Save Rock and Roll ("Haunted" Sequel)

A New Start

-"See you guys later! I'll see you tomorrow, Diana!" Sadie smiled as she waved the cute couple good-bye.

-"Why did you say that?!" I asked as I desperately wanted to know why she made it known that I came across Zak again.

-"Lace, I'm sorry," Sadie frowned, "I was getting ahead of myself. I'm sorry."

-"It's okay, but please don't make a reference to that again, okay?" I said as I ran my fingers through my hair.

-"Okay. Let's get out of here. I'm dying to go back home!" Sadie laughed.

-"I'm with you on that. My stomach is about to explode and I'm not wearing the right pair of pants for eating like a pig." I laughed.

We soon paid and tipped for our meal before I drove Sadie home. It felt more than amazing to be back home in the city of lights, but I felt as if I were on a mission - a mission to find the man who took my innocence.

oOo

Rest. A word I have longed to hear for so long since being in Los Angeles.

I rested on my couch, proudly putting away a pint of chocolate ice cream while catching up on "Bridezillas." When I wanted to see a comedic show, this is the show I would watch.

My phone soon vibrated harshly on the coffee table, alarming me that I had a text from Diana,

"Hey, Billy wants to know if he could have your phone number."

I furrowed my brows as I read her text,

"Sure? Why does he want it? Plus, you could've just given it to him without my consent!"

I was more than curious now. In fact, I wanted to demand an answer as to why her husband requested my phone number!

"I know, but I wanted to do the right thing and ask first. He wants it because he mentioned you to Zak and he got excited that Billy and I ran into you at Javier's."

My eyes widened. They must've been talking about me or something. I knew this man, but why was I so nervous when it came to him?

"That's fine."

I tossed my phone to the side as it landed on the other end of the couch. My palms were sweating! I was probably over-estimating things, but whatever my mind decided to play it involved Zak.

My heart dropped once I heard my phone vibrate and ring that annoying 'Old Phone' ringtone. It hurt my ears and made my teeth cringe.

Unknown number.

-"Hello?" I whispered as I answered on the fourth ring.

-"Is this Lacy?" A man asked.

-"This is she. Who's calling?"

-"Seven days." He says as I paused, compiling my thoughts to have a reply at 'The Ring' reference."I'm just kidding! It's Billy!" He laughed. Typical Billy Tolley.

I sighed in relief, now knowing it wasn't Zak calling me, and knowing that it wasn't a serial killer either.

-"I'm not much of a texting guy, so I figured I would just call you and say what's up!" He laughed.

I laughed, "I know, Bill. Nothing much too exciting, just putting away a pint of ice cream and watching Bridezillas, you?" I said as I paused my favorite Netflix show.

-"Just chillin' at Zak's house. Have you two talked since you two got, you know, separated?" Billy asked.

My kidney had dropped to the arch of my foot, my heart stopped, a frog was now in my throat. I knew the story behind the word 'separated.' We were forced away from each other. He was my protection against Walton and Arnold. While I was in California, I had thought for the longest time that Zak had given up on me, but now I'm getting the feeling that he was just as alone as I was.

Zak.

Oh God.

-"Give me the phone!" Zak's voice sounded from a distance.

I lowered the phone from my ear and put it on speaker so my sweaty hands wouldn't drop the iPhone. My heart was beating faster than normal. What did this man want?

-"Hello?" His deep voice sounded through the phone.

I was nervous to reply, but it was either now or never to confront the man who walked away with my innocence, with given permission, of course.

-"Hello?" I replied as I curled my knees to my chest.

-"Lacy? It's Zak." He said.

-"Y-yes." I stuttered.

-"Sweetie, it's me," He said in his calmest voice, the calmest voice that I loved so much, the calmest voice that could tame my wild storms, the calmest voice that was so familiar to me, but yet so far away. "I know what you're thinking: we had a one night stand and I left before you woke up in hopes of never seeing you again. That's obviously not the case," Zak started with a tint of guilt in his voice, "I had to leave because my mom was sick and had to go to the hospital. I was upset that I had to leave too, but I couldn't leave my mom alone." He explained.

I wanted to believe him, but I didn't want to either.

-"Is your mom okay now?" I said, my voice coated with worry.

He chuckled, "She's okay. She had an allergic reaction and she didn't refill her prescription."

-"I'm glad she's okay." I half-smiled.

-"Me too. She's an old woman." Zak teased.

-"That's so mean! You always teased your mom!" I laughed, "So you didn't leave me on purpose?"

-"No! It looked so bad once I looked back on it! I should've left you my phone number or woke you up or something. I'm really sorry." He apologized.

-"It's okay.." I trailed off as I truly didn't know how to respond.

-"Can I see you? I want to make it up to you. Let me take you out to dinner?"

That sentence made both the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet sweat.

-"Maybe tomorrow. Me and my friend got back from a restaurant not too long ago." I said.

-"That's what Bill said. I'll have Billy send you my phone number and when he does, text or call me?" Zak suggested.

-"I don't know. I'm planning on going to bed soon." I lied.

-"That's fine, sweetie. As long as I can keep in touch with you."

In that moment, it was that I knew that he and I remembered what we had, what we were. What was best was to either meet up and decide to go our seperate ways, or to meet up and grow back together again, to fall in love with each other again like things used to be.

Butterflies entered my realm as I was excited for falling in love with the same man over again.