CHAPTER EIGHT | oh you're okay. now my heart can return to it's normal rate

RANDOM SONG OF THE CHAPTER:

Why Didn't You Call Me - Macy Gray

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"The secret to having a fulfilling day is putting an alarm on your brother's phone for two o'clock without him knowing and then lying awake until you can hear the satisfying sound of 'Call Me Maybe' mixed with cursing."

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Zane was not having a good time.

He was unbearably exhausted, Nya was currently soldering the wires in his arm back together after a chainsaw went out of control during the battle, and there was a notification taunting at him in front of his eyes reminding him that he was sitting in an unpleasant alleyway instead of at a date like he was supposed to be.

"Wow Zane, I don't think I've ever seen you look so much like Kai," Cole commented, looking genuinely perplexed. Kai shot him a glare and moved to hit his friend in the shoulder. Unfortunately, he had a rather large gash in his arm that Lloyd just finished stitching up. Before he even made touched Cole he was yelling in pain.

"Don't tear your stitches!" Nya scolded. They all ignored her.

"Zane's just pouty because he missed out on his date." Jay teased.

Cole jumped up. "That was today? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Zane shot Jay a look. "I thought we agreed to Zane-and-Jay-Best-Buds-Forever confidentiality."

Jay's hands flew to his mouth. "What have I done?" He wailed.

"Wait- so Zane, Mr. Manners, the one who spent a whole day comforting Kai's crazy not-so-secret admirer, stood someone up?" Lloyd asked in disbelief. Amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth. Zane huffed as snickers erupted from the group.

"I was not trying to 'stand her up.'" Zane said defensively.

Nya raised an eyebrow. "I don't think she's gonna believe you were busy putting your arm back together." She gently slid the panel closed before tapping the metal with a clink. "All done."

Jay sighed. "Zane's trail of broken hearts has just started."

Cole was visibly trying not to laugh. "One day he'll be more of a stud than the master of fire himself."

"All of you shut up!" Kai grunted, easing himself to his feet. "We don't want anyone coming around here when we all have our masks off."

Jay rolled his eyes. "Ugh, I can't wait for school to be over. Maybe then we can finally reveal our identities!"

"You can," Lloyd reminded him as he adjusted a bandage on his knee. "I just don't recommend it. Life gets a whole lot messier when people know."

Zane blinked thoughtfully as quiet chatter settled comfortingly in the group. He stayed silent, which wasn't out of the ordinary, ideas moving around his head like hawks on a hunt. Zane never considered telling anybody about his job as a ninja. He didn't have anyone to tell at the time. Now Zane thought about Gwendolyn. What would she think? She would probably panic. Zane could see her running around dramatically after telling her the news. Then she'd have questions. Lots of questions. Gwendolyn always had something to ask or to say.

"Zane! Buddy!" Zane jolted back to the present and turned expectantly to Cole. The master of earth motioned to his vibrating pocket. "Your phone is ringing!"

Zane usually didn't bring his mobile device onto the mission. He had a computer in his head and a watch for alerts, he didn't need it. But the mission had popped up so suddenly that Zane had just shoved it in without a second thought. Zane pulled out the tiny piece of technology to see many, many texts and calls from Gwendolyn.

"Oh." Zane's brow knit. "It appears she is very worried."

"Who?" Lloyd spoke up curiously.

"Gwendolyn."

Lloyd hummed absently as he picked at his clothing. "That makes sense. She probably knows you're not the type to ditch a date without saying anything."

"I will have to call her back," Zane said decisively, looking satisfied. The green ninja leaned over to peek at his phone. He sucked in a sympathetic breath.

"Maybe you should go in person." Lloyd patted him on the shoulder with an expression one would wear when sending their friend to war. "Those aren't the messages of someone you should just call."

Zane frowned, his eyes flicking to the screen then back to Lloyd before putting it back in his pocket. "Thank you."

"No problem." Lloyd smiled at him before he ran ahead to break up the slap fight Kai and Jay were having.

Zane's phone weighed in his pocket as he carefully did a full-body scan to ensure he had no other external damages. He cleared the notifications, trying to ignore the thrumming in his chest as the nindroid took a deep breath and followed his family home.

Tomorrow, he swore.

Tomorrow I will talk to her.

- ❄️ -

I was really hoping Zane hadn't been abducted by aliens since he still hadn't answered my texts or my calls. My irritation and worry were growing and I was starting to get cranky. After snapping at Kat for stealing my low-fat cheese puffs I resigned to the fact that I was anxious and needed to get my mind off of things.

So, of course, I painted.

I started out with a sketch. Concepts were crowded into the corners of my page as I drew whatever came first to mind. At first, it was a lot of television show characters and sweets I was craving. Then it switched to Jenna from work, the beautiful sunrise I saw this morning, Rina as she politely let me know she'd never be calling me again. Before I knew it my pencil was carving out a defined jaw, warm yet searching eyes, and the slight pull of the brow that made my head spin whenever I saw it.

Zane's face stared back at me.

"Well," I said to myself. "He could either see this as flattering or creepy."

I shoved the paper into my art folder quickly, willing those stupid eyes to stop drilling into my brain and turned to the mindless task of helping Zhang paint the bathroom wall of the art studio. It truly is one of the most boring things I've ever done. I tried to suggest we put little Kirbys around the doorframe but Zhang thought that people wouldn't want an adorable pink creature watching them as they went to the bathroom.

I then went home, checked my texts, worked on my thesis, procrastinated at my thesis, had food, checked my phone, checked my phone, drove myself out of my mind checking my phone before I did the one thing I knew for sure would distract me.

I called my brother.

"Hey loser," Riley said oh-so-sweetly through the speaker.

I rolled my eyes and sank into the cushions, readying myself for the emotional journey that was talking to my sibling. "Hi, Rye," I grumbled.

"Uh oh! Someone sounds pouty today! I hope that doesn't affect your decision on whether you should give your brother some money or donate some money to your brother." Riley sang.

I scrunched up my nose. "You still owe me thirty dollars for mom's birthday gift! And that chocolate we bet on at the fair!"

"You had an unfair advantage! I had no idea you could consume that much kettle corn and then go on the Spinjitzu-Swirl!"

"I still won though." I insisted.

"What-EVER." He drew out the word in exasperation. "I'm pretty sure that's not why you called me. What do you want?"

Crumbs. I tried for an innocent tone. "Can't a girl call her brother without wanting anything?"

"Nice try liar."

I blew a raspberry, spraying some spit onto my phone screen. After hastily wiping it off I fell back dramatically onto the couch. "I'm worried about something and I needed someone annoying enough to keep me busy."

"Fsm. I forgot you were such a little-" his words were cut off with some crashing from his end.

I hummed cheerily. "Sorry? I couldn't hear you!"

"What's got you coiled up like a spring this time?" Riley pressed. "Marks? Dad? Marks and Dad? The new season of that stupid show you watch."

"It's not stupid and you know it!" I said hotly. I picked at my nails nervously before continuing. "It's about a friend. He didn't meet me for a thing and he hasn't said anything for a day."

"Wow! A whole day? We should call the police!" was Riley's sarcastic response.

I scowled. "I'm serious! He's really, really polite. He would never stand someone up and not say anything about it!"

"Look Gweny," I could practically hear him rolling his eyes. "Sometimes people are flaky! No matter how reliable they may seem. Give them some time and they'll eventually come out from under a rock somewhere."

I huffed. A long, irritating sound. Unfortunately, he was right. A rare occurrence but right nonetheless. "Fineeeee!" I blew some hair out of my face. "I guess I'll wait."

"Okay, whatever," Riley said dismissively. "Hey, do you plan on coming home for Christmas?"

That made me pause. I sat up abruptly my thumbnail moving autonomically to my lips as I gnawed on the end. "I... I hadn't really planned for it." Or thought about it really.

"Do..." Riley was quiet, tentative. This was a tone I rarely heard from him. "Do you think you could come down? Get some time off from your internship or whatever?"

"I don't know." Technically I could. I sighed, it was a tired, surrendering breath. "Rye, Dad and I still aren't in a good place right now. I don't want to ruin another good thing by coming over there and reopening wounds that haven't even healed yet-"

"Gwen," his tone was serious. "I really think you should come."

"Why?" I couldn't help but shoot back. Albeit a little petulantly.

There was a rustle. I could tell Riley was also chewing on his nails. We shared the same bad habit. It always drove my mom crazy.

"Please? It's important to Mom." Riley's tone was raw and vulnerable. I shivered. I hated that.

I groaned, running my hands over my face. Before I could change my mind I nodded. "Okay, I'll try and clear up a week or something."

"Great." Riley sounded relieved. "Thank you."

"Yeah, okay. Enough with the niceness. It looks weird on you." I was glad he couldn't see my smile. "Say I love you to Nana for me! I hope she's doing alright. She hasn't been getting my calls. I think her internet is weird."

There was silence. "Yeah, uh, Gwenny? I'm gonna go. There's some really video gaming about to happen and I don't want anyone thinking I have a sister." Riley said quickly. The last bit was full of disgust.

I ground my teeth together. "Have fun playing with your friends!" I chirped as if he was a little boy going out to run around the park with his buddies.

"Shut your-"

I hung up.

Surprisingly, my call with Riley went a lot smoother than I anticipated.

- ❄️ -

Zane finally turned up at exactly 11:59 pm, looking sheepish and apologetic when I came to the door. He didn't wake me up fortunately since I was pulling an all-nighter after leaving all my work until the last minute. I raised an inquiring eyebrow and looked him up and down. (ensuring he didn't have alien substances on him of course) He looked unharmed so this opened up the chance to give him a good scolding.

"Where were you?" I went straight to the point.

"I apologize!" Zane said quickly but genuinely. "I know I should have messaged you but a personal matter came up very suddenly and I did not have the time to contact you."

Crumb. Whenever someone says personal matter it automatically makes you feel terrible for being upset. I sighed and opened my arms, making grabby hands at him.

"It's alright, as long as you're okay," I told him. Zane stiffly moved into the hug. Surprisingly, it wasn't awkward thought. My tight embrace and his overly gentle one seemed to fit right in together. I pulled away for a moment to search his eyes. "You are okay, right?"

Zane chuckled. "I am."

"Great!" I gave him one last squeeze before pulling back. "Sorry that you missed your first date."

Zane winced. "I am more concerned for the woman I stood up. I believe that is a large social offence. I will have to formally apologize."

I made an odd sound in the back of my throat. He stared at me but I avoided all eye contact. "Maybe you shouldn't do that."

Zane frowned. "Why not? Is she truly that angry at me?"

"No!" I assured him quickly. "It's just... you weren't there. So... uh- I kinda panicked and-"

He waited expectantly, the tiniest whir sounding as he tilted his head. "And?" The android pressed when I didn't continue.

"AndIhavetoldherIwasyou." I blurted out.

Zane blinked once.

Then twice.

"But you and I do not look alike." He stated.

I have a half-shrug. "I can tell you that you were a lively conversationalist. Though I don't think you'll be hearing from her again."

Zane's expression turned amused. "Thank you, Gwendolyn. This was not a part of our agreement and I appreciate what you have done for me."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all." I waved a hand. I immediately clenched my teeth as if I could suck that lie back in. Since when was I telling people lying about my identity was 'no trouble at all!'

Zane stood there for a moment more. It was as if he didn't know what to do next.

Logically, I should've sent him home. It was late, I was extremely tired, and I really needed to do my schoolwork done. But of course, I never listen to logic.

There was something almost unbearably warm and sweet about sitting comfortably on the worn-out couch, a scratchy quilt over the both of us to keep warm as I introduced Zane to the masterpiece that is Wall-E. 

NOTE****
Sorry for the wait, I know it's been a while. To anyone who reads my other books new chapter will probably come out since I'll be self-isolating for a bit over Christmas break. 😂

Hope you all have a good day!

LuckyBugBooks🐞