Closure
Weeks have went by and it days until Zoey's senior prom and graduation where most seventeen year old girls were obsessing over their dresses and accessories and don't forget dates Zoey was obsessing over a deadline for her film project she was up nights at a time working on it just to get it perfect for her NYU portfolio, she was deep in thought when Maya walked in "hey Zoe" she then looked over at the clock "its 5AM are you still working on that video project?"
"Yes Maya this is my video that goes with my NYU portfolio that determines if I get into the film program or determines if my dreams are crushed and hard work is for nothing" she said dramatically.
"I'm sure your video will be brilliant and you are brilliant they have to let you in" Maya said smiling and you have been working non stop you need to take a break "I'll take a break when I get accepted" said Zoey.
"I thought you already got accepted to NYU" said Maya.
"I got accepted for the general education not for film that isn't determined until I turn this project in." said Zoey "Speaking of breaks um Kyleigh said the senior prom is this Saturday" said Maya.
"Oh yeah I heard about that but I'm not going" said Zoey.
"Is it because of a dress honey we can get you one, we can fix your hair up you will have a blast" said Maya.
"Prom is about friends none of mine are here they already had theirs back home and its about sharing the years together I only have one friend here Lola and that's it" said Zoey continuing to work on the computer.
"Zoey you will regret it if you don't go to prom" said Maya.
Kyleigh happened to walk passed the door and overheard the conversation and walked in Zoey's room "you are not going to prom? You are allowed to go and you are not going you are crazy how come I'm not allowed to go and your giving her the option" said Zoey.
"Because you are fifteen and a sophomore and your father thinks you are too young, she is seventeen and its her senior year its a different thing" said Maya.
"See there you go I'm not going to go so that its fair for both of us" said Zoey.
"Zoey you will regret your decision if you don't go" said Maya.
"I'm not going to go I'm going to focus on my project okay just leave it alone please" said Zoey.
"Okay I'll leave it alone but if you change your mind you will know where to find me" said Maya as she left.
Kyleigh shook her head as she followed Maya out the door "I can't believe your not going to prom."
"I can't believe your making such a big deal out of it" said Zoey as she threw a stuff animal as Kyleigh as she threw it back and the two girls laughed "get out of here I gotta get dressed for school," said Zoey.
"Okay sis love ya" said Kyleigh.
Zoey rolled her eyes as she saved her project and began getting ready for school.
Once Zoey got ready for school Lola came over to get her and Kyleigh and the three rode to school "they were riding in silence when Kyleigh spoke up "Lola can you believe Zoey isn't going to prom?"
"Woah girl your not going?" said Lola shocked.
"Nah I need to focus on my final media project for my NYU portfolio" said Zoey.
"You have to go every girl goes to her senior prom" said Lola "I mean the dressing up, the dancing, the after parties the guys" said Lola.
"Its just not my thing" said Zoey.
Lola rolled her eyes "okay then I guess your not going to prom."
Once Lola pulled into the parking lot Kyleigh got on out and ran to her friends and Lola looked at Zoey "look your worrying too much about your project you need to just need to have fun."
"My future is important too" said Zoey.
"I know but your only a kid once you need to enjoy it time is almost up" said Lola.
Once the day went by Lola and Zoey were walking to Lola's car when Zoey pulled out her phone "Maya wants me home for some reason."
"When did you get a cell phone?" asked Lola "and when did you and Maya become friends?"
"Were not friends were just civil I guess and Zack got it for me I guess so he can check on me" said Zoey.
"Wonder why Maya would want you home?" asked Lola.
"Maybe another prom attempt" said Zoey.
"Lets go see what the fuss is about" said Lola as they got in her car and headed to Zoey's house they got out of the car and walked in the house "hey Maya I'm home whats the emergency?"
A second later three teenage girls started running towards Zoey all she recognized immediately "ahhhhh Tiffany, Leah, Madisyn what are you all doing here?" she said hugging all three girls as Lola smiled a fake smile.
"Lola these are my friends from back home, everyone this is my best friend that I've met here Lola" said Zoey.
"So why are you guys here?" asked Lola.
"Her step mom flew us out here for the week" said Leah.
Zoey turned around "surprise I knew you missed your friends so I thought Id surprise you."
"This is so nice and thoughtful thank you" said Zoey hugging Maya.
"So when are you going to show us New York" said Madisyn.
"Oh my gosh I can show you all right now" said Zoey as her friends followed her out the door.
Once they looked all around New York they all went back to the house and sat in Zoey's room and talked about high school memories and laughed and cried and just had a good time as they were looking at the yearbook "Zoey there you were on the on the cheer-leading team, the academic team, the dance team, and there is us at junior prom" said Tiffany.
"There is you and Cole" said Leah "you guys would be so sweet."
Zoey rolled her eyes "were just friends nothing more."
"Zoey you know he is in love with you right?" Tiffany.
"He's not in love with her he can't be" snarled Madisyn.
"And he's not and I'm not were best friends forever nothing will change that" said Zoey and it was about midnight when Zack knocked on Zoey's door and looked in the room "alright ladies its getting late and that one" he said pointing at Zoey "has school in the morning."
"Okay Zack I'll get to bed soon" said Zoey.
"Alright night ladies" he said closing the door.
"Oh did you read your baby ad in the yearbook from your mom" said Madisyn.
"Why did you mention that?" said Tiffany clearly upset.
"You all can stay up I'm going to bed" said Zoey leaving her room.
"Zoe, if your not ready to look at it its fine" attempted Tiffany but Zoey had shut her bedroom door and went out into the hall and sat on the other side of the door with the yearbook in her hand and tears fell down her face.
Zack could hear Zoey's door shut and he walked downstairs into the hall "hey whats wrong?"
"Mom wrote me a baby ad in my senior yearbook and I'm not ready to look at it I miss her so much" said Zoey.
"You look at it when you are ready, but I know it will say one thing that she's proud of you and she always will be, she will always be in your heart and she will always have a special place in mine"said Zack.
"Do you love her at all I mean not romantically" said Zoey.
"I do love her, all in all she was a good true friend and I wish I could have told her that I would always be there for her but I never got the chance" said Zack.
"I wish I could've seen you together just once even as friends" said Zoey.
"You can" said Zack as he went in the living room and pulled out some pictures and gave them to her "wow you went to mom's prom?" said Zoey.
"Actually it was a funny story I overheard her talking to my mom and she said she had a crush on someone with a three year difference I thought it was me it was some college douchebag and I did everything to make her prom perfect and at the end she danced with me" said Zack.
"That's so sweet" said Zoey smiling.
She looked at the next picture "when did mom get married?"
"She didn't some eight year old prince wanted to marry her we had a duel I won and she kissed me" said Zack.
"An eight year old that is hilarious" said Zoey laughing.
"Yeah weve been on crazy adventures throughout the years" said Zack.
The two sat and looked at photos and Zack shared the stories that associated with each photo and they bonded until Zack looked at the clock "its 2AM you have school soon and I have work."
"Yeah I'm going to head onto bed can I keep some of these pictures?" asked Zoey.
"You can keep as many as you want" said Zack.
"Thanks goodnight dad" she said as she walked back to her room to go to bed.
The week flew by and it was Saturday the day of the prom and Zoey was still working on her portfolio when she wasn't hanging out with her friends from back home Madisyour nyn came walking in "so I can't believe prom is tonight and your not going" she said.
"I cant I have to work on this and besides I don't have a dress and neither do you guys" said Zoey.
"Actually we brought ours just in case you changed your mind you wanted to do this together we can do this together" said Tiffany.
"Well I don't have a dress" said Zoey.
"Yeah you do" said Kyleigh walking in with a beautiful blue dress "mom bought it for you."
Zoey stood up and looked at it "its beautiful how did she know blue was my favorite color."
"We kind of helped her pick it out while you were at school one day" said Tiffany.
"Well looks like I'm going to prom" said Zoey as the four girls went to get ready.
They were in Zoey's room getting ready when Kyleigh walked with a bag "I get to go" she said excited.
"How did you convince dad" said Zoey.
"I haven't I told him I'm going to Chelsea's to hang out but were going to prom" said Kyleigh she then looked at Zoey's friends "who are these people?"
"These are my friends from back home your mom invited them so I could go to prom with my friends" said Zoey.
"Thats cool" said Kyleigh "well see you all at prom," she said leaving.
A few minutes later the four friends walked downstairs and Maya smiled "you all look beautiful."
Zack looked up "Maya are you sure we can let Zoey out of the house like this."
Maya rolled her eyes "Zack she will be fine."
"Every guy is going to have his eye on her thinking of things and I don't like it"said Zack.
"Oh yeah Zoey who is your date?" asked Madisyn.
"Nobody I'm actually going with you guys, my best friends" said Zoey.
The doorbell then rang "actually Zoey you might want to get the door" said Maya.
"Oh no please don't tell me you set her up on a date with a guy" said Zack.
Zoey went to the door and opened it when Cole was on the other side "hey Zoe" he said in a tux.
"What are you doing here?" she said giving him a hug.
"I heard your prom was this weekend remember the promise we made in 8th grade?" he asked.
"If we were not in relationships we would go to prom together" said Zoey.
"Yeah do you still want to go?" he said pulling out a corsage.
"Of course" she said.
He then put it on her and she smiled at it "its beautiful."
"Well were going to go to prom now thank you for everything Maya" said Zoey giving her a hug.
She then walked up to Zack and gave him a hug "i love you."
"Love you too have a good time" he said as she walked up to her friends and began walking out the door and Cole began to follow them when Zack yelled a t him "hey you come here?"
He walked over unsure of what his best friend's father wanted "yes sir?" he said.
"I know you like her but your also a kid your feelings will change and evolve I want you to know for sure what they are before you take the risk of hurting my daughter" said Zack.
You as a father may not want to hear this sir but I've loved her since middle school and all this time that she has been here and I've been in Boston its only gotten stronger I will love her for the rest of my life even if she never loves me back or if she just wants to love me as a friend either way I want to be in your daughters life" said Cole.
"You seem like a good guy but she's been through a lot I don't want to see her any less than happy understand?" said Zack.
"I only want her happy too" said Cole.
"Alright now go have a good night and have her back safely alright?" said Zack shaking his hand.
He then walked out and Maya looked at Zack "hey you have nothing to worry about he loves her, he will never break her heart" she said putting her arms around him.
"He better hope he doesn't or he may not be alive" said Zack.
"Look I can tell he is a good guy," said Maya.
"I know he is I just after never being there for the first seventeen years of her life I just want to put her in a bubble and never let anyone hurt her again she lost her mom, had to move from her friends, the crap with Maddie's parents I want to make everything bad go away for her" said Zack.
"You can't protect her from everything same with Kyleigh you have to let them experience these life experiences all you can do is be there for both your girls when they need you" said Maya.
"Yeah your right"said Zack as the two of them sat on the couch and watched a movie.
Meanwhile at the prom everyone was dancing and having a good time when suddenly a slow song came on and Cole walked over "would you like to dance?"
She took his hand and they began slow dancing "you look beautiful tonight."
She smiled "you look great too."
"Zoey I need to tell you something I have always loved you and I wanted to tell you before I left Boston but I was scared, but listen you are the most intelligent beautiful young woman I have ever known and I had to tell you how I felt whether things change or stay the same" said Cole.
"Cole you love me?" said Zoey.
"I always have and always will" said Cole.
"I'm kind of scared, I love you too but your my best friend what if it doesn't work out and then its never the same again?" said Zoey.
"But what if we don't take that chance and miss out on something perfect" he answered.
"Your going back to Boston though" said Zoey.
"Yeah but then In three months I'm coming to NYU" he said pulling out an envelope "you got in" said Zoey.
"Yeah I did for the art program" he said excited.
"That's awesome" she said.
"Well what do you say will you be my girlfriend" said Cole.
"Yes I will" said Zoey as he leaned down and kissed her.
Tiffany Leah and Kyleigh came running over "he did it!" they all yelled as they all started hugging Zoey and Cole smiled at her and her friends.
He watched Zoey talk with her friends and half sister when Madisyn walked over to him "you know its sad you do everything for her and she could care less about you."
"Actually your wrong about that I told her how I felt and were together my question is why aren't you over there spending time with her isn't that what you came here to do" said Cole.
She crossed her arms "I have always liked you and you always went chasing after her" said Madisyn.
"I don't want to hurt you but I'm in love with Zoey always have been and were finally together I'm not doing anything to screw that up I'll never break her heart" said Cole.
Madisyn saw Zoey and Lola starting to walk over and she quickly leaned in and grabbed Cole and kissed him and he struggled and pushed her away "what the hell did you just do?" he yelled.
Madisyn smirked and Cole turned around to see Zoey with a sad look on her face "what the hell just happened?" she yelled.
"No its not what it looks like she kissed me I don't like her like that" said Cole.
Zoey turned around and began running as Cole gave Madisyn a death look and then began chasing her "Zoe please talk to me."
"Did you think this was a game?, you tell me your in love with me and then kiss my best friend" she yelled.
"No I do love you, your so called best friend kissed me, Zoe you have to believe me please" said Cole about to cry.
"I thought you were the one guy that was good" said Zoey.
"I am Zoey, Madisyn she has been hitting on me since you left but I turned her down every time because my heart will always belong with you" said Cole.
Tiffany, Lola and Kyleigh came running to see what the fight was about "Zoe whats wrong?" said Kyleigh.
"He cheated on me" said Zoey.
"You son of a bitch, how could you do that to her" she yelled at Cole.
"I didn't cheat her friend kissed me I don't like Madisyn I love Zoey" said Cole.
"Go to hell" said Zoey as she started running again and Cole ran after her meanwhile a car came driving towards them and a guy started shooting everyone started screaming and Cole tried to grab Kyleigh and Zoey and everyone else tried to get out of the way there was screaming and gun shots and police were heard short after that.
Meanwhile at the Martin household the phone was ringing and Zack answered it "who is calling me this late?"
" this is at the emergency room in the St John hospital your daughter has been shot by a gang shooting and is in critical condition" Zack's eyes went wide "I'm on my way" he said and Maya got up "whats wrong?"
"Zoey got shot I have to get to the hospital" said Zack.
"Oh my god" said Maya "lets get there fast" she said as they got in the car.
Zack and Maya came running in and Kyleigh ran up to them "why aren't you at Chelsea's?" said Maya.
"We went to prom" said Kyleigh.
"We will talk about this later right now I want to know what happened to your sister" said Zack.
A doctor then walked up "are you Zoey's legal guardian?" he asked Zack.
"Yes I'm her dad, her mother is no longer with us" he said.
"A gang drove by the school and started shooting your daughter was found outside with her friends by police" said the doctor.
"Is she going to be okay?" asked Zack.
"We plan for her to be but right now she isn't responding the bullet hit her right below the heart and we need to operate we need your signature to do so" said the doctor.
"I'll do whatever it takes you have to save her" said Zack.
"Alright we will let you know as things progress" said the doctor.
"I want to know what happened and I want to know now" said Zack.
Meanwhile Zoey opened her eyes and was in a white room she looked around and saw someone very familiar "mom?" she whispered standing up.
"Hey honey" she said.
"Mom you look great, wait am I dead?" asked Zoey.
"No not quite" said Maddie.
"Zoey stood up "what do you mean mom?" she said walking towards her.
"You have a choice you can stay or you can go" said Maddie.
"Mom I've missed you so much and I'm so glad to see you" she said hugging her.
"Zoey you look so beautiful in your dress" said Maddie hugging her back.
"Thank you I wish you could've been there for real" said Zoey.
"I would've loved to have been there but I've been watching over you from here" said Maddie.
"You have seen everything?" said Zoey.
"Everything and Maya and I will have a discussion of how she treated you at the beginning when its her time" said Maddie.
"Everything is fine now with her she is actually okay are you mad that were friends?" said Zoey.
"Not at all" said Maddie "I just want to see you happy."
"So why am I here?" asked Zoey.
"Because you almost died and when you are borderline you can make the decision" said Maddie.
"So I can choose to stay here with you" said Zoey.
"Zoey as much as I miss you, you have your whole life ahead of you to just leave it like this and you have an entire group of people who love you" said Maddie.
"Love means nothing" said Zoey.
"Look Zoe, things you see may not be as they appear" said Maddie.
"You saw him mom, he kissed Madisyn and I truly believed that he loved me and I was falling for him,"
"Zoey come look" said Maddie "She could see Cole crying same with Kyleigh and Maya and Zack of course trying to stay strong.
"He's crying,Kyleigh is crying even Maya is crying" said Zoey.
"He has always loved you from the very start,and as for Maya and Kyleigh they genuinely care about you even if it wasn't that way at the start" said Maddie.
"Then why did he cheat on me?"asked Zoey.
"Hes telling you the truth she did kiss him he tried to push her away" said Maddie "she was always jealous of you about everything even when you were younger."
"Why didn't you ever say anything if you knew even back then?" said Zoey.
"I had to take a step back and let you find out on your own and live your experiences my parents always tried to keep me in a bubble and it backfired in the long run" said Maddie.
"Yeah they wanted to do the same thing to me" said Zoey.
"I saw and I'm so proud that you stood up for yourself like I never could, I can't wait to see you live your life the way you want to" said Maddie.
"But you wont be there" said Zoey.
"I'll be watching you from here and I will always be with you in your heart" said Maddie.
Zoey started to turn around when Maddie spoke again "hey Zoe, don't stress so much about your NYU film project act surprised when you get it but you soon will have an NYU film program acceptance letter sitting on your dresser."
"Really I get in" said Zoey.
"Yeah you do, now go Zoey live the rest of your life, take risks, fall in love and just do what you do best be you and I'll watch it all happen from here" said Maddie.
"I love you mom" she said hugging her until her mom vanished and her eyes opened slowly to see Cole asleep on the chair next to her holding her hand and she smiled "hi Cole" she said in a horse voice.
He looked over at her as he started to wake up "your awake, your alive thank god look about tonight..."
"Stop, I know you didn't cheat on me, and now I also know who isn't a friend life is too short to wonder what if" said Zoey.
"So are we back together again" asked Cole.
"Yes," said Zoey.
"Zack then walked in "your awake thank god, do you have any idea how scared I was that I was going to lose you?"
"Sorry but I'm fine I'm going to live the rest of my life" said Zoey.
"You are just like your mother, but lets focus on getting you out of the hospital first okay?" said Zack.
"Okay dad I love you" said Zoey.
"Love you too kid" said Zack.
"She then looked over in the window "I love you mom." she whispered.
Maddie smiled from above "forever and always."