Chapter Ten – I've gone and let my impulse be my guide

No Good
- Kate Voegele

Rorie

I tried not to let anyone see how happy I was about Zachary's news but once I was alone I could not help but do a little happy dance. He was staying! I could hardly believe it. He had found a place to live, a job, everything. Now if only I had the ability to find a job, things would be great. That night I think I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow, and though I could not remember my dreams subconsciously I knew they had been good.

Gwen must have let me sleep in that morning because she was gone by the time I woke up and the sun was already fairly high in the sky from what I could see out my window. It was the first time in years that I had slept in. Mom wasn't in the living room so I assumed she was in her room, but when I saw the note Gwen had tacked to her door I decided it was best not to disturb her.

I guess mom had not slept well and had been coughing all morning so Gwen had made her stay in bed. Pressing my ear up against the door I could hear that her breathing was shallow but she was also snoring lightly so I thought it best not to wake her up, she needed her rest.

Glancing at the clock I saw that it was already almost 11, I couldn't believe how late I had slept. Checking the mail, just in case, there was an envelope inside with mine and Gwen's names on it. I knew the writing to be Zachary's so I opened it to find a short note scribbled down with his new address and what time the party started. He was living relatively close to the mall so he suggested that we pick up Gwen after work that day and said that he would get me a bit early if I wanted to help him set anything up. Mom was invited too but that was more out of courtesy than anything. We all knew that she would stay home with Bear that night. He wasn't going to get a choice in the matter, and even though he was a dog I hoped that he would be alright with that. He and Zachary seemed to get along but he was going to be needed at home that night. I would walk Gwen to work that morning and lock him in my room if I had to, to get him stay home.

Better yet I would make Gwen convince him. I shook my head at the thought despite the fact I knew it would be convincing and not telling.

I spent the rest of the day laying on the couch reading one of the very few books we owned (I had read it at least 20 times already so it was a good thing I liked it). When mom finally woke up she called me as she was not well enough to get out of bed, it was afternoon then. She did not want anything to eat so I sat on her bed and talked with her until Gwen got home.

The next two days followed in much the same manner, mom seemingly the same but it was evident that she was not getting better in the slightest. I guess it had not taken a lot for Gwen to convince Bear to stay home with mom the third day because he licked her hand at the door before bounding into mom's room, jumping up on her bed, and curling up at her feet.

"Gwen, you really are a miracle worker when it comes to that dog." I mused as I closed the door behind us. I was just glad that I hadn't needed to wrangle the thing. I had heard her talking to Bear the night before in attempt to convince him, apparently it worked. She probably had promised to bring him something back from the party.

Gwen and I chatted openly on our way to Music Mart, and she instructed me on what to wear—to my relief. I raced home and got changed immediately and spent the day reading as mom and Bear had both settled in for a nap. They looked so peaceful together, maybe I would bring Bear something home too.

I was finished the book, which I had read extremely slowly to begin with, just in time for me to hear Zachary pull up the drive way. I could hear him hobble up the walkway distinctively, Bear must have too because he was at his feet the moment I let him inside—I hadn't even been able to give him a hug first.

Bear help his paw up to Zachary like any dog would if you said shake a paw but instead he slid it over Zachary's hand and then along the bottom. Zachary and I were both slightly amazed, all we could really do was stare. Apparently Bear didn't like that however because when neither of us said anything he huffed and bounded back over to my mother's bed, knocking the door closed before he jumped up next to her.

"Well then." I laughed, "Do you want me to bring anything?" I knew his answer would already be no but I also knew that it was polite to ask.

Zachary shook his head but then stopped, "Actually bringing you would be perfect." He made me smile brightly, "And a coat." Nodding I grabbed mine from the hook and threw it on before calling to mom that I was on my way out. She coughed a goodbye, which made me nervous but I knew there was nothing I could do so I ushered Zachary out the door and towards the car.

When I got in I paused for a moment before closing the door, "She'll be fine." I reassured myself and Zachary patted my hand but didn't say anything. What was there to say? Neither of us really knew if she would be and there was nothing she would let us do, so all I could rely on was hope.

The drive over to Zachary's new apartment was almost silent. I hadn't been on this end of town in a long time so I was taking in the change in view. A lot of updates and additions had been made so it was quite a sight. When we pulled into the driveway of Zachary's building I knew that it was one of the new one. The lobby of the building was beautiful, Zachary checked his mail box as we passed by (and as we had both expected it was empty). We rode the shiny new elevator up to the 4th floor where Zachary's condo was located.

Because of his leg he had decided to live on one of the lower floors just in case of an emergency or the elevator ever broke down. It would take an awful long time to go down any more flights of stairs.

I had to admit that I was rather impressed with the building, it was far more beautiful then I had imagined, however I suppose it seemed to match with Zachary's car and his more professional clothes. And the moment I stepped into his apartment it was clear that it matched with the expense of the rest of his style as well. I was sure that in the living room alone Zachary's furniture cost more than all the furniture in our house—that wasn't hard though.

It looked as if Zachary had spent a lot of time organizing his things, or someone else had, because all of his books and CDs were in alphabetical order, a system of organization after my own heart. Even though we only had a handful of either thing at our house I had spent the few minutes it took to alphabetise them more times than I cared to admit. If only I was able to get Gwen to put them back they were supposed to go things would have still been completely organized.

"This place is beautiful... a lot more than I'm used to." I shrugged flopping down on the couch next to Zachary. "So what do you need my help to do?"

"Decorate."

We spent the next few hours setting up for the party and by the time we were finished Gwen was getting off work so we went to pick her up. Zachary suggested that we grab a quick bite to eat, on him based on my help that afternoon. It was an excuse but we accepted it graciously. Pizza was always greatly appreciated. When we were done eating we headed back to the apartment. Gwen was just as stunned by it as I was but kept her sentiments to herself until Zachary excused himself and instructed us to greet anyone that arrived while he was indisposed.

A few people arrived during this time, I suppose most of the people Zachary had invited were from his new job because each of the people that arrived told us they were from the newspaper. I recognized a few faces but had never really met any of them personally, only read their work.

I was browsing Zachary's book selection, Gwen by my side musing about how great the apartment was and how nice it looked with the streamers we had put up earlier. Zachary had shown me how to adjust the lighting so it wasn't so bright and I was just in the middle of doing so when he came around the corner. No one clapped, just waved a bit and to me it seemed more sentimental.

"Hey." I greeted warmly as he came to stand beside me. "You look good." I commented, "I like this shirt."

"Thanks." he said, gratefully.

It was then that I noticed Zachary wasn't using his crutch. "Where's your crutch!" I exclaimed, stunned that he was walking around without it.

"I don't need it right now, look." he pointed to his leg and I breathed a sigh of relief. He was using a prosthetic.

"Doesn't that hurt?" I asked, worried that he should be comfortable. "I've never seen you wear it before."

Zachary looked at me as if he was astounded that I was concerned rather than happy, "It does a little but it's easier to get around between this many people with it than with the crutch."

"Oh. Then I suppose it's good that you wear it for now, don't wear it too long if it hurts." I made him promise, but a nod would have to do as it was all he offered. "Quite a few people have arrived."

"Probably almost everyone I invited." he joked offering me his arm.

We had put classical music playing quietly in the background and some finger foods set up on the island in the kitchen area. It was rather nice. Zachary spent a lot of the evening introducing me and Gwen to the people he would be working with. By the time the party had started to become a bit more laid back Zachary brought Gwen and I out on the balcony to show us the view. It wasn`t much as it was only a 4th story condo but it was still a nice atmosphere. He had cozy chairs set up and some potted ferns, it was pretty to say the least as the night lights of the city shone around us.

Gwen excused herself as she saw two more guests enter the apartment and she wanted to greet them. She was playing quite the hostess for the moment.

"So how do you like it here?" I asked Zachary warmly, coming to sit on the arm of the chair he had taken a seat in.

He shrugged, "I like it, it will take some getting used to though. The apartment doesn't quiet feel like home yet, but this place does." He swept his arm in front of him indicating he meant our city. "It's much more peaceful than New York."

"A nice change of pace." I offered getting up and helping him to his feet. It was a little cold to be out on the balcony, especially as neither of us were wearing coats. I saw Gwen come rushing toward as when we re-entered, the look on her face not displeased but a little confused. She didn't make it to us in time it seemed as the next second there were two people in front of us and she had turned in the other direction.

"Zachary! I knew the rumours had to be true. How have you been?" the man asked, a cheeky smile on his face while a rather fake looking one was plastered on Zachary's lips.

"Adam, why are you here?" Zachary did not sound happy.

The girl, with whom I assumed was Adam, detached herself from his arm and latched onto Zachary's. "Adam and I had heard a rumour that you had made your way to this city. He thought you might have found a lead on Oryn, and well, I just really missed you, so we decided to stop by."

Oryn? Oryn who—they couldn't mean Jacoby could they?

"That still doesn't answer my question, what are you doing here? At my apartment!"

"Well I called your parents and they instantly gave me your new address when I told them that I had lost it. It was ever so kind of them. Your notice must have gotten lost in the mail or you must have miss typed my email address." the girl purred.

"No I just didn't send it to you Natasha." Zachary tried to brush her off, wrapping his arm around my waist. I probably would have been happy except that I had no idea what was going on, or who any of these people were, maybe not even Zachary.

"Who's your little friend?" she asked, upset that he had blown her off for me.

Despite the fact I almost wanted to push it off I let his arm stay there just to prove a point, "I'm Rorie." I offered her my hand but Adam took it instead.

"May I introduce us more formally, I am Adam Lake and this is Natasha Fields. I've known Zachary for years, though I am not surprised that he has not mentioned me."

"At least by name." Zachary muttered under his breath and began rubbing his leg where the prosthetic connected.

"Is your leg alright?" I asked concerned.

Zachary nodded and kissed me on the forehead lightly, which was a bit of a surprise, "It's fine... and Natasha is an old friend."

"Girlfriend, actually." she corrected and took his other arm.

I pulled away from Zachary a little bit, "Really? How nice." It was my turn to smile fakely.

"Ex-girlfriend, actually." he mocked shaking her off. "We broke up over a year ago."

"Over petty differences." Natasha tried unabashedly to kiss Zachary on the cheek but he pushed her off.

"You wanted me to be in pain and you weren't very compassionate about the situation I had just been put in. I think those are far from petty."

"Either way, we came to see if you had made any sort of progress in your search for Oryn and wish you good luck. We heard you had taken a job with the newspaper here, good for you. A much better game to be in than the tabloid business if I may say so. Keep you out of trouble."

"Tabloids? Is that why you were always looking at STAR?" I questioned becoming a little upset, the more times they repeated Oryn and this little bit of information confirmed that it was Jacoby they had meant. "I had heard them talk about you on television... Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because it doesn't make a difference does it? I quit that job, and sure it was Oryn I was looking for but I wasn't getting anywhere. I like it here, and it doesn't change who I am."

"No it doesn't, but you still didn't tell us the truth. If you'll excuse me. I hope the two of you are very happy together and that you find what you were looking for Mr. Lake." I bowed my head a bit to the three of them and stormed off, not even bothering to collect Gwen. She would be safe there, and I needed to be alone.