Loss of Innocence (A Zach Herron Fanfiction)

Meeting Zach

Three weeks.

12 parties.

That's how long Zach has been here, and that's how many parties he has had.

The cops came to his house twice and shut them down, but that usually didn't happen until around 2 or 3 in the morning.

But did Zach care that the cops were watching him?

No.

He continued to throw big, loud parties at his house on weekends and weekdays, not caring that some people (me) had work to do and had sleep to catch up on.

I was so tired, I hadn't gotten any rest in weeks due to the racket my next door neighbor made.  I also couldn't concentrate in my studies, and I had recently gotten a C+ on my AP Government exam because I had barely studied. That was my worst grade ever, and I haven't told my parents yet because I was too scared.

The only good thing that came out of Zach moving in next door was that I became fast friends with Daniel, which was surprising because I didn't work well around new people. But he made me feel comfortable and happy, and he was so adorably sweet. We texted and talked often, and we also went out for coffee a couple times, and I even invited Hannah sometimes. So now the three of us were a trio, which was nice.

I did feel like Daniel wasn't telling me things about his family and about Zach. Whenever I mentioned him, his face clouded over and he answered me in a clipped and blunt tone, so I respected his privacy by not bringing it up.  All I knew was that they moved here from California and his dad died before they left, leaving just Zach, Daniel and Zach's mom. 

And I guess that's all I'll ever know

                        *

I honked the horn shortly that morning, waiting for Daniel to come outside. He didn't have a car, even though his stepbrother did, so I drove him to school every morning, along with Hannah.

I watched as he hurried out of his house and ran down the driveway, his arms flailing everywhere and making me laugh.

He opened the passenger side and got in, his famous grin on his face.  

"French roast with a double shot and extra cream, your favorite!" I said happily, handing his coffee over to him.

He took it with a grateful smile and took a long sip.

"Thank you." He sighed in pleasure.

I chuckled as I started to drive.

"Anytime." I replied, taking a sip of my caramel iced coffee.

"You look exhausted." Daniel commented.

"You think?" I said in annoyance.

Daniel blinked at me and I sighed.

"Sorry. I'm just cranky. I don't know why your stepbrother feels the need to have parties every single night. They keep me up."

Now Daniel sighed.

"I know Carly, and I'm sorry." He said shortly, staring out the window, which signaled the end of this conversation.

I wanted so badly to ask him to ask if Zach could maybe stop with the party scene for a while, but I was afraid of what he would say back to me. And I felt bad for Daniel, he was the one who has to live in the same house as Zach, so it must be worse for him.

Then we picked up Hannah, and we chatted the entire way to school, talk of Zach and his parties long forgotten.

                       *