Hello Brooklyn ► Zack Ryder

Chapter Twenty

Brooke stood outside the courtroom doors, Zack standing next to her. She took a deep breath.

"It's going to be okay," Zack assured her, reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

She just nodded. "Yeah...Yeah, you're right."

Not wanting to think about it anymore, she pushed the doors open, and they walked into the building.

"Today, Zack and I are going to my hearing concerning my restraining order against Jace," Brooke explained. "If everything goes well, I shouldn't have to see Jace ever again. I can finally live in peace."

Now that they were actually inside the building, Brooke stopped again.  She stared for a few more seconds, and as she was about to walk again, the doors behind her opened.

"Hey there, Brooke."

She didn't move, and Zack was squeezing her hand again.  She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.

"I don't want to talk to you, Jace."

She heard his footsteps, but Zack let go of her hand and turned around.  Brooke opened her eyes, and saw the scene before her.  Zack was staring down Jace, who wasn't as close as she'd expected, probably not wanting to be too close to Zack.

Suddenly, she started talking, surprising not just the guys, but herself.

"Jace, I have let you control my life for too long." When he raised an eyebrow and smirked, she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue.  But Zack gave her a reassuring look, so she did. "We dated for two years, and even after we broke up, I let my fear of you control me.  I never wanted to do anything; I was afraid you'd  be wherever I went.  Even when I got the restraining order, I wasn't sure you'd actually stay away from me.  You were never one for obeying the law.

"But now, I have Zack, and I'm working on making myself the person I was before you came into my life, destroying everything.  You ruined my life.  People always say to forgive and forget, but I can't and I won't.  I'm letting you go, Jace.  I've given you enough of my time.  I'm not letting you control me anymore.  I hope the next girl realizes how much of an asshole you are before it's too late."

Jace looked surprised, and it was quiet for a little while.  When it looked like he was finally going to speak up, Zack beat him to it.

He looked at Brooke. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Brooke and Zack turned around and walked into the courtroom, leaving Jace to think about what she'd just said.

***

"See? Everything went fine."

Brooke and Zack exited the courtroom, preparing to leave. After they stopped at the hotel to get their things and change into something more comfortable, they were going to head to the next city.

Brooke's restraining order was renewed, this time for much longer, and the judge even added a couple of hundred yards, ensuring Jace was never near her.

"Yeah." She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just always nervous about this sort of thing. I'm always afraid they won't rule in my favor."

"Well, they did," Zack said. "So you should be celebrating."

She laughed. "I guess so. Honestly, though, I just want to go to sleep."

"I got up at 7 in the morning for this hearing," Brooke said. "I am not a morning person. Waking up early, combined with the effect the hearing has had on me, has me exhausted."