@zigmunovak uploaded a new photo. “relationship goals ♥ #imtheprettyone”
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@zigmunovak-blog
@zigmunovak uploaded a new photo. “relationship goals ♥ #imtheprettyone”
↳ 342 LIKES ♥, 23 COMMENTS:
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➟ ( she’s the tear in my heart. )
TAGGING → Frankie Hollingsworth, Zig Novak TIME FRAME → Two weeks ago LOCATION → Toronto Music Festival NOTES → Zig finds Frankie to confess his feelings and finds she has a confession of her own.
the mighty fall ➩ zigrace
Grace: "As long as it doesn't involve you being in danger with no way of getting help from it? Yeah, I'll take that over anything," she said, shaking her head. As he began to hug her back, she closed her eyes briefly and let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding in. Pulling away now, she tilted her head and smirked. "Is that what you're waiting for? I knew it," she snickered, nudging his shoulder lightly before thinking about what he had said previously. "You're scared? Well, I don't know. I think that's normal. But... I think it's better to be scared of this than to be scared of having to run for your life and constantly keep looking over your shoulders," she reminded him, shrugging her shoulders as she continued to walk towards the police station. "You're making the right decision here. You've just go to keep remembering that, but I'm guessing this is something you've thought about for a long time."
Zig: gnawed on the inside of his cheek, considering what she said. He knew she was right; being scared about doing the right thing was definitely a better alternative than fearing for his life, or even fearing for the safety of those he loves. "Right... It can't be worse, anyway," he agreed slowly. "I just don't know if I'll be 100% safe after this," he added with a weary smile, a sign of nervousness. Zig didn't know how the gang would react to their ring leader getting ratted out to the cops, especially when Zig already knew he couldn't just walk in and spill his guts just to walk out again. Once he told the cops what he knew, he would have quite a few more run-ins at the police station, but that felt like a mute point. He shook his head, physically trying to shake the nerves. "Whatever. I just know I'm done looking over my shoulder, just like you said. And now I can be an actual Outsider again... right where I belong," he said with a genuine smile. More than anything he wanted to go back and make sure he never stopped being an Outsider, but there was no going back. Only forward. He started to walk again, looking at his feet. "You're right. I've thought about it... almost every day. Usually just to tell myself I'd never be able to actually do." He shrugged, glancing over at her. "That's sorta why I asked you to come," Zig admitted. "I knew I could go if you went with me."
home is wherever i’m with you
There was something different about the storefront that Zig couldn’t identify. He gazed up at the same sign he had been looking out for most of his life, but the letters no longer looked the same. While they undoubtedly were the same, Zig knew the reason: he was looking at those letters and at the store through new eyes. He was a different person standing out on the sidewalk in front of the family’s store, and for that reason, he wasn’t entirely sure how he would be received. All he knew was that he couldn’t go another day without being where he needed to be – he couldn’t stand not being home.
Despite the unfamiliar feel of the store, the bell above him made the song loud “ding!” it always did upon his arrival. Zig turned his head in either direction of the store, scanning the aisles. Nothing had changed since the last time he had been there. Zig’s mom wasn’t big on changing things in the store; she would tell Zig that the store’s never-changing appearance was a comfort to their customers, particularly the ones that had been around as long as the store had belonged to the Novak name. He couldn’t speak for the customers, but he knew it was a comfort to him as soon as his eyes fell on a gallon of milk in the exact spot where milk had always been in the cooler.
“Can I help you?” The boy looked over his shoulder and was met by the gaze of an unfamiliar woman. She was older than him, but not quite the same age as his mother. She could have been 29 – maybe 30 to 35. Zig was never good at paying attention to that kind of thing. All he knew was that he had never seen her before, but judging by her attire, she was the newest employee at Novak’s Convenience. “I need to talk to my mom,” Zig replied, his tone shaky. Disinterested in the look of confusion on the woman’s face, he turned away and walked to the back door that led to their apartment. This door looked as foreign and new to him as the first door, but when he reached for the door knob, a sense of nostalgia hit him. It was the same comfort that came with seeing a never-changing store front, or milk in the same spot where he left it.
As he ascended the stairs, a lot of things crossed his mind; too many for him to process in such a short period of time. He didn’t know what he was walking up to find. His mom could kick him out, she could cry; she could do both if she really wanted to. Zig hadn’t even thought of the words he would use to explain what he had been through for the past few months. He had no idea how he would apologize for nearly a year of leading a double life, one that he hid from her and lied to her about. There was nothing he could say that would justify putting himself – or her – in danger. But for the first time, he felt like words didn’t matter. He had been vacant from his mother’s life long before she asked him to leave.
“Mom – Ma?” Zig called out when he stepped into the apartment. “Ma – Ma, it’s me,” he said again, his voice choking up on each word. Considering how small the apartment was, there was little ground to cover before he inevitably stumbled upon the person he was looking for. He saw the back of her head as she stood at the stove, an image that was burnt into his brain for years since childhood. The television was on in the living room just a few feet from where the kitchen sat, and different substances simmered in the pots and sauce pans assorted on the stovetop. “Ma! Ma, it’s me!” He watched as the woman dropped the spatula in her hand and turned to face him, visibly alarmed to realize someone was there. As conflicted as he had been on his journey up the stairs, the same emotional turmoil showed on Mrs. Novak’s face. Her expression hardly changed, but in her face, Zig could see a million different things.
Refusing to face the silence any longer, Zig cleared his throat and straightened up. “Ma, I’m… I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I ever made you feel like I needed to leave,” he began, his tone growing stronger and more self-assured as he spoke. “But I… I want you to sit down. I need to tell you something. I, uh – actually, I need to tell you a lot.”
When he was done, Mrs. Novak stood still for a moment, just looking at her son. She turned to the counter and quietly placed the spatula on the counter top before she walked over to the small dinette table and took a seat. When she looked up, she tilted her head and nodded once. “Tell me,” she said with a soft smile – and in that smile, Zig found what he came looking for: home.
the mighty fall ➩ zigrace
Grace: "Me? Sensitive?" she asked, holding her hand over her heart and quickly shaking her head. "Not a chance. But you're welcome for sparing you anyway," she joked. Her expression turned into one of relief as he said it would be over today, her eyebrow quirking in hopes that this really would be the end. "You, staying out of trouble? That'd be great to see, you know. And it'd cause me a lot less stress too." She was always worrying about him, even if he gave her plenty of reason not to. She hadn't realized he stopped walking until she was a few steps ahead, and she slowly turned to look at him to listen to what he said. And those were the words she had been waiting for for months, but it felt so surreal. She had no response, only standing there staring at him blankly. It wasn't something she would normally do, but it felt like the only right thing to do in this very moment. Without anymore hesitation, she took a step towards him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him in for a rare hug. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she let the realization wash over her. "I'm proud of you," she said lightly, knowing it wasn't something he heard often -- but it needed to be said right now.
Zig: "Whoa, I didn't say all of that," he interjected quickly. "Trouble and the Zigster go hand in hand, Grace, it's just who I am. I just plan on keeping the trouble to a PG-13 level from here on out." It was unrealistic for Zig to claim that he could stay out of trouble altogether. High school wasn't over, and he had hardly matured enough to make that statement. He knew that he would spend many more school days in Simpson's office, but that was a better alternative than spending his days in a coffin or a jail cell, which was his inevitable home if he continued this cycle. Her movements were so sudden and new to him he had little time to react before she embraced him. After the few seconds it took to process what she was doing, he eased slightly, returning the hug. It was a strange and rare moment for them, but it was just what he needed. "Really? Thanks," he responded, his tone equally soft as she squeezed his neck. As terrified as he was, knowing he made her proud made it seem worth while now. "I'm scared," he added with a small laugh before sighing to himself. Pulling his shoulders back up, he squinted. "You're not going to like, kiss me or anything? Right?" The male winced as soon as she spoke, fully expecting the punch that was undoubtedly coming.
the mighty fall ➩ zigrace
Grace: didn't know what this was all about. Trust with Zig was a wobbly road this year, but it had been getting better, and she was starting to see signs of things improving. She wanted to believe that things were getting better for him, but there was only so much optimism she could have, especially for Zig's situation. But the police station? This time, she was actually getting some kind of positive vibe from it all --- and she really did hope this was him taking her advice from nearly a year ago. Running down the steps as he reached the door, she quickly opened the door and smiled back at him. "If I'm about to witness something drastic, I gotta look my best, right?" she teased, tilting her head and thinking for a moment. "Let's see, you and Tiny are still alive, so... no, no warrant for me. Give it to the end of the summer, though. These summer school kids aren't my favorite people," she joked. As they made their way there, she tried to let the silence take over, but she was curious as ever and impatient. "Are you going to tell me what this is really about, or is this another Zig Novak surprise?"
Zig: scoffed at Grace's quip, rolling his eyes. "Me and Tiny aren't the problems here. Ever stop and think maybe it's /you/ that's just a little too sensitive?" he countered, raising an eyebrow before his expression eased. "Fair enough. Just don't make me a witness to anything. After today, I plan on staying as far away from the cops as possible." The soon-to-be junior sucked in a breath of fresh air, hoping it could stop his head from spinning as they neared their destination. He knew what he needed to do, and he was completely confident in his choice for the first time in almost a year, but that didn't stop him from feeling slightly terrified. As he pondered his nerves, he realized how ridiculous it was for him to be fearful of coming clean when he had literally been shot before -- not to mention his mini vacation with Vince's drones on guard. When the inevitable question came, he took another, longer breath and slowed his pace until he had stopped walking altogether. Standing still on his spot just before the crosswalk, he shifted his gaze, looking anywhere but Grace's face. He hoped she would be supportive and happy for him, but considering everything he had put his loved ones through, he couldn't expect anyone to follow him blindly anymore. "I'm ending it, Grace. I'm turning him in. And I guess that means I'm turning me in, too."
📩 GC
grace: not anymore 💅
grace: um ?
zig: just saying...
Angry, and half in love with you, and tremendously sorry, I turned away.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (via lydia-martin)
📩 GC
grace: okay but REASONABLY SO. has tiny not taken your sandwich before?
grace: fine. you know i'm always in.
zig: that was a past sandwich. this sandwich is still fresh.
zig: ok, even if people try to come after us and kill us???
zig: jk
zig: maybe, idk really.
the mighty fall ➩ zigrace
Zig: waited at the end of Grace's driveway, more or less patiently, rather than risk going to the front door and face off with someone from her foster family. They weren't the worst people in the world, but they made no mention of liking Zig at any point during his friendship with the girl. He was half a mind to turn and walk back down the sidewalk in the direction he came, feeling more than a little nauseous at the idea of what awaited them. When Grace emerged, he felt his stomach drop; seeing her was a signal of his situation's reality. His fingers brushed the fabric inside his pockets, feeling the loose strings from years of wear and tear on the same pair of jeans he always defaulted back to. He straightened up and tried to look less nervous than he felt. "You look... police worthy," he noted with a smirk. "You sure you don't have a warrant out or something? Maybe I'll get some reward money for bringing you in." He snorted at his own bad sense of humor, beginning the walk towards the police station without mentioning a word about their real mission in going to talk to the cops that day.
📩 GC
grace: i'm always serious.
grace: i don't think, i am.
grace: um? can you maybe give me a warning? or a little spoiler? or something?
grace: is this because i took a bite of your sandwich at lunch the other day?
zig: YOU ate part of my sandwich? do you know how long i interrogated tiny about that bite out of my sandwich???
zig: whatever. this isn't about the sandwich, no matter how screwed up that is
zig: i need to do something there.
📩 GC
grace: okay, fine, done.
grace: gonna tell me where, or is this another one of your surprises?
zig: be serious
zig: why would i surprise you? you're the worst person to surprise bc you either hate everything or think you're too cool for it.
zig: anyway, we're going to the police station. don't freak out.
📩 GC
zig: i need a favor.
zig: and the favor sorta involves us going somewhere important, so clear your empty schedule
✉ ‣ frankie
Frankie: a who? you mean there is someone who might come after you? is it...that gang you told me about? are /they/ coming after you?
Frankie: yes...so it /does/ have to do with the gang. i thought you had gotten away from all of that stuff! are they trying to hurt you now?? wait, um.../you/ hurt someone? i thought you had gotten hurt...
Zig: i'm not saying yes... but i'm not saying no. but it's not a yes. it's just not a no, either. i need you to understand what i'm saying /without/ me saying it...
Zig: ok, don't go around just talking about gangs, frankie. this is exactly why i /didn't/ want to tell anyone. i tried to get away from it! it just.. it kind of blew up in my face. and i was going to get hurt if i didn't defend myself.
You think you’d be able to manage that?
Maybe. You’ve never seen the Novak charm in full action.