American Pyramid

A New Worry

Victoria

I sat looking at my phone with a frown on my face, the negative comment sticking out at me like a sore thumb. I knew that one way or the other, someone would have a negative thought, and a lot of it was about mine and Zak's relationship. 

Zak always told me to ignore any hateful comments, but that was easier said than done. I let it get to me - let it get under my skin, and I didn't know how he dealt with it. I was still laying in bed, listening to Zak in the bathroom after he had just gotten out of the shower while Gracie was laying on her bed on the floor. 

"Are you still hung up on that one comment?" He asked, running a towel through his wet hair and a towel still wrapped around himself. 

"No..." 

He arched his brows at me, "So what's up with that frown on your face and your phone in your hand?" 

"Nothing..." 

He smirked before he used his knee to brace himself against the foot of the bed before he hovered over me, resting his body between my knees while his head rested on my stomach, his hands traveling up the sides of my body, his free hand slowly taking my phone from my hand and setting it on the bed face-down, "Stop getting so down about what someone else is saying. They don't know you." 

"And that's what makes this so hard." I sighed. 

"I know, and the best thing you can do about it is just ignore it. It's easier said than done." 

"What do you do to ignore what people say? I mean, I've seen people on Twitter call you Douche Bagans and say the show is fake. How do you deal with that?" 

He chucked, "My personal favorite is when they say my name is Zak Bagels. But seriously, I was prepared for it the second our show aired for season one. I just take it with a grain of salt. I won't lie and say some of it doesn't bother me, but sometimes it does." 

"How do you let it not get to you?" 

"I just ignore it. They don't know me, and that person who made that comment doesn't know you. Clearly, it's a person who has nothing better to do with their time." 

"I guess you're right, but a part of me wishes I was still a nobody." 

"Why?" 

"Because I don't know how to feel about people recognizing me every time I go out. People knowing my name and what state I live in. It's just all so new to me and it makes me anxious. She kept asking me about if I had any "stalker fans," and kept implying that it would happen with time, and I can't help but get nervous about that." 

"I can assure you, nothing is going to happen to you as long as I draw breath. You have nothing to worry about." 

"But what about when I have to go out of town without you?" 

"I know you have a gun, sweetie," He chuckled. "You told me that yourself when we first started talking again. I'm worried about someone getting on your bad side." 

"You know what I mean." 

"I do. I listened to it live while you were there, and I didn't like how she kept asking questions that I knew were making you uncomfortable." 

"I tried to change the subject I don't know how many times. She seemed really pushy about wanting to pry into our relationship." 

"You did good by shutting it down by not telling her what her and the public already know. I wouldn't do any more interviews like that unless you're comfortable."

"I had already gotten two emails from other podcast hosts asking to have me on their show, but I didn't reply. I want to take a break from the public eye as much as I can. I want to enjoy some privacy I have left." 

"Understandable." 

"What do you want to get up to today?" 

"Well, we need to pack for Oklahoma..." 

"When are we leaving for Oklahoma?" 

"Monday. Sweetie, do you not remember being the one who booked the RV and hotel for us? Sam was going to stay here and watch the horses?" 

"Oh, right. I did do that." 

"You're having a hard time remembering lately... Have you been having headaches?" 

"No." 

"Are you sure? Your memory was getting better a couple of months ago." 

"I know. I-I'm sorry, Zak. I don't know what's going on with my brain." 

"No need to apologize to me. You know I worry about you when you start showing signs of your memory loss. I just want you to be back to normal." 

I giggled, "I was never normal." 

"You're beyond that, sweetie. Extraordinary." 

"If you say so." 

He chuckled, "I do say so. Just promise me that you'll tell me when you're starting to worry about your memory?" 

"I will."