Restart | Zyler
Pairing: Tyler Maxwell and Zoey Holt Summary: Learning about Zoey's impending departure, Tyler rushes to the airport in hopes to win the girl back and stop her from leaving. Timing: Day after graduation Status: Completed
Tyler: Waking up that morning was probably the hardest thing the boy had done in a long time, considering the withdrawal symptoms he’d already experienced in rehab. Tyler Maxwell felt empty. Not because of the fact that he’d only had one beer last night, but because he felt like something was emotionally ripped away from his person. The fact that Zoey hadn’t even shown up to the bonfire just solidified his assumption that she had already left. The days before graduation were rough. Tyler had thought that once he’d come back, that everything was going to be fine between the two of them. After all, he wasn’t exactly in the right state when they had left things off at the rehab facility. The boy didn’t want or mean to break up with her but somehow the words that had come out of his mouth during that conversation suddenly sounded something along those lines. Seeing her for the first time after so long was awkward. The boy didn’t necessarily know how to approach the situation but he tried to remain civil towards the brunette. However, that plan had only backfired on him as their conversation immediately turned into another one of their arguments. He didn’t know what had gotten over him but it was in Tyler’s nature not to sound defeated. As a result, the boy not only ended the conversation on a good note but also lost Zoey forever, or so he thought. After finishing packing a box or two of his things, Tyler walked down the halls of Riverdale and had spotted Amelia. Talking to her somehow made him realize that a) he’d been a total asshole for the nth time and b) he’d probably just made the biggest mistake of his life. Ty had let go of Zoey, the girl who held a part of his heart with her, once again. Now realizing that he’d been given a chance to truly redeem himself to the love of his life, Tyler hugged Mia goodbye and raced to his car. He’d memorize the fastest way to JFK airport from the time he had to bring his half-brother, Cade, in order for him not to miss his flight to London. Ty had speeded his way without getting caught and finally arrived at his destination. Parking on the first parking space he could find, he’d rush to the entrance of the building and looked at his phone to check which airline Zoey was probably taking. He ran to the counter to buy himself a ticket which was the only way he could pass through security. “One ticket to Toronto, please.” He told the girl behind the counter, who eventually gave the last available one to the distressed boy. Passing security as fast as he could, he ran up the escalators and through the busy crowds of travellers going in all different directions. Grabbing his phone and clicking on Zoey’s name, Tyler hope she’d pick up. After all, it was his last chance to get to her before it was all too late.
Zoey: Graduation, that had been the one thing Zoey was looking forward to. She expected to walk across a stage in the ugly cap and gown and the second they handed her that stupid piece of paper her life would change instantly. But when that day finally arrived it wasn’t how she expected at all, Zo didn’t feel grown up, and she realised how many people she had hurt in that school. So she did what was any Holt would, she drank and packed, wanting to remove herself for the school that had felt like a prison for 5 years. As Zoey threw a majority of her belongings into a suitcase she reminisced over her time at Riverdale and all the things she had managed to fuck up, not only for her but for other people as well, even those she loved more than anything. She had ruined Beck’s life by getting knocked up, his parents forcing him into military school was her fault. Dylan, well it’s fair to say that everything that goes wrong with him is Zo’s fault… And then there was Tyler she sat on her bed crossing her legs like a child at school and let out a sigh. No matter how hard Zoey tried her and Tyler never worked and it broke her heart completely. She didn’t understand, they were supposed to love each other, but all they seemed to do is hurt each other. The brunette jumped off her bead and finished packing the remained of things she needed, the rest was being shipped to her mothers. Once everything was squeezed and zipped up Zoey had to face the dreaded walk to her car, she didn’t want people to see her and try to convince her to say because she wanted to go. Of course the one person she didn’t want to see was out the door. Mia, even to her best friend Zoey felt like a stranger. So she took that as another reason to head to Toronto. Rolling her heavy bag down the black tarmac made Zo feel a little sentimental, after her suitcase was loaded into the boot of her car she turned around and looked at the tall building. Not wanting to cry Zoey jumped into her drivers seat and sped out of the parking lot and onto the main road. She looked back in her mirror slightly part of her wanting to see anyone running after her, but of course she didn’t. After the New York traffic had finally gotten the best of her she made it to JFK and made her way out of the parking lot and into the airport. Zoey checked in her bags and made it through security in record time, which allowed her to grab a coffee before heading to her gate. She pulled herself down into one of the black chairs and listened to the intercom for her slight to be called, occasionally taking sips from her drink. A loud ring came from her back and Zo received bad looks from those around her. Zoey managed to flip an bitchy looking woman off before pulling her phone out and looking at the name. She sighed deeply and debated whether or not answering was a good idea. Finally a few seconds and bad looks later she put the phone to her ear, the brunette managed to put on her best bitchy voice trying not to sound affected by the phone call. “What do you want Maxwell? I’d love to have a chat but I’ve got to catch the 6:45 to Toronto.”
Tyler: The ringing felt like hours on end and a part of the boy had started to lose hope. Clutching the phone in his hand, Tyler didn’t care about the bustling crowd surrounding him or that he was blocking other people’s way. A million thoughts started running through his head only to be silenced by a familiar voice on the other end of the line. Tyler knew that Zoey was annoyed from the tone of her voice but he didn’t care, he was just overjoyed she actually picked up in the first place. “I fucked up,” the boy finally replied, blurting out the very first thought that came to mind, “I fucked up so badly that the thought of you leaving just… does not sink well at all. Yes, I am the biggest prick to have let you go so many times but I am not doing that this time — not again.” While confessing to the girl on the other end, Tyler pushed against the busy crowd, frantically trying to spot the brunette. “I know it’s a long shot, but please don’t get on that plane. Please, Zo..” He pleaded with her, as the time on his watch started to run out. Passing a starbucks, he’d manage to finally arrive at the waiting area. There were still countless numbers of people that were in the vicinity and it would’ve taken awhile to get across every single one of them, when Tyler stopped in his tracks. He’d spotted a brunette on the phone who was seated on a chair beside the large window of the building. Hoping that it was Zoey, he walked even closer behind the rows of chairs to get a closer look. Feeling anxious and nervous all at the same time, Tyler managed to turn his attention back to the girl behind the phone and let out a deep sigh. “Zo, turn around.” was the only thing he could manage to say at that exact moment.
Zoey: "What?" she said down the phone, Tyler was obviously out of breath and what he was saying didn’t seem to make sense to her at first. Her head could barely keep up with the word flying at her from the other side of the phone "It’s a little late for a guilty conscious." she said trying to remain strong and looking outside the window as her plane arrived at the gate. "W-What do you mean don’t get on my plane. Ty you’re not making much sense." Zo pulled the phone away from her face slightly and rolled her at it. "Turn around?" Zoey asked as her head spun around quickly after he had spoken and looked around for what he had been talking about. Out of the corner of her eye she spot him and froze "Oh my god" she managed to say in a whisper to herself forgetting that the phone was still on. She got up from her seat and walked closer with a quickened pace, pushing past a few people until she stood a few feet in front of him. "You’re such a mess Tyler Maxwell, you can’t just call and stop girl at the airport." Zo stated, shaking her head still in disbelief at the whole situation. Her blue eyes locked onto his trying to search of some kind of explanation. The intercom interrupted the moment and Zo looked up trying to look for where the noise was coming from. "All passengers begin boarding flight 206" Zoey looked down at her boarding pass in her hand and looked back at him all of the seated people started standing and heading towards the gate. She let out a sigh before looking up at him again "Better talk fast" she warned motioning to the opening doors.
Tyler: Time somehow seemed to slow down as he simultaneously heard her confused tone on the other end of the line and watched as the girl he’s spotted previously turn her head around. Tyler didn’t know if it was just his heavy breathing or the fact that a wave of relief had instantly washed over him, but the boy suddenly felt his heart leap out of his chest. As he watched Zoey make her way towards him, Tyler couldn’t contain the emotions swirling inside of him. He wasn’t just overjoyed but ecstatic. The boy still couldn’t believe his own luck. She was here, standing in front of him. Tyler watched as the girl’s lips started to move, possibly saying something about how he was an idiot or something along those lines but he didn’t care. People have started moving around them as his thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind an intercom. He looked back up at the girl in front of him and locked his hazel brown eyes to her icy blue ones. There were a lot of things he had to say to her but because he knew that time was running out, Tyler could only think of one thing to do that could mean a thousand ‘i’m sorry’s’. He’d done it a million times, but this one was going to be special. Tyler stepped forward, wrapped his arm around Zoey’s waist and pulled her toward him. “I love you, Zoey Holt.” he whispered to her, as their faces were merely inches apart before he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
Zoey: Zoey had to take her eyes off of his every few seconds knowing she’d get lost in them and lose not only her train of thought, but her mind in general. There was a short silence and then before she knew it his arms were around her hips and it felt better than it did before. His whisper put her in a trance like state that she didn’t notice his lips getting closer until they were firmly planted against her. Zoey’s hands instinctively wrapped about his neck pulling herself up and closer to him.”Ty…” she groaned almost silently, reluctantly pulling herself away from his lips. She ran her fingers through the roots of her hair and looked at the gate. “I love you, so much I don’t think I could last without you, but you deserve better.” She smiled and looked around the emptying area and the looked at him plastering a fake smile onto her You don’t want to be with me anyways, trust me…” Zoey said not letting him get a word in edgewise “…I think it would be a lot easier if I just got on that plane and left.” After her fight with Tyler the one thing that had stuck in her head more than anything was the fact he had called her selfish. Of course she had heard it a million times from her parents, teachers, even Amelia. But when it came out of Ty’s mouth, the person she was head over heels in love with, she finally listened. Zoey was selfish and for now though setting the boy free of their toxic relationship was the only way to be unselfish.
Tyler: Feeling her slowly pull away from his touch, Tyler was suddenly confused. He listened as she tried to plead with him, telling the boy that he’d deserved better than her. Trying to interject her mid-sentence, Tyler only failed as she kept rambling on. He looked at the clock by the terminal exit and saw that he’d only have two minutes left before her plane left. Grabbing both her hands this time, he physically tried to keep her from walking away. “If driving across the city and running like a fucking idiot just to get here doesn’t prove how much you mean to me, then I don’t know what can. Don’t you get it? I would be devastated if you slipped away from my life for the millionth time. The only reason why I fucked up in the first place and ended up in rehab was because you weren’t there to stop me. I can’t let you get away again. Not again, Zo.” It was Tyler’s chance to plead his case to her, win her back however it took. He slipped his hand in his back pocket and pulled out his passport and a piece of paper. ”If you really want to go to fucking Canada, I’m going with you.” He looked up at the girl, passport and ticket at hand. They only had a minute left now, and Tyler hoped to god she’d take him back.
Zoey: Zo followed his gaze at the clock and felt her heart begin to race as the hands seemed to move faster around the face of the clock. Zoey took a few steps back but was stopped when Ty’s hands clasped firmly around hers and she once again locked eyes with him. As he spoke the brunette could feel the tears welling up in her eyes and could see her vision start to blur. She looked up at panelled ceiling until she managed to gain control of her emotions again. Her head tilted to the side while she watched him, she squeezed his hands lightly. “I hear what you’re saying, but that’s not healthy. The fact that I have that much control over you… it-it just isn’t right.” Her protests went obviously unnoticed as he reached his hand into his pocket. Zo watched him skeptically not sure of what he was going to do next, she never really got the chance to see this side of Tyler and she was falling for him all over again. When her pulled out the passport and ticket she smiled and looked down at her feet. The intercom once again ruined the moment once again “Last call for flight 206.” the words seemed to echo in her head. “It was a long shot that I’d get into college Maxwell, I’d be stupid to give it up.” Zoey noticed his change in expression and grabbed his hand. “But I guess it’s a good thing I’m stupid.” She said smiling and rolling her eyes “Plus New York is full of schools.” she laughed slightly pulling Tyler towards her chair grabbing her bag and coat off of it. “Let’s go home”
Tyler: As she said those last words, Tyler couldn’t help but crack a smile. The final wave of relief had washed over him and he suddenly felt like he could breathe normally again. The boy followed suit and grabbed the bag from Zoey on one hand and interlaced his free one with hers. Walking in the opposite direction of the terminal entrance, Tyler held the girl close to him as possible. He’d finally proved that he could redeem himself, not only to Zoey but to his own self. Whatever happens from now on, the boy vowed not to let the love of his life go ever again. As they were almost at the exit of the building, Tyler looked over to Zoey who was closely beside him. “You’re something else, Zoey Holt. And I love you for it.” He smiled, before leaning down and kissing her forehead.