Hello Brooklyn ► Zack Ryder

Chapter Eleven

I've moved the day this story is updated to Tuesday because it's easier for me, and that's when it usually gets updated anyway. xD

Enjoy! :D

***

Brooke woke up the next morning. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was the Divas Championship, and she smiled to herself. She noticed Nattie wasn't in the room anymore and checked the time.

12:20.

She sat up. She needed to get ready and leave to go to the next city. She had to be on Raw, and she didn't want to be late.

Brooke reached over and picked up her phone. One was from Nattie, letting her know she left. One was from Tyler, letting her know he'd meet her at the arena with Kyle. The last one was from Zack.

"Hey, can we talk before you leave? It's important."

"Yeah, sure. Is something wrong?"

He didn't answer her question and just told her to meet her in his room. She sighed and stood up.

She took a shower and got dressed. She made sure she packed everything before walking to Zack's room. She knocked on the door.

Zack answered it quickly. He looked tired, like he hadn't gotten much sleep. He also looked worried.

He stood there for a few seconds, staring at Brooke.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to let me in, or just keep staring at me?"

He shook his head. "Oh, yeah. Sorry." He moved out of the way, and she walked inside.

"Zack, is everything okay?" She asked. "You look like a complete mess -- no offense -- and you're all spaced out. What's wrong?"

"Did you talk to Jace?"

He asked it so suddenly and quickly, it took Brooke a minute to register what he said. When she did, the color drained from her face.

"Well, um..."

"Tell me the truth, Brooke," He said.

"How do you know?" She asked softly.

"John told me he saw a guy walk in the Divas locker room that looked pretty sketchy," He exclaimed. "He left a little before I showed up."

"Yeah..." Brooke said. "I talked to Jace."

Zack frowned and ran a hand through his hair. "Did he do anything?"

"He threw me on the ground," She admitted, and when Zack began to get angry, she added, "That was it, though! I honestly thought he would do worse."

"Brooke, no one should lay a hand on you, period," He said. "I don't care if he threw you on the ground or if he punched you in the face. It shouldn't have happened."

"I'm sorry..."

"No, don't apologize," He said, quickly. "You didn't do anything. I'm just angry."

"I'm just used to apologizing," She said, sighing. "I was with Jace for such a long time that I apologize for everything." Her phone vibrated and she looked at it. "I have to go downstairs. Kyle and Tyler are waiting for me."

"Wait," He said. She looked at him. "Can I drive you to the next city? I'd just feel safer knowing you weren't alone."

She smiled. "Yeah. Come on."

Zack and Brooke went to her room to get her things, then went downstairs, where Tyler and Kyle were waiting.

"Hey guys," Brooke greeted them. "Sorry I took so long. I had to talk with Zack."

Kyle smiled. "It's fine."

"We're taking Zack's car, so feel free to set up cameras and microphones," She said.

Kyle and Tyler walked outside, carrying their equipment with them.

"Why don't you turn in the keys, and I'll take the stuff to the car?" Zack offered.

"Are you sure?" She asked. "That's a lot of stuff."

"I'll be fine, I promise."

Brooke was about to protest, but remembered how she hurt her arm. "Okay, fine."

Zack smirked and handed her his key. He picked up the bags and walked away.

Brooke turned around and went to the front desk, turning in the keys. When she turned around, she saw messy black hair getting off the elevator. She quickly started walking to the door, but he noticed her and caught up. He grabbed her arm and she winced. He smirked.

"Where are you running off to?" He asked, not letting go of her arm.

"Leave me alone, Jace," She muttered.

He squeezed her arm, and she closed her eyes, tightly. "Are you sure you want to do this, Brooke?"

"Zack and I are leaving," She said. "But we're not leaving with you."

He let go of her arm and frowned. "Zack?"

"Yeah. Zack," She said. "And we're leaving. Goodbye, Jace."

She walked away before he could grab her arm again. She looked around the parking lot until she found Zack, who was just finishing putting the bags in the trunk.

"There you are!" He said, smirking. "I only have one bag left. Were you just trying to get out of helping me?"

She laughed nervously. "Yep! You caught me." She saw Jace walk out of the hotel, but she continued looking at Zack. "Get in the car."

"What?"

"Just get in the car," She said. "Now."

Zack frowned, but got in the driver's seat, while she got in the passenger seat.

"Jace is here," She said.

"Are you sure?"

"We talked in the lobby before I came out here," She said. "That's why I took so long. So yeah, I'm pretty damn sure."

Zack said nothing. He turned the car on a and pulled out of the parking lot. He didn't look back.

"So..." Brooke laughed nervously. "This is sort of a funny story. You remember that Jace guy I was talking about? Well, he found me. I don't want to go into too many details, but I really don't want to talk to him."

It was silent for a few minutes. Zack was gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles were white.

"I'm sorry," Brooke said, sighing.

"Don't apologize."

"But you're mad."

He glanced at her. "I'm not mad at you, though. Jace is the jerk who hits women."

"Me," She interjected. "He hits me. I don't think he hits other women."

"That's even worse," He said. "You're the nicest person I've ever met. How could he hit you?"

Brooke looked down at her hands in her lap. "I don't know. I guess I just did some things wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," He protested. "Jace just needed an excuse to hurt you. Quit blaming yourself."

Brooke sighed. "I'll try."

Zack reached over and took her hand, intertwining their fingers. He kept their hands in her lap. Neither of them said anything.