Private Universe

"Don't leave." Alex begged.

I was in the middle of packing all of my stuff up. I had decided to figure out what my name was doing in the will and I was leaving in the morning right before they drove Montreal. I didn't want to leave but curiosity was getting to the better of me.

"I have to, Alex." I said looking at him.

"No, you don't. You could stay here and party with us." He said. He was laying in his bunk watching me pack.

I smiled at him. "I doubt I'll be gone that long. I just want to know what my name is doing in that will. I've never spoken to her in my entire life."

"I know." He sighed and crossed his arms looking to the ceiling of his bunk.

I held back my giggles. "Don't be angry. I'll be back before you know it."

The guys had thrown me a small party just because they needed a reason to party. I couldn't help but laugh at how stupid they often were. Alex set aside his angry so he could have fun and party. They all felt like shit in the morning and I couldn't blame them. They dropped me off at the airport and we all said our goodbyes. Alex hugged me the longest and I made sure to memorize the feel.

My flight was better than expected. No screaming babies and since the flight wasn't full there was a seat between the person in my row and me. Alex let me borrow his iPod so I could have something to listen to. I would never admit it to anyone but the only thing I listened to was All Time Low. It hadn't even been a day and I was already missing them.

I didn't pay much attention to the drive to hotel. I was hoping it would only be for a few nights. I had the taxi driver wait until I was done checking in because I was going to make a trip to the house that my father grew up in. I needed to see it all for myself.

As he pulled up to the house I couldn't help but feel the need to cry. I held it in as I paid him and he drove off. When I looked at the house again I had a great surge of emotions run through me. Anger. Hurt. Sadness. It wasn't fair that I grew up with barely any food while people in my own family had this house.

I forced myself to the door to ring the door bell. I could hear it ringing through the entire house and I was jealous. I looked around the well kept house while waiting for the door to be answered. When I heard a click from behind I spun around to find a friendly old man staring at me.

"Hi." I said. "I'm Zooey. Zooey Evans?"

He looked me over and then his face broke into a huge grin. "Hi, Zooey. I'm Harold. Please come in."

**

"So they stayed in touch?" I said.

"In a way." Harold said handing me a cup of coffee.

"How?"

"Your father sent pictures. And letters. All of it was about you. He never said a word about him or your mother. His mother watched you grow up through those photos. She cried every time she got a letter." He smiled sweetly.

I was in shock. My father had stayed in touch with his mother. But only through me. He never spoke to his father again after he had basically disowned him. Apparently his mother felt bad because she knew how we were doing.

"So you knew who I was when you answered the door?" I asked.

He smiled and blushed slightly. "Yes." He admitted. "I knew it was you. I recognized you from the photos. I do wish she could have seen you now."

All of a sudden I felt angry. "Why didn't she ever send money? Or anything. We were starving."

His smile fell. "She tried. Your father always sent it back along with a new letter and a new picture. He didn't want anything to do with that money. Because it came from his father."

"That's so stupid!"

"I know. There wasn't much we could do."

"How did you know it was me? He died when I was six. That would have been the last photo and letter."

He shook his head. "We thought so too. But your mother continued to send them. Up until you moved out."

I sighed. I had been there listening to the story for hours. He had brought out all the letters and pictures that my grandmother had saved. I wanted to hate her but it was hard. She tried to do everything in her power to help but in the end my father only wanted to keep her up to date.

"Can I keep these?" I asked looking at the box in front of me.

"Yes."

I carefully placed everything back in the box and closed it tight. I took my cup to the sink and grabbed the box. "I should go. It's getting late and I need to make a phone call."

"Stay here." He blurted out.

"What?"

"It should belong to you. You should stay here. I could show you around and answer any questions you might have. I knew your father well. I watched him grow up." He smiled.

"I've already got a hotel." I said.

"I'll take you to get your stuff." He really did want me there.

"Okay."

**

After I had gotten all my stuff from my hotel room and dumped in on the floor of the room I would be staying in I decided to take a shower. I needed to clear my mind and I wasn't in the mood to unpack just yet. The shower was warm and soothing. What I really wanted was some sleep. And there was a large part of me that wanted to get back on tour with the guys.

I needed something funny to think about. Right now everything felt way to serious. When I got out of the shower I brushed my hair and put some baggy clothes on. I wasn't planning on leaving the room anytime soon. I smiled when I saw Alex's beanie on the dresser. Then I picked up my phone and dialed his number. I was about to give up when after the fifth ring he picked up.

"Hey, Zooey." I could tell he was smiling. Which made me smile.

"Hi, Alex."

"What's up?"

"Nothing. I just felt like calling. I haven't laughed all day. Kind of miss it." I smiled.

'Well, that can't be good-" I heard a voice in the background screaming. "IS THAT ZOOEY?" I giggled as I heard Jack's voice.

"Tell Jack I said hi." Alex leaned away from the phone and told him.

"He says hi back. I'm sure he'll want to talk later but right now it's my turn." Alex said.

"Cool."

"So what did you do today?"

"Visited her house. Met her butler."

"Butler?"

"Mhmm. Loads of money. Then he asked if I would stay. So I did. He said he would tell me about my dad if I asked."

"That's cool. When are you coming back?" I could tell he was smiling.

"Hopefully soon. I miss you guys." I said.

"GIVE ME THE PHONE." I heard Jack's voice again and then there was lots of banging on the phone. Then, "Hi, Zooey."

"Hi, Jack. What's up?"

"Oh nothing. The show tonight was awesome. We killed it." I could tell he was grinning.

"That's cool. Is Canada pretty?" I asked.

"Gorgeous really. No, Alex. I'm busy." He said.

"Why did you take then phone from Alex?" I felt like I was questioning a little kid.

"Because I wanted to talk to you."

"I see."

"Oh shit. He's going to tackle me. Or hit me. I can't tell. I'll talk to you later!" He yelled before dropping the phone.

"Hey, sorry." I heard Alex say.

"No worries." I giggled. "I miss you guys."

"We miss you. You need to come back soon. Our techies are being difficult."

I groaned. "Wonderful."

"Anyway. Shit. I have to go. They all want to go out or something. Call me tomorrow or whenever, okay?" He said.

"Okay. Bye, Alex."

"Bye, Zooey."

I grinned as I hung up the phone. I leaned back on my pillows thinking of the guys and how stupid they really were and soon I was drifting off to sleep.