𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍 / alex standall ✓

𝟒𝟓. zach's truth

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍
45 / ZACH'S TRUTH
↳ season two, episode six: the smile at the end of the dock
act two / the polaroids

𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 at Zach, a salty stream of tears that matched her twin brother's running down her face as his examination continued. It was getting heavy for both siblings, and Zach looked like he wanted to run as far as his legs could possibly take him right now.

"Zach, isn't it true that Hannah also reached out to you to talk about her feelings?" Sonya asked Zach in a calm voice.

"Yes." Zach replied as he leaned forward to speak into the microphone.

"And did she write a note to you?" Sonya asked. "A note that was not anonymous?"

Zach exhaled, remembering the note he read just this morning. Nessa chewed on the inside of her lip, waiting to see where this conversation was going to go.

"Yes." Zach answered. "Yeah, she wrote me a letter explaining how sad she felt about everything. How she felt really alone a lot of the time."

"So you told no one at Liberty High that Hannah wrote you a note telling you how alone she felt?"

Zach tapped his fingers against the wooden table in front of him, his eyes diverting around to avoid the disapproving gaze from his mother.

"I didn't know how to." Zach admitted, and everyone in the room could tell how disappointed in himself he was.

"But isn't it true that you did reach out to her off campus?" Sonya asked, throwing Zach for a complete loop. He stuttered, trying to get words out. "The summer after sophomore year?"

Nessa fidgeted in her chair and Zach did the same. He looked over at her, panic in his eyes as he realized where the questions were about to go. Nessa gave him a subtle nod, encouraging him to tell the truth, if he could.

"The summer after the note, did you have contact with her?"

"Yes." Zach said through a stammer.

"And isn't it true that you saw her more than once that summer?" Sonya asked all knowingly. Zach stared off, thinking about his next answer. Nessa slumped down in her chair.

Zach was going to be grounded until 2030 when they got home, and so was Nessa. Zach for lying, and Nessa for knowing that he lied. It was not going to be a pretty night in the Dempsey household after this.

"Um, yeah, last summer was slow. Most people were out of town." Zach began.

Nessa pushed the door open to the Crestmont, Montgomery, Zach and Scott following behind her. Alex was out of town this week, as were most of her other friends, so she had to settle for Zach, Monty and Scott. Just like old times.

"Can I help you?" the boy at the counter asked.

"Hey, can I get a box of Mike and Ikes, a box of Hot Tamales, and a Diet Coke please?" Zach asked.