Because of You

by David Horne

  “Don’t do that, I am going to go to Tom’s house and hang out with my friends. I am not changing my mind, so please just drop it.” Zack picked up his coffee and took a long deep sip of it. The fact that Rebecca was turning out to be clingy was making Zack worry.

  He didn’t like the possessiveness the girl was starting to slowly but surely to show more and more.

  They were sixteen now, they had been dating for three years now but the seams were starting to fray.

  “But I want to spend time with you.” Rebecca huffed, crossing her arms. A frown marring her pretty face. Rebecca had blossomed over the three years, her body becoming more feminine, her face slowly losing its baby fat. She also started to dress in a way that made Zack raise an eyebrow. It wasn’t scandalous but the sudden change made Zack wonder what she and her older friends were up to when he wasn’t around.

  “I see you every day too and the last two weekends I spent with your friends doing things you guys like. I deserve to go out with my friends.” Zack was getting frustrated by her lack of understanding and her trying to stop him from hanging out with his friends.

  “I don’t like your friends. What do you four even do when you hang out? Just sit and play stupid video games?” Rebecca sneered at the mention of video games.

  Zack frowned, a deep face marring frown. He took out his wallet and placed the money covering their bill plus a tip under his cup and stood up.

  “Zack?” Rebecca watched on confused as Zack grabbed his jacket and walked out the door without saying a word.

  Leaving her half-finished latté, Rebecca grabbed her purse and walked as fast as she could on her heels to try and catch up with Zack. Luckily for her, he wasn’t walking his usual fast-paced walk.

  “Zack, where do you think you’re going?” She demanded as she matched his pace and grabbed his arm. He shrugged her hand off and glared at her.

  “I’m going home, I can play fucking video games with my friends if I want to, they are my friends, I don’t say what I think about your friends in respect to you but clearly you don’t feel the same. So, I am going home and getting ready to go to Tom’s house and have an awesome weekend with my friends.” Zack turned back to face the way he was going and kept walking.

  “What do you mean you don’t say what you think of my friends?” Rebecca blinked at Zack, confused. Zack scoffed and kept walking.

  “I don’t like your friends but you don’t see me dragging you to hang out with my friends. I don’t want to spend time with your friends.” Zack said as he stopped at the grocery store on his way home.

  Rebecca followed him inside and watched as he grabbed a basket.

  “How can you not like my friends?” She asked, honestly confused as to why her boyfriend didn’t like her friends. They were so cool and always aware of the trends. They always went to the coolest parties and bought her drinks and even occasionally some cool clothes and other goodies.

  Zack grabbed some chips, sodas and other sweets such as cookies and candies.

  “They’re not my type of people, they do things I don’t like doing. They constantly call me killjoy when I don’t want to get shitfaced drunk, I don’t like the clothing they want me to wear. They want to change me when I am more than happy with who I am.” Zack told her as he walked to stand in line to pay for his things.

  “But Zack, they are so cool. Your friends are so… boring. All they do is play video games and goof around. I mean come on; I have never seen any of your friends go to parties.” Rebecca looked at Zack as if he would agree with her.

  Zack paid and grabbed the bags of goodies.

  “Life isn’t about what expensive clothes and what parties you go to Becca, at least not for me. Just so you know, we don’t just sit around and play video games, we go out to the mall when we go to the movies or just want to hang out in the food court. We go camping and they come to my dad’s auto-shop and we have fun looking at the cars and they help me from time to time moving big stuff and getting extra cash. I don’t like the lifestyle you seem to like Becca, that’s fine but stop trying to make me like it when I won’t.”

  Zack’s look told her that she had pushed too hard and that she should back up but she couldn’t help but try one more time.

  “Please? You can see them next weekend.”

  Stopping dead in his tracks, Zack slowly turned on his heel to face his girlfriend.

  “I am going to visit my friends and if you can’t deal with that, then we’re through.” Zack hissed at her and walked away.

  Rebecca had thrown a tantrum with text messages and so on and for a few weeks, they had broken up, but within a week Rebecca had begged for Zack take her back.

  This continued on and off for two years. Zack had gotten tired and was in talks to just end it for good, but Rebecca had started to get her act together and they stopped being an on and off.

  At the beginning of their senior year, John’s sister’s son came to live with them. His name was Greg and Zack and he got along well enough. He joined the boy’s group but Greg got tired of the things they did for fun, he then joined Rebecca’s friend group.

  Zack didn’t really care as he knew Greg would fit in more there. The guy always had the newest trends and designer brands, he wanted to be seen at all the most popular places.

  He, too, wanted Zack to hang out more with Rebecca, but Zack was a lot less gentle in telling Greg that he did not like the things Rebecca and her friends did for fun.

  Greg didn’t bring it up again.

  Zack started to officially work at his father’s auto-shop. It helped his already incredible physique.

  It made him get more attention.

  And through all of this, Tom was miserable.

  He had developed a crush on Zack, he was just unable to help his feelings that grew for his friend but, there was just so much to like in Zack.

  At first, he just liked the way Zack looked, his honey-colored skin and brown eyes made him look so ethereal. His latin genes strong in his facial structure. His once lithe body, the lanky arms and legs of a growing teenager vanished and was replaced with wiry muscles and gone was all the baby fat.

  Zack had dragged Tom into jogging with him in the mornings before school. It did do Tom some good too as he lost the last bits of baby fat as well and felt a bit better about wanting to start a culinary career.

  Steve was the first one to notice his growing feelings for their friend. When the two of them were alone, Steve had asked, Tom had sputtered and mumbled at the beginning but ultimately told the truth of his feelings. Steve had tried to get Tom to confess, but when Steve had gotten enough courage into Tom, Zack had started dating Rebecca.

  All the confidence vanished and Tom was left disgruntled, Steve told him not to worry, that he couldn’t see them lasting long. Cody was then brought into the circle of knowledge.

  Thus, they were all very much surprised that the relationship lasted as long as it did.

  Slowly doubt began to set in Tom’s mind. Was Zack even gay? He never said anything about anyone, which made the sudden relationship even more surprising.

  So, Cody was the one to come up with an idea, they would all take a quiz of their ideal boyfriend and/or girlfriend. It worked, and that was how the three found out that Zack was bisexual.

  It gave Tom some hope as he too saw Zack and Rebecca’s relationship not lasting all that long.

  However, it did last longer than they thought it would but yet also it didn’t. They soon became known for their on-and-off-again relationship. It annoyed everyone, even Brenda and John mentioned how odd it was that Zack just kept taking Rebecca back. Zack’s only reply to them was a half-hearted shrug.

  Brenda had also seen the growing love Tom had for Zack. She had talked to him, just the two of them and asked him instead point-blunt if he liked her son. Not seeing any reason to lie, Tom admitted that he like Zack very much.

  Tom watched as the woman crossed her arms and gave a sigh.

  “I don’t like that gir
l.” Brenda admitted as she looked off to the side.

  “Zack doesn’t take well to change. If he decides to do something it’s not so bad for him, but when it’s forced, he doesn’t react well in most cases. It has improved but I can’t help but think that Zack is staying with Rebecca so that nothing changes. It’s that hardheaded trait that makes me feel better. I know that Rebecca won’t drag Zack into doing things he doesn’t want to do, but I can’t help but fear that something will happen and I know it will involve that… girl.” Brenda clearly had been thinking about it for a while.

  She then told Tom that she knew the relationship wouldn’t last no matter how good things looked from the outside. Zack’s refusal to join her lifestyle choices as well as her being unable to just let Zack have room to breathe will be the end of the relationship in some shape or manner.

  It gave Tom some hope the more he hung out with Zack. The more his heart started to do a better and better impression of a tap dance on his ribcage, and his stomach’s supplies of butterflies doubled each time.

  Zack’s love for mechanical workings grew as he learned more about engineering.

  When they hung out, they started to talk about what they wanted to do after school. Tom knew he wanted to have his own restaurant one day, his friends were always so supportive, Zack more so.

  Cody wanted to go into law, follow his father’s footsteps and hopefully join the company his father worked at. Steve wanted to follow his mother into the police force.

  Zack gave an unsure shrug, his face looking slightly pinched.

  “Go study engineering.” Was the bland answer, the other boys knew Zack wanted to go into engineering but it sounded like there was something else. Zack, however, didn’t budge when they probed and poked at him all night long.

  Then into the picture came Greg Mason, John’s nephew. He looked a lot like John, the family resemblance was there. At first, Greg seemed like a nice guy to the three friends, Zack being the one to show him around.

  It became evident that Greg was not meant for their group as he was boisterous, a show-off and just a real party animal. He was a year older than the rest of them, having moved to the Cul-de-sac to be closer to his college. He had a personality more suited to get along better, far better, with Rebecca’s friends.

  So, Zack introduced Greg to Rebecca and Tom just happened to be visiting when the introductions were made. Both he and Brenda saw the instant click the two had, the gleam in Greg’s eyes.

  Tom didn’t like it. He didn’t want Zack to be cheated on, he mentioned it to Brenda. She agreed that Greg and Rebecca had better chemistry than Zack and Rebecca. Still, they didn’t understand why Rebecca was so focused on being with Zack.

  From the outside, what everyone else saw was an on-again-off-again relationship finally settling and the two people involved finally getting the right balance.

  What they didn’t see was the doubt creeping into Zack’s heart, the annoyance when Rebecca brought up her friends in a way that Zack could hear was a hidden insult to his own friends.

  He just didn’t want to throw away years of a relationship. He wanted to see if Rebecca would change once she got away from her friends. That was the reason in the beginning but now, he knew he was just staying where he was because it was comfortable. He knew it was wrong. Still, he was under the impression that it was just a high school relationship, that after high school and the start of college, Rebecca would move somewhere else and the relationship would only be a high school fling at best.

  Zack was unaware, however, that Rebecca had their wedding planned out. She had it all planned out. She would convince Zack to come to her college and study there so they could be together, no long distant relationship for her. She would go into her fashion degree and Zack could do his engineering degree and they could get married once they finished college. Get a lovely modern house and have three kids.

  If Zack knew, he would have stopped the relationship a long time ago.

  The peace and norms were shattered on one Friday afternoon. The teens had finished school, their graduation over and their summer before college mayhem started, the four friends decided to go out for a movie, like old times.

  They would all stay and go to nearby colleges but it was more to say goodbye to their time as high schoolers and all the good times they had as teenagers.

  Zack had forgotten his wallet, with his ticket in it. They were also planning on eating out and Zack was adamant that he paid for himself.

  The house seemed empty at first. No creaking of floors or shifting of weight anywhere.

  Taking the steps two steps at a time, Zack was up into the hallway. He came closer to Greg’s door before he heard a low groan. Flushing, Zack looked at the door and then at his own, it was just down the hall but he would have to pass Greg’s room and clearly the man had company over. He didn’t want to bother the lovemaking, so just slowly tiptoed his way but stopped dead in his tracks when a second voice moaned.

  He knew that voice. Shock filled his system and he slowly turned to face the door, a few seconds later, there it was. Another moan floated through the door. This time a name, a definitive name.

  It was Rebecca moaning Greg’s name. The house being as quiet as it was and being so close to the door and adrenaline pumping through his body, Zack started to hear the characteristic sounds of sex.

  The slapping of sweaty skin on skin, the soft creak of a bedframe, soft gasping breaths and a faint bang of a headboard banging on a wall.

  Slowly, as if he was moving through syrup, Zack gripped the doorknob and slowly turned the knob. The door opening with a creak was loud enough to alert the coupling duo.

  Rebecca lost all pallor in her face; her face one of pure shock. Greg looked to be in a similar state of shock as his mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish.

  The stab of betrayal hurt more than Zack thought it would, he knew he didn’t think their relationship would last but he never expected to be cheated on.

  Slowly backing away, Zack was broken out of his shock when Rebecca pushed Greg away and revealed the messy scene between them.

  “Zack, wait, please let me explain!” Rebecca near screamed as she frantically searched for her panties.

  Not listening, Zack ran to his room, grabbed his wallet and was out the house before the two upstairs were in their underwear. Once it was apparent that Zack had left Greg, talked Rebecca into staying until Zack came back, not that he wanted to talk to Zack, he just wanted to spend time with Rebecca.

  Unlucky for him as Rebecca spent that time calling her friends, telling them her side of the story, and then after getting advice from her friends. She tried to call Zack, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

  It would be hours later before anything was heard.

  Chapter Four

  Tom looked at his phone, a frown marring his face and concern wafting from him like a thick odor. Cody and Steve were also anxious, it wasn't like Zack to be late, he was the one that would always be early or on the latest, on time.

  Looking around in hopes that maybe Zack was just not hearing his phone but, there was no Zack to be seen.

  Pressing the speed dial number for Zack's number again, Tom held the phone to his ear. It just went on ringing. Zack didn't pick up again.

  They were going to the movies as one last hurrah to their lives as high school students. It was Zack's idea to do this so, that begged the question as to where the man was.

  "Zack still not picking up?" Steven asked, a look of concern on his own face. Cody stood between his girlfriend and Steve's boyfriend, all three of them and looks of worry on their faces.

  "No, and it's the seventh time I tried to call him." Tom said with a sigh at the end, rubbing both hands over his face roughly. He wondered if something had delayed him.

  Cody must have thought the same as he came closer, the two dates walking closer too.

  "What if Rebecca got her claws into him again. They could be fighting somewhere like that one time when she w
anted to go on a date, but Zack told her that he had already made arrangements with us to go to that amusement park last year." Cody said, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend.

  Zack had asked if she wanted to come along as his girlfriend, but Rebecca made it clear that she didn't like the idea of an amusement park or hanging out with his friends.

  It turned into a big fight that almost had them breaking up again, but Rebecca had become smart in learning when to back off with Zack, she didn't press the matter and let him go off.

  "Maybe he got held up at his house?" Maria, Cody's girlfriend, asked the whole group. She was a fair mousy girl but with a big heart and everyone loved her to bits.

  "Yeah, Zack is never late for anything, he loves hanging out with us. He would have called if he were late, so maybe we should just go to his house and see if he's there?" Taylor, Steve's boyfriend, offered his idea.

  The group decided that it was for the best anyway as the movie most likely had already started. It was pointless to wait any longer and worry was eating at Tom's heart enough to make him sick to his stomach.

  They all got into their cars and drove to Zack's house. Turning into the cul-de-sac, they all noticed that Zack's car was not in the driveway but both his parents' and Greg's cars were.

  Parking and locking their cars, the group of five young adults walked to the door and knocked on the door.

  It took a few minutes before Brenda opened the door, she had a confused smile on her face, looking at each young adult as if to look for Zack but when she couldn't find him, her eyes landed on Tom.

  "Where's Zack? He said he would be going to the movies with you all." Brenda stepped back and allowed the young adults to come in and closed the door after them. She made a detour to the kitchen to get everyone some beverages and came into the living room to see Tom looking at his phone in pure worry.

  John was the first to break the silence by addressing the elephant in the room.

  "Where is Zack?"

  Tom ran his hand over his face again.

  "We were hoping he would be here, we tried to call him, but he isn't answering and seeing as the movie started, we decided to see if he was here. Obviously, he isn’t here." Tom explains as he types another message to Zack. After he sent the message, he pressed the contacts icon and selected Zack's name again.