Chapter 37

Thinking Out Loud

The arrival came much sooner then they all expected. Zoe and Zig grew to enjoy the hijinks of the mismatched pair and they could even ignore when Owen was being rude.

None the less no matter how much they'd be missed this marked the end of the road for Frankie and Owen. They are now on their own, in a new place. They managed to evade any sort of suspicion and searches, little do they know they have a search party on their tail.

Zoe and Zig said their goodbyes, with hugs and all. It was bittersweet because Frankie was among the few friends that Zoe had at Degrassi and now suddenly she won't be around. Zig owed a lot to Owen, they played it cool. Owen thanked Zig for the ride as did Frankie. Zig and Zoe entered the car and and Frankie and Owen waved goodbye until the car was a little spec in the distance. Now it was just Zig and Zoe together on their way to see their estranged parents. It wasn't far for them to get to Zig's father's house and the mounting pressure seemed to not show on the outside but Zoe knew better. She softly moved her hand toward Zig's as she softly asked, "Is everything alright?" She knew that he wasn't showing it, but something was wrong.

"I don't know, it just - I don't think we thought this through at all." Zig softly whispered dejected. "I'm scared."

"What do you mean? The roadtrip? Meeting your dad? What's going on in that head of yours?"

"Not really, like um meeting my father I guess." He put on the breaks and turned the key and they sat together on the shoulder. Zoe looked at him and he looked as if he wanted to cry. Zoe scooched closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder in the imobile car. He continued, "Maybe it's best I just . . . forget about it?"

"I thought that was what you wanted." She whispered back closing her eyes and wrapped her arm around his shoulder and soothed his shoulder. "We're in this together." She didn't know if it was her selfish wishes projected onto Zig and he only went through with the trip for her and only her. His wishes came second, and then she started to feel a bit guilty. It's pretty obvious he stood for a lot of things is this another one of those things? "You don't know if you don't go for it. I'm here for you."

"While that's true, and I love you Zoe for sticking with me I just can't imagine like what if it's worse than I could ever imagine, like what if he doesn't care?" Zig rarely showed vulnerability and raw emotions that were usually hidden with that false bravado that Zoe always managed to see past like it was a shield.

"Then you'll know for sure, Zig." Zoe replied still encouraging, "I don't know how he wouldn't want you, unless he doesn't know you're you, and that you exist and he'd be overjoyed to meet you."

"It just seems a little too wishful. I know he knows about me, it's probably why he left."

"Meeting you might change it."

"I just don't want to get my hopes up if it goes bad."

"Same here." Zoe softly smiled, he glanced at her and then turned his attention back to the road "I can relate but I can't imagine what parent wouldn't want their child?"

"Clearly ours I guess, noting how absent they are in our lives. You understand that? We can't get our hopes up, we can't afford to. I don't know what I'd have to do to deal with yet another disappointment."

"I understand, because I'm tired of being left disappointed too."

"Not like me Zoe, I mean this is one last chance for me to find out what's been kept from me, and if there was a good enough reason as to why?"

Zoe quietly with furrowed brow turned away and looked straight ahead, "If it means that much why are you having second thoughts. You either want to meet him, you've already prepared yourself for something bad."

"It won't hurt any less if the worst comes."

"I for one would feel more torture if I decided not to go and then I'd spend years going what if?"

"You make a excellent point Zoe." He softly beamed.

Slowly she inched her fingers toward Zig's and they held hands with his other hand on the wheel they continued on their way. It would be another hour before they'd reach the second destination, the last known address for Zig's father. Anticipation and fearfulness raced in his mind Zig let go of Zoe's hand to retrieve the map inside the center consol of the car between he and she to check if they were on course. When they arrived they noticed a beat up old truck in a trailer community. The home looked junky, a few inches of grass tan in color was on the property looking like it hadn't been mowed in quite some time. The house itself was painted red, but ther were chips missing and litter was all around the property. They parked on the dirt road and then as Zoe started to unbuckle herself Zig instructed her to sit back down, he sighed, "Maybe you should stay, I uh think I should do this on my own."

"I-uh okay." She stammered a little saddened by the rejection of help but ultimately stayed behind, she offered him a soft smile, "Good luck."

He turned around one last time before retreating to the dilapidated porch, "Thanks, love you."

"I love you too." She replied watching him walk away and hoping in her mind that Zig doesn't get rejected. She crossed her fingers and closed her eyes and watched him from the passenger seat.

Mrs. Kwan has been feeling the pre-production jitters, they're missing three people from production and she's wondering if this is all for nothing. They can't rehearse without a Rizzo, Danny, and a Frenchie. It's too late to cancel. Practices with stand-ins are a must. Of course shes holding out for some sort of a miracle.

Without much deliberation and much impulse Alaina texted her worst enemy - Curtis. Even though she wanted him gone, she wanted to know if he had any clue where Zoe had gone. She's seated at the police station while Miles pulls the endless strings being a a huge name in the town and a lead candidate for the mayor. He returns with two coffees, to which he comments, "I hope you like your coffee black."

She nods her head and takes the coffee as he gives it to her, "Thank-you." He joins her on the bench as they hear a vibration from Alaina's purse, "I have to get this."

Curtis texts back:

Last I saw her the other night she was telling me to go away.

She sighed with her head in her hands, before she lifted her head while turned in his direction, "I honestly don't know what to think."

"Don't we all?"

She shrugged, "No it's just my daughter has reasons to run off."

"What might they be?"

"My ex and her, let's just say they didn't have the best relationship."

"Where does this leave my daughter?"

"I guess she wanted to see the world?" Alaina offered sympathetically.

"Nah this isn't like her, she's usually you know, the straight shooter type. I never have to worry about my Francesca." He shook his head, "It's usually Miles my oldest I'm wondering about."

"Oh." Alaina shrugged, "I really don't know who Miles is."

"Oh it's my son, he's a sophomore at Degrassi. Surprised you haven't met him or heard of him yet."

"As is my daughter." Alaina replies. "They're at that age where they want to make our lives a nightmare."

"That they are." He agrees, "Well if this is a cry for help Frankie is certainly doing a great job."

"Maybe she's as full of surprises as you'd least expect."

"I just want her safe at home where she belongs." He looks to Alaina, "perhaps you should come over for dinner. My wife would like to have you."

She hesitated, "Eh I don't know . . ."

"I insist. I'm sure the last thing you'd want is to be in an empty home for dinner. And of course, we know your daughter was a friend to our daughter and it'd be among friends."

Finally she settled. "Okay. I'll go. Thanks for inviting me."