Are You Happy Now? - Part 2 (Completed)

Chapter 8-Part 1: "Everything Comes and Goes"

You were looking for some fun

And I was asking for a heartache

I should turn my head and run

Or I could learn it all the hard way

...continued from the previous chapter...

December 2017

Zac quickly pulled his phone out and dialed a familiar number. After a few rings someone on the other line finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Natalie, it's Zac. I need to talk to you about something."

Natalie slowly sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes and glancing at the clock on her nightstand.

"Zac?"

"Yeah."

"Zac, it's 7:30 a.m. What's up? Is everything okay? Why are you calling me this early?"

Zac didn't answer right away, and Natalie felt her heart skip a beat.

Something was wrong. She knew it.

"Zac, tell me what's wrong. Now."

Zac sighed.

He was always surprised by how well she knew and could read him.

"Nat, can I come over?"

"Now? Why? Just tell me what's up. You're worrying me."

Zac wasn't sure how much time he had before Taylor showed up and rocked Natalie's whole world with his news.

He didn't want Natalie blind-sided. He wanted her to be prepared for what she was about to hear. He thought she deserved that.

"Nat, I'm sorry you have to hear this on the phone, but I don't have enough time to get there before he does. Taylor is on his way over, and he has some pretty bad news for you."

Natalie was silent on the other line for so long Zac was sure she'd hung up.

"Nat? You...still there?"

"It's about Michelle...isn't it?"

Zac almost gasped.

"You know, don't you?"

Natalie sighed.

"While doing some laundry last week I found a photo of her and him in Taylor's jeans. I can't explain it. I don't want to. Zac, why would he have a photo of them in his jeans? With a note on the back that says 'I love you'?"

Her voice broke, and Zac's heart broke along with hers.

"Oh, Nat. I'm so sorry."

"I can hear him pulling up," Natalie said flatly.

Zac wondered if maybe she was in shock. Her voice sounded strange and far away.

"Do you want me to come over?" Zac asked gently. "To help mediate?"

"No. This is our issue to deal with."

Zac understood, but wanted to be as supportive as he could be.

"Okay. I'll talk to you soon?"

"'Okay, bye Zac."

Natalie put the phone down slowly on the nightstand and took a deep breath. She got out of bed and quickly changed into a t-shirt and jean shorts. She didn't want to be in her nightgown for this conversation. She quickly went into their bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, trying to pull herself together. She was already fighting back tears. She went over to the dresser and took the picture she had hidden in there and put it in her pocket.