The Party Girl // Zane Hijazi

Chapter 14: Max

"You've never been here?" Heath asked, putting his hand on my shoulder from the backseat. "No, you guys talk it up so much I'm excited to have it," I said, looking at Zane. He looked completely irritated. I smiled looking down at my phone. I texted Brad back but he must still be sleeping. "Where's Toddy? I didn't see him this morning," Heath asked Scotty. "He must be at his parents," Scotty said. In the heat of the moment that night I didn't even think about Toddy, but thinking about him now makes my palms sweaty. 

We pulled into a parking lot, and Zane parked. Scotty, and Heath piled out of the back of his car, and Zane and I stayed in. "I'm sorry they tagged along they're so-" 

"Hey, don't apologize," I said putting my hand on his cheek. "You're friends are nice,"

 He smiled, pecking me on the lips. "Come on lovebirds, we aint got all day," Heath yelled. We got out. The cool fall air hit my bare legs, and I snuggled up to Zane's bicep, and made mittens in the sweatshirt he gave me. We followed Scotty and Heath inside the small, family owned donut shop called "K's Donut Emporium". 

We walked in and the guys were immediately greeted by the employees. "Hey!" Zane said with a huge smile. He started to converse with the woman behind the counter. 

"What's good here?" I asked Heath. "Ah- well. The donuts are really good. I love the pink one with the sprinkles. Right- there," he said pointing. "And their sandwiches are really good. But you have to get an iced coffee," he said smiling. He had freckles splattered along his nose, and big goofy eyes. "Alright," I assured. "What do you guys want?" Zane asked.

"I'll get the pink donut, and an iced coffee," I said smiling at Heath. He winked, and snickered. After everyone ordered, Zane insisted on paying, and the woman handed me my donut and coffee. We walked outside. "Wait," Heath said stopping everyone in the parking lot. 

"Take your first bite," he said to me. I looked at the donut and took a huge chunk out of the side. "Holy shit!" I said, my mouth full of donut. "Right?!" He said, excitedly. I swallowed the mouthful, and took a drink of my coffee. "This is so good," I said, walking next to Heath back to the car. "Here, try a bite of my sandwich," he said, unwrapping the tinfoil. He held it out for me, and I took a bite, my upper lip dragging on his finger by accident. I chewed the bit in my mouth. "Holy shit!" I said. I felt a hand on my waste, and Zane appeared next to me. "That's so good," I said, washing it down with coffee. "Next time I'll get you a sandwich," Zane said with obvious jealousy in his voice. I held his bicep, and put my head on his shoulder. "Don't worry," I whispered, kissing his arm. 

I got into the front seat, and Zane started the car. "I'm taking you to your place right?" he asked. "Yep," I said, eating my donut. We drove the thirty minutes to my place. "I would invite all of you up but I don't know the state of my apartment right now," I said, gathering my things. Heath got out of the car and opened the door for me to get in the front. "No problem. Nice seeing you again Bryn!" Scotty said as I got out. "I'll treat you to a breakfast sandwich soon," Heath winked, as I got out. "Promise?" I smiled. He got in the car, and I leaned in the open window. "Promise," he smiled. "See you later!" I said. 

I walked to the back of jeep and met Zane there as he pulled my suitcase from the trunk. "Wanna come up?" I asked. He smiled. "I get to meet the family?" he raised an eyebrow. "No you get to meet Brad," I said, hitting his chest softly, and walking toward my apartment.

I walked up the stairs, and saw Jessica on the top of the stairs, with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Jessica?" I asked, leaving Zane in the dust. I ran up the stairs. "He left," she cried with a cigarette between her fingers. I pulled her into my chest, and rubbed her back. "Who left what happened?" I asked. "Max. He left, he didn't want to be with me anymore because he never loved me," she cried into my chest. "I did everything for him," she added, crying into the oversized hoodie. 

I looked at Zane at the bottom of the stairs. I motioned for him to come up as I burnt out her cigarette, and led her inside. Zane followed behind us as we came in. "Is Josh not home?" I asked. Jessica shrugged, still crying. "He left last night because the guy in your room said something about him being gay," she sobbed. "I'm sorry," I said to Zane before slamming the door open. "Get up," I said ripping the sheets off him, to reveal his naked body. "Aw come on dude! You're sleeping naked in my bed?!" I yelled, gathering up his clothes and throwing them at him. "Jesus you bitch!" Brad yelled, covering himself with the sheets. "Hey!" Zane interfered, walking into the doorway. I pushed Zane back by his chest. "It's ok, let me handle it," I said. Brad slipped on his boxers. I threw his duffle bag at his chest. "Get out, now," I said, point toward the door. "Where the fuck am I supposed to go?!" He yelled. 

"Uh home maybe? To your wife and daughter!" 

He shook his head and sat back down on my bed. I grabbed my phone and dialed Kassidy's number. 

"Hey Bryn," she answered. "Kass hey," I said. Brad looked at me with a "I'm going to fucking kill you face," 

"What's going on?" she asked. Brad got up and tried to grab the phone.

"Brad is here, and I was wondering if you wanted to talk to him," I said, pushing Brad away. "Oh, he's in California?" she asked. "Yeah, here you go!" I said handing it off to him. 

Zane snickered behind me. Brad grabbed the phone from my hands and cover the speaker phone. "I'm going to fucking kill you," he whispered. "Hey baby," he said walking onto the patio, and trying to close the broken sliding door shut. 

"Nice guy," Zane said. I smiled, and kissed him. "You should go, I have to take care of that," I said looking at Jessica sobbing on the couch. 

"Before I go, there's a party at my friend David's tonight, and I wanted to take you as my, date, person," he said, his face turning red. "Your date huh?" I teased. "Stop," he smiled. I kissed him again. "Keep that sweatshirt," he said. I looked down at it. "Why?" 

"It looks better on you," he said. I shook my head and smiled, as I walked him to the door. I walked him outside, and stood in the doorway. He kissed me. "I'll pick you up at 7," he winked. I looked behind me at Jessica, sobbing on the couch. "Wait," I said before he started walking down the stairs. I closed the door behind me. "I know this is really douchey but can I bring her," I asked. Zane shrugged. "I'm sure David would be fine with it," he said. I smiled, and met him on the third stair down, and kissed him again. "You're the best," 

"I know," he said, walking down the steps. 

I came back in and saw Jessica, still a mess on the couch. I crossed the living room to my room, and heard Brad arguing with Kassidy. I walked back to Jessica, and sat on the couch next to her. Her body collapsed onto me, and her cries wallowed in my ear. I could tell her makeup was from the day before, and her hair hadn't been washed because she is normally so put together. "Come on," I said, lifting her off the couch. Her arms draped over the side of my body as I brought her into the bathroom. I closed the door behind us, and helped her get her clothes off. 

She clutched onto me as her vulnerability took over. Her soft sobs engulfed the silence before I turned on the shower. Her arms held onto me as I helped her into the shower. 

"Sit," I said. She nodded, then sat hugging her legs. I rolled up my sleeves, and  washed her long beautiful locks of red hair while she shook with emotion. "He said he never loved me," she sniffled. I massaged the shampoo into her scalp. "Don't think about him," I said. "I can't," she cried. 

I'd never think I'd see her so raw, so helpless. 

"He was the best thing that had ever happened to me," she sobbed, into her knees. "He got me clean, he got me working, he put me back on my feet," she added again. "Hey look at me," I said, bringing myself into her view. She looked up at me with sad brown eyes. "Yes he may have helped you, but you did at that stuff on your own," I said. She broke down in hysterics again. "Thank you," she said, wrapping her wet arms, and shampoo-y shoulders over my neck. I held her once again, and I made her feel as safe as she did that one day on the balcony.