Chasing Rainbows // Zach Herron

Chapter 25

"Zachy" Zach heard, causing his eyes to quickly open. He was grasped out of his slumber to see Reese's small face smiling.

Zach excitedly jumped up and hugged his little sister, smiling widely. "Reese" he yelled and tickled her. "Where's mom?" He asked his, now, thirteen year old sister. "She's downstairs with the other boys, Rosen, Charles, and Ryan" she giggled and raced Zach down the stairs.

"Hey mom" zach said, before hugging Myta tightly. "I missed you mom" he said again kissing her cheek.

"I missed you too, son" she said and let go. "Go take a shower, we're going to go out to eat, just the two of us though" she said looking at Reese and Ryan.

Zach nodded, hugging his younger brother. "Okay" He said and began heading back up the stairs. He dragged his feet up each step.

He climbed into the shower letting the hot water hit his back. He began to feel sad. He looked down at his scarred, red, and bruised knuckles and flashbacks of the party came back to him.

It has only been a few weeks since the accident, but it still had an effect on Zach. He was sad, he ruined his chances once again of being in a relationship with the one person he truly loves.

He sighed and turned off the water. He dried himself off and got changed. He wore his normal black hoodie and black skinny jeans. He brushed his teeth and fixed his hair, not really putting any effort into it.

He just shrugged at himself in the mirror and headed down the stairs. Once he reached the bottom, he heard the boys laughing with Reese, Ryan, and his mom. He longed for the feeling to laugh, but couldn't even bring a genuine smile to his face.

"Ready?" He asked his mom holding up his truck keys. Myta nodded and kissed her younger children goodbye, and waved at the other boys.

-

"How've you been, Zachy?" Myta asked her eldest son as she admired her son.

"I've been okay, you, mom?" He asked and glanced down at the menu.

"I've been good. Reese started middle school, Ryan is in senior year" Myta said as she began to examine the menu.

"How's the band?" She asked.

"We're good. Writing more music." He said and set the menus down.

"And the twins?" She said cocking her eyebrow up.

"Jesus mom, so many questions." He said and told the waitress his order.

Myta handed the waitress her menu after ordering and looked at zach. "I'm your mom, I'm suppose to ask these questions." She said and smiled.

"The twins are good." Zach said, not actually knowing how his kids are.

Sure, Zach loves his kids. He hasn't noticed, but he kept sending them to Corbyn and Christina's house through the past few weeks. He was scared of his kids seeing the sad side of their dad.

"Honey- you don't have to lie to me. I'm your mom. Christina called me last night." Myta said taking a sip of her water.

"What did she say?"

"You're barely spending time with them. What's been happening? Are you okay?" She said taking his Zach's hands into hers.

She rubbed the top of his knuckles, feeling the rough patches and immediately looking down.

She gasped. "What happened to your knuckles, Zachary Dean." She almost yelled.

"Nothing," he quickly said and pulled them away from her. "Did you fight someone?"