Facing the music

*One month earlier*

Victoria Walker was enjoying the bright summer sun and the warm heat that was radiating down on her. The summer was more than just tanning and boys for Victoria, unlike most other high school girls. Victoria’s summers were jam full of helping her parents run the Azure Rock Gazette. Even her younger brother James would be tasked with helping in what ways he could. For what some would call child labor, The Walker family quite enjoyed the time spent together. Richard and Olivia certainly appreciated the helping hands and saw it as a bigger bonus to spend so much time with their busy children. Even their oldest daughter June would stop in on occasion while in town. Soon, Victoria will also be off for college and joining the real world sothe Walkers enjoyed this time while they still could. Victoria loved her time spent on The Speedy Scout at school, but this was a real paper. Getting to help edit and pick stories that would be ran for all of the public to view made her all the more convinced that this career was perfect for her. Now at times she was also asked to perform less important roles, like the pressing mission that she is currently on to pick up coffee for the staff. A quick break from the fast paced and stressful work wasn’t the worst thing in the world as she tried to keep an positive outlook on it. She’s convinced that her time could be spent on much more important jobs though. As she made the quick walk from the office to the quant little shopping district, she took in all of the sites. The sites including Brandon Cole, boyfriend of her best friend Ashley Woodsen, sitting on a nearby bench outside of Power Zone, the town’s gym. Victoria was happy for Ashley to have found such a great guy who was not only a star athlete and possible college prospect, but a dedicated and caring boyfriend. The look she saw Brandon have towards Ashley was quite bittersweet as it reminded her of the looks she use to receive from Dustin Lewis. Victoria was also smitten with her high school sweetheart Dustin, before receiving the awful news that his family was moving away. Victoria was willing to try and make it work but Dustin didn’t want to hold back the beautiful and smart blonde that he was sure would do great things with her life. He convinced her that some day they may cross paths again and maybe then the time could be right. For the time being he encouraged her to live her life. Victoria was crushed by this and couldn’t see herself feeling this same way for any other guy. She often times buried herself in the paper and her schoolwork trying to find an escape from the loneliness.

Victoria snapped back to reality as she saw Brandon looking over in her direction and gave her only a meager nod of his head. This seemed unusual for the normally friendly guy, and she decided it needed investigating further. She quickly made her way over to her friend thinking that she could be a couple minutes late without any repercussions. “Hey Brandon! Isn’t this weather fantastic. I’m shocked Ashley left you alone long enough without dragging you to the pool with her. This is her favorite season and I don’t think she misses a single minute of ‘bikini weather’ if she can help it.” Victoria said reminiscing with a giggle. “One summer Ash…”

“She dumped me.” Brandon struggled to get out as he stared at the blistering sidewalk between his feet. Victoria was floored by this news, evident of her jaw dropping open wide and her hand shooting up to cover her mouth. Not only was Victoria hurt to hear that this caring couple had split but she was suddenly devastated by not hearing this from Ashley firsthand. In a way even the reporter pride within her was damaged that she saw no clues or evidence pointing towards this. ‘Surely, she’s confused or going through something. How’d she not tell me??’ Victoria continued to question to herself. “Everything was fine. She asked to meet up and dumbass me didn’t suspect a thing.” Brandon quietly continued as his head never lifted.

Victoria refocused on Brandon and his pain at the moment. She quickly sat next to him while trying to ignore the hot bench and was now curious by his reddened skin of how long he has been out here. “Brandon, this has to be a mistake. Maybe she’s just stressed and confused. There has to be something distracting her.”

“…Or someone.” Brandon muttered slightly under his breath but loud enough to catch Victoria’s attention. Brandon finally glanced towards Victoria, now sharing a confused expression as they met eyes. “How did you, her best friend, not know anything about this unless she’s hiding something?” Victoria sat completing still and was stumped at the guy’s question. Why DIDN’T she know anything about this while thinking that they had one of the best relationships in their entire class?

The normally quick-thinking girl was puzzled trying to come up with a response but simply couldn’t find the words. As she continued to search for the right thing to say to ease his pain, she recognized the look that was currently on Brandon’s face. It was the same look and feeling that she had when Dustin broke up with her. She was suddenly filled with gusto as she wanted no one else to share that feeling. “Bran I know she still cares about you. Maybe we just need to remind her.” Brandon quickly glanced at the optimistic girl again to see what in the world she was talking about. “You and Ashley can’t call it quits like this! You have to fight for her!” Victoria offered out her hand and a warm smile to match, “Brandon Cole, I’m going to help you get your girl back!”

____

*Current Time*

Zack took the deepest breath he could manage as he turned the golden knob to his front door. As he slowly took his first daring step into the foyer that happen to have both parents side by side, he was caught off guard by the loud creaking of the door. Not that it made a different sound today than any other day but the noise in the otherwise silent entrance seemed to draw his attention away from the tense moment. He shut the door just the same and finally turned to face his parents. Monica gasped at the site of her son’s injured face and without thinking took a step forward to tend to him. Daniel firmly grabbed her hand which stopped her movement any further. Monica took a deep breath knowing that as much as she wanted to baby her little boy, this called for a much sterner approach. Daniel took the lead and waited patiently and silently until Zack looked up at his father’s face. Zack wanted to break into the story and describe his actions and why he felt that he must protect Madison. He stopped himself before even starting, knowing that it would just be viewed as excuses. He stood as straight as possible and waited for his father to speak first.

Daniel had thought long and hard about what he wanted to say and as he started to address his son, he shocked himself when no words came out. He adjusted his approach and stood firm while trying again. “I’ve been sitting here for the last hour after your mother called me home, puzzling my brain. First the missed curfews, the angry outburst the other night, and now fighting at school…” “What am I missing Zack?” Zack noticed the look on his dad’s face, and it was way worse than anger or disappointment or anything else Zack would expect in this moment. It was more confusion and hurt. For the normally stoic and joyful Daniel, this was a rare expression to see from him. It crushed Zack more than he could even prepare himself on the drive home. He started of thinking how he could respond when Daniel continued. “Honestly Zachary, I hope you can help this make sense to me. You’re two weeks into your senior year. Two weeks!...” Daniel did his best to lower his voice back down to a peaceful tone and also felt Monica’s hand squeeze his which succeeded to calming his thoughts. “Zack you’re a great kid and we just want to help you, but we keep getting hit with the next thing before even having a chance to talk you about the last issue. I want to give you space but now I’m questioning if we are doing something wrong.”

Zack fought back a quivering lip while trying to find his voice. “You haven’t done anything wrong. NEITHER of you have done anything wrong. I’ve been messing up but I can fix this. Starting now I’m going to get back on track and I apologize for not checking in for curfew. I apologize for letting my temper get the best of me.” Zack took a breath and thought back to the night he picked up Ashley and held her until he could be certain she was okay. His mind shifted to sticking up for himself against the football team when they tried to bully him and his friends. And finally, to acting on impulse to protect Madison from her brother. “I won’t apologize for standing up for myself, protecting those I care about or defending my friends in danger.”

Daniel’s face turned to that of shock as he stared hard into his son’s eyes. Zack stood still as stone even if his knees were shaking inside of his jeans. Monica slipped out a gasp as well hoping that Daniel would be able to continue keeping his cool. She trusted him and his parenting tactics fully but agreed that this was very out of Zack’s character and that they both needed to act quickly. Daniel and Zack continued their impromptu stare off until Daniel surprisingly nodded. “And I’d never ask you to son. I do look forward to you showing me. And your mother. We’ve raised you better.” He looked away and leaned his head towards Zack’s room, dismissing him from the tense Moment. “Zack…” He called out once more as Zack had just started making his exit.

Zack turned with slumped shoulders and dug in his pocket and found his car keys. “I’m guessing you’re going to be wanting these huh?” Zack tossed the keys over to his dad.

“Well yes…But I just wanted to let you know how much we love you. Always.”

“And we are very proud of you Zackary. Just stop scaring the hell out of us.” Monica finally added unable to stay silent any longer.” Daniel let out a tiny smirk as Monica’s assertiveness and care for his kids makes him admire his wife that much more for it.

Both parents made their way to Zack’s room over the next couple hours to talk further and private with the young man to help him feel cared about and heard. They discussed the added responsibilities over his next three days of suspension. They also came up with a list of things they want to change before returning his car and game system. They contemplated his basketball but didn’t want to discourage exercise and cause him to really go stir crazy. The last rule passed down was that no one could come by outside of anything school related. Zack didn’t feel that he could put up much of an argument unless he wanted this tension to remain for his entire senior year. He saw looks from both of his parents that he’s hoping that he never has to see again.

____

The surprised Ashley asked Madison if she wanted to go sit on the back deck around the firepit that her father had installed. Madison seemingly ignored the offer and remained leaned against the trunk of her car before standing tall and facing Ashley.

Ashley spoke first as she was reminded in a blur of the cruel things she said to her close friend while also remembering the just as cruel things that Madison said in return. “Maddie I’m so sorry! I was scared and confused by everything going on. I couldn’t find Heather or Victoria. Zack was hurt. There was so much going on! I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“Is it true?” The stone-faced Madison simply asked in return.

“…Is what true?” The caught off guard Ashley confusingly responded while swallowing hard.

“Did you fuck Zack?”

____

Victoria was focused on her homework as she heard her phone go off over on her charger. She found a save point and walked over curious to who was texting her. To her surprise she saw a text from Brandon Cole and quickly noticed that it was a quite long one. As she read through the text it summarized as Brandon thanking her for everything that she had done trying to help him get back with Ashley even when it put her own friendship with the girl at odds. He mentioned being selfish asking her to continue to do that when there’s been no progress. He concluded with saying that after his actions today, there’s no coming back from this and that she should just be a good friend to Ashley and live her life. Victoria was a bit worried about the guy after all that he had been through. After the past month of trying to help salvage the broken relationship, she’s enjoyed getting to see a sincere and caring side to the star football player. A guy who at times questions himself and seemingly wants to do better than his image and actions. He even admitted to her in confidence that he may give up football for college or even have to take some time off to help his dad with the dealership. If other people saw the guy that she did, she knew in her heart that most of his issues would cease to exist. She wasn’t done with him quite yet. Victoria doesn’t see a text being good enough as she quickly dialed Brandon’s cell waiting in anticipation to hear him answer.

____

“Ashley. Did. You. Fuck. Zack??”

Ashley whimpered while Madison seemed to be staring straight through her. Ashley tried to get the courage to softly nod her head.

“Say it.” Madison quietly but firmly demanded.

“We were talking and he was upset… It just kind of…”

“Say it.”

“I fucked Zack.” Ashley finally said with a breaking strand of tears. She tensed and squeezed her eyes shut as she knew what was coming next from the fiery Madison.

After several seconds, she slowly opened one eye to quickly scan and see what direction Madison’s fist would be coming from. To her surprise the girl’s hands remained at her sides. Ashley lifted her eyes as she studied the girl and suddenly saw the tears streaming down her face. Ashley grabbed both of Madison’s hands and began fully crying with her. Seeing Madison react this way may be worse than actually being punched. Ashley pulled her towards the backyard and sat her down on the bench around the fire pit. Madison did little to stop her as she fought back tears and simply sat there staring at the dark empty pit.

“So, you’ve had a crush on him? For multiple years now?” Madison simply nodded with a couple extra tears. She fought back the impulse to scream and call Ashley out for how she could be so blind to it but somehow could only sit there. “Madison I’m so sorry! I wouldn’t have…”

“DON’T!” Madison snapped as her glare turned ice cold and she stared at Ashley finally putting a temporary stop to the tears. “Don’t cheapen it or him for that matter. You wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t want to. With him I mean.” Ashley sat stunned and silent as Madison’s words struck quite a bit of truth into her. “I had to sit back and smile while Lisa was dating him. Pretend I was okay with it for her sake. Watch how close you were with him and all the traditions and inside jokes from our childhood that I was no longer able to share with him or you. Seeing you have Brandon and Zack both in your own ways, having your cake and eating it too. And again, I’m just supposed to smile and nod like the good daughter and sister that I’ve been programmed to do. And what do I get for it? I’ve still lost Lisa and you?” Madison paused for a moment. Ashley couldn’t take her eyes off of the confessional girl as she feared what she’d say next. “I… I don’t know where we stand right now. Just tell me when it happened.”

Ashley hesitated and meekly replied “At Heather’s party. Just that one time.”

Madison again showed little to no expression. Inside she was bursting with hurt and berated herself for asking but still had to know. She took another shallow breath and slowly made her way to her feet and turned slightly, “That was my night. He was there with me but I guess you didn’t know that either huh?”

Ashley looked down in guilt and only looked up in worry when she heard a brief snort from Madison as she shook her head in seeming disbelief. Madison turned once again and began towards her car. “Maddie wait!”

“It’s Madison. You don’t get to call me that!” She spit back with venom.

“What if I help you?” Ashley said in desperation, regretting it almost as soon as she said it. But after already hurting Zack because of her indecisiveness, she couldn’t live with herself doing the same to Madison.

Madison stopped briefly without even looking back. “I don’t need your help. Or anyone else’s.” “You want to make everything right in perfect little Ashley world? How about you use those legendary matchmaking skills of yours and go fuck yourself.”

____

The bell rang on Tuesday morning, and anyone would be lying if that didn’t admit that the halls felt eerie. Instead of hallways full of gossip and laughter, they were oddly quiet as most students stayed focused on themselves. After the school received the full story of the incident, many other guys involved in the altercation were suspended for a 1 to 3 days as well. This left a dent in the senior classes with a large chunk of the basketball and football players out. During the first class of the day the teachers announced that with the overwhelming amount of those suspended, they will need volunteers to drop off information and schoolwork to the missing student’s homes. There were clipboards at the front of each class to sign up for each student. The names included Brandon Cole, Trent Thornton, Kevin Jackson, and Zack Bishop…