A/N:Sixth chapter.

Never Give In

Chapter 6

Zay

"We have a breakthrough" Officer Reynolds said once everyone was settled down. Officer Reynolds was the main investigator and he looked nothing like those people in spy movies.

If Zay could describe him, he would call him a Yogi. Not that Yogi was weak or anything. His built was small for a guy, and he looked as if he isn't able to benchpress air. Zay did not exactly have the best impression of him but Officer Reynolds was good at his job.

They were all gathered at the Matthews' living room. By they, Zay meant her family, her uncle Shawn, Eric and Josh, her grandparents and even her Aunt Morgan. Maya was sitting beside Katy. Farkle was with his parents who were talking softly to Mrs Matthews. He was beside Lucas.

The air was tense, that was all Zay could say about it. Alot has happened and waiting for something, anything really, took a long time.

"Why did it take four months?" Those words came out of his lips before he could stop. Zay never had the habit of keeping his mouth shut and he hoped that his question was not out of place, he really didn't want to offend anyone right now. It has been an unbearable long four months since Riley disappeared. The world didn't stop as Zay thought it would. Instead it continued on but the people that Riley left behind (them) well it was not the same.

Zay can't speak for everyone but for him it was like someone decided to put his entire world into a blender and decided to press the start button. The contents were all the same but the presentation was different. But then again things were starting to change again. The only salvation appeared when the police called saying they had a breakthrough in the form of a video.

"Why did it take four months?" Mr Matthews question. Zay really did feel for the history teacher. He was just Riley's friend. He wasn't a parent, he was not the first person to hold her. It was already devastating for him now, he didn't have it in him to think what it would be like for her parents.

Everyone looked to one of the policemen who just replied, "It was initially tampered with, we finally found the original recording. And we would like to show it to you all."

At that officer Reynolds spoke up, "This video show how they took Ms Matthews. It doesn't really paint a pretty picture. if you are not comfortable watching it..."

Mrs Matthews automatically looked at Auggie who venomously shook his head. He was watching the footage even if his parents didn't want him to. Mrs Matthews sighed before nodding to the police officer. Mr Matthews held her hand as officer Reynolds moved to hit the play button and Zay swore his heart started beating faster.

The video quality was not the best that was the first thing Zay thought. But when a familiar brunette entered the frame; Zay had to get a grip on his emotions. She looked a little bit miffed and distressed. Maybe it was four months without Riley and that in itself was torture but Zay swore that seeing her even in video form assured him that she would never run away from any of them. In the video Riley was walking alone her hands wrapped around herself before she reached out towards her pocket. Her phone was beside her ear in seconds but she didn't stop walking.

"That's when you called her, didn't you?" Josh asked as he kept his eyes firmly on the screen. Lucas did not verbally respond but everyone knew that he was the last point of contact with her that night.

The sound on the video was bad but everyone could hear Riley, "Awful. I don't understand it Lucas, she won't listen to me. I'm so frustrated. Can she not see how this isn't good for her? Why does she keep doing this? I just can't wrapped my head around it."

Zay didn't need to turn to know that Maya was slowly shrinking in her seat. This would be a low blow on her and he loved Maya just as much as he loved Riley. He wanted so badly to say something but he was rooted to the video. Video Riley was listening to something on the phone and the video showed just how visibly upset she was.

"I left," Riley said quietly, "I can't keep doing this anymore."

Zay felt the wind getting sucked out of him. He could feel Lucas trying to control his emotions, Maya starting again with her self blame and hatred and Farkle trying his hardest to stay level headed for all of them.

"Fast forward to the actual thing," Josh ordered, "Now."

Officer Reynolds was about to respond when he saw the look that Josh was giving him. The video was fast forward and Zay saw Riley still walking, still on the phone, her hand moving towards her eyes as if trying to wipe a tear before hanging up the phone. Officer Reynold then played it normally. Zay didn't spot it at first but there was a van out of the corner of the frame. The doors opened and two drunk man showed up. Their faces were not easily identified.

It was like a movie except not really. In movie scenes his heart didn't feel this much terror and dread. He watched Riley tense up before walking quickly away from the drunk men. He watched as one of them grabbed her

"We have been waiting for you," one of them said. The other place a cloth over her mouth and nose. The fight that Zay saw Riley initially gave was abandoned in second as she grew unconscious and still in the arms of her kidnapper.

"Get rid of her phone," one of them said to the other before shoving Riley inside the van. The video ended there. No one reacted. They were all processing what they had just witnessed.

"This is all your fault," a voice yelled. That snapped everyone to attention. Auggie was in front of Maya.

"Auggie that's not nice," Mr Matthews said as he stood up to try and repair the damage.

"But it is! You're the reason why she's gone," Auggie continued. Zay was thankful that he had never at the receiving end of Auggie's angry glare. That boy could be scary if he wanted to. In a final voice Auggie looked at the blonde who has been his sister's companion for the longest time, "I hate you."

"Auggie!" Mrs Matthews scolded as Auggie ran out of the living room area. There was a loud slam. Mrs Matthews look apologetically at Maya, "Maya I'm so sorry."

Zay watched Mrs Matthews exit herself to find her youngest child. His attention turned to the blonde.

"Maya he didn't mean it," Farkle said as he reached out to touch her. Maya deflected his attempt.

"But he's right, if I didn't.." Maya blamed, "she didn't...she wouldn't have..."

Maya moved away from Riley's family. She was the cause of all this pain. She wished they would look at her they way Auggie looked at her. She didn't understand the pity and pain in their eyes. She especially can't take it now. She moved to the doorway running away from all of them.

"Maya," Katy called heartbroken for her daughter's pain.

"Wait, let me," Shawn said before following Maya.

Zay watched divided. He closed his eyes as a memory began to play front center in his mind.

"How come we don't talk?"

"Huh?"

Zay watched Riley bite her lip, "You and me we hang out together with everyone but we don't hang out alone that much"

"I don't know," Zay responded.

"But do you want to?" Riley pushed.

"Ms Riley Matthew are you trying to flirt with me?" Zay asked in suave voice, eyebrows raised, trying to break the tension.

"No!" Riley said too quickly. Zay pretended to get all offended and wanted to retort something but Riley continued, "I mean we are friends but sometimes it feels like we just don't know how to interact with each other. I mean if it's just me I'm sorry."

Zay actually understood where she was coming from. There was always other people around when he was hanging with Riley. He digged through his brain and, "Would you like to watch dance recital with me?"

"Are you flirting with me?" Riley said in the same suave voice and raised eyebrows that he had to laugh.

"No Lucas will have my head. Do you?"

"Sure"

Riley come back. Please.

Okay so chapter done. So that happened. I wanted to just give you guys an update on the Matthews clan. I know that I didn't really utilize every character but this is also Zay's POV so I was trying to capture him. And It was actually a lot more trickier to write Zay's character. I really don't know if I did it right. Who's POV would you like to read about? I do actually have Lucas's and Josh's one in draft right now. I hope you liked this chapter and let me know what you guys think. Anyway till next time :)