Chapter 39
A knock at the door stirred Zona from her sleep, slowly she climbed out of the wardrobe running her fingers through her hair, trying to flatten it down as she stumbled to the door,
"Zona open up" a familiar voice shouted. Confused Zona opened the door, confirming the owner of the voice,
"Timmy?" she said diving into his arms, the tears remerging, just when she thought she couldn't cry anymore, she was wrong. "What are you doing here? You're not AWOL are you?" Zona asked through her sobs as she clung desperately to her brother.
"I got your message, and I was worried, so I took leave, I was meant to meet Samantha but you are more important, so I drove straight here," he hugged her again, guiding his little sister to the bed sitting next to her he took her hands, "what happened?" he asked, worriedly, the bed was pristine, unslept in, while the wardrobe door was open with a blanket and her soft toys, bunched at the bottom. She hadn't slept in the wardrobe for nearly 10 years, so something bad had happened.
"Zona" he prompted, as she just rested her head on his shoulder staring blankly at the wall.
"Did you know child who have been abused have a 30% chance of abusing their own children, they are more likely to get diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, migraines, increased cancer risk, drug and alcohol problems," Zona said her voice monotone as she recited the facts, she had learnt in biology classes, they had never bothered her, not until today. Not until she had been dumped because of her past, Timmy squeezed her hand,
"What happened Zona? Why is this bothering you now?" he asked concerned, this wasn't like his sister who was normally upbeat and perky,
"I told Peyton everything, and she dumped me, because I'm to damaged" Zona sobbed "And she is right, I'm never going to be normal, I'm always going to be the stupid bitch who killed her mammy" she cried, Timmy hugged her,
"That's daddy talking, that's not you Zona, that's not my sister who graduated top of her class, getting scholarships to one of the top colleges in the country, who spent every weekend for the last year volunteering at a hospital with children, who can't even kill a fly. You are so amazing and smart Zona, its annoying actually." Timmy admitted. "Peyton is the loser if she can't see how special you are"
"Peyton is amazing Timmy, she makes everything better, but now she hates me, cus I'm dirty" Zona's tears were making his shoulder wet, but Timmy didn't care, this was about his sister, who had just broken up with her girlfriend because of their past.
"Peyton is an idiot, if she can't see how beautiful and amazing you are, then she doesn't deserve you" Timmy vowed, wishing he could have protected Zona from this heart break, like he tried to protect her from everything bad in life but somethings nobody could protect her from. Still, he might not be able to protect her from heart break, but he could make sure he was there for her.
"I'm the idiot, I trusted her, I loved her, she broke my heart Timmy" Zona wept,
"I know Zona, she wasn't the girl for you, you'll find someone who loves you past and all, someone who can see that everything you overcome only made you stronger," Timmy promised, "And you are so strong, so brave, you are so special, you deserve the best"
"I miss you" Zona said suddenly, relishing in the support she was getting from her brother,
"I miss you too, but you know I'm always there for you, even when I'm away, I'm always in your corner. And all those posh studies you read, they weren't us, they aren't us, we might have had a rough start, but that's not our story," Timmy promised,
"I'm not taking the risk, I'm never having kids," Zona vowed,
"I want 4, two of each" Timmy announced smiling at the thought of his future kids,
"I'm going to be the best auntie ever" Zona announced hugging her brother, she felt better with him here. He had a way of always cheering her up, no matter how bleak things appeared.
"Now, dry those eyes, I want to get me one of those Hopkins jumpers and you can show me around" Timmy suggested, wanting to distract his sister. Zona nodded, slowly, what she really wanted to do was to hide in her room all day, in case Peyton had gone and told everyone on campus. "And I know you'll have found the best doughnut place in Baltimore, so we should go there for breakfast first" he said, despite not wanting to go out Zona gave a soft smile, sensing he was winning Timmy continued
"And I am starving," Timmy said his stomach rumbling on cue. "Please Zona, please take me to the best doughnut shop in Baltimore" he begged, "I need food that isn't rehydrated" Zona sighed, unable to deny her brother,
"Fine, but you can pay" she ordered, Timmy nodded
"Of course, now get dressed, cus as much as I love that dress I think it might be too much for breakfast" Timmy suggested, raising an eyebrow, Zona looked down at her outfit and then in the mirror, she was still in the dress from last night, her make up smeared and dried down her face, her hair was everywhere, in summary she looked like a mess just how she felt.
"Ok" she said, normally she would be horrified at her appearance but not today, today it truly reflected how she felt.
"Go shower sis" Timmy ordered playfully pulling her to her feet and pushing her into the bathroom, "And put these on" he threw her jeans and a light blue t-shirt at her, then closing his eyes dramatically throwing his hand over his eyes he reached into her underwear draw pulling out 3 sets of panties and a bra throwing them at her too.
Zona rolled her eyes at his antics but obeyed stripping off wiping off the old makeup and putting on the fresh clothes. She stepped out her hair wrapped in a wet towel,
"Sit" Timmy ordered, he had a hairbrush and hair dryer ready. Zona sat on the computer chair as Timmy undid the towel, gently brushing out her hair, "I remember brushing your hair when we were little, it was always so soft and long," he reminisced, as he turned the hair dryer on gently curling her hair, he knew from watching Barbara over the years playing with her hair always relaxed Zona and he could feel it working now.
"Okay," he said finishing up, "now let's go and get breakfast" he ordered, taking Zona's hand squeezing it as he escorted her out of the flat where he took her arm. Zona clung to him glad the halls were empty, as they went past the first group of people, she kept her head down low, just in case. In her mind everyone knew, everyone was talking about her.
"Head up high kid" Timmy said noticing his sister actions. "Everything we survived has made us stronger, has made us good men in a storm," Zona nodded, her brother was right, she started to straighten up, "Plus, you need to see how many people are checking me out" he joked, Zona rolled her eyes. Timmy was wearing jeans and a tight-fitting top, showing off his muscular body, his blonde hair had grown out slightly enough, so it was lightly spiked. Being in the marines Timmy was used to people checking him out, he got it every time he went on shore leave. Zona huffed,
"They're looking at me, not you" she joked, Timmy frowned,
"You know what, you are on, tonight the battle of the Robbins, most numbers win," he suggested, Zona raised an eyebrow, already sure she could beat her brother, after all she knew where all the gay bars were.
"You are on" She agreed.
"Okay, 50% in a bar you choose, 50% in a bar I choose" Timmy bargained. Zona rolled her eyes, she could still take him, her flirting game had improved
"Looser buys breakfast tomorrow" she suggested,
"Deal" Timmy held out his hand Zona shook on it, as they arrived at the doughnut shop.
"Hey Arizona, would you like your normal?" the server asked, Timmy raised an eyebrow, staring at his bashful sister, who had blushed bright red,
"Zona how often do you come here?" he asked amazed they knew her order,
"Not that much" Zona said waving him off, "Olivia is in my bio classes so she recognises me,"
"Sure" Timmy said, going up to order, choosing the same as his sister, you could say a lot of things about Zona but she knew her doughnuts and always picked the best ones.
"I'll bring them over" Olivia said, giving Timmy a wink, he nodded sitting down opposite Zona. Olivia didn't disappoint as she brought over 2 steaming cups of coffee
"6 sugars Arizona just how you like it and the strawberry, white chocolate doughnut with cream on the side, for you both"
"Don't come here much" Timmy mocked, he could tell Zona was a regular and likely came every day,
"Don't tell mom" Zona begged, she knew if Barbara Robbins found out her breakfast of choice she'd move here and make sure her daughter had something nutritious, the icing was strawberry flavour that had to count for something right?
"Well, what's in it for me?" Timmy asked, he wouldn't tell on his sister, they both knew that but still,
"I won't tell mom about where you and Stephanie hang out, when your back home" Zona replied, challenging Tim, they both knew if she knew about the treehouse, and what it was really used for, she'd find multiple reasons to pop down and check on them ruining their private time.
Tim sighed,
"Deal"
The siblings nodded, going to what was most important doughnut tasting.
Zona dressed up for the second night in a row, this was serious a competition with her brother. She had to win this; this was her pride at stake.
Timmy too was dressed to the nines, normally he had his dress uniform to help him here he just had a smart shirt and a killer smile with dimples.
They went to the straight bar first Timmy got 20 numbers while Zona got 5, then to the gay bar. Walking in Zona stopped, Timmy followed her gaze,
"what's up" he asked
"Peyton" Zona said, she'd gone pale and was shaking slightly,
"Let me handle this" Timmy said standing straight, walking straight over to the pretty girl. "excuse me, can I have a word?" he asked politely, Peyton nodded at the attractive man who guided her away from the bar, not so far as to be a threat,
"That was my sister you dumped last night, my amazingly talented, smart, funny sister who has overcome so much and still manages to be the most positive perky person I know. You messed up, because you let her go, and that's good for her because she needs someone who accepts her, all of her" Timmy said, "Now all I need from you is decency, you see Zona has only ever told a few people about her past, its private and I need you to keep it to yourself. You don't have to talk to her ever again, and there is nothing I can do to make you not say anything but please, if you ever liked my sister or cared about her at all, please keep it to yourself" Timmy finished. Peyton nodded,
"I really liked her too, but the nightmares, it's a lot" she shrugged, "I won't tell anyone, I respect her that much, now is that everything cus I'm about to get lucky" she walked off.
Timmy turned to find Zona right next to him, she hugged him,
"Thank you" she said,
"I'm your brother, its my job to protect you" Timmy said sincerely, then with a grin, "its also my job to show you up, how many numbers have you got so far?" he asked knowing he was in the lead. Zona frowned,
"Oh, you're going to regret that" she said, putting on her best smile popping her dimples. Timmy might be the big shot in a hetro bar, but here in gay village Zona was in her element. She started chatting up woman, after woman, each one giving her a confidence boost as her calendar started getting filled up with dates, breakfast dates, lunch dates and evening dates, each person was aware, she was playing the field, there was to be no exclusivity, each person was determined to change the beautiful blonde's mind.
They finished up as the bar closed, Timmy found his sister sucking face in the back,
"Come on sis" he said, retrieving her,
"Saturday" Zona said waving at the woman, who kissed her hand before waving back.
"She seemed nice, what was her name?" Timmy asked, Zona frowned, checking her pocket for the piece of paper,
"Tiffany, I think" she said, "How many numbers did you get?" she asked competitively,
"30" Timmy said, quite proud that he had managed to get 10 numbers in a gay club, there was jut no way he was going to tell his sister 9 of them were from gentleman who claimed he set off their gaydar. Zona grinned, Timmy could read her look, it was the cat who got the canary,
"33" she said, getting the pieces of paper and ripped off bits of napkins from between her breasts. "Suck it Timmy" she said, doing a victory dance. As much as Timmy hated to lose, this time he didn't mind, seeing his sister who'd been sobbing in the wardrobe earlier that day have a side splitting smile and dates coming out of her ears. His mission to cheer her up and help her move on had worked perfectly, even if it meant buying breakfast 2 days running.
"Thanks Timmy" she said hugging him,
"Anything for you Zona, anytime you need me I'll always be there" he promised. "Now don't tell Stephanie I went out picking up girls numbers and we will be sweet"
"I love you Timmy" Zona said honnestly, tiliting her head. As far as brothers went Timmy was the best.
I thought Zona deserved a happy chapter, with lots of fluff and brotherly love, let me know if you liked it