Be Brave | Zach Mitchell [OLD VERSION]

[03]

"My parents didn't want me."

---

Zach had suggested the Gyrospheres and Elle didn't object as they made their way to the monorail. She was sat to the side of the two boys as Zach flirted with girls behind them, ignoring his brother. 

Elle rolled her eyes. 

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" She questioned, only loud enough for Zach to hear. He glanced at her but elected to ignore her. 

"If Mom and Dad get divorced, will one of us be with Mom and the other with Dad?" Gray interrupted Zach's flirting, his voice timid.

"What? Why would you say that?" Zach asked. 

"Because they are," Gray told. 

"No, they're not getting- they're not getting divorced," Zach denied. "Look. You haven't been around long enough. They've always been that way."

"They get mail from two different lawyers."

"That doesn't mean anything," Zach seethed.

"I googled. They're divorce lawyers," Gray revealed.

Elle listened on her heart clenching as she saw how sad he was. 

"All right, whatever. You know what? It doesn't matter, okay? I'm gonna be gone in two years anyway. I mean, all my friends' parents are divorced," Zach told. "Hey, knock it off. You're gonna cry? Look. You're gonna get two of everything, right? You're gonna get two birthdays, two Thanksgivings, two-" Zach attempted to comfort, his voice impatient and harsh as he did so, showing he didn't really care. 

"I don't want two of everything."

"Yeah, well, it's not up to you. All right? There's a point you have to grow up," he fumed. 

"Move dumbass," Elle hissed. Zach glared at her but did as she said. "Hey Gray," Elle greeted, her voice soft. She wrapped her arms around him, bringing him in for a hug. "I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." She paused, rubbing circles on his back, in an attempt to comfort him. "Sometimes parents get divorced because things don't work out the way they wanted it too but that doesn't mean it's your fault or that they love you any less. They love you and Zach just the same but it means there will be less arguing. It means that yes, it will be hard on all of you but it also means that they'll be happier and that happiness will make it easier eventually." She paused, pulling him out of the hug.  "That doesn't mean that you can't cry about it. Crying is a healthy way to let out your emotions and your sadness is valid, so don't think otherwise," she reassured. 

"But we won't be a family anymore," he cried. 

"Of course you'll be a family, that won't change, you just won't be in the same place all the time. They'll still love you, even your brother," she whispered. 

"Really?"

"Really."

"How do you do it?" He questioned.

"Do what?"

"Be okay with the fact you're adopted?"

She took a sharp breath.

"My parents didn't want me, I came to terms with that when I was about eleven and by thirteen I gave up on being adopted because no one wants a teenager. Then Mr Masrani adopted me at fourteen and that hope came back," she explained, blinking rapidly to stop the tears falling. "Sometimes bad things happen and you feel like your world is ending, then something good comes along, it may take weeks, or months, or years but it happens and you got to wait for that good thing."

"You're really cool, Elle," Gray admitted, smiling at her through his tears.

"So are you Gray."

Elle didn't notice the small smile on Zach's face as he watched the exchange and the guilt that tugged at his heart as he did. 

---

They made it to the gyrospheres, waiting in the line as Gray continued to talk about dinosaurs, explaining the preservation of the DNA. Elle already knew it all but she appreciated his excitement and wanted to encourage it, not break it down like his brother had seemed to be doing. 

"Shut up," Zach ordered. Elle followed his gaze to a small group of girls who were whispering about the attention he was giving them.

"What do you think is gonna happen from you just staring at them?" Gray questioned. The girls heard and began giggling as they stepped into the waiting gyrospheres. 

"Thanks, man," Zach bit out. 

"You're welcome."

"He's right. Girls don't like you just staring at them. You can't just use this," Elle informed, gesturing to his face. "Most like a personality too and so far, you've proved that you don't really have one."

"And what do you know about any of this?"

"Well I am a girl and I've spent a few hours with you and so far you're not doing it for me," she admitted. "And I know I wouldn't date you, you do nothing but flirt with other girls when you have a girlfriend back wherever you're from."

Before Zach could reply they were ushered into a gyrosphere and luckily for Elle they had one of the new three seated ones. Unluckily for her, Gray jumped in first and Zach made her sit in the middle. She placed her bag at her feet. 

She sighed as both Zach and she reached for the steering stick.

"I got it," he told her. 

"Except it's right in front of me so I got it," she replied, hitting his hand away. 

"I'm trying to be nice," he spoke, sending her a quick glare. He put his hand on the gear stick again, his arm resting on her thigh. She glared back at him. 

"Sure," she muttered, rolling her eyes. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Zach somehow got on her nerves without really doing anything.