Time Goes On
by Chelle

~ CHAPTER 17 ~

As November began, things got busy around the Hanson household. The guys were now recording final tracks for a new album, and Thanksgiving plans, as well as Christmas approaching, brought on stress and excitement.
Diana and Walker had invited me to spend the holiday at their home along with the 4 aunts, 6 uncles and 12 cousins that would be joining them. "Everyone wants to meet you. Zac has talked about you nonstop and their curiosity is getting the better of them." Diana told me late one morning while we were having coffee in her kitchen. I was there to give school lessons and was waiting on Avery to get done with the Science test she had started before I'd arrived. "Zac's been talking about me nonstop huh?" I asked, looking over at where he was standing by the back door. He just grinned and kept his eyes on the backyard. I graciously accepted their offer and had begun getting things ready at the breakfast table for Avery's work. She came bouncing down the stairs and handed Diana her test before grabbing a Dr.Pepper out of the fridge and sitting at the breakfast table where I now had her stuff laid out for her. "Just do this and then I'll look over it and we'll go from there." I smiled as she nodded. Diana handed me the math grade book. Then, she took her coffee, a pen, the science test and a history paper Avery had done the night before, into her bedroom. I went over Zoe's assignments for the day as Avery frowned, starting her dreaded math. Things got into the routine and began to quiet down as the kids worked on their school work and the guys retreated into their studio.
"Mel, I need to talk to you." I was sitting alone in the kitchen grading Avery's work when I heard a voice from the door. I turned to see Ike walking in and watched him pour a glass of tea. "Want something to drink?" he asked softly. I shook my head, picking up the bottle of water on the table. He nodded and took a sip from his glass. He had a worried frown on his face... but he had that look quite often with Karen being due soon and the stress of the album.
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked. I seemed to pull him out of a deep thought. His head jerked up and he glared at me, then asked "What?" I put the pen down and pushed Avery's paper over to the side. "You said you needed to talk to me. About what?" He took a deep breath and sat in the chair next to mine.
"Melissa, I want to talk to you about you and Zac." He looked at me as if waiting for me to argue. I just nodded and raised my eyebrows. He continued, "I just don't understand how either of you can go on as if nothing happened." I sighed deeply and he said "I know, you both want to forget." I looked at him as he took another sip of his tea. Then he put his hand on mine and sighed before he continued "I really would just like to know how you can forget what he did to you. I know the bruises are gone and that things have been going really good for a while..."
I suddenly answered "Yes Isaac, the bruises are gone, and things have been going really good! Why do you insist that he'll hurt me again? Why can't you just forget it too?"
He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. Without opening them he said "Because I know him. I know what he's done before." He opened his eyes and squeezed my hand. "He's hurt every girl he's ever been with. His first girlfriend was a girl who lived down the street from us when he was 13. He dated her for 4 months and he used to slap her right across the face!" Ike's voice was raising now. "Then the next day, he'd take a bouquet of flowers to her and say he was sorry. But it never stopped. The worst time was with a girl when he was 15. He got drunk and beat the shit out of her cause she smiled at a hotel employee! Then Courtney was the one he dated the longest and he beat her and treated he like hell! You saw the pictures! What are you thinking Melissa?!" He glared at me and I looked away.
I knew he wasn't lying about any of it but I just couldn't seem to get around the fact that Zac was so sweet and loving with me. At least he had been. I kept wondering if I could let it go and forgive him, why couldn't his family. I just didn't understand. Before I could say anything I heard a voice that made me look up at the kitchen entrance.
"Mel, Ike? What's going on?" Zac stood with his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes darted between me and Ike.Isaac just stood up and shook his head before walking out. Zac came over and sit in the chair where his brother had just been. He looked at me and asked "Melissa, what was all the yelling about?" I glanced at him and back down at my hands resting on the table. I shrugged and he said "Tell me what happened." I just replied "It was nothing. Really, everything is fine." He looked at me and in his eyes I could see that this was not our last conversation about what Ike and I had been talking about. For the time being though, he just smiled and kissed me before going into the living room.
I finished Avery's paper and helped Zoe with her writing, Mac with his math and history and then helped Diana plan their next assignments. That afternoon, I stood by the door, pulling on my coat and chatting with Walker, who had just returned home, about the possible snow later that week that the weatherman had predicted. Zac put on his leather jacket and walked me to my car. "See you later?" he whispered in my ear while hugging me. "For a movie if you'll pick up some dinner on the way." I whispered back. He pulled away smiling and replied "7-ish?" I nodded and got into my car. He and Diana stood at the door and waved as I pulled away.
All the way home, I kept thinking about Isaac's words and I knew when Zac got to my house, it would be brought up again. I also knew that I wanted to ask about Courtney and what I'd been told he'd done to her. I was so nervous about what his reaction would be that by the time I walked into my house, my stomach was turning flips and I felt a terrible lump in my throat. I glanced at the clock as I put my things down... 4:45. Rubbing my arms as the chill in the house hit when I took my coat off, I walked into the kitchen. I got a cup from the cabinet and filled it with water. I put it into the microwave and pushed the buttons to heat it. Walking out of the kitchen and back into the living room, I pulled my shoes off and turned the heater on. Jumping at the beeping, signaling that the microwave was done heating the cup of water, I whispered "Get a hold of yourself." I walked into the kitchen and took a single bag of Gingerbread tea out of a small container and dropped it into the cup of hot water. I walked into the living room and sat on the couch, sipping the tea and flipping through the channels on TV. After watching a cooking show for about an hour, I then watched some of the discovery channel's "Story of the Challenger".
Afterwards, I got up and walked into my room. Pulling open my dresser drawer, I pulled out the envelope with Courtney's pictures. I looked at each one as I sat on my bed. I felt chills at the thought that Zac was able to do such terrible things to someone. I studied the photos and notes that she had written. I read over the letters that she'd written to Diana and tears began to fall at the details of her fear, sadness and constant emotional and physical pain. She had written word for word everything that he'd ever said or done to her and had dated the pages. I just shook my head as I wondered how Zac would react. What would he say and do? Would he just walk out? Would he hit me? Would he try to deny it? The fact that I was questioning his actions didn't help. I knew he had done this but just couldn't stop telling myself that it wasn't possible. My mind raced with what to say... how was I going to go about bringing it up? Oh God... the thought flashed that he doesn't even know I have this stuff. Then it hit me... did he even know about the photos and notes and letters? Did he even know that his parents and brothers knew about this? I felt sick and my heart beat faster and faster... I just knew it would come out of my chest at any moment!
Suddenly, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a knock on the door... "Well, now or never." I whispered. I walked into the living room and opened the door. I was greeted by the delicious smell of takeout junk food, and the sight of a beautiful bouquet of roses and his wide smile.

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