DOTING : 13 Reasons Why / Zach Dempsey ON HOLD

ｎｉｎｅ

I was standing next to Zach, Monte and Bryce outside of Jessica's party. Junior year was here and it was pretty intimidating, but tonight was a fun night to just relax and enjoy life.
"JEFF!!!" I yelled as I saw Jeff across the yard.
"Hey guys," Jeff walked up to us. "Having fun I see?" He laughed at Bryce wobbling around laughing hysterically at nothing.
"Yeah it's been an interesting one." I responded. The conversation carried on for a while, just the 5 of us making jokes about nothing. Clay walked out of the house and Jeff followed him to the front of the house. They talked for a while before Jeff came back to say goodbye.
"It's been fun, but I gotta go for a beer run."
"Want me to go with you? I can sing poorly and keep you company?" I joked.
"Nah i'll be fine, stay here and had fun." I help up my cup with water in it.
"Oh yeah, so much fun," I laughed.
"You sure, though?"
"Positive." We said our goodbyes and he went inside to get Cheryl to move her car.
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"KINSLEY! WAKE UP OR YOU'LL BE LATE!" I jolted up from my bed, small drops of sweat covered my face and my heart was beating fast. I remembered the dream I woke up from and my heart sunk in my chest. Jeff. A day hadn't passed where I didn't think of him. He was one of my best friends, I had known him and his family since I was young. Jeff was undeniably the sweetest person I have ever met in my life. I slowly got out of bed and threw on my giant maroon sweater with some jeans. Nothing could shake this awful feeling I had, this cloud of sadness hanging over me. I walked out of my room into the kitchen where I saw my mom as usual.
"Hey how was your date with Zach last night?!" She said all excited to hear the details, but was soon let down with my blunt answer.
"It was nice." I said quietly.
"Are you alright?" Speaking in worried tone. My head hung down and I debated whether I should tell her or not but gave in.
"I had a dream about Jeff, a memory from the last night I talked to him." I felt my eyes gloss over and my moms face dropped to a sad expression.
"Oh sweetie.." She walked over to me but I quickly stopped her.
"No mom stop, i'm fine. Really." I walked away to the front door and grabbed my bag, if I stayed I know I would start crying and that wouldn't help anyone.
"I love you, mom. I'll see you after school." She looked worried but didn't stop me.
" Love you too. Call me okay?" I gave her a small smile before grabbing my things and heading outside. Once in my car, I sat a moment with my head rested on the steering wheel. I took a deep breath before driving out and heading to school. Once I arrived, I walked outside the cafeteria to meet Zach, Courtney, Ryan, Alex and Marcus  sitting down.
"Hey, babe." Zach said kissing my temple.
"Hey." I mumbled unenthusiastically, he noticed my upset tone and looked confused.
"You alright?" He asked quietly and I just shook my head.
"Seriously, dude, that's bullshit. He got suspended for three days. That shit goes on his record." Alex said, directing his attention to Marcus.
"Yeah, I don't really care." He responded.
"Wow Marcus, aren't you nice." I said under my breath.
"At least we shut him up." He told me.
"We kept him out for three days. I don't think we shut him up." Zach chimed in.
"You guys want to take him on another ride? Cause that worked so well."
"His credibility is shot," Courtney started. "Okay no ones gonna believe anything he says."
"Yeah until he plays them the tape, or until Tony does."
"Yeah what happened there?" Marcus asked Ryan who took a seat next to me.
"I tried. Tony wouldn't budge. He's got the tapes hidden somewhere, and this medieval, self-flagellating moral code. We have to do this another way."
"So its back to Clay." Courtney decided.
"And what Courtney?" I asked,
"You're gonna what, take Justin's advice and get rid of him?" I questioned rudely.
"It doesn't matter, if he's talking to Jessica about her party, it may be too late."
"Okay why are we defending Bryce?" Ryan asked. "Can someone tell me that? I mean, he's a fucking rapist."
"Jesus would you keep your voice down." Zach warned him.
"I published a poem. He's a rapist."
"Stop using that word."
"Why?" Alex stoped them. "What other word would you use?" I suddenly began to get a headache from all their bickering. I couldn't focus anymore so I decided to leave.
"Hey i'm gonna go, i'll see you in first." I got up but Zach stopped me.
"We don't have to be in class for another-" He looked down at his clock on his phone. "-25 minutes or so?"
"I just...i'm just gonna go study or something." My excuse was bullshit and he knew it, but he let me go anyways. I went to the girls bathroom and made sure no one was in there before sitting down against a wall. I closed my eyes taking deep breathes and just held my knees to my chest, laying my head down. I wasn't going to cry, I wasn't going to scream either. I just wish I could stop having to deal with everything for at least 5 minutes so I could catch my breath. I don't know how long I was there for but eventually I got up and walked into the halls. I went to my locker and started to unlock it but was interrupted by Tyler, of all people.
"What the fuck do you want." I didn't even bother to look at him, I just continued to shove all my books into my locker.
"Listen, I want you to convince the others to let me be involved with their plans and stuff. I think it-" I cut him of and this time I stared him dead in the eyes.
"No way in hell." I said each word slowly before closing my locker and turning away. I started walking down the hall but he followed me.
"I'm on there too!" He yelled quietly.
"I deserve to know what you guys-"
"No Tyler, now fuck off." I yelled without turning around. I heard him stop but once again, I heard him walk after me.
"You know, you used to be really cool Kinsley. But now your a bitch. After Jeff died and you starting dating Zach you think you're all high and mighty when your not. Your stupid friends didn't care about you then and they still don't-" He was about to continue but I lost it. I turned around and shoved his body against the nearest locker. My hands held his collar tightly and his eyes were wide with fear. Suddenly the halls stopped moving and it was nearly silent.
"If you ever fucking talk about Jeff like that again I will kill you. And don't you ever bring up my friends like that again. Go ahead, see what happens. But so help me god if you do, you won't make it out of here breathing." My threat was painful and serious, he looked like he was staring at death itself. Suddenly I felt a single arm wraps around my waist and pull be back softly. I realized soon this was Zach, and I released my grip from Tyler's neck.
"Come on." Zach said quietly, and although I was pulsing with rage, I stepped back and walked away with Zach. Everyone was speechless but one at a time, people began moving again. Once it was it was loud enough Zach tried talking to me but I kept walking ahead of him.
"Want to tell me what that was about?" He said half concerned and half angry.
"I'm good." I said shortly, I made my way to the parking lot but he still followed.
"Where are you going, Kinsley?" He sounded sad and worn out from trying to help me and stopped at the front of the school and watched me walk away.
"I'm leaving."
"And where to?"
"Home." And with that I walked to my car and drove off.

A/N/ ignore the you^
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I opened the door to my house and went into the kitchen. I knew my mom wouldn't be home until late at night and I didn't care about my dad. I grabbed a water from the fridge and went upstairs. I looked down at my phone and saw my mom was calling me so I picked it up.
"Hey mom." I said tiredly.
"Hey sweetheart, are you in class?"
"No i'm home. I wasn't feeling too well."
"Oh okay. I was gonna have you go pick up Dakota from the vet but if your not feeling well then I can just have dad get her later."
"No mom, it's fine. I'll get her, don't worry." She insisted that I stay home but I finally got her to let me go. Dakota was our 7 year old German Shepard, she was in the vet for a few days but was getting released today. So after a few moments I once again got up and went back to my car. It took around 20 minutes to get to the vet's office and Dakota signed out. After a few minutes I watched a lady bring her out on a leash.
"Dakota!!" I got down on my knees and started petting her thick coat. I rose up and grabbed that leash.
"Thanks." I took her out to my jeep and opened the front door for her to jump in.
Once we got home she rushed into the house and right into my bedroom, jumping up onto my bed. She usually slept with me and hung out in my room more than any other.
"I was thinking the same thing." I said as I plopped down onto my bed. Before I knew it my eyes grew heavy and quickly shut close.
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I quickly rose from my sleep when I heard my door open, and saw Zach stepping into the room. I looked at my clock and saw that it was 5:18. I rubbed my eyes and got up to turn my lamp on.
"Hey Dakota!" Zach said cheerily as she ran up to him and let him pet her.
"I swear she loves you more than me." I joked softly. Zach opened the door for her to leave and then shut it. We were silent for a minute before I tried to break it.
"I'm sorry about today."
"Don't be. I just wish you would have let me help."
I smiled before looking down sadly, "You and me both know there was nothing that would have stopped it from happening."
"I know we're both going through different things, but i'm still here for you. Always have been, always will."
I looked up at him with tears forming in my eyes and looking at him made it all come out. I covered my face and let the tears poor out. I tried wiping them away but it didn't help. Zach walked over to me and just held me. He ran his hand through my hair and just held me tight.
"It's okay. It's okay, I know."
"I miss him, I miss everything. I don't want things to be like they are right now." I choked out, the tears clogging my eyesight. 
"I know. But you have me, and i'll help you get through it all. I'll be here for you, always." And that was all he needed to say. I knew he would always be there to help me, just like I would be there for him. And in this moment I realized that nothing could ever mean so much to me as him. Feeling his strong arms embrace me reminded me that he was my home, more than the house I stood in. I needed him and I knew, that he would be there no matter what it was.