Zoe, Her Father, and The Guys, chapter 15

Andy's POV

Damn. She has a nasty temper. Note to self, don't piss Zoe off.
I was watching her, raging, just like Pete had when he saw Kyle with Zoe at school.
"I have to go. I'm sorry." She said calmly, then walking past me. I looked at everyone before going after her.

"Zoe, Zoe. Wait." I said, seizing her arm gently in my grip.
She turned to look at me. She had tears running down her face.
"Zoe, it's okay. This time it wasn't you, it was Pete and Joey." I comforted, looking into her eyes.
"Andy, I know it wasn't really me but in my eyes, I didn't see Pete and Joey, I saw me and my step father. You don't know what it's like to see you being beaten, when it isn't actually happening. Andy, I don't want to see that again and I don't want you to know what it's like." She cried. She walked into me and placed her head on my chest. I hugged her and held her safe.
"Zoe, I love you and I never want you to go through this again. You want to go to my house or do want to go back again?" I asked, stepping back and looking into her eyes at her level.
"Andy, I need to talk to Pete before we go to your house. Let's go back for a little bit." She returned.
I smiled at her and turned back toward the house, I slung my arm around her shoulders.

We walked in to see Pete, still on the floor.
Zoe walked out of my hold.
"Zac, help me get him up." She commanded.
Zac obeyed and helped Zoe get Pete up and she took him to the bathroom.

"So Andy, what was wrong with Zoe?" Joey asked.
"Shut the hell up Joey, you and Pete caused her to run out." I replied, pointing at him.
"What I do?" He questioned.
"You knew damn well she was beaten at her old home. And when she saw you and Pete, she didn't see you two fighting, she saw her step dad and her. She was Pete, and you were her step dad." I hollered back.
"Well sorry, but Pete started it. He threw the first punch. I'm surprised he didn't beat me, he's bigger than me." He replied.
"I don't care, Zoe is scared now. Even though she is strong about showing it. I love her and I'm there for her." I defended.

Zoe's POV

"Pete, you're so stupid.
"Why did you come back?" He asked as I dabbed his forehead with a damp wash rag.
"I came back because I needed to talk to you." I answered.
Pete seized my hand and looked at me.
"Talk." he commanded.
I first tried to pull my hand free. He wouldn't let go. He was strong and I realized I wasn't getting free.
"Why were you and Joey fighting?" I started.
"Because he came onto you. And I'm so afraid I will lose you." He replied, not letting me go.
"Well, Joey didn't know. No one told him about us. None of them knew until you started the rampage at Joey." I again, said, trying to get free in the process.
"Well, he didn't need to just kiss you. He could have asked or something." Pete returned.
"Pete, I'm sorry Joey did what he did. I stopped him, isn't that enough. He said he was sorry and he tried to hide from you for a minute." I raised my voice.
"Zoe, I'm sorry. I'm just afraid. I first lost my real mom, then my first girlfriend, and I'm not giving you up without a fight. I swear on my life that nothing will ever happen to you. I love you." He announced, serious and hopping off the sink counter and looking down into my eyes.
"Pete, I love you too. But I just don't trust you now." I returned quietly.
I pulled on my hand and tried to get free again.
"Why not? Why don't you trust me?" He asked, very confused on what I was thinking about.
"I don't trust you because you went on a rampage after your best friend. You threw punches. I've now seen your bad side, and I don't want to be around it at all." I explained.
"Now let me go." I demanded.
He let go and I walked out to the living room.

I came into the living room and stood beside Andy.
"Zoe, you okay?" Zac asked.
"Yeah Zac. I'm okay now." I answered, giving him a sweet and innocent smile.
He just smiled back at me.
I looked over at Joey.
He looked away as soon as our eyes connected.
"Andy, let's go." I said, looking up at him.
He nodded.
"Bye guys. I'm taking her home." He waved.
"Bye Zoe. Bye Andy." Zac immediately replied.
We walked down the walk way in silence

Andy's POV

Zoe was quietly crying and leaning on my shoulder. I looked down at her but she did realize that I was, so she didn't return the look. I bent over and kissed her head.
"Zoe, are you okay? I asked, worried about her crying a lot lately.
"Yeah Andy, I'm fine. Thank you." She replied, not looking at me.
"For what?" I returned, puzzled by the thank you part.
"For caring about me. You are always there at the perfect moment. I Think I'm in love with you. I truly think that." She answered, still not looking at me.
"Zoe, I love you too. Do you think we could get together and go out sometime?" I replied.
This time she looked up at me with beautiful green eyes. She was smiling but not on the outside.
"Yes, how about now?" She asked.
I just smiled and took her to the café. Our first official date.


Andy and Zoe lasted through college but then parted their separate ways. They still talk on the phone, but very little. Andy became a palaeontologist, and Zoe went on to be a producer for big bands like Cute Is What We Aim For, Death Cab For Cutie, and The Story Changes. Pete and Joey went on to play in semi-big bands. And Zac, well Zac became Zac, a huge fashion model on Hot Topic's website. They always stayed in touch, but never enough to ever meet again.