Fifteen Minutes

chapter 24

Reese didn’t get a call from Zack until early the next day. It was well before lunch and she was teaching when she felt her phone vibrate. She glanced at the screen and saw that the message was from him. Walls in her heart shot up. He could wait. Her session was with Toby, and she wasn’t about to cut it short just because Zack finally responded.

Half an hour later she read his text. Baby, we need to talk. The contestants didn’t watch last night’s show until early this morning and then we had some appearance in Washington Square. I couldn’t use my phone till now. Anyway . . . I saw the Romeo segment and I’m sick. Baby, everything’s turned around and I need to explain. I’m so sorry, Reese. Please . . . call me.

Reese didn’t feel anything. Zack had changed—the video had told her that much. He followed his first text with three others. Reese, are you there? A few minutes later, Baby, please call me. And two minutes after that, I know you’re upset. I’m sorry. We have to talk.

Had he been gone so long that he forgot she worked on weekdays?

She finished with Toby and had an hour before her next student, a new little girl with physical limitations because of a brain tumor. She went to the edge of the field and leaned on the old fence. Her fingers flew over the virtual keyboard. I’m at work. I have an hour. I really don’t want to text. Some things need to be said face-to-face. Can you Skype?

She lowered her phone and stared out at the hills. The sooner she cut things with Zack, the better. In some ways it was good he’d gone to the audition, good he’d made it through this far. That’s what her dad had told her last night when he got home and saw the segment. “Tough situations have a way of showing a person’s true colors.” He had sounded sad. Her parents both liked Zack. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t see this coming.”

They had all thought Zack was different, with a deep devotion to God and the rare kindness of a gentleman. But no one thought it more than her. She had laughed with him as they rode horses through endless Kentucky hills and worked beside him while he fed homeless people in Costa Rica on a mission trip. They had talked all night about their love for God, their belief that He had great plans for them. She’d seen Zack take Grandpa Dan’s arm to help him walk or sit for hours reading to AJ. Yes, Reese had known the very best of Zack Dylan. But the guy featured on last night’s show was someone Reese didn’t know at all.

Zack’s text response came a few minutes later. I knew you were at work. I’m sorry . . . and yes, I can Skype. But it might take ten minutes to get set up. Is that okay?

Part of her wanted to celebrate the way she usually would because this was Zack texting her, Zack sitting somewhere near Carnegie Hall reaching out to her. The Zack she loved and missed. But she couldn’t think of him that way. He had become someone different. She read his message again. Since yesterday she had dreaded this conversation, dreaded it more than any in all her life. Sure, she could wait ten minutes. That’s fine. Her fingers moved across the phone. Like I said, I only have an hour.

Again his response was instant. I’ll hurry.

She stared out at the fields again. She could no longer see her future here. In a few weeks she would move to London and discover what God had for her there. But first she had to end things with Zack. Not because he was caught up in the show or because of the kiss or because he’d allowed the producers to find enough material for their Romeo and Juliet piece. But because he had done the one thing he had promised he would never do.

He had changed.

ZACK WAS DESPERATE and angry and scared.

That morning when they had gathered in pajamas in the new living space to watch the show, Zack saw for the first time the Romeo and Juliet piece. Until then, the twenty contestants had been upbeat and vocal, running a constant commentary about how talented this one or that one truly was and wishing all of them could stay even after tonight’s kickoff show. But when the piece on Zack and Zoey came on, an uncomfortable silence settled over the group.

The entire time it played, Zack felt like he was falling. Falling into a deep, dark, bottomless pit. The image in his mind flipped from what was playing on the big screen to flashes of moments from last night, when the kiss had almost gotten out of control. The footage was contrived, no doubt. Everyone on the show knew how he felt about his girlfriend, no matter how he’d failed her. But the photos didn’t lie. Clearly he had shared those moments with Zoey or no camera could’ve caught them.

The judges had been in the room. Halfway through the piece, Zack glanced at them. Kelly and Chandra stared straight ahead, unsmiling. Only Cullen seemed to enjoy himself, grinning as the segment played on. Zack felt his fury begin to build. Which of them had encouraged this? Was it a judge or William Gaines? Or maybe even Samuel Meier? Zack felt betrayed by everyone, somehow even Zoey.

She was seated beside him again, leaning over her knees, seeming as shocked as he was. When it ended, she looked at him, like she wanted to see his reaction before showing her own. He couldn’t talk to her. Not after watching their kiss play out for all of America. Without waiting another moment he stood and walked to the back of the room where Gaines was standing. “Whose idea was that?” Zack’s voice had been more of a hiss. The show played on for the rest of the contestants, although the mood in the room had definitely changed.

Gaines folded his arm and looked toward the door. “Mr. Meier is out there. Talk to him.”

Zack stormed into the hall and found the producer surrounded by a team of assistants. Zack didn’t care. He waited till the producer looked at him, puzzled. “You and I, we need to talk.”

Samuel Meier stared at him, unrushed. “Zack.” He excused the others with a nod and then sauntered closer. “Something on your mind, son?”

“Why’d you do it? The Romeo piece?” Zack’s breaths came fast, his forehead beading with sweat.

“What do you mean?” Meier relaxed and allowed a gentle laugh. “That was you in the pictures, right?”

“The way you played it . . . that isn’t the truth.” Zack’s anger stayed barely controlled.

“You didn’t walk with her and talk to her and hug her?”

Zack clenched his jaw, trapped. “You know what I mean.”

“Was that you kissing her or not?” Meier’s tone grew harshly cool. He didn’t allow time for a response. “Really, Zack. You are what you spend your time on. You’re supposed to be this strong Christian, right?”

“Yes.” Zack thought about last night and conviction shot arrows at his soul. “My faith is important to me. That’s why this segment makes me so—”

“Hold on.” The producer raised his voice. He came a step closer and pointed at Zack. “If your faith was so important, why didn’t our camera guys get shots of you reading your Bible?” He leaned back, studying Zack. “By the way, you’ll be doing a duet with Zoey next week.” He shrugged, his eyes hard. “Don’t complain about the segment, Zack. You gave it to us.”

With that he turned and walked at a determined clip down the hallway where the assistants had gone. He didn’t look back once.

In some ways, Zack wanted nothing more than to run back to the hotel and grab his things and head home to Kentucky where he belonged. But he’d been hit by a strange and stark reality. He didn’t really want to go home. Not yet. Regardless of the Romeo and Juliet piece and the producers manipulating his time with Zoey. Even after what happened last night, he’d come too far to quit.

When the ride was over, he would talk to Reese and work things out.

He kept to himself the rest of the morning and into the afternoon as the group did another Jeep commercial and a photo shoot in Washington Square. Zoey tried to talk to him once, but he shook his head. “Not now. Please.”

After that she left him alone, finding her place amid the group. With every passing hour he thought about what he’d say to Reese, how he’d explain the piece with Zoey, their time together, and the kiss. Not just that one but the one from last night. Especially that. On the bus ride back to the practice hall they were given permission to use their phones. Zack texted Reese immediately.

Now that she’d finally answered, he was desperate to find a way to Skype her. That way he could look into her eyes and explain at least some of what had happened. They filed into the building for what was supposed to be another rehearsal of the group numbers. Zack found Gaines at the back of the practice room. “I need thirty minutes. It’s an emergency.”

Gaines narrowed his eyes. “We don’t have thirty minutes. We tape in two hours.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I have to make a phone call.”

Ten full seconds passed and then Gaines slowly picked up his megaphone. “Take twenty, everyone. We’ll meet here after that.”

It was the first real break of the day and Zack thanked him as he sprinted for the door. He grabbed his laptop on the way out but was stopped by a line of bodyguards at the door. “Hold up.” One of them stood in his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Across the street.” He pointed to the Starbucks. “I need to make a call.”

“You have permission from Mr. Gaines?” The guy peered past Zack into the building.

“I do. Please.” He checked the time on his phone. “I don’t have long.”

“All right, then.” The bodyguard nodded at one of his peers. “Let’s do this.”

Zack couldn’t believe he’d need two bodyguards to cross the street and Skype from Starbucks. But he didn’t have time to argue. The hot sun beat down on his shoulders as they walked to the nearest intersection and crossed at the light. Before they reached the other side, a van full of teenagers screeched to a stop and the door flew open.

“Zack Dylan!” One of the girls ran from the van and was nearly hit by a cab as she raced toward him. She screamed, waving her arms at him. “It’s Zack Dylan!”

“Zack! Wait for us!”

Zack and the bodyguards stepped onto the sidewalk and the girls surrounded them. They managed to reach in and touch Zack, tug at his shirt and put their hands on his arms and shoulders. The moment was easily one of the most out of control since the competition began, and Zack waved them off. “Hey, I gotta go! Sorry!”

“Just one picture, please, Zack?” Half the group was screaming, and as he and the bodyguards continued toward Starbucks, the girls stayed close. Zack could see where this was going. The girls would follow him into the coffee shop and he’d never get the chance to jump on Skype.

“You’re drawing a crowd.” The bigger of the two bodyguards turned to him. “What do you want to do?”

“I say you take a few pictures and get rid of them.” The other bodyguard shrugged. “You wanted to do this.”

The guy was right. Zack stopped and turned to the girls. As he did, the bodyguards took up their places on either side of him. “Okay, come on.” He found a smile that had become practiced in recent weeks. “Let’s take a picture?”

Again the girls screamed and squealed, but once he began taking photos, they quieted down. Each of the girls wanted a single shot, and then there were several group pictures. The girls had their hands all over him, and one of them leaned in to kiss his cheek before the nearest bodyguard put his hand up. “That’s enough. We have to go.”

The girls waved and squealed as he walked away. “Marry me, Zack!” one of them shouted. He could still hear them as he entered the coffee shop. One of the guards stayed outside. He couldn’t keep the public away, exactly. But he could try.

Zack checked his phone. He was ten minutes late at least. He took a table in the back corner, opened his laptop, and frantically logged in to Skype. “Hurry,” he whispered. He was still catching his breath from the commotion outside. “Be there, Reese. Please.”

After the first ring, she picked up, and like that he was looking into her eyes. “Hey . . . sorry I’m late.”

“It’s okay.” She didn’t seem angry. But her expression was so sad he could barely look at her.

He could sense the crowd gathering outside. The girls remained, and more were joining them. So far the bodyguard had kept them at bay, though Zack could hear the commotion building inside with the employees. Zack shut all of it out and tried to focus. “Reese, I’m sorry.” Their connection wasn’t perfect. She was probably using the Skype app on her phone. But it was better than they’d had in weeks. He had to hurry. “The video piece, that’s not how it is.”

Reese hesitated. She looked down for a long moment and then straight at him. “You kissed her.”

“It was a crazy night. She pushed me. I . . . I didn’t mean it.” He kept his voice low. People behind the counter were watching. “Reese, the whole thing lasted only a few seconds.” His words tumbled out, one on top of the other and he caught himself. Excuses would get him nowhere. Especially since at some point he’d have to tell her about last night, too. He pushed his fingers through his hair and breathed out. “I’m sorry. It was my fault. I was wrong. I . . .” Another sigh. “I’m sorry.”

Tears shone in her eyes, but she didn’t break down. “Thanks. For saying that.” So many details remained, but clearly she wasn’t interested. “Zack, I need to tell you something.”

His heart slammed against his chest. Outside he could hear the girls squealing his name, and inside, the workers had formed a half circle, whispering and staring at him. Zack was glad he had his back to the wall. No one else could see the computer screen. “Try to understand, please. I’ll fly home tomorrow if you want.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want that.”

“What, then?” Time was running out. If the girls got past the bodyguards, his conversation would be over.

“Zack . . . I’m moving to London. I leave in three weeks.”

“What?” The room began to spin, and Zack had to grab the edges of the table to steady himself. “Reese, don’t do this. Not until I get home so we can talk.”

“I’ve made up my mind. I already gave my word.” Until this point she had sounded strong. Now her eyes welled up. “It’s over.” Her voice cracked and she shaded her eyes. He’d done this to her, hurt her this way. Zack would’ve given anything to climb through the screen and take her in his arms.

“Reese, don’t! It’s not over.” He lowered his voice. Already everyone in the place was listening. He had no privacy, but he didn’t care. “I love you.”

She wiped her eyes with her knuckles and looked at him again, to the deepest places of his heart. “I’ll always love you. But it is over. I wanted to tell you to your face.”

Lines began to run horizontally across the screen and the sound crackled. He shifted the laptop a few inches each way. “No, Reese . . . you can’t do this. Please . . .”

“I already did.” Her tears spilled onto her cheeks, but she remained composed even as the connection grew worse. “It’s over. Don’t text me. It’ll be . . . easier that way. I can’t—”

The screen went dark. At the same time the bodyguard keeping watch inside stepped up. “We need to go. Just got a call from Gaines. Rehearsal starts in five.”

“Not yet.” His fingers flew across the keyboard, desperate to bring Skype back to life. He was too late. The signal was gone. Zack held his breath. He could’ve thrown his laptop through the window. Instead he had to smile. Devastated and in shock, unable to believe what had just happened, he gathered his laptop and followed the bodyguards out onto the sidewalk.

Like an actor playing a part, Zack smiled and waved and paused for photos with a crowd that had doubled while he was in Starbucks. He kept his easy grin in place while he crossed the street and returned to the practice hall. For the next hour, he danced with the group and acted excited about the upcoming show. But his broken heart was in Kentucky.

Only Zoey seemed to know something was wrong. She was still his dance partner, and though the two of them had been awkward since last night, she looked worried. She caught up to him during a five-minute water break. “What’s wrong? Tell me.” She hesitated. “You’re mad.”

“I’m not.” He took a long swig of water and stared at her. “Reese broke up with me.”

Her expression fell as if she were genuinely upset for him. “Can you . . . Will you try to change her mind?”

“Yes.” He held her gaze, keeping control on his anger. “As long as I’m breathing.” He turned and walked back to the dance floor. He had no right being mad at Zoey. None of this was her fault. He hadn’t seen his friendship with Zoey coming, let alone the attraction he’d felt last night. And by the time he realized how the producers were playing the situation, it was too late. He could only blame himself for the video segment and the kiss. Both kisses.

For all of it.

The kickoff show happened in a blur, like something from a dream. They performed their numbers and sat through a painful few hours while ten contestants were eliminated. The whole time Zack wanted to stand up and volunteer. A ticket home would mean he could start piecing his life back together. He was kept, like everyone expected, and when the final cuts were made the remaining ten erupted in hugs and celebrations. Zoey wrapped her arms around his neck, but he quickly turned and hugged someone else. He’d given the producers enough footage.

As the show ended, they signed a new set of papers, promising a portion of their earnings over the next three years to the show. Then they were escorted to a waiting Mercedes Sprinter van and taken to Del Frisco’s on Avenue of the Americas for a private dinner. After that they attended a front-row performance of Annie, complete with ten bodyguards, a red-carpet arrival, and throngs of screaming crowds.

Zack felt numb through all of it. They sat him next to Zoey, but Zack might as well have been on a deserted island. His body was merely going through the motions. He kept smiling. Kept laughing. But he couldn’t keep track of the conversations around him. Couldn’t pray.

As if God Himself was back in Kentucky with everyone else he loved.

All he could think about, all he could see, were Reese’s beautiful, broken eyes and the certainty there. She was moving to London, yes. More than that she was moving on with her life. He could see that much even with the poor Skype signal. She didn’t want an explanation or a way to make things work or for him to get on the next plane.

She wanted to get as far away from Zack Dylan as possible.