"C.J, you're not going" Zac said. Kayla, Jaymi, Zac, C.J, Taylor and Isaac were all sitting in Mrs. Wilson's living room and C.J had just told the group that she had to leave that night. C.J sighed.
"I wish I didn't have to go but I do Zac... my plane ticket isn't an open return... I have to go tonight" She said. C.J had been staying with some family friends who lived in Tulsa but her welcome was running out.
"Stay here...." Jaymi started. "Mom and Doug wouldn't mind... and Carly would love it... I'm here for another few months but when the baby's born, I'm outta here.... Carly's been kinda down about that... but really, I'm sure it'll be fine for you to live here... C.J, we've just gotten you back... and I'm sure as hell not gonna lose you again". C.J smiled
"That's a great thought Jay... but my parents... they're back together now and it took a lot of convincing for my dad to let me come here... my Mom would probably say yes to me staying here... but I don't think my dad would..." C.J said.
"Well don't ask your Dad... C.J, I'm not gonna let you go" Zac said. As he said it, he took hold of C.J's hand.
"Well, C.J... welcome to the family" Mrs. Wilson said after she hung up the phone after talking to C.J's mother. C.J's face lit up in a smile.
"You mean they said yes?" She asked. Mrs. Wilson nodded. C.J had called her mother and asked if she could stay a few extra day's. Then, Mrs. Wilson had called Mrs. Appelton and explained that C.J wanted to live in Tulsa. At first, Mrs. Appelton had said no to C.J staying, but after a while she started to understand how C.J felt about her father and said yes to staying. C.J was happy that she was going to be living with the twin's mother, who was like a second mother to C.J. Carly glanced at C.J.
"So you're gonna live here to?" She asked. C.J nodded.
"Look's like it..." She said. Carly smiled.
"Great, now I'm not gonna be left alone with Ben" She said. C.J laughed. She then stood up.
"Is it ok if I go and see Zac?"
"Sure.... you don't have to ask C.J. The twins never did... all they did was tell me where they were going and then they would call if they were going to be late... don't worry honey, I won't keep tabs on your life... but I am now responsible for you... so don't go doing anything you know your mom wouldn't approve of ok?" Mrs. Wilson said. C.J grinned.
"Ok... I wont... Julia... I just wanna thank you for all of this, letting me stay here so I can be with the twins and Zac... you don't know how grateful I am" C.J said, giving Mrs. Wilson a hug. She hugged C.J back.
"It's ok C.J. I've missed you and I'm happy to have you back" She said. C.J smiled again and then set off for Zac's house.
"You're staying?" Zac asked, a grin forming on his face. C.J nodded.
"I'm staying" She said. Zac gave a yell of joy and then he picked up C.J and spun her around. Once he set C.J on the ground he kissed her. He surprised both himself and C.J. Once they pulled away, they stood in an awkward silence. "We need to talk Zac" She said after a while. Zac nodded and the both of them went out into the crisp October air. They sat down on the front porch and Zac took C.J's hand in his. "Where do things stand between us?" She asked. Zac shrugged.
"You don't have a boyfriend or anything do you?" Zac asked. C.J shook her head.
"No... you aren't dating Amy are you?" C.J asked. Zac shook his head.
"No way... we're just friends" He said. C.J looked at Zac.
"Well.... are we still together or what?"
"We are if you want to be"
"Do you want to be?"
"If you do" Zac said. C.J groaned.
"Zac! ya gotta tell me. I mean, I want to be together and I want to know if you do to because I don't want to push you into a relationship that you don't want-". Zac cut C.J off by kissing her again. C.J gave into the kiss.
"I want to be together C.J. I love you. I've never stopped loving you and I always will love you... got it?" Zac asked as he stared into C.J's eye's. C.J smiled and nodded.
"Uh, excuse me... is Jess here?" A boy asked as he walked up to C.J and Zac. Zac stood up, his face becoming hard and cold.
"Who are you?" He demanded.
"Coldan... Jess is expecting me" Coldan stammered. Just then Jessica walked out the front door.
"Hi Coldan... Zac, leave him alone. He's nothing like Jon and Taylor has already played twenty questions with him. And he got Tay's approval" Jessica said, walking past her brother and over to Coldan. C.J laughed as Zac sat down and watched Jessica and Coldan walk away.
"Did you have other girlfriends while I was... well... away?" C.J asked. Zac shook his head
"Nope... I always felt guilty about liking another girl... my heart always belonged to you" Zac said. C.J smiled. She then remembered the cigarette pack that had fallen from Zac's pocket the day they had found each other. She decided to bring it up.
"Uh Zac... about the other day... I ah, I saw the cigarettes.... when did you start smoking?" C.J asked. Zac hung his head down and took his time answering. He had hoped that C.J hadn't seen them but she had, now he had to explain himself.
"About two years ago... I can't quite remember... I just found that drinking and smoking took my mind off of the pain of losing you" Zac said.
"You drank to??"
"Yep... I went out, partied, got stoned, drunk, I've gone joy riding, talked back to my parents, quit the band, quit school, I've shop lifted..." Zac said. C.J sat in silence.
"I can't believe you did all that... " C.J said quietly.
"You think I'm proud of it? Well C.J I'm not ok?... When I think about how shitty my life has become... the countless time's I've made mom cry and Dad angry... I've basically run away from them numerous times... I mean, they had no idea weather I was alive or not... I never called them and when I was home... I was an asshole to them... a real fuck head... I've really messed up my life"
"Because of me...." C.J said. Zac shook his head.
"No... not because of you.... it was my choice to start getting drunk and so off my face that I thought stealing a car and then going joy riding was the best thing in the world... and it's my choice to stop it all... I don't want to ruin things with you because of my stupidity. I've got to start facing my problems and not running away from them"
"It wont be easy Zac"
"I know.... but I can do it... I've already started... I've given up marijuana and drinking" Zac said. C.J smiled.
"That's great... you just have to give up the rest" She said. Zac nodded.
"And with you're help I can do it" He said.
"Well, you've got it... anytime you need me I'm here for you ok?"
"Ok" Zac said, pulling C.J close to kiss her.
Chapter Eleven
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