The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity. Maybe she had caller ID or something, and she was avoiding his call. No, no that couldn't be because she wasn't mad at him remember?
"One more ring and I'm hanging up."
The phone rang once more, only this time, halfway through the ring, the phone was picked up.
"Hello?"
Zac felt a small knot in the pit of his stomach. It was definitely her voice, and she was definitely not mad, but she probably didn't know it was him. He shook his head. That didn't matter, he had to again remind himself the she couldn't be mad at him.
"Uh, Kristen?"
There was a pause, he didn't quite know how to take it, it could be a good pause he thought, maybe she was thinking how wonderful it was to hear from him again.
"What."
Ouch. Okay so maybe she wasn't happy to hear from him.
"I was just calling to see how you were doing...that's all."
"I'm fine. Is that all you wanted to know? I'm really busy, I have lots to do tonight."
"Well yeah, I mean, I just wanted to see..."
"Zac listen, don't get me wrong, I definitely thought I saw something in your normally juvenile eyes, that told me maybe I should persue this, but obviously I was wrong. I have lots of things to do and if your just going to call me to ask me how I'm doing then I really think you should hang up the phone and I'll do the same."
Zac shook his head. Oh please he thought, she couldn't actually think he was juvenile, what had he done that had been that wrong?
"Juvenile?"
"I think that's what I said Zac, you just don't seem to understand that you aren't the only person in the world with troubles. Everyone has them, I have them too."
"Wait a minute, I never even said you didn't have troubles...what exactly gives you the impression I even think that?"
"You know Zac, because you were having a crappy day yesterday, I got dumped on too. You can't expect to drag everyone else down just because your day isn't a charmer. You have to realize that. I'm real sorry your mom kicked you outta the house, and I'm really really sorry that you and Taylor didn't get along the other night, I'm even sorry that you and Tammy aren't having a peachy time, but can you for once, just please understand that people are trying to help out and cheer you up?"
Zac was flitering on anger.
"I don't even know where your coming from. What did I do?"
"That's right Zac, what did you do?"
Sighing Zac walked into the living room, throwing himself down on the easy chair laying back.
"I don't know! That's what I'm trying to explain to you. If you aren't going to clue me in, what's the point of having this conversation?"
"Last night Zac, I was trying to get you out of the house, like maybe we could go do something, you would at least think that you'd be open to suggestions, I was going to ask you, and you snapped at me. Like I said it's not my fault that your having a bad day."
"I snapped at you?"
"Yeah, you did."
"Maybe we aren't on the same level here, because I don't think I snapped at you at all."
"Zac, look. Like I said, I thought you felt the same way I did, really, but now I realize you just aren't in the mood for any kind of relationship. I understand. You want space you can have it."
"Kristen...wait."
"Zac, I'm going to hang up the phone now, if you have something more to say, think about this conversation and call me when I'm not so mad."
"You never said you were mad..."
"Never mind Zac, I'm going now."
"No, please...wait."
He dropped the phone in his lap as the click on the other end sounded through the phone. She'd done what she'd said she was going to do, she actually hung up on him.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, holding it in his chest until he couldn't stand it anymore.
"I take it it didn't go so well?"
Tammy set down the book she was reading and folded her legs under her.
"I don't really want to talk about it."
"Well then, I don't want to hear about it."
"I don't mean it like that, I mean...not right now. I don't want to talk about it right now."
Tammy nodded.
"Whenever you want."
Tammy smiled. It was like the two of them weren't okay with referring to eachother as family when the other was present, but it was just fine with them if they did so to Tammy.
"He's sleeping. He had a rough night after you went to bed."
Isaac walked from the room to the bathroom, leaving the door open as he washed his face and shaved.
"How come?"
"He and Kristen fought over the phone. She basically told him that unless he could find his head and grow up, he was about to be left behind."
Isaac nodded.
"You can't honestly say that Zac is prime dating material."
Tammy shrugged, reaching for her slippers.
"I don't know, don't you remember being 16? What exactly was dating then, I mean, sure, he may not be the most grown up person in the world, but you have to admit, he's probably got a lot more going on in his life then a lot of people."
"You can't make that an excuse though."
"No, I can't, but c'mon, he's not going through a cake walk."
Isaac sighed, leaning his head out the door he shook his head.
"Tammy, Zac hasn't ever been good at girls. Mind you, they all love to look at him, he's like a toy, they like to play with him, but at the same time, he is a toy, and usually sooner then later, he gets put back in the box. He's not a long term kind of person."
"Well maybe Kristen needs to know that."
"I wouldn't put it upon yourself to tell her."
"Why not?"
"Because Tammy, it's not your relationship remember? If she wanted to be with Zac, she would have found that out that hard way, she may still want to, you need to let him tell her, or she needs to ask."
Tammy stood up off the bed.
"It's just so...sad to watch I guess."
"Oh c'mon honey. It's a teenage relationship. There will be tens more like it."
"So."
Isaac hoped that Tammy would keep her opinion to herself this time. It was one of those things that needed to be self taught, even if Zac was only 16, and even if it was only a teen relationship. Zac had a lot of learning to do in the next couple months, and this wasn't even a tenth as hard as a lot of those lessons would be. He might as well start his education in life now.
Diana was worried things would go wrong while she was away.
"Yeah I know mom, You want me to go over and feed the fish and the dog, and call up at Linda's every few days to check on jess, I know."
"Yes but that was a last minute arrangment, you know how jess and kyla don't get along all the time, if she needs to come stay with you guys, you'll let her right? She really didn't want to go with us."
"Mom they'll be fine."
"That's not what I asked Ike."
"Yes mom, Jess can come stay with us at least till you get back."
"And you'll pick up the mail every day?"
"When I come to feed the dog mom."
Diana sighed.
"Is Zac alright? I mean, is he being good for you and Tammy?"
"He's being just fine mom."
"Is he yelling and disobeying?"
Isaac shook his head.
"Mom, you guys are about to go away for 2 weeks, we'll talk about this when you get back, you don't need to be thinking about Zac while your gone okay?"
"But honey."
"Mom. We'll talk abou this later. I can assure you he's nothing Tammy and I can't handle."
"If Jess comes you have to make sure he's nice to her."
"Mom. Stop okay? Everythings going to be fine."
She sighed once more.
"Thank you honey."
"It's no problem."
"You guys have fun while we're gone."
"You too mom, Tammy says have a good trip."
Diana laughed.
"When are you going to marry that girl?"
"Mom. That too is a discussion for later."
The two laughed.
"Alright honey, I'll see you when you get back. Thank you so much for taking care of all this."
Isaac smiled.
"It's really no problem mom."
"Love you Isaac."
"Love you too mom."
The two hung up, leaving Isaac chuckling and shaking his head.
"Tammy, mom sends her love!"
"So, how's my little brother?"
"Alright mom, I get it okay?"
