Chapter 5 "Happy" Family...

Three days had gone by since Ms. Yuri had told Zach about her being a creature from the underworld. But, that didn't stop Zach from ever believing that she was still a kind teacher. But one thing had linger, if she was a demon, how come she is so kind to everyone? Zach laid in his bed as this question lingered. This question was twisting him so much that he had gotten up and walked to the edge of the bed where his desk and computer laid. He turned it on and typed into the search bar 'What type of demon is nice.' The first thing that had popped up was a succubus. He had no idea what that was so he read further. How disgusted he was, he had learned that succubus were female demons that will seduce men with their beauty. The more he looked at the pictures the more he began to gag while looking at them. They were truly beautiful, but the acts of sex was not really appealing to Zach, he then turned on his phone to see what time it was. The clock had read seven a.m. Luckily he had nothing to do. Because today was rookie camp and only seniors were allowed to go.

All Zach had planned was resting the whole day. But even then summer classes that some kids had to take was even tiring. Though Zach didn't take the classes. But Ella did, and everytime she called that was all she ever talked about. Though Zach didn't mind, he just loved listening to her voice. The complaints had always melted away, Zach knew one day he would tell her. But, it was only a matter of time before she was taken. 'One day' he thought as he picked up the phone to call Ella. The phone rang for a minute or two before she picked up. The sound of her voice made him jump with excitement. "Hi Zach! How's it going?" Zach shrugged. "Good on my end how about yourself?" Zach waited for the groan of exhaustment, but never came.

Right now, all Zach wanted to do was confess. All Zach wanted to do was to be more than just a friend to Ella. But Zach was too caught up in his head. The anxiety had always flown through him when he talked to her. "I guess I'm ok, just really tired of getting text messages from the freshman at rookiecamp." She said with a chuckle. Zach shifted in his chair as he looked at the images on his computer. "Do you know anything about Ms. Yuri?" Zach asked. A pause came over the phone. "Why are you all of a sudden worried about her?" Zach didn't answer. "Alright forget that I have even asked, how many freshman did you get?"

"Well let's see...I think eight"

"Eight!? that's alot"

"Not for clarinets it's not, now if we had twelve now that is alot"

"Alot for us is usually six"

"Well also you can over power so thats one thing."

Just then a confession was then stated but it was too hard for Zach to understand what she was saying. "But I am ok with that." Silence fell over the phone. "What does that mean?" Zach finally asked. "Um...Nothing!" Ella answered really quickly. She then hung up the phone. To Zach's suprise she was acting not her normal goofy self. He wanted to know what was bothering her. But yet he felt like it would be invading her privacy. But yet again, he kept one thought in his head. "One day I will look her in the eyes and confess." He said to himself as he deleted his search history and shut down his computer. He then walked over to his pale looking window and opened it letting the sunlight come in his room making shadows dance along the walls and floor. Then he walked over to his door opened it to let air circulate through the room.

As he walked out of the room he noticed that his dad's voice was carrying across the whole house. When Zach walked down stairs he started to brush up his brown hair. His father's voice grew louder. When he was finally in Zach's sight, his son began to realize this was a buisness he was yelling at someone on the otherside of the phone. "The one week that I can finally be home with my family!" His father yelled pacing in the kitchen. Zach sat on the steps waiting for his father to be done with his phone call. But, he had a feeliing that it was going to be awhile.

It went on for several minutes, to Zach it felt like the arguement was an hour long. When his dad finally noticed him sitting on the steps he said to the person on the other line. "I'm sorry, I'm gonna spend time with my son instead of listening to your bullshit." He then hung up. Zach didn't really look like his father, his father was tall, had red hair, and kinda reminded him of 'Crowley' from a tv show that Zach had watched he couldn't place what about him made him look that way. His father wasn't scottish, maybe it was how a serious soft face could be wrinkly if he were to laugh. Or maybe it was how his hair spiked in the front. But the more that his father looked at him the more he looked pissed.

His father sat right next to him on the steps. "So I might have to leave again, they want me to go back to the base to fill in a position again." His voice was low pitched and gravelly. Kinda like Keanu Reeves, but one things for sure. His dad was barely ever home now. Because of his position in military, the combat medic. "Is it really that bad?" Zach asked as he leaned on his dad. His father ruffled his own hair and looked at his son with a sigh. "I don't really know kiddo, but hey how about me and you go hiking this afternoon?" Zach nodded, his dad smiled as and rustled his son's hair. "Alright, be ready by one." He said as he got up and headed to the back room. Zach didn't move from the steps, he was contemplating on how disgusting succubus are. He had generally thought that that is what Ms. Yuri was. But at the same time he could never see her wear such clothing as they did. She was way too genuine to for that, but even then he questioned it. Zach then began to move off the steps to go grab a snack to eat. When he walked into the kitchen the phone had rang once more. No one had moved, until it went to voicemail

The phone began to make wierd sounds, then it was followed by a voice. "Hi Ethan! This is commander John, I am here to say that you are suspended for two weeks becuase of you actions towards the receptionist about working this week." Then quickly his father rushed to the home phone. "Hello?" His father said nervously. He looked at his son and bean to usher him out of the house.When Zach was pushed onto the porch. His dad took the phone away from his ear and said. "After this, we are going hiking." He said with a soft smile. Zach nodded and smiled back at his father. But even he wouldn't admit it, his smile was fake.

As the door shut, Zach made his way to the garage to grab a back pack and snacks for the trip. He lifted the heavy garage to wear he could sneak into. What he had found was a dark room, but when he flipped the switch a classic car had awaited. It was a black 1965 Buick Riviera, it was the only prized possession that his dad had owned before his parents had gotten. It was truly sad that it hadn't left the garage in quite a long time. Though Zach had always admired the car, it wasn't because of its rarity. It was because his dad always looked at machines as alive with character. You are probably asking yourself, what was the character of this car? Well, his dad had always viewed the car as a person with a blind fold but it was aware of everything. He carefully moved towards the wall so he wouldn't disturb the car. However, he was fine with everything else being disturbed. He began to bump into things such as old car parts and most tool on the work bench. Only thing Zach had cared about at this point was not to disturb the car and to get the backpack. However it wasn't such an easy task. By the time he had gotten to the book bag his father sat outside of the garage. "Thank god that call was finally over." His dad said sounding exhausted. Zach giggled, "Sounded like it was harsh, what all did they say?" His dad made his way into the garage full of the path that Zach had made with car parts and tools. As Zach grabbed the backpack from the hook it had hung on. He looked over at the car sadly. His father stopped to see his son looking at the car. "I know- but it's gonna have to be awhile before we can get it running again." He said he made it over to his son. Zach looked at his father. "Do you have to work the week?" That sentence set something off in his dad. His father sighed he looked down at his son. "Only the weekend kiddo." He said as he ruffled his son's hair. When they made it out, they turned off the lights and slammed the garage door shut. Then they made their way to the truck which was a blue GMC Sierra. Without any thought Zach jumped into the cab and waited for his dad to start it.

When his father got in. Zach was waiting like a puppy. Then it changed when he got into the truck with the keys with a grin on his face. "What is that look?" Zach asked with a nervous smile. His dad started the truck and with a purr they left to go to a park to hike. By the time they had gotten there it was two o'clock. They both got out and grabbed the bags and started to walk to a trail. You can tell that the trail was barely walked for the grass had started to grow over the wooden path. As they walked they began to feel that they were part of the amazing world, the nature began to scream with life. But it sounded like whispers of the birds communicating with each other. As they walked deeper into the woods, Zach kept seeing elk looking at him. They weren't really threatning they were more curious of the two more than anything.

Zach's father looked over at his son. "You know this is where I proposed to your mom." He said smiling. Zach tilted his head. "Really." Zach asked. His dad nodded as he began to climb up the steep hill. "When we were younger this place used to be full of people walking around looking at nature. But then it got shut down because of a crime." Zach stopped for a second and looked across the field of trees. A single thought ran passed him so fast that he couldn't grasp it in his hands. 'Maybe I will take Ella here.' when it ran passed him he began to blush. His father looked back at him. "What are you blushing about?" He asked chuckling. Zach then snapped out of it. "N-Nothing..." He stuttered. As he started walking again. His dad smirked. "Is it really nothing?" Zach nodded his head mulitple times to where he had gotten a headache. His dad was clearly not buying it. "Uh huh sure, I'm positive it has nothing to do with Ella." Then Zach's blushing was over the top. His dad laughed, "You like her kiddo admit it!" he said as they were stepping over branches. "No! I don't like her!"

His dad turned around to meet Zach face to face. "Like I haven't heard that one before." He said as the began to walk again. Zach put his hands on his hips as if he were being sassy. "Well how would you know that? I haven't dated anybody." His dad looked back at his son. "It's a common thing that boys do to their father, make them believe that there isn't a person they like and try to hide their feelings, trust me I did it too." Zach shook his head. "She's my friend why would I have feelings for her?" His dad shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know but you do because you said 'I love Ella' in your sleep Zach." Zach's face turned red in embarrassment. "W-What?" He said as his face turned redder. His dad laughed as they stopped at a bench to sit. "Yeah I also heard from a tiny birdie I think Brandon was it? That you grabbed her boob?"

"It was an accident!"

"Why are you flustered?"

"Because no one has a talk like that with their dad!"

"Uh... Yeah they do Zach."

Zach stood wide eyed at his father. His dad just laughed as they stood up and began to walk again. "It's ok to be flustered kiddo, But me and your mother had already known that you had liked her." Zach covered his mouth. "H-How did you know?" His dad then shrugged again. "You act differently around her and you jump when we say her name." He said as they began to walk back to the truck from the trail. "Really?" Zach said beginning relaxing from his panic attack. "Yes you do." He said chuckling as they threw the bags in the back of the truck. "I never thought anyone had noticed." Zach said getting into the truck. His dad opened the door and sat in the seat for a bit. "But please don't say anything to your mother, she will flip that I said something to you." He said with a smile while rustling his son's hair.

As his father started the truck, the mode had changed when the phone rang again. But this time it was his mother. "Can you pick up the phone, since you know, I'm driving." Zach laughed. "Yeah I will" He said as he picked up the phone. "Hello?" Zach said as he heard the noise of the hospital. "Hi Zach is dad there?" She said as someone screamed on her side of the phone. "Yeah but he is driving right now."

"Ahhh you guys went hiking?"

"Yes"

"Well tell him that I just got a call from his commander, he wants you to call him right back as soon as you can"

"You are on speaker mom."

"I am?"

Zach's dad leaned over. "Yes, you are Evie." There was a pause between everyone. "So you heard what I said?" His dad smiled. "Everyword, don't worry I'll call him later right now I kinda can't I've got to take a class for something." There was a chuckle on the other side. "Alright babe see you later, bye Zach." then the phone hung up. "Well that was odd." Zach said looking at his dad. "Have you noticed as well?" Zach tilted his head. "What do you mean? The way she's acting?" His dad nodded. "I mean not really." His dad stopped because of the red light. "Alright forget I said anything Zachie boi." As he started to drive again. It was rare for his dad to call him 'Zachie Boi' but it usually was a compliment.

As they were driving on a main road, a guy passed his dad and flipped them off. However, Zach's didn't react. "How?" Zach said thinking out loud. "I don't have road rage, it's the one thing you get taught in the military, your anger can be used as a weapon but use it all the time your wasting it." His said with a sigh. As they pulled up to their house. Zach got out. "Whoa we're stopping to drop the stuff not going inside!" His dad said getting out. "Where else are we going?" Zach said tiliting his head. "It's a secret kiddo." His dad said with a smile. As they put the stuff away, his dad stared at the car. "One day buddy one day maybe today." He said as he patted the car. Zach met his dad back into the truck as he started it.

The only one who knew what was going on was his dad. It took about an hour to get to where the mysterious place. It was an animal shelter, Zach still had no idea what was going on still. Until they got to the front desk of the shelter. A blonde woman stood behind the desk. She looked about twenty-five years old and the only thing she had said was "Hi welcome to Elken Shelter how can I help." his dad smiled. "Hello we're looking for a dog for my son. Then the adrenaline came he began to blush again, but this time it was because he was excited. The woman got up and unlocked the door. "Alright let's go see what you want." She said cheerfully as they opened the door dogs started to bark. The dogs were any range from a great dane to a tiny wiener dog.

It wasn't too long when Zach saw a dog he liked. It was a male Bernese mountain dog, he was only a puppy. Zach stopped there for awhile looking at the dog. The woman saw him and opened the door. "You can go chill with him, he's a real sweetie." Zach walked in and sat with dog and the dog immediatly walked over and laid in his lap. Zach smiled "Dad I think I found one." He said as his dad saw him in the cage with the dog. His dad smiled "Ma'am I think we found one." The lady smiled "I know alright meet me at the front desk and we will get him ready for him to be taken home." The dog licked Zach's face and started to happily whine. Zach smiled as he had to get up to go to the front desk. When he got out the dog was confused and started to whine. "I'm coming back buddy it's ok!" He said reassuring the dog.

As they went to the front, his dad began filling out the adoption papers. The woman stamped them and the little puppy came out. He whined happily when he saw Zach. The dog tried desperately to get to Zach. The person holding the leash gave it to Zach. "Have fun with him!" The person said happily as they walked away. His dad smiled. As they begin to walk to the truck Zach picked up the young pup and got in. The puppy was happy where he was going. As his dad got in he patted the pup's head. "I like this one, what are going to name him?" He said starting the truck. Zach shrugged. "I don't know yet, maybe I'll come up with it when we get home." His dad smiled. "He's really cute hope your mother won't mind, alright we have one more stop to make and that is the pet store." He said as they got off the main road to get onto the highway. The puppy barked at the road as he saw cars fly by him.

As they pulled up to a local pet store. They got out of the truck and walked in. His dad grabbed something from the back of his pocket, it was a list. "Alright we need a kennel, water and food bowl, dog food, some toys and some puppy pads and a collar and leash." Zach raised a finger. "But didn't they say he was potty trained?" Zach asked as the puppy began exploring the store. "We'll grab some just in case." He said walking into one of the aisles. A man stopped the two. "Hi there do you need any help with finding stuff for this youngster?" He said pointing at the puppy. The two shook their head. "Alright I'll be at the check out if you need anything." Zach's dad nodded as he brought down a kennel. "Is he a Berenese Mountain dog?" He asked Zach. He nodded remembering the tag on the kennel. "Alright, this will do, now you go find a collar for the youngster." He said pointing to where the collars were in the store.

When Zach made it over to the collars, he had a large selections to choose from. but he settled on a leather brown collar. He looked down at the dog. "I think I am gonna call you Charlie." The puppy tilted his head and wagged his tail. "Alright, Charlie it is then." He grabbed the collar and went to the engraving machine to get a tag for Charlie. Charlie's tag was a silver dog bone. The engraving machine scared Charlie as he started to whimper and go between Zach's legs. Zach picked him up. "It's ok Charlie, it's just making your tag." Zach said petting Charlie. When the engraving was done Zach met his dad at the counter. "I'll pay for the collar and tag." Zach said as he got to the counter first. As the man ranged up the order he was eyeing the boy. "Your total is $12.96 would you like a bag?" Zach shook his head. Zach's father put his hand on Zach's shoulder. "Go to the truck I'll be there in a minute." Zach nodded and followed his dad's command. As he walked out of the store, he began to put the tag on the collar. If you are a fellow pet owner you know on how hard it is to get a tag on. As they sat on the tail gate waiting for Zach's dad, Zach slid the brown collar onto Charlie and admired on how good he looked in it.

"You look good in it Charlie boy." Zach said smiling. Charlie barked with delight of his new collar. They both looked up at the sky to see the sun setting. They sat there for a good twenty minutes until Zach's father came out of the store. The two got off the tailgate to help his dad get the kennel into the back along with the dog food. When they were about to put the kennel in Charlie had to go use the restroom and his mom called Zach's cell phone. "Hello?" Zach answered. "Hi sweetie just to let you know I am going to be home around eightish or so." Then the line got disconected. When Charlie got done Zach picked up Charlie, walked over to the truck and got in. When Zach's dad started the truck, Charlie howled as it had startled him. "So mom called me." Zach said putting Charlie on the floor. He looked over at his son. "Yeah? What did she say?" Zach shrugged. "She's gonna be home around eight, and now I know what you mean about acting strange." Zach's father looked over at him. "She hung up really quickly didn't she?" Zach nodded. Zach's father's mood had changed. He was happy, now he was worried. He sighed as he drove up to the stop sign and looked both way so he can cross.

"I'm starting to think her boss is making her have a hard time." His dad finally answered at last. Zach nodded "It seems to be that way." As they got off the main road into their subdivision Zach looked at his father. "I hope mom can find a new job, I hate seeing her so stressed out." Zach said sadly. His father nodded "Me too Zach, me too." As they pulled up to the house. Zach checked his phone to see if anyone had called him, and someone did it was Ella. He listened to the voice message she left while getting the dog food and bowls out of the back. The message went a little bit like this. "Hi Zach! It's me Ella, look I am sorry about earlier I didn't know what I was thinking... You know what I'm just going to say it! I like you Zach! I had always! I just tried to say it earlier and it jsut came out wierd. I'm sorry please forgive me." Zach got inside the house to see it was six o'clock. He put the bowls down in the kitchen and poured some water and food into the bowls for Charlie. As a hungry puppy he was he scarfed it down. Zach then took him outside to go potty. As Zach waited several minutes for him to go he finally peed and pooped and went inside. When he got to the living room, Zach's dad was already putting the kennel up. " You think mom's gonna be shocked?" Zach asked as he went up the stairs. His dad chuckled. "Oh yeah, but I think it was time that you had gotten another dog." He said as was putting the pegs in to the slots in the kennel tp hold the two halves together. Zach's smile had dropped just thinking about his other dog Daisy.

Daisy was a black lab who's life was cut short due to cancer. She was a loving dog with only her family to protect, she also was a very goofy dog. Zach's dad then interupted his train of thought on Daisy.

"So have you named him?" Zach smiled and nodded. "I named him Charlie." His father gasped. "That's a good name! How about this I'll watch while you go take a shower." He said as he set out some dog toys. Zach nodded as he continued up the stairs into his room to grab clothes. When he walked out, he got out his phone and texted Ella. "You know I like you too!" He texted with a smile on his face as he sent it. He then went into the bathroom and took a shower. When he got out he saw a notification on his phone. It was from Ella it read 'so... you wanna date?' Zach rolled his eyes and smile and texted 'well why not.' when he got out of the bathroom his dad was standing right there in the hallway. "So uuhhhh I got a girlfriend." Zach said blushing. His dad's eyes widened. "Hah that's my boy!" He said rustling his hair. He then pointed into Zach's room. "Your buddy is in your bedroom on your bed he kinda crashed there, are you ok with that?" He asked. Zach nodded his head. "I'm perfectly fine with that!" He said as he walked into his room. "I'm probably gonna hit the hay, I'm tired." Zach said as he yawned while shutting the door. "Night dad." He said as he shut the door. On the other side of the door Zach heard. "Good night." Zach saw Charlie laying at the end of the bed sleeping. He tried his best not to disturb the sleeping puppy as he laid down on the bed and fell asleep. He felt movement while his eyes were closed. But that was Charlie moving to get to his arm and cuddle with him.