I Found You, Something Told Me To Stay - (Jason/Zacky) Version Two.

Chapter Forty-Nine.

Well, hey, guys! This chapter has been a long time coming, huh? I'm so sorry about that. I didn't plan to neglect my writing the way I did. I gave a brief explanation on my profile, in case anyone didn't see it...but I'm back now, anyway! And I'm very glad about that!

I hope people are still interested in this story. I'm so excited to get back into it...with so many fresh ideas and stuff! I'm sorry if my writing is a little rusty at first, but it'll get better!

If you're still reading this, thank you so, so much<3

Please vote and comment – I love to know what you think, it really does help me!

Enjoy!<3

***

I had to admit it. We were one of those couples.

I tried not to feel lost when he wasn't in my presence. I tried to remind myself that I had actually had a life before my relationship with Zachary Baker. But in the most sickeningly, cringeworthy, amazing way possible, I had become entirely consumed in the three weeks that our relationship had been official. Amongst working the shifts of my job – that Marie had so kindly secured for me – and the incredible honeymoon period that Zacky and I were still in, the past twenty-one days had been my happiest that I'd spent in Huntington Beach so far.

It was to the delight of many people that Avenged were back in the studio again, and the writing of their new album had officially begun, and all was well and busy. But although I joined their excitement and enthusiasm greatly, I couldn't deny the emptiness I felt from being completely alone for the first time in three whole weeks.

It's just because you're used to having him around – I kept the thought going in my head and grimaced at my pathetic self, slumping down onto his couch with a book and about every form of entertainment I could find to keep me busy until he was done for the day. I spent hours upon hours, shifting and fidgeting, trying not to look at the clock but glancing anyway, flicking indifferently through the television channels and deciding nothing took my interest. I couldn't get into my book, and absolutely nothing else seemed even remotely interesting to me. I checked the blank screen of my phone – bare of notifications, I begrudgingly accepted – once more, and laid my head back in a forced attempted to lull myself into a nap.

Without me even noticing, it actually worked.

I was jolted awake by a loud bang that had me, for a second, questioning whether or not I had dreamt it. I shot up from the awkward position my body was crumpled in and threw my gaze towards the window – daylight was gone, and black was pouring in.

The slight shuffling in the hallway filled me with a relief that instantly took the place of the emptiness that had been nagging at me during the afternoon. I patted down my hair and straightened myself out, plastering an easy smile on my face as I waited to finally have Zacky to myself again. It was, however, the urgency with which he strode into the living room that had that smile dropping just as quickly.

"What's wrong?" I immediately asked, standing up so quickly my head spun. My book dropped to the floor with a clutter, and I stepped over it clumsily to get to him. "Are you okay?"

His first response was to sigh deeply and shake his head – a reaction that granted me no explanation and little reassurance. The sight of a negative expression on his face was something I felt I hadn't seen in ages – certainly not in the last few weeks, anyway. The sight of it alone had my stomach knotting with worry.