Time hop 4 days...
Zak and I hardly talked since he introduced me to the amazingly fake Angela. I hated not talking to him or hanging out with him. It was almost like Angela stole him away from me, but she technically had him first. I still couldn't believe I fell into his trap. I told Kelsey everything over the weekend before I left for Texas for the investigation and she couldn't believe it either. Aaron didn't have much to say about it which didn't make me feel very good since him and Zak were best friends.
It was Tuesday, early afternoon and we had just arrived at our hotel. Tomorrow we will start interviews so today was just a chill out day. I get settled in my hotel room which was right next to Zak's, of course. I was just happy that Angela didn't tag along with us to the lockdown. Even though I was so angry with him I still wanted to talk and get answers. Any kind of answer as to why he didn't think we were anything. I give him a few minutes to settle into his own room before knocking on the door. As soon as he opens the door my eyes well up with tears.
"Hey, Shawn. Everything okay?"
"No, everything's not okay," I shake my head and blink making a tear fall down my cheek.
"Here, come in." I follow him into the room as he takes my hand. We sit on the bed together and he rubs my back to comfort me, but I quickly stop him.
"Stop!" I stand back up and pace the room. "Stop being nice to me."
"Why would I do that?"
"I was falling for you, Zak! Why would you kiss me and lead me on like that if you didn't feel anything?!" I had never been so open about my feeling to anyone before, but I had to know what he was thinking.
"Shawn, please. Would you calm down and sit?" As I pace by him he grabs my hand and urges me to sit next to him on the bed once again. "Just so you know, I was falling for you too. I am falling for you."
I turn to face him not believing what he was saying. "What?"
"It's true. Everything I said at the diner that one day was true. Every word, I swear. Angela was gone on a trip and I just got lost. I got lost in you." I start crying harder now. "Please, don't cry."
"How, Zak?" I sob. "If we were ever together how could I trust you? You cheated on Angela!" Not that I really cared for her, but it was still wrong. He stayed silent. "Are you going to stay with her?"
"I don't...I don't know."
I try to calm my sobs, stand in front of Zak, and lift his face to look me in the eyes. To my surprise he had a few tears escape his own eyes. "You might've made a mistake, Zak, but that doesn't make you a bad guy. You may like Angela, hell, you may even love her, but she's not good for you. I have a bad feeling about her if you continue that relationship. And I'm not just saying that because of you and me." He lowers his head out of my hand and sighs. "I'll go and leave you alone. I couldn't stand these last four days being so mad at you and not talking so I had to come see you." He shows a slight side smile. I start to open the door when he calls out and stops me.
"Hey, Shawn?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't give up on me." I sigh and walk back to him giving him a kiss on the forehead. We share a smile and I turn to leave.
Zak's POV
"Fuck," I sigh to myself and lay back on the bed. I can't believe I did this to her. I felt so bad. But how could she say that about Angela after only meeting her once? I didn't know what to do and I didn't want this distraction right before lockdown. I did really like Angela and I had feelings for her, but Shawn. Damn, she had such a huge hold on me it was something I've never felt before. I was growing feelings for her. The first second I met her she pulled me in. Shawn was so real. Never thought I would have to chose between two girls.
I get my ass out of bed and make sure my eyes look like they haven't been crying. I had to get out and clear my head so I can prep for my interviews tomorrow. After killing time at the gift shop in the hotel lobby I take the elevator back to my room and pass out. It was a long trip here and I was ready to sleep for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Shawn is knocking on my door at about 10am. I had planned to start our interviews at 2pm so I wasn't sure why she was getting me up so early. "Come in!" I yell from my bed as she knocks a second time.
"I can't, Zak. It's a hotel."
Ugh, right. What the hell does she want? "Yes?"
"The guys and I wanted to see if you want to join us for breakfast, but I can go and leave you alone."
"No. I'll come. Just give me a minute to wake up."
"Okay. We're all hanging out in Billy's room when you're ready."
I nod and shut the door. I hope I didn't seem too harsh, but I hate mornings. After a shower I put on my black pants, black shirt and my boots. You know, the usual. I take some time on my hair and I'm good to go.
Shawn's POV
"Damn, what's taking him so long?" Billy asks taking a peek at his watch.
"Probably his damn hair," Jay laughs. Just then there's a knock on the door.
"I'll get it. It's probably him." I open the door to Billy's room to find Zak as hot as ever. "Hey," I smile.
"Hey," he smiles back though I can tell he's not quite fully awake yet. "So where are we going?"
"I think we decided on IHOP. You cool with that?"
"Yeah, lets go." Zak starts walking away hoping we'll follow.
"Oh, okay." I turn to the other guys, "let's go y'all! Zak's ready." I laugh a little at Zak's eagerness even though he's not really awake. I run a little to catch up with him and make sure he's okay. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. Why do you think that?" He asks keeping his pace. I was quite shorter than him at 5'4", so I was practically running to keep up.
"You just seem-,"
"I'm just still tired, Shawn. That's all."
We make it to the elevator and wait a couple seconds before Aaron, Billy, and Jay catch up. We take the elevator to the lobby and pile into our GAC SUV. I hop in the back with Jay and Aaron, Zak rides in the front seat and Billy is driving.
Breakfast was delish and we make it back to the hotel. We all got some sort of dish with pancakes and eggs. At this point it was nearly 11:30am and none of us would be hungry for lunch. Zak calls a little meeting in his room so he can tell us the game plan for the rest of the day. "So the first interview is at 2pm and I only have two interviews today. One of them decided she didn't want to talk. I pretty much already have my list of questions, but I want to see that research you found again, Shawn, so that I can think of something else to ask. I nod and he continues. "Jay I want you to film the interview like normal, but I also want Shawn tak-,"
Buzz.
"Sorry, it's Kelsey," Jay embarrassingly says as he puts his phone back in his pocket.
"Ohh how's Kels?" I ask excited to hear from her since she hasn't text me directly.
"She's-,"
"Guys! Can we get back to this for a second, please," Zak asks. Jay and I stay quiet but giggle to each other at Zak's annoyance. "What what I saying?" He sighs.
"You wanted me to do something," I remind him.
"Oh, yes. I want you to take some still photos of the interview."
"Okay. I can do that."
We all go to our own rooms after our meeting and rest up for a couple hours before interviews. It's now getting close to 1:30 and Zak is gathering everyone once again so we can leave. It's about a 20 minute drive to Goatman's Bridge from our hotel and our first interviewee was there waiting for us and ready. The heaviness that rushed over me after getting out of the car was almost unbearable. It was almost as if I couldn't breathe or move. "You okay?" I look over my shoulder and see Billy coming up beside me. I try to breathe deep and speak, but all I can do is nod. "It's gonna be okay," he assures me as he wraps his arms around my shoulders.
"Can you feel that?" I ask motioning to the air.
"It's heavy here, yes. Are you sure you're gonna be okay?"
I breathe heavy, "I don't know."
"Hey, Billy! Can you help me with this?" Aaron calls out. The crew starts gathering the equipment and setting it up outside our GAC car. Zak walks over to the first interviewee and introduces himself. I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to be so I slowly walk to where Zak and his interview are standing.
"Oh, Shawn! This is Christy, Christy, this is Shawn. She will be taking still photos for us and helping with the investigation."
"It's really nice to meet you," I hold out my hand and Christy accepts my handshake.
"You as well."
"So, Christy. What kind of experiences have you had here?" Zak begins and I snap my first photo of the two of them.
"Well, there have been sightings of a goat-headed man wandering the wooded areas."
"Have you seen this goat man?"
Christy pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath. "I have."
"You have?" Zak confirms and Christy nods. I walk to the other side of them to get a different angle, being careful not to get in the way of the camera and sound guys.
"I saw the head and there were glowing red eyes." Just the thought gives me terrible shivers down my spine.
"Did it do anything to you?" Zak continues.
"I was just frozen. It was like I couldn't get away from it. I fell to my knees and felt sick, so sick."
Zak asks a few more questions and I get a couple more still photos. Hearing the things Christy says that happened to her and her friends chilled me to the core. These stories made me not want to be here even more than I already didn't want to be here and I'm not even sure that's possible. Zak finishes with Christy's interview and she leaves after thanking myself and the crew. I wish I could've left with her. I hated the feeling here. We waited around for about 20 minutes after Christy left for the second interview, but they ended up not showing up. "Can we get outta here?" I ask almost mad that we had to sit here at this place that I already learned to hate.
"Yeah, lets pack up," Zak walks off from the rest of the crew annoyed.
We get our gear back into the van and head back to the hotel. We spend the rest of the afternoon hanging out in Billy's room talking about Zak's interview and I send the still photos to the network after getting approval from Zak. We all have dinner together and go back to our own hotel rooms. I can't stop thinking about our stupid investigation tomorrow and it keeps me from a good nights rest. My phone says 2 am. "Come on, Shawn. Sleep," I whisper to myself. I sigh turning on the tv in hopes it'll get me sleepy enough to shut my eyes and fall asleep. Finally after about an hour I'm looking at the backs of my eyelids.