Broken (A Zach Bryan Fan Fiction)

Chapter 9

Moving to Oklahoma was the best thing that ever happened to me, I felt as though my life was finally getting back on track. The months have flown by since moving here, and it's finally fall, my favourite time of year. I still struggle daily with anxiety and depression, the nightmares however come less and less. 

My job at the diner has been going well and Grace and I's relationship has flourished, she's just like a mother to me. Hailey and I still get together from time to time, but she's been pretty busy preparing to take over her parents business.

Zach and I have grown closer than ever these past few months and his music career has started to blow up and he is currently working on a new album. He was planning on stopping by my place today to hang out as today was my day off. 

I couldn't help but feel guilty, Zach had been so honest and transparent about his whole life with me, and all I've done is live a lie to him. He has no idea why I'm here or what has happened to me, all he really knows is that my mom died when I was young and my father and I "drifted apart". My thoughts were interrupted as I heard a knock at my door.

I took a look through the peephole on the door and saw his messy blonde hair, a small smile creeping up on my face as I swung open the door.

"Brynn!" He exclaimed as he walked through the door.

He leaned in hugging me with one arm while holding his guitar in the other. I gave him a questioning look.

"I was wondering if I could show you some of the music I've been working on?" He asked sheepishly.

"Of course!" I exclaimed "I'd love to hear it"

He played bits and pieces of a few different songs he's been working on, none of which were quite complete yet.

"I-uh, I wrote this one for my mother" he said looking down at his guitar.

Well, the moon in New York tonight was beautiful
I wish you were around to see it too
I'm so happy I could cry, why'd you have to go and die like that?

It's a shame when people ain't around to see
The smiles that they nurture, the laughter they breed
These people don't know me, and I don't plan on showing what I've seen

...

So look up tonight
The moon, she's shining, and we'll be alright
'Cause she's still smiling
The city lights'll blow mama's mind
The more I search, the less I find
But I'm alright
'Cause she's here tonight

Oh, she's alright

A sob lodged itself in my throat and I gasped for air. Zach looked up from his guitar in a panic.

"B, are you okay?"

I shook my head as the tears began rolling down my cheeks, Zach set his guitar down and took a cautious step forward. He pulled me towards him and I buried my head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. He whispered sweet nothings in my ear as he stroked my hair until I calmed down.

"I'm sorry" he whispered

"Why?" I asked

"I didn't mean to make you cry"

"Zach, the song was beautiful" I started, "it just reminded me of my own mother, and how much I miss her"

He gave me a knowing look and replied saying "tell me about her"

I rambled on for what felt like hours, we talked all about my mom, how she quit her successful career to be a stay at home mom and take care of me, how she wanted to have more children but wasn't able. How she was my best friend, that she was there through everything, all the ups and downs. I talked about when she got sick and how hard that was on our family but the doctors had said the outcome looked promising. He was so wrong, within months my mother was in a downward spiral, but she never stopped smiling. She was the strongest person I knew.

We continued on chatting about everything and anything.

"Hey, do you want to order some pizza?" he asked

"Yeah, that sounds great, do you care if I go have a shower first?"

"Go for it, I'll order it"

I smiled and walked over to the bathroom and took a moment to collect myself. I took my time in the shower, washing the grease out of my hair. As I towel dried my hair I heard Zach answer the door, the pizza must be here. I stepped across the hallway and into my bedroom to throw on something more comfortable, a pair of leggings and one of the sweaters Zach had lent me a while back that was now a permanent staple in my wardrobe.

I heard my phone chime in the living room and called out for Zach to check it, as I have been waiting for a reply from Hailey.

"Brynn..." he said sounding concerned.

I poked my head out of my bedroom, "yes?" I asked.

"What the hell is this?" he asked sharply.

I was taken aback by his tone, I quickly exited the bedroom and walked over to him where he was holding my phone up. I reached out and grabbed the phone from him.

I'm out, and coming for you. I will find you.

- Dad

I instantly froze, it felt as though my blood ran cold.

"Brynn" he said again, snapping me out of the trance.

"Uhm, it's nothing" I stammered.

"You're shaking like a leaf, it's not nothing" he insisted.

"It's all good, must be a wrong number" I lied through my teeth, but he knew better

"What the hell, tell me the truth, it's from your father" he said raising his voice

I immediately flinched away and started to panic.

"I'm done playing games, why are you lying to me" he shouted, and with that he walked out my door and slammed it behind him.

I was left alone at the beginning of a full blown panic attack.

ZACH'S POV

I had just finished setting down the pizza when Brynn's phone chimed, she called out from the bedroom asking me to look at it.

I'm out, and coming for you. I will find you.

- Dad

What the hell? She had said they grew apart, this seems a little more extreme than that. 

"What the hell is this?" I snapped

She emerged from the bedroom and walked over to him where I was holding her phone up. She grabbed it from me and read the text and instantly started shaking like a leaf.

"Brynn" I said, trying to get her attention

"Uhm, it's nothing" she stammered.

"You're shaking like a leaf, it's not nothing" I insisted.

"It's all good, must be a wrong number" she was lying, I knew her better than that.

"What the hell, tell me the truth, it's from your father" I said raising his voice and instantly regretting it as she flinched and pulled away, but I couldn't control the anger that was boiling up in me.

"I'm done playing games, why are you lying to me" I shouted back at her.

I was so angry I couldn't just stand there I walked out of her apartment slamming the door behind me and headed home. Why the hell was she lying to me? I have been nothing but honest with her.

~whisperingspring