Zachary
The party wore on like a bad dream. All I could think about was how Cheyenne and I could never work out no matter how hard we tried. I missed her so much. Why did that asshole Mateo have to ask her to join their fucking band in the first place? If he hadn’t done that, she’d be here with me now.
“Screw it,” I mumbled and downed the whole bottle. I’d drown her memory out tonight.
Beer empty, I wandered over to the bar and ordered another one. My head was spinning. How long had I been here?
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Come on, Zachary. I think you’ve had enough.”
Kristie
I was really going to quit smoking but whenever I had a few drinks, the nicotine cravings knawed at me. Unfortunately, I caved when Malik offered his pack.
“So…the Del Sol Valley Llamas actually drafted you? Are they that hard up?” I teased Malik. He was a top wide receiver and a big reason the Lobsters did so well this year. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he had Zachary throwing to him.
He blew out his drag. “Yeah. Moving to Del Sol Valley as soon as the semester’s over. And you? Going to that snooty ivy league law school?”
I smirked. “You know it. Slandford Law School isn’t too far from Del Sol Valley, you know.” Was I being too obvious?
He chuckled and winked at me.
Oh who was I kidding? I didn’t need an overly handsome, overly smug boy to chase after while I was taking the hardest classes of my life. The future stress of the following year needled me, and I inhaled the soothing smoke.
Just then, I heard Zachary’s slurred voice, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“I don’ wanna sleep it off. I’m okay. Honessst…” he mumbled, clutching his face.
Oh, God. Zachary was plowed. And it was only 6:30 in the evening. The night was young.
He took this girl by the hand and said, “Stay with me, baby. I’m tired of being alone all the time.”
And before I could blink, Zachary was sucking this girl’s face right in front of everyone.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I breathed.
Poor Cheyenne. Zachary Hawthorne was a first class loser.
Cheyenne
I didn’t realize how much I’d missed my girlfriends until they all came this weekend.
We had such a blast!
We enjoyed dinner and drinks at my favorite wine bar.
Then played a ton of video games.
And to top off the night, we took goofy pictures so I would remember it forever.
I couldn’t believe how my life was working out so well right now. I had the best besties and the best boyfriend plus my career seemed to be in full jet mode. It was such a rush!
“Say cheese,” Akia said as we tried to mimic goofy K-pop poses.
Earlier, we’d gotten into a pillow fight! I hadn’t had this much fun since highschool.
Sometimes it was okay to act like you were young again.
Because when would we be able to meet like this in the future? I didn’t know. We kind of were at a crossroads. Kristie was going off to law school. Akia was already doing her student teaching and moving away. Phoebe had an internship in Evergreen Harbor and my brother got a job with a design studio there as well. He and Pheebs were going to officially move in together. We just…were going our separate ways.
The biggest thrill was having my very best friend with me though.
Kristie and I connected unlike any other friend I’d ever had.
We just “got” each other. I was happy she’d be only a city away from my home base here in Del Sol Valley and I’d hoped the law firm that hired her would be local. But one thing was for sure…we’d always be friends. And that felt comforting after what had happened last fall.
So after I’d said goodbye to Phoebe and Akia, Kristie told me she needed to talk with me. Alone. That put jitters in my stomach.
After we both poured ourselves some much needed coffee, I asked, “So, Kristie…what’s up?”
She sighed then said, “I know I haven’t been a good friend to you this year and I’m so sorry for it. You know that don’t you?”
I nodded, not liking the tone of her voice.
She twirled her hands over the table nervously and sighed, not looking at me. “I…wasn’t going to do this but I’ve been thinking about it all week and well…if I were in your shoes, I’d want you to tell me…so that’s where I am with things.”
My mind was spinning. What kind of horrific thing was she going to tell me? “God, Kristie, what is it? Did I do something wrong again? If I did, honest, I didn’t mean to.”
She shook her head. “No, Cheyenne. Of course YOU didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that…” She waved her arm. “I saw Zachary kissing a girl at a party last week and then I heard he slept with her. I’m so sorry.”
That news slammed me. I covered my mouth thinking about Zachary with someone else.
Blinking back tears, I countered, “But are you sure, Kristie? I mean…he’s been so normal with me all week. Maybe you confused him with someone else.”
She winced. “He was two feet away from me on a couch making out with a girl. And they went off together up to her dorm. You know the rest, Cheyenne.”
Oh God. Oh God. Yes, I knew the rest because I’d experienced the rest.
How many girls had he slept with since we got together?
I was so stupid.
I knew who he was when I’d slept with him the first time. Why did I trust him?
Kristie added, “Cheyenne, if it makes you feel any better, he was drunk off his ass, so maybe he didn’t realize what he was doing?”
I shook my head. “That only makes it worse, Kristie. Don’t you get it? He probably had been cheating on me the whole time. I’ve been such an idiot.”
Day & Knight 
The pajama party looked so fun! But … I knew! There’s no way Kristie wouldn’t tell her. Beatch probably enjoyed it too. She’d been thinking about it the whole time s for the right time to tell her to make herself look good and do most impact. Grrrrr. And of course Cheyenne jumps to all the wrong conclusions. Typical of her overreacting. But still, Zachary had already decided it was over and just sealed his fate. Poor guy. Poor Cheyenne. But I know who’s going to pick up the pieces…. yep. He’s just been waiting for it to happen. But then maybe he’ll be good for her. Probably not. I think she and Zachary do love each other, just long distance doesn’t ever work well.
Enjoy your vacation!
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Yes to all you said!
Poor Zachary and Cheyenne. Long distance can’t cut it for him. He should have gotten out while he could because his lonliness got the better of him (and the alcohol.)
Hopefully, Cheyenne will believe Zachary that he didn’t cheat on her the whole time. But the damage is done and yep. Mateo is waiting with open arms. We know they get together from the interview chapter. But will it be a good move? Hmmm…
Did Kristie enjoy being right? After all, if SHE’D gotten together with Zachary, maybe it would have worked out. AND she could have moved closer to Bridgeport and gone to law school close to him. But then things always happen for a reason…SO…
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Kristie TOTALLY enjoyed that! I have no doubts whatsoever. 😂😂😂😂
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I think you might be right…at least in her subconscience! 😉
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Oh man! Poor Cheyenne. Of course Kristie is going to think the worst of him. But I have a feeling the guy is innocent…that he probably passed out and didn’t do anything with that chick. Okay, well he was making out with her at the party…but I think…okay…I hope he passed out when they got to her or his room. But, yeah, I knew Kristie would tell Cheyenne what happened. I loved all the screenies from the pj party. That was the bright point of this chapter for sure.
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Yup. Poor Cheyenne!
And we’ll find out exactly what happened next chapter! 😮 I do hope you’re right and Zach was way too trashed to do anything that bad…but maybe it just looked that way?
That gal pal party was so much fun. Cheyenne needed it…at least that was sunshine right before the rain! 😮
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I know I should get mad at Zachary for his mindless behavior. Alcohol excuses nothing.
I still feel sorry for him. He finds himself in an unsolvable dilemma.
Neither he nor Cheyenne want to give up their dream 🤔
In a way, Kristine’s reasoning sounds reliable. She would want to be notified if her boyfriend cheated on her.
But if she really even thinks that Zachary was unconscious from drinking, then maybe she should have kept her mouth shut. She should have confronted Zachary. People often choose the easiest solution with fatal consequences.🤨
I would not exclude that her outspokenness contains a little revenge. That she enjoys watching Cheyenne fall from the pedestal.
I know Cheyenne still has a lot of relationships to catch up with, but still it makes me sad 💔
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Yeah…Zachary shouldn’t have put himself in that position so he screwed up. Hopefully, he can tell his side and maybe Cheyenne will listen? 🤷♀️
But yeah…they both have dream careers and can’t get on board with one another. Right now anyway.
Kristie might have been too quick to tell her friend about this. I think you’re right. She should have confronted Zachary herself about it and made sure what happened happened but…maybe deep down she wanted a little revenge since Cheyenne basically “stole” him from her…or so she thought in her head. Zachary seems to think differently.
Cheyenne has more boys to go so…onward!
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Dark WitcHazard: I knew Kristie was good for something bring on the drama! Not that the hurt will set in I get the feeling Cheyenne will think about future relationships very differently!
Lover WitcHazard: Why am I not surprised this is what happens when you don’t communicate! It was inevitable!
Shipper WitcHazard: It won’t hurt as much since I knew it was going to happen eventually! Zachary should have realized long distance wasn’t for him and ended things properly now they’re both going to say things they’ll regret and hurt each other more than they have to.
Anti Shipper: I hope Zachary tries to take out Mateo by telling Cheyenne he’s interested in her. Even if she doesn’t believe him right away the moment Mateo does try anything Cheyenne’s busted logic will mess put the brakes on it!
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Dark: You’re right. This will affect how Cheyenne goes about all relationships from now on.
Lover: True. Communication is key. Zachary should have fessed up and done what was right. But maybe he had his reasons.
Shipper: You’re so right. Zachary should have ended it earlier knowing full well he couldn’t stand the lonliness. Plus he resents Cheyenne choosing her career over him.
Anti: You think? Hmmm…we’ll see if you’re right. Although I will tell you that Zachary won’t have the chance to say anything to Cheyenne at first.
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Bye Zach, you selfish career-stopping piece of shit, and let me revel in kinda/sorta liking messy band romance instead (haven’t we all enjoyed the lore of Fleetwood Mac?)
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Messy band romances are sexy! Hopefully, it’ll happen soon!
Zachary is selfish at heart. He can’t help it. The world has always revolved around him. Cheyenne was helping him to grow out of that but then…her career got in his way now didn’t it? And his subconscience (or drunkeness) got the better of him.
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