Zack was sitting on the warm beach taking handfulls of the lightly coloured sand and letting it run through his fingers as he watched the sunset on the ocean in front of him. Zack had told Martin earlier that he wanted to be alone for a while, Martin was fine with it and kissed Zack's cheek before heading home, he knew he was holding Martin back from going home to Baltimore but Zack needed him as selfish as that sounded. Sighing he lay down in the sand and thought about everything and he was certain about a few things; He missed home and he could be falling for Martin again but he couldn't forget that he cheated. Lost in his own thoughts Zack didn't realise that it was getting dark now but he still wanted to sit there in the sand and listen to the waves crash lightly onto the shore, he had always loved the water from a young age and he knew this was a place that he was happy. Zack also felt terrible for Alex and Jack, they had to deal with him over the last month while he was a mess, but the fact they never left him made his heart swell.
"Zack?" He heard his name and sat up seeing Tay standing over him smiling but something about her didn't look right.
"Hey!" He said happily standing up and giving her a hug, she squeezed him back while smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"You look better" She said nodding her head towards him and Zack grinned.
"I feel better and thank you Tay for letting me talk to you" Zack said as Tay just smiled,
"You're my friend Zack, I care about you so you don't have to thank me. Now how's things with Martin?" She asked as the pair of them walked along the beach as it grew darker and darker.
"I just wanted to thank you anyway and yeah he's good but I know he misses home" He said shrugging as he looked out over the water.
"And you feel like you're keeping him here?" Tay asked and Zack had to laugh, Tay was a girl who could read every thought in your head with just one look at your face.
"Yeah I do, I just, I need him here but I know if he wanted to go home I would let him. I won't make him stay if he doesn't want to" Zack sighed and Tay smacked the back if his head.
"Ouch!" Zack whined rubbing the back of his head.
"Zack! I think I've seen enough to know that Martin will put your happiness before his own and it's clear that he loves you" Tay smiled her but Zack noticed her eyes looked sad.
"Tay? What's wrong?" Zack asked as he stopped walking and placed a hand on her arm, she just shook her head and continued to walk.
"Any word from him?" Zack asked Tay but again she shook her head staying silent, then Tay stopped and hugged Zack. It wasn't the normal friendly hug they give each other, it was as if she wouldn't get the chance again and Zack squeezed her back just as tight.
"You're my best friend Zack, I love you so much please don't forget it" She whispered to Zack and he nodded.
"You're my best friend too Tay, I'll always love you silly" Zack mused and kissed her hair and they walked back up the beach as Zack wrapped an arm around the small girls sholder. They reached Zack's house and he turned to the small girl next to him and hugged her before kissing her cheek, she grinned up at Zack not looking as sad as before.
"If you need me just call, okay?" Zack said and Tay nodded before walking down the rest of the beach herself, he couldn't help but wonder what was up with her. Walking into the house he shared with the other three he saw Alex and Jack cuddling on the couch while talking quietly and Martin sitting at the breakfast bar reading a book.
"Hey Zack" Alex smiled
"Hey Bro" Jack said quietly before going back to Alex.
"Hey" Zack whispered as he wrapped his arms around Martin's waist and rested his head on Martin's sholder. Martin turned round and smiled at Zack, placing his book down on the table.
"Hey, everything okay?" Martin asked Zack niticing the worried look on his face but he just nodded before kissing Martin lightly then went and ran a shower, wanting to get all the sand out his hair. Lying in the guest bedroom next to Martin who was breathing deeply, Zack's thoughts went back to Tay and how sad she always looked now. She wasn't as happy and funny as she use to be, now she just looks defeated it also hurt to know that he couldn't do anything to help her but she had helped him. He was just starting to drift off to sleep when Alex burst through the door and shook Zack and Martin.
"Ugh" Martin moaned and turned back over onto his side and went back to sleep while Zack looked at his friend, he just looked scared.
"Alex what's wrong?" Zack asked getting out the bed and wrapping his best friend in a hug, he felt Alex start to sob and Jack appeared looking heart broken.
What the hell is going on? Zack thought as Alex went over to Jack still crying.
"What the fuck is going on?" Zack hissed and Jack looked at him with sad eyes and whispered,
"It's Tay"
"What happened?" Zack asked his heart thumping
"She, she tried to kill herself" Jack said his voice cracking as a few tears fell from his eyes and Zack couldn't believe it. Shaking his head and staring at Jack begging him to pretend this was a dream.
"No,no" He repeated over and over as he grabbed his car keys and ran.
"ZACK!" Alex shouted but he ignored Alex and Jack's shouts as he raced down the street to the nearest hospital. Zack was glad that it was early in the morning so that the streets where empty and he wouldn't get stopped by the cops for speeding. He parked quickly not caring that he was taking up two spaces and ran to the hospital doors
"Can I help you sir?" A tired looking woman asked and Zack took a deep breath to steady his breathing before he said
"I'm looking for Taylor Jardine" Zack said his body numb and refusing to believe she was in here, the woman typed a few things onto her conputer and looked at him.
"Relation?" She asked looking bored.
"Close friend" Zack said tapping his foot against the cold white floor and finally after what felt to Zack like hours she finally said
"Floor 5, room 78" Zack nodded a thanks and ran down the hall his shoes squeaking against the floor, he ran up the stairs two and three at a time and finally after nearly knocking down a nurse he arrived outside Tay's room. Taking a deep breath he put his hand on the cold metal door handle, closing his eyes he opened the doot and stepped inside.