18½ Years Ago:
It was around 4:15 PM when Zoey burst through the café's back door, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Zoey, what's wrong?" Wesley asked, immediately concerned when he seen her like that; Elliot was just walking into the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Elliot asked, looking at Wesley; he then saw Zoey.
"What happened?" Elliot asked right away.
"Mar-Mark…" Zoey managed to get out before passing out, due to lack of energy; tears were just streaming down her cheeks.
"What did that bastard do to her this time?" Elliot asked, pissed off before picking Zoey up.
"Keep calm Elliot…for her." Wesley said calmly, but also with a hint of worry in his tone.
"I am calm…" Elliot mumbled before heading upstairs and to his room.
"Elliot…" Wesley said, concerned, as he watched Elliot carry the girl, that just about everyone knew he loved, up to his room. And with all that's happened to Zoey in the past three months…Elliot's been a lot nicer to Zoey…and for some reason that has really been bothering Corina.
Ehem…Moving on…
Three months ago was Zoey's birthday. She was so thrilled, as she had a busy day that day; she would be spending the morning with her parents and then celebrating with the gang in the afternoon at the café. She then had plans with Mark at night…around fiveish. However, it seemed that he had other plans, as he did not show up to pick her up; he had forgotten that it was her birthday…or so he said.
After about half an hour of Mark not showing up…or answering her calls or texts, Zoey figured he meant they were supposed to meet up at their destination. So she went to meet up with him.
When she got to where they were supposed to meet she heard giggling…and then she seen her worst nightmare; Mark was sucking on her best friend, Megan's neck.
Zoey immediately confronted them; they all got into a fight. She slapped both of them; after asking them how they could do that to her; before saying they were over and she and Megan were no longer friends.
After a few seconds of shock, Megan slapped Zoey back and said it was fine; she didn't want to be friends with her anyways; she was just using her to get to Mark.
After another few seconds of shock, Zoey slapped Megan again and called her a whore and she hoped she liked her sloppy seconds, before running off before Megan even thought about slapping her again.
She only got a little ways away when Mark finally snapped out his shock or stupor or whatever you want to call it and tackled her to the ground, asking how she could do that? He also told her that nobody breaks up with him, nobody; he's the one who breaks up with someone.
What was wrong with her?
Didn't she know who he was?
He was Mark freaking Aoyama; he could date whoever, whenever he wanted…along with as many girls as he wanted at one time.
After yelling at her, while keeping her pinned to the ground for what seemed like an eternity; Mark started hitting and slapping her.
After he was done with her, Mark got up, said they were done, indicating that he broke up with her; and that's what he was going to tell everyone at school. Then, to add salt to the wound, he wished her a happy birthday.
After a few minutes of just laying there in pain-physically, emotionally and mentially-Zoey rolled over, curled herself into a ball and cried; it had started raining.
Half an hour later Elliot was walking by when he heard crying; he didn't really think anything of it, but decided to go see what was wrong.
It wasn't until he had seen that it was Zoey who was curled up in a ball crying, that Elliot really panicked.
He helped her up and carried her to the café where Wesley immediately panicked, but got her a towel.
After about a half an hour of Zoey just staring blankly in shock into space, she finally took in her surroundings.
"How did I get here?" Zoey had asked very confused.
"I carried you here after I found you curled up in a ball, on the ground crying…in the rain. What happened? Weren't you supposed to be on a date with Mark?" Elliot asked, sighing as he looked at her; he knew something bad had happened to her…especially when she burst into tears.
"Did someone take Mark?" Wesley asked concerned.
"Megan did…" Zoey said softly after she calmed down enough to talk.
"Megan? As in your friend Megan?" Wesley asked slightly confused; Elliot got it right away.
"He's cheating on you with her, isn't he?" Elliot asked, standing there with his arms crossed.
"Yes, he was; I broke up with him…but he didn't take it very well…" Zoey said softly, looking down.
"What did he do?" Elliot asked, demanding an answer.
"I slapped them both, so after Megan came out of shock, she slapped me back. I slapped her back right away and then ran away; Mark followed me…" Zoey said softly, still looking at her feet, tears falling again.
"Did he hit you?" Wesley asked concerned, hoping he was wrong; Zoey just nodded her head in response.
"Zoey, I'm so sorry." Wesley said sincerely, sadly as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Elliot on the other hand was beyond pissed off.
'How could he do that to her? I trust him; trusted that he'd take care of her! That bastard had better not show up here…' Elliot thought to himself as he paced back and forth.
"Are you done with him now?" Wesley asked, looking at the young girl in front him, causing Elliot to stop what he was doing and just stare at Zoey.
"Yes." Zoey said softly, but seriously.
"Good." Elliot said stoically.
"Elliot!" Wesley exclaimed in shock.
"What? If he's going to that shit to her, I'm not going to stand by and say pleasantries about the guy. Anyone who hurts any one of my girls, is nothing but a piece of garbage on my shit list. Mark and Megan are not to step one foot in this ." Elliot said annoyed and pissed off, but in a somewhat caring way as well.
"Thank you…" Zoey said softly as she looked up; her eyes were very red and puffy.
"Are you going to be ok?" Wesley asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm ok…or I will be…eventually. I'd better be getting home…" Zoey said as she stood up.
"Do you need a ride?" Wesley asked right away.
"That would be nice." Zoey said as she took a step, only to collapse to the floor.
"ZOEY!" Elliot and Wesley yelled in shock and worry as they were quickly by her side.
"Mmmm…" Zoey moaned out.
"Sorry…" Zoey mumbled as she tried to get up, only to collapse again.
"Come on; I'm taking you to the ER." Elliot said, picking her up bridal style; she weakly laid her head against his shoulder.
"We're taking you to the ER; I'll drive." Wesley said seriously.
"What about Maddie and Hayden?" Zoey asked weakly.
"She's right; you go home. Go be with your family; I'll take care of her." Elliot said seriously.
"Ok…" Wesley sighed; he was very concerned. But Elliot was right; he had his fiancé and son at home waiting for him.
At the time, Hayden was only a few months over two years old.
Once at the ER, when Zoey went back, Elliot contacted her parents to let them know what was going on…with Zoey's permission.
Suzie, Zoey's mom, was very concerned and worried for her daughter. Whereas Adam, Zoey's father, was pissed and out for blood; he trusted Mark. Not to say he wasn't worried about his little girl; he was. He just happened to be more pissed at Mark at the moment.
In the end, Zoey had two cracked ribs and a very bruised tailbone. And after a lot of talking and convincing, Zoey agreed to have Mark and Megan arrested.
Zoey's parents took Zoey home several hours later, after thanking Elliot very much. Elliot of course said it was no problem and that Zoey could have two weeks paid leave; she came back after a week and a half on the condition she worked limited duty.
The girls were of course told about what had happened; they all apologized and made sure that Zoey wasn't overworking herself. Well, Corina was complaining the entire time because she couldn't just sit and drink her tea; she had to actually work.
Of course Sardon, Tarb and Dren found out what happened…so Dren's been on Zoey's case, begging and begging for her to date him now that she was single; she turned him down every time. He even started showing in her room in the middle of the night while she slept and just watched her sleep. That was until her father came in one night to check up on her. Yeah…he ended up chasing Dren out of the house with a gun, shooting here and there; he ended up waking up Zoey and his wife, but also the neighbors…
Dren never showed up to her house again; he did however stalk her everywhere else she went.
Now, Zoey thought one perverted alien stalker was bad enough; try having two. Well, that's what she got about a month and a half ago when Mark was released from prison; his grandma bailed him out once she found out what had happened. Grandma will do just about anything for her precious grandson; she was so pissed when she found out that her daughter and her husband just let Mark sit in prison.
Anyways…Mark went to the café, not knowing Zoey had told Elliot and Wesley what happened; nor did he know that the girls and aliens knew as well.
The moment he stood inside, Elliot immediately kicked him out; he would've beat the shit out of him, but decided he wasn't worth going to jail for.
However, when he showed up at her house, Adam beat the crap out of him and spent the weekend in jail.
When Zoey was finally alone, Mark confronted her and begged her to give him another chance.
She told him no and to go to hell.
Where was Megan?
Her parents forced her to break up with him after what she and Mark had done; he was a bad influence. They ended up moving to a different city.
He even got down on his knees and begged her to take him back; she, however, just turned around and started walking away.
That didn't set too well with Mark; he quickly got up and went after her and grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"You will take me back you little bitch." Mark had said, tightening his grip.
"Get your dirty hands off of her!" Renee yelled before drop kicking him in the head.
"You'll regret that, you fucking bitch!" Mark yelled, getting ready to hit her; that's when Elliot, Wesley and Hayden showed up.
"What's going on here?" Elliot asked, walking over while Wesley stayed back with Hayden.
"Nothing." Mark said right away, backing away.
"Uh-huh…" Elliot said, not believing a single word he said.
"This bastard tried getting Zoey to come back to him." Renee said coldly.
"You didn't, did you?" Elliot asked, looking directly at Zoey.
"No." Zoey said softly, holding her wrist.
"Good. What did he do now?" Elliot asked, noticing how she was holding her wrist.
Mark gave Zoey a look that said, 'not a single word.'
"When Zoey refused him and walked away, he chased after her and grabbed her wrist. That's when I showed up and kicked the mother fucker in the head." Renee said, her words ice cold.
"Really now?" Elliot asked, very interested.
"I think I'll be going now." Mark said, backing away.
"Yeah, you do that." Elliot said, narrowing his eyes.
After all that, the gang went to the café where they met up with Maddi and had cake and ice cream.
Maddie by the way had long, curly orange hair and green eyes; she was short and at the time was twenty-one.
Once in his room, Elliot set Zoey down on his bed and covered her up.
"Oh Zoey; what happened to you?" Elliot asked, sighing while looking at Zoey.
Three Hours Later:
Elliot had just been sitting in a chair watching Zoey sleep for the past few hours when Wesley came up to check up on them.
"You might tell her how you feel about her." Wesley said calmly, but seriously, looking at Elliot.
"You know I can't do that; she doesn't feel the same about me." Elliot said calmly, sadly.
"How can you be so sure?" Wesley asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"Because, I've not been nice to her long enough; I've always picked on her. I haven't always been the nicest to her. So, it's probably too late." Elliot said calmly.
"But, how can you be so sure?" Wesley asked, now leaning against the door frame.
"What am I supposed to do Wesley? Say, hey Zoey, I need to tell you something-something important. I love you. I've always loved you-since the first time I saw you. And I will probably always love you. I didn't say anything because you were with Mark and I didn't want to lose you in any way…even if it is how it is. Yeah; that'd go over really well with her. Is that what I'm supposed to say to her? Is that what I'm supposed to do? Well genius, how am I supposed to do that? And what are you smiling at?" Elliot asked annoyed, pissed and confused all at once; Wesley just stood there smiling.
"I think you just told her." Wesley said before walking away.
"What?" Elliot asked confused.
"Is it true Ellie?" Zoey asked softly, sitting up, shocking Elliot.
'She heard all that? Why didn't Wesley say anything? Well…that's a stupid question; I know why he didn't say anything.' Elliot thought to himself.
"Elliot?" Zoey asked again, this time with a little more demand.
"Yes, it's true. But, I understand that you don't feel the sa-" Elliot started, only to be cut off by Zoey gently kissing him.
"What was that?" Elliot asked confused as Zoey sat back on his bed.
"I'm sorry…" Zoey said very red in the face.
"No, don't be sorry. But, do tell me why you did that." Elliot said, looking at a very red Zoey.
"I umm… I like you too…" Zoey said softly, looking down.
"What? Since when?" Elliot asked, very shocked.
"Mmm…I'm not a hundred percent sure on that. A month maybe… I thought it was really weird when you started being nice to me. But after some time it became nice; you really cared about me. I was really nice…and I hope it continues." Zoey said softly, blushing like crazy as she fiddled with her fingers.
"Does anyone else know how you feel?" Elliot asked calmly, but seriously as well.
"Wesley knows; he kept telling me I should tell you. So does my mom; so she obviously knows. I'm not sure about my dad; but I'm not a hundred percent sure. If he knows, he's not saying anything…" Zoey explained.
"So none of other girls know?" Elliot asked calmly.
"I haven't told them so…I don't think so. Why do you ask?" Zoey answered honestly, then asked with curiosity.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Elliot asked right away, seriously.
"I'd love to." Zoey said with a smile and tears running down her cheeks.
"Are you ok?" Elliot asked, concerned when he seen her tears.
"Yeah, I'm fine; these are happy tears." Zoey said with a smile.
"I'm glad." Elliot said with a smile.
"Soo…what do we tell the others?" Zoey asked, looking into Elliot's cerulean blue eyes.
"What do you want to tell them?" Elliot asked seriously.
"Well…with the exception of Wesley, who is standing right outside your door; and my parents; I think we should wait to tell the others until we've dated for at least a month." Zoey said seriously.
"Sounds like a plan to me. Can I kiss you now? I mean…it's kind of unfair that you got to kiss me; it's only fair that I get to kiss you." Elliot said, teasing her a bit.
"Sure." Zoey said softly, shocking Elliot; he was only kidding…well, kind of.
After she said that Elliot leaned over to her, placed his hand gently behind her head and then kissed her ever so gently.
"I'm sure your parents are wondering where you are by now; would you like a ride home?" Elliot asked when he pulled away.
"What time is it?" Zoey asked a bit dazed.
"Umm… 7:45." Elliot said looking at his clock.
"Crap; I have to be home in fifteen minutes. Yes, a ride would be nice." Zoey said as she stood up.
"Ok; let's get going." Elliot said, leading her out of his room, down the stairs and out the back door to his car.
On the way down, they ran into Wesley, who was conveniently "mopping" the floors.
Ten Minutes Later:
"So…if you don't mind my asking; what happened with Mark that had you so upset tonight?" Elliot asked when they were a few minutes away from her house.
"What? How do you know…?" Zoey started, confused.
"When you arrived at the café you were crying, out of breath, had obviously been running for a long while. When Wesley and I asked you what had happened, you just uttered Mark's name and passed out. You don't have to answer my question if you don't want." Elliot said calmly as he drove and parked in front of Zoey's house.
"Oh right…that… I think I'd better tell my parents first…" Zoey said softly, looking out the car window.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Zoey's mom knocked on the passenger's window, making Zoey jump in shock and surprise; she was just standing there, smiling.
"Mom…you scared the crap out of me. I was just about to come inside." Zoey said, rolling down her window.
"I'm sorry dear; I didn't mean to scare you. And we know; you're on time." Suzie said with that same smile.
"How did you know it was me?" Zoey asked confused.
"Oh, I remember Elliot's car from the last time he dropped you off. That, and he parked right in front of the house." Suzie said, still smiling.
"Hi Mrs. Hanson." Elliot said, waving a little.
"Hi Elliot. Would you like to come in; I just finished baking cookies. Zoey here told us that your birthday was today." Suzie said, still smiling as she invited Elliot in.
"I umm…sure?" Elliot asked, looking at Zoey.
"It's ok; you can come in if you want." Zoey said with a smile.
"So, I do hope Zoey got you a very nice gift for your birthday." Suzie said as they walked up to the door…still smiling.
"Oh yes; she did. She has made this the best birthday in a long time." Elliot said with a smile as he and Zoey walked behind Suzie.
Zoey smiled back at him as she took his hand in hers.
"YOU'RE HAVING SEX?!" Adam asked yelling, freaking out, causing a scene.
"Daddy no…" Zoey moaned, slapping her forehead while Elliot stood there, not knowing what to do for the first time in his life.
"Now, now dear; calm down. Let's all go inside; we can talk calmly and with dignity and grace." Suzie said seriously, her smile now a serious or annoyed frown.
"Yes hunny-bunch…" Adam grumbled as they all walked inside.
"Would you like anything to drink dear?" Suzie asked, looking at Elliot.
"Umm…just water will do, thanks." Elliot said as Adam led them to the couch, making sure to sit in between Elliot and Zoey.
"Dad…" Zoey mumbled, embarrassed.
"Zoey dear, would you like something to drink?" Suzie asked, getting some cups.
"Milk please. What'd you make for dinner?" Zoey asked, getting up; she was a little shaky on her feet.
"Are you ok?" Adam asked right away.
"Yeah…I'll explain everything in a little bit." Zoey said with a smile that worried Zoey's parents and Elliot.
"I made steaks and potatoes with a salad. Didn't you eat at Corina's?" Suzie asked confused.
"That sounds good…" Zoey said and then sighed.
"Didn't you eat at Corina's?" Adam asked right away.
"No… I wasn't at Corina's today. I went to the café for Elliot's birthday celebration, had lunch there, had cake, played some bored games and Pin the Tail on the Donkey. After all that I left; I had to run to the store to grab mom some things that she asked me to get. But…I never made it to the store…" Zoey said before trailing off.
"But you texted that'd you'd be late because you were going to Corina's for the night…" Suzie said as she looked at her daughter.
…
"Zoey, what's going on?" Adam asked right away, standing up; he was starting to become angry.
"Can I eat first?" Zoey asked softly.
"Of course dear. Go sit down and I'll make you a steak and some mashed potatoes with a salad. Elliot have you eaten anything yet?" Suzie said, concerned for her daughter and then asked Elliot.
"No, but I'm fine." Elliot said calmly.
"Nonsense; I'll make you a steak, mashed potatoes and a salad. And Adam…leave them alone; they're not going to do anything sitting on the couch in front of us." Suzie said, stabbing a knife into a wooden cutting board as she watched Zoey reach for headache pain relief.
An Hour & A Half Later:
"So, where have you been for the last few hours?" Adam asked right away.
"Give her some time." Suzie said, pulling her husband next to her on the couch.
"What time did you leave the party?" Suzie asked once she got her husband calmed down.
"Around 1:45…" Zoey answered honestly.
"So, what happened next?" Suzie asked calmly, keeping a hold of Adam's arm.
"I got across the park when I felt something like a shocking sensation on the back of my neck and then everything went black… I don't think I was out for very long because the sky didn't change too much. But when I did wake up, Mark had me pinned to the ground. He was saying something, but I couldn't really understand him; my head was spinning too much. And then he got on top of me…he tried to rape me." Zoey said softly, looking down every now and then, shaking as tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Baby…" Suzie cried as she hugged Zoey tightly…a little too tight.
"Mom… Mom, I can't breathe…" Zoey said, tapping her mother on the shoulder.
"Sorry baby…do you need me to get you the morning after pill?" Suzie asked, holding her daughter..
"He raped you?!" Adam asked enraged.
"No…he tried to; I managed to get one of my legs up and kicked him; and then I ran. He followed me, but I managed to get the attention of some police nearby. I explained what happened and they took me to the hospital and got everything checked out." Zoey explained softly.
"Why the hell weren't we alerted?!" Adam asked pissed off.
"I asked them not to…" Zoey started, only to be interrupted.
"Why the hell would you do a stupid thing like that?!" Adam yelled, furious.
"Adam calm down; I'm sure she had her reasons." Suzie said as calmly as she could; she and Adam were having issues…and this wasn't helping anything.
"What reason would be so important that it had to wait?!" Adam asked, still pissed off.
"I was going to tell you as soon as I got home. I didn't want to tell you at the hospital for this reason. I didn't want you freaking out there and freaking out doctors and other patients." Zoey said as calmly as she could, but at the same time dead serious as she stared directly at her dad.
"What hospital did you go to?" Suzie asked calmly.
"The one down the street from the mall." Zoey answered calmly.
"That's like fifteen minutes away; what were you doing the last few hours?!" Adam yelled again.
"I couldn't come home; a few of Mark's friends were waiting a few blocks away from the hospital. They were pissed that I got Mark arrested…again and started chasing after me. I went to the only place I could go where I knew I would be safe and not put you two in danger. I went to the café…where, I guess I passed out for a few hours. Oh, and my phone's dead; so I couldn't call anyone." Zoey finished explaining.
"That little son of a bitch is so lucky he's in jail!" Adam yelled beyond pissed off as he started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Suzie asked right away, annoyed.
"I'm going out for a little while." Adam said as calmly as he could at that moment.
"Where to?" Suzie asked, demanding an answer this time.
"Just out!" Adam yelled before exiting the house, slamming the door behind him.
"Zoey, go take a shower and get cleaned off…" Suzie said, sighing as she walked to her room.
"Ok…" Zoey said softly as she watched her mom walk away.
"Well…I should be going." Elliot said as he stood up and stretched.
"I'm sorry…" Zoey said sadly, looking down.
"What for?" Elliot asked confused.
"Not telling you sooner." Zoey said, looking guilty.
"Zoey, it's fine; I understand. At least you told your parents…and me. As long as you're safe and ok, that's all that matters-to your parents and me. And now I have you; and I don't plan on losing you any time soon." Elliot said, causing Zoey to cry and hug him; she had her arms around his waist and her face in his chest while he hugged her back with his arms around her shoulders and chin on her head.
"Zoey, don't worry about…" Suzie started.
Suzie had come out of her room to tell Zoey something, but stopped in her tracks when she seen Zoey and Elliot standing there, hugging; she just slowly and quietly walked back into her room.
"Ok…" Elliot said as he and Zoey pulled away from each other.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Zoey asked softly.
"Of course." Elliot said with a smile.
"Love you." Zoey said softly, with a blush.
Elliot was a bit stunned that she said that so soon, but smiled before responding with, "I love you too…and I always will." Elliot said with a soft smile, causing Zoey to blush even more.
"See you tomorrow." Zoey said with a smile.
"See you tomorrow." Elliot said as he walked to the front door.
"And Elliot?" Zoey asked as he opened the door to leave.
"Yes?" Elliot asked, looking back at her.
"Happy birthday." Zoey said with a big happy smile; the smile that Elliot loved so much.
"Goodnight Zoey." Elliot said with a smile before leaving, shutting the door behind him.
"Goodnight." Zoey said before wandering off, dreamily to the bathroom to clean up…