True Love

Val's face contorted as she shoved another pretzel in her mouth, chewing slowly.

"No-" she mumbled, making Zack roll his eyes.

"what the hell is wrong with this one?" he grumbled, his stubby fingers pulling at the buttons before ripping the shirt off, tossing it onto the end of his bed with all the others Val had shot down.

"The color sucks," Val mused, earning a glower from Zack.

"what about-" she began, biting at her bottom lip- but suddenly her eyes went wide with excitement. "what about that grey button up and the black bow tie! You know?" her pointed finger shaking as she tried to find the words, "The one with the white polka-dots!"

Zack huffed, his chest rising and falling with a great force, "I swear to all that is fucking holy, this is the last fucking time I'm changing my goddamned shirt-" he continued to mumble, stomping back into the closet.

Val waited, her eyes moving quickly around the room.

Sitting on the dresser was a bouquet of pink calla lilies and white roses- she couldn't help but smile. She hadn't seen Zack trying so hard (over a girl, anyway) in years, okay, not since Mia...

It was then that her eyes lit up, a small smile crawling its way over her face- she knew it was never really any of her business, but with all the excitement around Zack and Mia, she wanted to see the ring.

The idea that Zack could eventually (okay, soon?) present the ring to Mia was exciting.

She crawled from the bed, her eyes focused on the black nightstand as she grabbed at the knob, pulling the drawer open. The drawers contents instantly busting out like it hadn't been opened in years, receipts, condoms and a myriad of other wadded papers.

The receipts only confirming her suspicions as she unfolded them- most of which were from at least 2007. She grabbed the four of five condoms still attached to each other, her eyes scanning quickly, she cringed- praying he hadn't dare use them because odds are, if he did he had probably fathered at least one more child (considering the expiration date on the package read 06-2009).

But it was at the sight of the black metal box- the one covered in Misfit, Metallica, and Pantera stickers that her train of thought derailed- the ring would most definitely be in there. She tossed the condoms onto the bed as she grabbed the box.

She sat the box on her lap, the sound of Zack muffling through the closet the only sound as she grabbed at the lid, lifting it carefully.

She wasn't surprised when the top of the box was nothing but papers. She began pulling them off a few at a time, laying them beside her on the bed. She smiled, finally revealing a corner of the Tiffany blue box.

But it was in that moment as she reached in that her finger brushed against a folded stack of carbon papers, the white, pink and yellow papers layered methodically- she went to push them out of the way, but at the sight of the heading, she felt a lump form in the back of her throat.

Her hands began to shake, her eyes burning as she began to unfold them.



Patient: Zachary James Baker
Diagnosis: Suidice Attempt by way of opiates and alcohol.
D.O.B: 12/11/1981

Case Information: Patient was delivered via EMS on 12/24/1999 at approximately 11:38 P.M. Patient presented with signs of toxic overdose. Patient was believed by parents to have ingested appx. 25 prescription painkillers (Meperidine) and an unknown amt. of 80 proof whiskey.

Patient was revived after receiving naloxone hydrochloride and activated charcoal. Side effects are not immediately known.

Patient has refused individual, group, and family therapy.

Presenting reason for the suicide attempt is said to be the departure of a long-term girlfriend-

"Val-" his voice was low and cautious, his arms hung at his sides. His green eyes were bright with worry and what looked like a trace of shame. Val had one hand clasped over her mouth as she held back sobs.

"Zack, I-" but she couldn't find the words. Her cheeks were splotchy-red and covered with black mascara tears. The spot just beside her on the bed sunk as Zack sat. "I guess I just..." she sniffled as he took the paper from her, looking over it. "I didn't forget," she cried, "I just...it was an awful memory so I-"

"Shoved it to the back of your mind?" Zack finished, "Me too. This was one of the worst nights of my life." he let out a low huff. "You know, up until Mia showed back up- I was angry this hadn't worked..."

He swallowed hard before letting out a deep breath, his heart skipping a beat as the memory of that night flooded his memory for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. His bedroom dark, one orange bottle and a bottle of Jack, the shitty song that would lull him into eternity filled the air and the cheap cigarette burning in the ashtray at his bedside.

"I guess the whole point of it was to pull one over on her. I thought if she had to come back to Huntington for my funeral...I'd win." he let out a forced laugh.

"Because she came back?" Zack nodded finally smiling.

"That, and if I had died- the last thing I would've heard was 98º, remember that song? The hardest thing...it was Mia's favorite..." Val couldn't help but let out a low laugh as she leaned into Zack's shoulder, letting him wrap her tight with his arm.

"God, she loved those fucking boy-bands..." Val murmured. The room went silent, "are you ever going to tell her?" Val asked quietly.

Zack didn't even have to think as he shook his head confidently.

"Nah," he was quick and confident in his answer. "I don't want her to dwell on it. It's not her fault...besides," he hesitated, "I want a future with her, ya know? And if I dwell on a stupid thing I did when I was a love-sick kid, I'll go crazy." Val just nodded.

She understood.
She also understood why he wasn't going to tell Mia. Mia wore her heart on her sleeve- she was emotional and she would have undoubtedly blamed herself. Besides, if Zack could forgive her- then she could too.

"Then you should probably get going...it's hard to woo the mother of your children when you're late."

Zack let out a laugh, fixing his bow tie one last time. Val handed him the bouquet, "now go get her."





No need, I'm already on the elevator down.

Her text came through before he even had the chance to step foot on the elevator.

He suddenly found himself thankful, mostly because he knew he'd never remembered the way to her office- but the walk would have given him time to calm down. His entire body was trembling, his palms wicked with sweat (he was sure the tissue paper encompassing the flowers was melting in his grip) and his heart was beating so loud he was sure everyone around him could hear it.

And for some reason he couldn't hear- it sounded like his head was under water, or maybe trapped inside a bubble.

His eyes fought to focus on the elevator.

But like someone took a needle to that mysterious bubble encompassing him, everything became loud.

His heart sped up (not that he knew it was possible.)

His smile spread wide as she strutted towards him.

She was in a short royal blue dress, the straps crossing over her chest, her black heels thin and strappy, her lips were stained a dark wine color and her curled hair was pulled over her right shoulder.

"Don't you look handsome," she spoke quietly as she reached up, stroking at his bowtie.

Zack let out a girlish giggle before spouting a less than graceful: "You look fuckin' amazing."

Mia couldn't even begin to hide her blush as a smile crept onto her porcelain face, her dimples going deep.

"These-" Zack finally managed, holding the bouquet out to Mia, "are for you..."

Mia took the flowers, taking a quick sniff. "They're beautiful, Zack."

He couldn't help but smile, "are you ready?"

She nodded, her dimples going even deeper as he took her hand in his, their fingers lacing together like the pieces of a puzzle.

After all these years Zack could hardly manage to comprehend how nervous he was. They had been on dates before- quite a few of them actually. But this, it felt like the first time all over.

Almost like it was the start of forever.

"Now," Zack started as they walked out of the to revolving door, "bear with me-"

But Mia stopped, she was in complete awe.

Because sitting in the roundabout was one lonely 1987 Chevy S10. It wasn't much different than she remembered. The paint was no longer black, but a washed out gray. There was rust by the wheel wells, and the rim on the back drivers-side tire was still missing.

"Zack-"

"If it's okay with you, we're going to recreate our first date-"

"Okay?" she muttered in disbelief, "It's so perfect..." She mumbled as he ushered her to the truck, helping her in the passenger side.

As they drove, the loud hum of the muffler ready to fall off roared, but Mia couldn't keep her mind from going into overdrive.

She remembered that date like it was yesterday.

She remembered Zack asking her out as they sat at his kitchen table and she tried to explain inorganic chemicals to him.

She remembered begging her parents to let her go.

She remembered the long drive to Huntington Beach High and the walk to the baseball diamond. She remembered the bright lights shining down on the field. She remembered the picnic on the pitcher's mound and the cheap wine Zack had lifted from the mini-mart just down the block. She remembered the pizza and dancing in the truck bed under the stars as Just To Hear You Say You Love Me played over the speakers. He had all the doors and windows open letting it play.

But she could hardly believe that he had remembered all of it.

And just like it was over a decade ago, there was a checkered red and white blanket sitting on the pitcher's mound. The picnic basket sat with one side open, a bottle and two flutes sticking out.

All the field lights were lit, illuminating the green AstroTurf.

Zack pulled the bottle from the basket, smiling as he popped the cork.

"Dom Pérignon?" Mia asked, one eyebrow arched high as she fought her smile, watching as Zack poured the champagne into the flute.

"Yeah, and I actually paid for this bottle."

"You always were quite the romantic."

"Hey, I risked jail time to get you a bottle of wine!" he couldn't help but laugh, "That was pretty awful shit though."

Mia wanted to lie, but her laugh told him otherwise: "You're right it was awful wine. Still the best date I've ever been on," she minded, making his heart flutter.

"Oh yeah?" she just nodded, thanking him as he handed her the champagne flute. "Do I need to cut you off after one glass, or do I not have to worry about your dad chasing me on foot for three blocks?"

"No dad this time," she spoke, "You'll have to deal with our inquisitive daughters, but they're pretty easy to buy off."

It was all right here in front of him but Zack still had to resist pinching himself, because he still couldn't believe this was all real. Had someone told him six months ago that he be sitting on the same old baseball diamond with Mia, and they would have two teenage daughters, he wouldn't have believed it.

"Hm-" Zack mumbled as Mia reached over, touching his cheek.

"You okay?" she asked, her eyes chalked full of worry.

He let out a low chuckle, "Perfect,"

"So, I was thinking..." Mia started, taking a slow sip of the bubbly champagne. "you should come home with me tonight. It would be nice if you were there when the girls wake up tomorrow."

"I'd love that..."