~Zane's POV~

I went down the stairs and placed the jacket Y/n gave me carefullu on the couch.

"Zane?"

I recognize that voice anywhere. I turned around to see a caramel skinned woman with orange eyes with Aaron's jacket wrapped around her waist.

"Aphmau... Arent you supposed to be healing?"

She nodded. Her body language seemed off.

"What's wrong Aph?" I asked.

"Zane... I heard about Y/n's condition." Aphmau said worry laced in her voice.

My eyes widened at her statement. Garroth, Kim and Lucinda showed up behind her.

"She's seeing green glowing eyes... And hearing his laugh" I said my voice shaking.

"It's too soon..." Kim said looking at me.

"It's only been a few months..." Lucinda said.

"Zane..."

I looked to my side and see Garroth stepping forward.

"Her eyes flashed green..." He said worriedly.

"W-What?"

"She..When she screamed my name, I ran up and when she hugged me and looked at me... Her eyes.." Garroth said cutting off as he was at the verge of tears.

"No... Not now... Aphmau's still healing... Y/n's still healing.. Even we are still recovering..We can't let her know... We can't lose her..."

I felt my anger and worry surge through my body. My breathing unsteady and my hands in a fist.

"Zane.. How can we even help?" Ghost asked.

"We can't trap her here or isolate her. She'd be worried." Lucinda said shaking her head in disbelief.

"She might question things. It's too sudden and too quick." Kim said.

They were right... How could we even help?

"Garroth?" The door to the front door was opened.

We all looked at the front door and saw Vylad with paper bags from clothing brands.

"Oh! Hello everyone." He said cheery.

He looks at Garroth and says, "Where do I put Y/n's shopping?"

Garroth smiles and replies, "To my room for now,little brother. Y/n might be asleep right now. My room will have to do."

Vylad nods and goes up the stairs.

"I'll be in my room too if you need me." Vylad said trying to wave goodbye as he catrues multiple paper bags of shopping.

We all waited until we heard the second door shut which meant Vylad was in his room. When we finally heard it, we sat down on the couch.

"Does mom and dad know?" I asked turning to Garroth.

"Yeah...Mommy's not taking it too well." He replied.

"Oh.."

I turned to the girls and looked at them with sympathy.

"How are you girls holding up?"

They all looked at me and I can see a small smiles on their faces.

"It's hard...trying new things after the incident at the lodge." Lucinda confessed.

"It's not that bad but... The trauma's still there." Kim said looking at the girls.

"The outside world has truly changed. Even I am flabbergasted at the situations you people experience." Ghost said.

"It's true... Everything changed in a  blink of an eye..." Aphmau sighed.

"But.. I'm learning healing magic now! At least I won't be powerless when he needs help." Aphmau added.

"That's actually nice Aph." Garroth said laying a hand on her shoulder.

Aphmau smiles at this small gesture.

"Thank you." She said.

She turns to me and looks down.

"What about her? Will she be okay?" Aphmau asked.

I looked up the stairs then down to the floor then back at Aphmau.

"I don't know what we can do. I believe keeping her away from the subject is the safest option." I suggested.

"Or maybe some place new?" Kim said.

"Yes. That could ease her away from remembering the event." Lucinda said nodding her head in agreement.

"It's too costly. Where would we even go?" I asked.

"Hmm. How about in O'khasis? Doesn't your family have a vacation home there? Maybe you could go there? Or maybe we could all go there?" Kim suggested.

"It is a new environment for all of us." Lucinda said.

"I'd like to visit O'khasis too." Aphmau said, removing the red bandana on her eyes and tying it to her wrists.

"Will mom and dad agree to this?" I looked at Garroth.

"I can ask mommy and father if we can go. It'll be a nice change of scenery." He said.

"Should we bring the others?" Kim asked.

"I'm not too sure about that. You know how they can be invasive." I pointed out.

"Not too mention Travis relentlessly asking me multiple questions about what happened at the lodge and why Aphmau is acting weird." Lucinda said tiredly.

"How about Katelyn? Kawaii~chan? Dante or Laurence? Or Vylad?"Kim pointed out.

" I'm not too sure if it's a good idea." I said.

"I mean KC can come. She's always brightening the mood and Katelyn's pep talks would help too." Aphmau intervened.

"I guess so. But if we let them know..would they still be with us? We'd lose all of them and the risk of putting Aaron in danger is high. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, Aph." I said looking at her with sad eyes.

"They're our friends. They'd understand, right?" Kim asked looking at all of us for answers.

We all weren't sure how they'd react. There is a probability that they might reject us and turn on us and there is also a probability that they'd stay with us. What would they think if they knew? Would they rat us out? What would Kawaii~Chan think? Would she-

I suddenly felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I looked to my side and saw Garroth looking at me with pity.

"Everything will be fine Zane. I know you're worried but everything will be right in the end." Garroth said giving me a hug.

I quickly part from the hug and hugged myself.

"I--uuh"

I looked around and saw the girls smiling. Oh shoot.

"Let's just go on a trip to O'khasis together. A beach trip might help, Zane." Lucinda said.

"This way we can all let some steam out. It's like therapy but better and more fun!" Kim said standing up.

I smiled under my mask and nodded. I looked at Aphmau and she nodded as well.

"I'm up for it." She said.

"Me too." Lucinda said.

"Me three!" Garroth said.

They all looked at me and I felt pressure on my shoulders. I backed up a bit at the attention and looked down.

This'll be good for all of us right? It's just a trip. I looked at them and nodded.

"Fine...I'm in."

"Alright!" Garroth said jumping in happiness.

"I'll ask mommy and father to arrange a trip for us. I'm sure they'd love the idea." He added, quickly entering the kitchen.

"Oh another relaxing day at the beach." Lucinda said laying back on the couch.

"It's been long overdue for us. It's been months since we finally had another gathering." Lucinda said closing her eyes and had a smile on her face.

I looked at Aphmau and saw her smiling at me. She then looks at the staircase and then back at me.

"We'll all finally get to debrief. I hope when we get back, everything will be more easy." Aphmau said.

"Even you, Zane. You had it hard as well." She added.

"I-I'm fine. It's just you and Y/n I'm trying to help. You two have gone through so much..." I said looking away from her.

"You're my best friend,Zane and I know that tone too well. You need it as well. I know you do." She said standing up.

She suddenly hugged me and I froze.

"It's okay not to be okay... You don't have to put up a facade. We're here for you as much as you're here for us." She said, parting from the hug.

I nodded and said, "I'll...keep that in mind."

"Welp! I have to go home now. I have books to read and packing to do." Kim said standing up.

"Same. I have to pack a few things too." Lucinda said following Kim.

Garroth runs out the kitchen with excitement.

"Mommy said she'll arrange it for this upcoming weekend! The holiday home will be ready by then. I can't wait!" Garroth said excitedly.

The girls all laugh at Garroth's antics.

"I'm going to go pack now." He said running up the stairs.

I shook my head and smiled underneath my mask. I looked at the girls and they were all standing and smiling.

"He's a bright light isn't he?" Kim said, still looking at the staircase.

"He's not the smartest but he can definitely brighten up the mood." I confessed.

The girls had a wider smile now and I realized what I said.

"We knew you cared." Lucinda said leaving the house.

"W-what?"

"He's your brother, Zane. You may not show your appreciation towards him but it's clear you adore your big brother." Kim said.

"It's adorble." Ghost said.

Kim walked out of the house and all that was left was Aphmau and I. She had a huge smile on her face.

"Just say it." I said rolling my eyes.

"You do you, Zane." She said waving goodbye and shutting the door.

Somehow, I felt a bit relieved. I let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

"A trip to O'khasis it is."