Chasing Rainbows // Zach Herron

Chapter 6

"Christina is pregnant" Zach's voice beamed through the phone as Bella laughed at his excitement. "Finally, my kids won't be alone and I won't be the only dad" he said reminiscing about the pregnancy.

"Well that's great news, Zach." Bella said as she smiled at zach through FaceTime. "Well I gotta go now" She said, frowning. "Oh how come?" Bella's face turned white. She wanted to tell him why but she couldn't without letting zach know what's been happening to her. "I'm having some friends from work come over." She said, mentally patting herself on that back with that response. "Okay, well call me later. Okay?" "Okay, bye zach"

Bella got up, straightening her shirt and skirt, and headed out to the living room. Mike was standing there with a vodka bottle on his hand. James was behind him giving Bella the look of disappointment. She wished to tell her best friend the truth, but she just couldn't. She could risk everyone getting hurt and she couldn't have that on her shoulders.

Mike waste anytime walking past Bella to her room. She saw that James was leaving. "James.." She said reaching out to touch his shoulder. "Don't Bella. After all the fucking trouble that douchebag put you through, you're still with him? What about Zach?" He said shaking his head at Bella. James slammed the door to their apartment, leaving Bella standing in the middle of the living room wondering why she always ends up messing up.

Bella slowly walked into her room dreading every second she has to spend with Mike. She closed the door and turned her attention to Mike. Mike quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck. "Mike, can't we just talk?" Bella said. "No, talking is for losers" Mike said pushing the poor girl onto the bed. "Maybe we shouldn't tonight." She stayed as she started to push him off. "Bella" he began to say but mike was cut off by a door opening.

He took this as a sign to quickly jump off of Bella. She quickly got up, adjusting her clothes once again, leaving her room and seeing who it was. Her eyes turned wide as she realized that five boys were standing in her living room. "Hey guys" she awkwardly said while leaning against her wall. "Bella, who is it?" Mike called from her bedroom. Before she could answer he walked out of her room and eyed up the why don't we boys, especially Zach Herron.

"It's my friends. This is Jack, Daniel, Jonah, Corbyn, and Zach" Bella said nervously pointing to each boy that stood before her. "Well hello" Mike said annoyed as he took a seat on Bella's couch. "We were about to drink and just have a good night. You guys are welcomed to join. Right Mike?" Bella said looking at him. "Whatever" he replied waving her away. Bella and the five other boys were taken a back by his actions.

"Okay, well. Does anyone want anything to drink?" Bella said as she headed to the kitchen. "Anything vodka like, I need" Jack said which resulted in Corbyn giving him the 'knock it off' glare. Bella walked in with a tray of water and of course Jacks vodka like drink. She of course had one herself.

"Jack was kidding when he said that, Bella" Corbyn said rubbing his forehead out of stress. "Oh, sorry I didn't know." Bella said getting up and grabbing the glass from Jack. "Hey, I'm an adult now, I can make decisions for myself" Jack said taking the glass back. "We don't want another repeat of yesterday, do we?" Jonah chimed in. "What happened yesterday?" Bella asked out of curiosity. "Uh bar fight" Jack replied scratching the back of his neck.

Mike started to laugh and kick his feet up on Bella's coffee table. "Well aren't you guys some wuss'" he said still laughing. "Excuse me?" Jack said sitting up. "I just find it funny how it's your life yet you let your four boyfriends decide on your decisions." "Mike, not now" Bella said getting nervous. "Oh can it Bella"

"Hey man, don't talk to her that way" Zach said getting defensive. "Excuse me? And who are you? The faggot ex-boyfriend" mike said standing up, zach follow along with his actions. "Mike please" Bella said getting up and walking towards Mike. Mike put his arm out, stopping Bella from going closer to Zach.

"Yes I'm the ex-boyfriend. Is there a problem?" "Yeah, why the fuck do you keep contacting my girlfriend?" "Because she's one of my best friends. If you have a problem with it, then leave Mike" zach said while staring right into Mikes eyes. Bella began to feel the tension and watched how Jack stood up next to Zach.

"Guys, can't we just sit down and have a nice conversation instead of fighting. Please" Bella said pushing past Mike and standing in the middle of the two. Mike grabbed onto Bella's wrist, making her noticeably wince, and pushed her down onto the couch. Giving her the 'look' which she knew was never a good sign when she got it.

"Don't touch her like that" jack said speaking up, taking his seat on the couch again. Zach sat down too, showing he wanted to be civil with Bella's new lover. Bella picked up her glass of vodka and chugged it down, getting up to get a new glass of vodka. "I minus well just drink the entire bottle" Bella said loudly which caused a couple of the boys to chuckle. "I hear you on that" Jack chimed in.

Mike rolled his eyes and stared at the boy band that say in front of him. He kept asking himself questions like 'would Bella leave me for these guys?'  He couldn't help but feel a sense of jealousy of the five boys. "So how do you know Bella" Mike asked taking a sip of his wine. "I actually grew up with her. We've known each other since we were I think seven. We went to school together and she met them when we became a band." Zach said proudly. "Oh you meant she met the other boys when you were fucking her enemy in the hotel room?" Mike said making Zach stiffen. "Uh Yes" He said while his cheeks turned a darker shade of red.

"Yeah, I remember when I got Bella drunk one night and she opened up to me about a lot of shit you guys put her through." Mike said while wrapping his arm around her. "Well He was dating Emily at the time" Bella chimed in while glancing at Zach. "Hey rosey cheeks, don't you have two kids?"

"Yes I do" zach said smiling at the thought of his two little kids that were with Christina. Sometimes Christina would beg Zach to let her babysit his kids for 'practice' but they all knew it was because she adored them with all of her heart. Mike scoffed at Zach and sloppily kissed Bella on the cheek, making her cringe. Jack noticed how uncomfortable Bella was. He wanted so badly to just rip her out of his arms and pass her to Zach to be comforted.

Jack loved Bella, well as a sister of course. He hated the thought of Bella being hurt and in his heart, he knew that Mike was hurting her, not just physically but mentally too. "Hey Bella, wanna show me where the alcohol is" Jack said. He just wanted to get Bella alone to make sure she was safe with Mike. "I can show you." Mike said. "No, Mike. I will show you Jack." Bella said getting the signal from Jack that he wanted to talk. "Why.." "because it's my house Mike." Bella said getting annoyed. As she was getting up, he quickly grabbed onto her wrist, pulling her into an unwanted kiss before letting her walk around the corner of her home.

As Bella was walking towards the liquor cabinet with Jack, he pushed her into one of the room and quietly closed the door. "Jack.." "Bella just listen to me. If Mike is hurting you or doing something to you that you don't like, you have to tell someone. It doesn't have to be me, Zach, or any of us boys. But you shouldn't have to be going through whatever it is on your own" Jack said watching as Bella's face got heated up.

"Jack, he's going to think somethings up. Can we just go" Bella said turning towards the door. Jack lightly grabbed her forearm, making sure not to hurt her, and made her face him. "Are you really worried that he can't trust you in a room with me? Bella, I see the way you are around him. I can even feel the uncomfortable tension between you guys. Please tell me if something is.." Jack said trailing off while looking at Bella's tiny bruised wrists. "He did that didn't he" Jack said getting furious.

"I promise you, Jack, we'll have this conversation another day. Right now is just not good for me or you at the moment. Let's just act like you got the alcohol you wanted and let's go back without acting suspicious." Bella said worried that Mike would pop in at any moment. Jack nodded and started to open the door.

The two of them continued their way to the liquor cabinet, picking out a nice bottle of Irish Whiskey and making their way back to the living room.

"Everything all right babe?" Mike asked as he noticed the worried look on Bella's face. "Everything's fine" she replied while sweetly smiling at her old- but dearly missed best friends, especially Zach Herron.

An/ I love when you guys leave comment. I love reading them !! Anyways, have a good day.