Still Here (Zak Bagans fanfic)

Chapter 5 - Date

Zak told me to pick wherever I wanted to go, after he took me home to change and shower considering I was just on an overnight investigation with them and spent the entirety of the next day doing research up until now. I walked into the apartment to Kyle sitting on the couch, not even acknowledging that I was home.

"Hey." I said as I sat my purse down on the counter.

"I'm moving out." Was what he responded to me with.

"What? Why?"

"You ruined the one thing that was my dream, and I don't know that I could ever forgive you for that."

"It's not like I could help what was happening, Kyle. You're really acting like a selfish child right now. You are the one that walked way from the investigation. You are the one that stormed off because Zak wasn't giving you the attention you oh so desired. How is any of that MY fault?"

"Because you had to just have those medium abilities didn't you? I finally got to meet them and had a chance to investigate with them, and then you stepped in with whatever mambo jambo you had going on and ruined every bit of it. I will be out tomorrow, my mom is coming to pick me up. I have already packed."

"Whatever you big baby. Have a nice life. Oh and by the way, Zak asked me on a date so if you decide to change your mind, don't bother texting me because I won't be answering."

I stormed to my bedroom, slamming the door and getting in the shower. I can't believe my best friend of over 10 years is just ditching out over something so stupid. I knew he was more mad that Zak was hitting on me instead of him, but for fucks sake Zak isn't gay! I quickly showered, put the curl cream in my long blonde hair so my natural curls would show, and picked out the cutest black and white sundress that went to my knees to wear to dinner. I put on minuscule makeup, only accenting my eyes and a little lip gloss before leaving my bathroom and heading back out the door.

"Try not to spread your legs too far. It would be a shame if you pulled a muscle in your pelvis." Kyle said angrily as I was about to leave the house.

"Don't be here when I get back. If you recall, your name isn't on the lease. I'll make sure to tell them you say hello." I retorted before leaving the house, slamming the door behind me.

As I walked outside, Zak pulled into the driveway in a truck instead of the van he was driving with the guys earlier in the day. I was trying to keep the tears from escaping my eyes as I made my way to his truck.

"Hey, everything okay?" He asked me as he got out of the truck and opened the passenger door for me.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." I said as I smiled at him and climbed into his truck.

Zak gave me a small smile back before getting in the truck on the drivers side.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He said to me, reaching across and gently grabbing my hand.

"Thank you." I responded, giving his hand a soft squeeze and smiling at him as he backed out of my driveway.

I chose for our date to be at Betsy's diner, once again just because it was my favorite place in town. They had the best milkshakes! After we both ate our dinner, and shared a chocolate milkshake, Zak paid for our bill and walked with me outside.

"Why don't we go for a walk on the pier? I mean if you want to." Zak said to me.

"Oh I love walking the pier. It's just a short walk through the park there to the pier if you just wanted to walk there instead of wasting gas to drive a couple blocks." I responded, shutting the passenger side door.

Zak stuck his arm out for me to grab, and we began walking through the park. It was a hot summer day, so with the sun setting and the breeze coming off of the lake, it felt quite amazing. The smell of the sand on the shore, the sound of waves crashing on land, and the peacefulness of the sun beginning to set over the water.

"So, where are you originally from? That accent doesn't belong here in this small Michigan town." Zak said with a chuckle.

"I'm originally from Kentucky. But, I moved here with my former best friend now to get away from my crazy ex." I confessed.

"Wait, former best friend? You two seemed pretty close yesterday."

"Well, we were. Until I, and quote, stole his spotlight. He is like in love with your show, and he felt that I ruined everything for him when it came out that I was actually a closet medium."

"But he is the one that walked away. We would have gladly still investigated with him. But he left."

I must have audibly laughed when I was trying to keep it to myself.

"See, that's not the only thing he wanted. He wanted you too." I said with a laugh.

"Wait, what?! I'm not gay! I thought by him watching our show that that would have been pretty clear. Plus, the only person in the world that has been able to catch my eye is you. Truth be told this is the first date I have actually been on in 6 years. Hope I am doing alright." Zak responded with a laugh.

"I think you are doing quite amazing. If I am being completely honest, this is my first date in about 3 years. I kind of have been avoiding men since my last disaster of a relationship."

"What happened? I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'm not trying to cross a line. I'm sorry, I'll shut up."

"No its fine. I will tell you. He was a complete ass. You would think that being in your 30's you would know better than to do the things he did to me. I was with him from senior of high school until 3 years ago, and out of those 9 years I think maybe one of them was actually happy. Scars litter my body from him, it didn't matter what I said or did when we were together it was wrong, and I was thoroughly punished for it. Most nights he would come home drunk and pin me to the wall by my throat if I told him I didn't want to get intimate with him, there was even one time he stuck a hanger in my back causing about a three inch scar directly on my spine. I have burn scars on my legs from him throwing boiling water on me in a fit of rage. Good thing is they are small and aren't noticeable unless I point them out. I finally had enough and got the courage to leave him, went to the womens shelter in my small town to get help, just for him to stalk me for several months. I was out with my sister shopping for groceries when he caught up with me and caused the biggest and scariest scar I have from him."

I lifted my long blonde hair revealing the scar covering from below my right ear all the way to the middle of my back. Tears began welling in my eyes at the thought of the ugly scar, and the horrid memories of him abusing me daily. I felt Zak's fingers softly trail on my neck to where the scar ended on the top of my sundress. I looked in his eyes, seeing nothing but sadness and pity for me for what I had been through.

"I don't want pity, and I sure as hell don't want people to feel sorry for me. Honestly, besides my family and Kyle, you are the only person I have ever told or shown my scars to." I said as I dropped my hair back down and he took his fingers from the scar to under my chin.

"I know you don't want pity, but I can't help but want to hurt the man that did this to you. You are such a beautiful soul, I don't understand why someone would want to do this to you. You deserve so much better." Zak said as his face inched closer to mine.

His hand brushed my hair out of the way, and he kissed where my scar began below my ear to my shoulder. I shivered when he did so, flinching out of habit when he slowly pulled away and softly kissed my lips. I melted into him, putting my hands on his chest as he pulled me as close to him as he could. We completely drowned out the noises and people around us until I heard a soft clicking of a camera. I pulled away and turned my head in the direction of where the noise came from. Nick and Aaron were standing there, huge grins on their faces with their phone held up as they took a picture of us.

"Zak finally found a girl." Aaron said as he put his phone in his pocket.

"One moment of peace, that's all I ask." Zak said with a sigh as he dropped his head, looking at the ground.

"I'm posting the picture."

"Don't you DARE." Zak and I yelled at the same time.

Aaron laughed and took of running towards the van, Zak hot on his heels chasing him.