Hello Brooklyn ► Zack Ryder

Chapter Seventeen

"I'm heading back to Detroit today, to finalize everything with the restraining order," Brooke said. "Zack wanted to come, but I told him that he should just head on to the next city, and that I'll meet him there."

The crisp Detroit air blew Brooke's hair back as she shoved her hands into her coat pockets. She had found a parking spot about a block away from Vanessa's office, choosing to walk the short distance.

When she opened the door, the receptionist's head looked away from the computer and at Brooke. She smiled.

"Brooke Freeman?" She asked. The Diva nodded. "I'll let Vanessa know you're here. You can have a seat."

As the receptionist picked up the phone and spoke to Vanessa, Brooke took a seat. She pulled out her phone and saw she had a text from Zack.

Let me know how everything goes! :)

"Miss Freeman?" Brooke looked at the receptionist. "Vanessa will see you now."

She led Brooke down the hall, to Vanessa Perry's office. The door was closed, so she knocked and opened it.

"Miss Freeman is here," The receptionist said, poking her head in. She moved out of the way, opening the door wider and letting Brooke inside.

One of the seats was taken by a man in a suit, Jace's lawyer. Brooke didn't really remember his name, and she honestly didn't want to. Although Vanessa was now looking at Brooke and no longer him, he continued speaking.

"Come in, Brooke," She said, giving her a smile. That made him stop talking. He watched as Brooke walked into the room, taking the empty seat next to him.

***

"So, everything's okay?"

Brooke laughed, softly, moving her phone from one ear to the other. "Everything's fine, Zack. I promise. I've been through all of this before. We have to go to court and testify, and then the judge decides whether or not to give me the restraining order."

"Well... Can I be there?" Zack asked. "I wasn't there last time, and I want to be there for moral support."

"I barely knew you last time I did this," She pointed out. "But I'd love it if you were there this time."

"I know I should be stressing out or something, but I honestly feel fine," Brooke confessed. "I've done this before, and this time, Zack is with me. But, besides having to get a restraining order, life is actually pretty good."

"We can talk about it when you get here," He said.

"Sounds good," Brooke said.

"I – " Zack started to say, but stopped. Brooke frowned, confused. He eventually said, "I'll see you later, Brooke."

"Um...yeah," She responded. "See you later, Zack."

He sounded a little weird near the end of their phone call, but Brooke decided that if Zack had a problem or needed to tell her something, he'd say it eventually.

***

By the time Brooke reached Columbus, Ohio, where they'd be filming a house show that night and Raw the following Monday, she didn't have time to go to the hotel, so she headed straight to the arena.

She and AJ had a match that night, and since she was running a little late, she only had time to put on her gear and talk to her for a few minutes before their match. Once she parked her car, she texted Zack, letting him know she was there.

After putting on her gear, she went to Gorilla, where AJ was waiting. She smiled when she saw the champion, and they went over a few things for their match.