that but she's been like this for a very long time with the help of professionals,who say that the old her is gone. How are you gonna fix her?"

Zachary sat back in the seat Aria was in and leaned in the window,looking out. "You've been watching her for years and if you were paying attention when she was in here you would of noticed that she's in fact still there just buried. Look at her,wearing a sweatshirt,jeans and boots. The sweatshirt is a sign of depression but the jeans and shoes is proof that she's not completely gone. Someone really important,close to her mentally is the only one who's able to pull her out."

"And you think that's you?"

"Well I guess we'll find out but I know one thing. She's been like that with a therapist and her family helping her yet she still is hurt. Naomi,Timothy nor Theodore isn't as close to her as a family relative should be."

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Till the next episode!?

Sorry I updated late,I was watching the teen choice awards and that took two hours of my time.

ENJOY!?