Forever and Always ✔️

Chapter thirty nine - Zack.

While Penelope was working the night shift at the diner, I headed over to Gray's place. I really wanted to scream at him for not accepting Penelope as my girlfriend. He was supposed to be my friend and friends support each other. You can't really talk, my inner voice yelled at me, making me shudder. I brushed off the guilty feeling I had inside of me and walked inside Grayson's two story house. I had been here many times before and nothing had changed.

His parents were both out of town for a week and he was lucky his parents could trust him to be alone for a whole week. That was why he threw parties all the time.

"Gray!" I shouted up the stairs, I couldn't be bothered going up there. It seemed so far away. Gray soon appeared in sight, wearing nothing but boxer shorts. "Seriously? Get a shirt on."

"I'm kind of in the middle of something here," he scratched the back of his head, "I have a girl over."

I stared blankly at my so-called best friend and I couldn't help but laugh. "Okay but, I came here to talk to you about Penelope."

He grunted and ran down the stairs, not looking too thrilled that I mentioned her. "I know you're mad because I told her what I thought but the truth is better than lies."

"Don't make that excuse," I crossed my arms over my chest, "you're not even trying to get to know her let alone giving her a chance."

"You know I have trust issues because of Molly," I flinched at her name, "and I just have a gut feeling that she's gonna break your heart. You've never had a girlfriend for this long before."

Wasn't that a good thing? Zack Adams could keep a long term girlfriend! Yay me.

"Grayson!" I heard a female voice yell.

"Coming!" Gray shouted back, making me roll my eyes.

"Just try," I sighed, "for me. Come on, man. She's everything to me and I can't risk losing her."

Gray sighed, walking backwards up the stairs. "I can't, Zack. I just can't."

*

He was as stubborn as Penelope.

I arrived at the diner straight after leaving Gray's house. I couldn't believe he wouldn't even try to like Penelope or to even get along with her. Once I entered the diner, my eyes searched for her and there she was, pouring drinks into a glass looking cute in her uniform.

She gave the drinks to the men at the counter and soon noticed me. Her smile was different, it was not the 'I'm happy to see you' kind of smile but the 'what are you doing here' smile.

Something was wrong.

"Hey, baby," I forced a smile like nothing was wrong, "how's your shift?" I tried to kiss her but she moved away to the other counter to put an order through. "Penelope?" I asked again, sitting on an empty stool.

"Sorry," she turned around and faintly smiled, "I'm just tired."

I nodded, still not convinced. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine!" Penelope snapped, taking food from the chefs counter and heading over to deliver them from a table.

I didn't know why she was upset but, I was going to find out one way or another because I didn't give up on her. Once she came back, I asked again. "Somethings obviously wrong."

She snapped her head towards me, putting her notepad and pen in her pocket. "Oh and you know everything?"

I sighed, letting that one slide even though it hurt. "I didn't say that, I know when you're not okay so please tell me and maybe I can help."

She banged her fists in the counter, not causing any attention because the chatter was too loud. "Stop pushing me, Zack. Give me some space, okay? I don't need you hovering over me every five damn seconds! I'm fine!"

I was about to say something when Iris cut in. "Penelope, this is a diner filled with customers. Take your personal life outside please."

Penelope nodded, took out her apron and went out the back door where I quickly followed. I kelt thinking about what Gray said but I shut it out because he was wrong and I knew he was wrong.

Once I reached the back of the diner, Penelope was looking out at sea and is running her fingers through her hair. "Penelope?" I said in a whisper.

"Just leave me alone, Zack."

She was pushing me away again, why did she keep doing that? "No, I won't. You need to tell me what's bothering you. I'm your boyfriend, that's what I'm here for."

"I don't know anymore, Zack," she said in almost a whisper, "I told myself I wouldn't get to close to anybody especially you but look what happened? I fell for you and I don't want to. I can't."

I didn't know what to say, why had she suddenly changed her mind about me? "You say you don't want to fall for me, right? But maybe I was brought to you for a reason, to help you get through whatever you are going through."

She turned around with tears in her eyes. "You can't help me, Zack. I'm damaged goods and you know it as well as I do."

I wanted to hold her, to touch her and to know what she was going through but I couldn't and I didn't know what to do.

"Let me help you!" I screamed, "I want to help you!"

"Can you change the fact that my mom died and it's the anniversary of her death tomorrow? No, you cant. I'm hurting and I need space but you won't let me be!" She screamed. I had no idea that her mom died a year ago today but I needed to fight for her and I would never stop.

"No, you need someone to be there for you!" I yelled, making her flinch. She wiped away her tears and shook her head.

She didn't get it. I wanted save her but, I couldn't anymore. I have now realized that she needed to save herself. "Just give me space." Is all she said before rushing back into the diner. I wanted to pull my hair out. This girl was so frustrating but, I promised I wouldn't leave. I loved her.

I headed back inside and pan around the room but she was nowhere in sight. I looked towards Iris and she shrugged with a sad look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, sweetie. She just left."

Space. That was all she needed, right? Then she would come back to me. How was I going to fix this now when it felt like I didn't know her anymore?

*

We sat under the beaming sun in Gray's backyard. I was worried about Penelope, I've called about hundred times but she was not picking up. "And what did I tell you?" Gray mumbled, acting like he was right about Penelope. I knew her more than anyone and I knew that she was not like this. I've never seen her so upset about anything, well, her mom did commit suicide a year ago.

"It was her moms anniversary of her death, I didn't even know about it but, she's okay. She just needs space and then she'll talk to me." I said to Gray but I really meant it for myself.

"She's breaking you piece by piece," he sighed, "and you're letting her do it."

"She loves me! She wouldn't do that." I said, feeling frustrated. Why did I tell him everything?

"Just because she loves you, Zack," he leaned forward on the picnic table in his backyard, "doesn't mean she won't hurt you."

He was right. "I won't give up on her, Grayson and you know that."

"Geez," he mumbled, "she's really got your heart."

I sighed, knowing that part was true. She had my heart, yes. But what would she do with it? Keep it safe in her arms or burn it to the ground?

She was unpredictable and stubborn as hell and that was when I realized it was going to take a lot to fight for us. I was willing to stick by her because she was my everything and I would be nothing without her.