May 22 Update: I've removed three chapters that I had posted after this update. After writing some more and pondering some dilemma's that have been going through my head, I have decided to change what I had written after this point. I believe it'll better fit the story and it's progression, as I feel the way I had written after this chapter was having some things move to fast.

I also removed one tiny tidbit from this chapter: the location of the first lockdown.

So please bare with me while I fix up some issues in the upcoming chapters.

And as always, thank you for all the support!

Authors Note: Just a Disclaimer reminder: I, sadly, have no connection with Zak. And I certainly don't any connection with any ex girlfriends. I don't mean any offence or harm against anyone, especially not Zak.

Chapter 28: Standing Up for A Friend

Cheryl's Point of View

A few days later…

I couldn't stand it anymore.

Alicia was completely heartbroken, and entirely blaming herself, like she always did.

She had been so happy the past month, thinking that she may have found a guy that accepted everything different about her.

Now it was like the life had been sucked out of her.

She was basically keeping to her room, except to use the restroom and shower.

She had tried texting Zak the next day after the blow up, but he hadn't responded.

I didn't know him as well as Alicia did, and I understood completely that he was upset that she had lied to him.

He had every right to be upset.

But this was torture for me to watch.

Especially since Alicia was to travel with the guys tomorrow to do their first official investigation and Zak still couldn't even try to reach out?

I was not having it.

So I had gotten dressed, called Aaron to come pick me up and basically be my backup.

I told Ali I was going out to pick up a few things and would be back later, then proceeded downstairs and outside to wait for Aaron.

"I really don't think this is a good idea Cheryl," Aaron said, as he pulled into Zak's driveway.

"If you really think that, then why did you agree to it?" I asked, unbuckling my seatbelt.

"Un…oh fine, you're right," Aaron replied, getting out of the car and walking around to my side of the car, opening my door for me.

I laughed as I got out of the car.

"Silly Aaron," I said with a smile.

"Yup!" Aaron said in a funny voice and I laughed again.

Aaron smiled.

"Come on, let's get this over with," Aaron said, leading me up to the front door.

I followed Aaron up to the front door and waited with him while he ran the doorbell.

After a minute or two, Zak answered the door.

He looked like hell.

His hair wasn't styled to perfection like it normally was. He had bags under his eyes, and he just looked plain exhausted.

"Hey bro-" Zak started, noticed me and sighed. "Oh come on bro, seriously?" Zak added, looking at Aaron.

Aaron did his best innocent looking face.

"Just hear her out," Aaron said.

Zak looked annoyed, but stepped aside to let us in.

"Fine," Zak mumbled.

Aaron lead me inside and shut the door behind us.

Zak motioned for us to follow him over to the living room area.

He plopped down in a chair as Aaron and I walked over and sat on a couch.

Suddenly, I saw a dog trot into the room. It started wagging it's tail happily as it made a beeline for Aaron.

"Hey Grace! How you doing sweetheart?" Aaron asked, rubbing her sides as she put her front paws on his legs and started licking his face.

I smiled.

"So, I can guess why you're here, but I don't know why you're wasting your time," Zak said.

"Bro…" Aaron said, in a tone that silently asked him to play nice.

I looked at Zak and decided to be blunt with him.

"Because it's painful for me to see my best friend going through hell," I replied.

I thought I saw a flash of pain in his eyes, before his expression hardened again.

"What am I supposed to do about it? She lied to me," Zak said.

"I know she lied to you, but it's not because she wanted to. Talking about Emily is hard for her. She can barely even talk to me about her," I replied.

"Her reasons for lying don't matter, she still lied. I've had enough women lie to me in my past. I'm not associating myself with liars anymore,"

"Zak, I'm not asking you to forgive her in a minute, but you are going to be working with her. Can't you at least try to mend the bridge a little?" I asked.

Zak shrugged.

"It's her choice to continue with the job. And she doesn't have to be near me during the investigations," Zak replied.

My eyes narrowed.

"Don't try that with me," I said, slightly angry.

"Try what? I'm not-" Zak began.

"Acting like you don't care about her! I've seen the way you look at her. That doesn't go away overnight!" I retorted.

Zak's own eyes narrowed.

"Maybe not," he said reluctantly. "But she lied to me about her paranormal experiences, just like the other women I've dated, among other things," Zak explained.

"You know damn well Ali is not like those women," I snapped.

I felt Aaron rub my back a bit, trying to signal to me to calm down.

"And what in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Zak snapped back.

"I did research online. I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, but pictures are another story," I said.

"And?" Zak asked.

Maybe I shouldn't of gone this route…I thought.

But it was too late now.

"The last woman I could find that you were with, was in 'Playboy'," I started. "Plastic boobs obvious, and nothing but half naked shots on her Twitter account," I added.

"Yeah, those are true. But she also advocates for animals," Zak replied.

Damn…

"Why the hell are you sticking up for her bro?" Aaron suddenly cut in.

I looked at him.

Zak sighed.

"I'm not…I'm just saying…don't judge a book by its cover," Zak replied.

"Oh please. She was insanely jealous of any woman that came within feet of you, and that's just the start of it," Aaron said.

Phew…not entirely a perfect argument on Zak's side, I thought.

"Yeah, I remember," Zak grumbled. "And I would like to forget it, so change the subject please," Zak added.

"My point is, Ali's not that type of girl, at all," I started.

"She lied. It's close enough," Zak said.

"Do you want to know why she lied? Because it kills her to talk about," I retorted.

"So, does she believe I'd laugh or judge her? Because that's ridiculous-" Zak started.

I just lost it then.

Alicia would probably kill me for telling Zak the few details I knew, but Zak was pissing me off.

"No, she's afraid you'll agree with her!" I snapped.

Zak's expression changed to confusion.

"What do you mean?" Zak asked.

"Her parents died when she was 12-years-old, Emily was 10," I started.

Both Zak and Aaron looked stunned.

I hadn't let on about these details to Aaron beforehand.

"All I know is that it was a car accident. I don't know specifics, she's never been able to tell me. Two years after that, TWO, Emily drowned. In a river that ran near the property they lived in at the time. Ali's blamed herself for all three deaths for as long as I've known her, which was high school," I finished.

Zak, for the first time since I had met him, was speechless.

"Woah…that's rough…" Aaron said quietly.

I nodded.

"I don't think I'll ever know the whole story. She has herself convinced that their deaths were her fault, so that's why it's so hard for her to talk about it," I said, looking at Zak.

I could see pain in his eyes.

I hoped it was pain for what Alicia had gone through, and that he'd realize he may have been too hard on her.

I watched him as he slid his fingers through his messy hair, and let out a quiet sigh.

"Cheryl…thank you, for telling me at least that. It helps me understand more why she hadn't told me sooner," Zak started.

I began feeling hopeful, until Zak spoke again.

"But the truth is…she still lied. She could of told me the bare minimum of details, that she had lost a family member or friend, and that's who she was seeing. She ended up getting injured because she didn't tell anyone," Zak explained.

"I know, but Zak…you must understand now why she lied…" I said.

"I do…but that doesn't make it okay. If Aaron, Billy or Jay withheld information like that and then got hurt, I'd be angry too. Withholding information like that can lead to serious consequences with the paranormal…oppression, possession, demonic attachments…" Zak explained, I stared at him.

"You really don't think Emily is some sort of negative entity do you? It tried to warn her! And she's only a 12-year-old girl…" I started, but noticed Aaron shaking his head.

"Demons tend to take on the form of a little girl to lure in people…" Aaron explained.

I blinked.

I didn't know what to say.

"That's why she needs to be honest about it…about all of it. And besides…if she can't share something that personal with me…what chance do we have to begin with?" Zak said sadly.

I sighed.

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.

"You'll still look out for her…won't you? Do your best to make sure she doesn't end up hurt or in some dark place?" I asked.

Zak nodded without hesitation.

"Of course I'll look out for her, like you said…our emotions don't go away over night…" Zak started.

I smiled a bit.

"But I can't be with someone if they can't trust me, can't be honest with me…I just can't…" Zak said softly.

I didn't like it, but I understood.

He was right. Honesty is everything in a relationship. And Alicia should be the one telling him the details of her past, not me. If she couldn't do that, then it implied she didn't trust him, or didn't have faith in him, whether it was true or not.

I sighed quietly.

"I'm sorry…for snapping at you and all…" I said softly.

Zak shook his head.

"You were only doing what a best friend does," Zak said, giving me a weak smile.

I smiled weakly in return.

Authors Note: We've reached the end of another update. :( I hope I did well by Zak and explaining why he's upset with me.

Let me know what you think in the comments!