Zack Talks With Lisa

As Gavin told Madison and Lisa the story of what had happened this week, or at least as much as he knew, Zack made his way into the cabin's kitchen. He walked over and quickly turned the faucet on, letting the water run over his shaking hand, washing the blood from it. Zack leaned against the counter and lowered his head; his whole body started to tremble, he began to let out shaky breaths. He quickly shook his head and reached out, doing his best to wash off his swollen hand, though his eyes rapidly became wet, "C'mon!" He shouted out while slamming his fist on the counter, "Enough!" He screamed at himself.

Zack refused to break down, despite everything he and Chloe had been put through, he didn't want to grant Kurt or Ashley his tears. Yet, when he started to think about Chloe, and what she was just put through again, he felt a tear started to form. Zack quickly wiped his eye and continued to wash off his hand, for nearly five minutes this was what Zack did, wipe away a tear, refusing to give into his emotions fully. Suddenly, he heard a very soft voice from behind him, "Zack, are you okay?"

Zack peered over, saw Lisa looking at him sympathetically, before quickly turning his head, wiping his face again, "Yeah," He quickly replied, "I'm fine,"

Lisa quickly walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest, this instantly caused Zack's head to lower again and start to let out a few sniffles as tears started to flow out, "It's okay, you can feel this Gavin told me everything, you don't have just to be strong." Zack couldn't respond, he just cupped his good hand over his eyes and took a long minute to get out his emotions finally. Lisa slowly let Zack go and stepped to his side, looking at his hand, "God Zack, that's pretty messed up," She softly said pulling his hand towards her, so she could inspect it, "It doesn't seem broken but you need to get it cleaned, and at least wrapped up."

Zack wiped his eyes again and nodded, "I know," He said while taking a nod and a quick steading breath, "I think I saw a first aid kit I could use in the bathroom."

Lisa silently nodded and pulled him along, they past Gavin and Madison who were sitting the in the den, Gavin retelling the tale for her again, mostly about what had happened to her brother. Zack past his room and peered inside where he saw Victoria and Chloe sitting on their bed, Chloe sat staring at the floor while Victoria slowly rubbed her back. Finally, they reached the bathroom, and Lisa looked around, finding the kit on a top shelf, "Alright sit down for me," Lisa lightly commanded while pointing to the toilet,

Zack shuffled over and sat down while Lisa knelt down in front of him. She laid the kit out and popped it open, quickly pulling out a small bottle of peroxide, "Okay, this is gonna sting, but I need to try and not move your hand," Lisa said while pouring a bit of the disinfectant on a cloth. Zack let out a blank nod, Lisa could see he was clearly stuck in thought, and once she began to clean his wounds, got concerned when Zack didn't even react. "How are you handling it?"

"What?" Zack asked in a dry voice, nearly looking dazed,

"Zack...what happened to you was no different then what happened to Chloe. Ashley took advantage of you," Lisa tenderly said before lightly blowing on his hand,

"That?" Zack asked while blinking a few times, "Lisa...of everything in my mind, that one doesn't even make the top ten of things bothering me."

"Are you sure? Zack, it's okay to be upset about that." Lisa pointed out,

"I don't have enough energy too," Zack softly returned, "Besides, after everything I put Chloe through, I shouldn't have the luxury of worrying about myself,"

Lisa looked up at him in confusion, "What are you talking about? What did you put Chloe through? As far as I can tell it was all Ashley and Kurt,"

"That'd be nice, but it's not true," Zack quietly denied, "This is all on me, this is my fault..."

"How can you say that?" Lisa quickly retorted while picked up the role of bandages, "Kurt...did what he did and Ashley was the mastermind behind all of it. You were just trying to be a good boyfriend," Lisa lowered her head, shaking it ever so slightly, "Boyfriend..." She said back to herself under her breath,

"Lisa, I don't know what's wrong with me," Zack suddenly said causing her to look back up at him, "I cheated on Chloe this week." Lisa looked surprised, "It was early, and we weren't official..." Zack let out an annoyed scoff, "Official, what a fucking joke, I knew Chloe and I had something going, and I fucked Ashley. I started this whole thing because I couldn't keep my fucking dick in my pants...I screwed up another relationship, the same. Exact. Fucking. Way." Zack grumbled out,

Lisa sighed, "Zack, what happened with us was...different," She hardly said, "Chloe, she was able to forgive you because you two are friends and it was still so new, she didn't have expectations for you yet. Zack, you can't forget it, but remember Chloe forgave you for that." Lisa repeated causing Zack to shake his head,

"Maybe she shouldn't have, she doesn't need someone like me..." Zack said in a dejected tone, "Look what happened to her in just one week, look what I did to her..."

"Zack, stop it!" Lisa suddenly snapped out causing him to jump ever so slightly, "That girl is your best friend, she...she loves you, I know it." Lisa said with a small swallow, "And now...now she's waiting in that room for one person only, for you! Chloe needs you now; you're the only thing that can make this better, she needs you, Zack!"

"But I'm the one who caused all this!" Zack shot back, shaking his head angrily, completely in himself,

Lisa lowered her head; she always hated when Zack got like this, he got stuck in his own head and would ruin everything for himself. That's why she couldn't get past the cheating because he pushed her away, making her more and more hurt every day. "Then..." Lisa slowly said as she finished wrapping his hand, "Then you have to fix it and running away from Chloe won't, so man up and get in there." Lisa sternly said as she got up closing up the first aid kit before walking out of the bathroom.