Thanks to Christina for editing and those that reviewed.
Chapter Seven
"Unbelievable," Anthony grumbled as he sat down on the couch beside his sister. "I can't believe he actually asked you for money."
"He did," Haley sighed as she watched the anger boiling in her eldest brother's eyes.
"Will Zack ever learn?" he asked her seriously.
"What?" Haley furrowed her brows, unsure of what he was actually asking her.
"He's been in and out of jail for years and when he gets out, he seems to be handling everything fine but it's not long until he screws up again," Anthony said.
"Dad says that we should help him because we're all he has so we bail him out every time but has it actually done Zack any good?"
Haley bit her lip and then looked down at the floor as she realized what her brother was trying to tell her. "You don't want me to give him the money," she said.
Anthony winced at the tone of his sister's voice. He knew that she thought he was being harsh but he didn't expect her to be so open about it. Haley always tried to listen to people without showing her own opinion. She truly tried to keep an open mind.
"I don't want to see him hurt any more than you do, but he's never going to save himself if we're there to catch him every time he falls," he tried to explain in a way that didn't make it sound like he was giving up on his brother.
He loved Zack, he really did but at the same time, he was so angry with him for everything he had put the entire family through. For a few months, Anthony wasn't on speaking terms with his sister Taylor or his father because they chose to side with Zack and believed that he was being too harsh.
Haley had been understanding about his side at least. She had recognized that he was a cop, and he couldn't just let Zack get away with robbing that bank especially after one of his accomplices had shot a guard and that guard had almost died and would've left behind a wife and daughter.
Anthony had begged the DA to be lenient with Zack and she had to a certain degree, but there was only so much that could be done to make things easier for him. She managed to get him sent to a minimum-security prison with a good reputation that was close to their father and sister in Miami.
"This time is different," Haley pointed out. "If his debt doesn't get paid and soon, Zack could get seriously hurt."
"I don't want that to happen," Anthony agreed with the point she was trying to make.
"Then I'm going to withdraw the money from the account and give it to Zack next week," Haley said, putting her hand in his and giving it a tight squeeze.
She raised her gaze to meet his as she said, "Whether you take me or not."
He nodded. "Can you get Nathan to take you?" he asked.
"Probably," Haley replied, looking down at the ground to hide her disappointment.
"It's not that I don't want to take you," Anthony told her.
"Then what's the problem?" Haley asked.
"Zack won't want to see me."
Haley nodded in agreement. "You're right. It would do more harm than good."
"Be careful," Anthony said.
"Always," Haley smirked at him.
He leaned over and hugged her before getting up and walking down the hall to his and Pam's bedroom.
Haley pulled out her cell phone and dialled Nathan's number. He had left a few minutes after Anthony had arrived to give them some privacy.
"Hales?" Nathan answered on the fourth ring.
"Hi," Haley greeted him. "I need a favour."
Nathan had picked Haley up from her apartment building at eight in the morning the next week. They had driven to the bank and Haley had gotten a money order for the money she was giving to Zack.
When Nathan had asked her why she hadn't just withdrawn cash, she had shook her head sadly and said, "Because I know my brother." She began to explain that she didn't trust Zack not to do something foolish like using the money for something else.
They were now being led to the prison visitation area outside which consisted of a fenced area with various picnic tables.
Haley crutched over to the one her brother sat at and sat down on the side opposite him. Nathan took a seat beside her, putting his arm around her waist.
Zack looked over at him in a way similar to the way Anthony had eyed him when he first met him. He had dubbed it "the big brother look".
"This is my boyfriend," Haley told her brother and then looked at Nathan. "This is my other brother."
Zack extended his hand to Nathan which Nathan accepted and the two shook hands.
"Zack James," he told him.
"Nathan Scott."
Zack looked more like Haley than Taylor or Anthony did. They shared the same auburn hair and hazel eyes that their mother had had. Anthony and Taylor were both blond. Taylor's eyes were also darker than any of her other siblings as she had inherited their father's chocolate coloured eyes.
When Nathan had met Anthony Hargrove, he had realized that Haley had inherited her biological father's complexion but everything else appeared to be from her mother.
Haley handed him the money order for $2000.00. "Just give this to them and they can cash it whenever."
She had chosen a money order instead of a cheque because the funds were required to be prepaid for the amount shown on it so it wouldn't bounce.
Zack studied the piece of paper and nodded. "Thank you," he said.
"Never again, Zack," Haley told him seriously. "You're my brother and I love you but if you don't get help for your problem and then get into trouble again, you're on your own. I can't help you again if you refuse to help yourself."
"They have meetings here," Zack announced. "I've been attending them for almost two weeks now."
Haley looked surprised for a second and then her mouth curved into a small smile. "Good for you," she said.
"Can you do me another favour?" Zack asked.
"Depends," Haley replied.
"Will you please ask Anthony to answer the next time I call?" Zack asked.
Haley cocked her head to the side. "Why?"
"I want to apologize to him. It's one of the steps," he replied.
"I'll ask him to," Haley nodded.
"Do you think he'll listen?" Zack asked, looking worried.
"If you're sincere this time," Haley replied.
Zack turned to Nathan and eyed him. "So you're the boyfriend Taylor told me about," he said.
"Yes," Nathan confirmed.
He looked at Haley. "Is he treating you right?" he asked suspiciously.
"Would I accept anything less?" Haley shot back.
Zack smirked at his little sister. "Never," he mused.
