The Coach's Daughter

Chapter 36

I don't know how to write an ending.

Never have I given myself enough time to write for fun so when I stare down at my notebook, I have no clue as to how to finish the rough draft of my story. There's something about bittersweet endings that just feels beautiful to me. Beautiful but painful, like the blinding sun. I mean, I love happy endings too but...

Happy endings just feel so fake.

Months have gone by and I've accepted that things with my family will never be the same. I believe that I still love them but I also admit that it's more out of devotion than true love.

I've kept my grades up and I'm still applying to UPenn early but it's not for her anymore. It's for me.

I'm glad that at least Zack's family seems to be getting back together. I've even met his dad once. He has Zack's eyes.

I think a happy ending is good. Picking out a liquid gel pen, the ink has barely touched the paper when my phone rings.

"Can you meet me outside?" Zack asks the second I pick up. "I need to talk to you."

"Um, yeah, of course. Is everything okay?" I ask warily. The urgency in his voice makes my pulse race.

"I just... I'll tell you in person."

"Okay. See you soon."

When he hangs up, my heart is racing. I've never heard his voice like that before. What could be wrong? Everything was fine yesterday. Trying to push the thought away, I turn on some Debussy and slip into a hoodie and leggings before walking out to the edge of the street.

I wait anxiously, intertwining my fingers and tapping my foot. He pulls up at full speed and when he gets out, his face is ghastly. Immediately, he pulls me into his arms and I feel his chest heave as he takes a deep breath.

"What's wrong?" I ask softly, rubbing his back.

"I hate him, Amelia. I hate him," he whispers into me.

"Who?"

"My dad," he answers. I pull away so that I can look at his eyes.

"Why, what's wrong?" I ask, hoping and praying that he didn't leave. Fire burns in Zack's eyes and all of the muscles in his face are clenched but when he looks at me, he crumples. He looks like a boy.

"He's dying, Amelia."

My arms wrap back around him immediately, bringing his head into my chest. "I'm so sorry, Zack," I tell him.

He shakes his head. "Amelia." He moves away. "That's why he came back, why he suddenly started reaching out again. He needs a transplant and... I'm a match."

My whole body freezes in realization and I feel my heart sink. The air around me cuts off and a strange choked sound escapes my throat.

"Amelia," he says solemnly. "I'm leaving."

A/N: DUHN DUHN DUHNNNN. Ok lowkey hate myself for writing such a cheesy plot twist but this whole book is cheesy sooo yeah.

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