Tomb Raider: Past and the Present
Chapter One
Lara lay on her back, staring at the ceiling of her pool house. She rolled onto her front, and stood up. Throwing her arms out to the side, Lara kept her balance on the huge plant feature that was suspended above her pool.
"Ms Croft."
Lara was taken by surprise and fell from the feature, only just turning it into a dive in time. She hit the water and after a few moments, swam up to the surface.
"My biggest apologise Ms Croft." Laughed Winston.
Lara rolled her eyes and clambered out of the pool.
"What is it Winston?"
"Well Ms Croft," he began.
"Please Winston, for the last time, call me Lara!" Interrupted Lara.
"Of course Ms Cro- Lara."
Lara giggled.
"I'm worried about Zip; he hasn't been the same since Allisters death."
Lara winced. Losing Allister had been a huge rip in her and the guys, and hung there like a huge hole of sadness, eating away at their minds. "None of us have been the same Winston, we all miss him."
"Quite. It's just Zip's been the worst, he's so quiet, and doesn't smile at all. You don't seem to have been that bothered by it."
"How dare you say that?" exploded Lara, red in the face with sudden rage. "I may not have changed the way I act towards you two, I may have been able to restrain myself from crying in front of you, but that doesn't mean I haven't lain awake night after night, feeling like I -could of done something to stop his death, that it was my fault!"
Winston stood there a moment; slightly afraid of Lara, who of course was the one with SMG's strapped to her thighs.
"And another thing," said Lara, turning to leave. "I don't want you to discuss Allister with me again, or anybody for that matter." She strode out of her pool house, and then broke into a sprint.
Zip sat at a computer, clicking away at the keys. Accidentally, he opened a folder of holiday snaps, taken last Christmas.
A picture of Lara flashed onto the screen, very drunk and standing on a table in leopard print underwear. She appeared to be singing along to some crummy Christmas tune, whilst Winston stood at the back, astonished at the scene in front of him. Zip smiled a little at that one.
Another picture came up, one of Zip this time. He was tied to a chair and coated in makeup. Lara stood next to him, laughing and holding her sides. She was dressed in that photo.
Zip went through a whole load more, laughing at some, scowling at others that were of him doing stupid things. Suddenly a picture of Allister came up, and sobs choked up inside Zip.
The picture showed Lara with her arms around Allister, and Zip making bunny ears behind All-star's head. Tears rolled down Zip's cheeks, dripping onto his shirt.
Allister should be with me, Zip thought. He should be here now, laughing at the stupidity and drunkenness Christmas brings.
But he wasn't, he was dead. Gone from Zip's grasp forever. The flood gates burst, and Zip howled, burying his head into his arms. Foot steps sounded behind him.
"What's up honey?" Asked Lara's soothing voice as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
Zip could only raise a shaking hand and point to the screen. Lara looked at the screen and a tear came to her eye.
"I know love, I know." She said with a sigh. She sat down next to him, sliding her strong arms around him. "Please don't cry Zip, please. You'll make me start up."
Zip looked at her, his face sodden with tears. He placed his arms around Lara, and then cried onto her shoulder.
Lara sighed again. She stroked Zip's head and fought back the tears, the tears of pain and anger.
"I-I'm so sorry Lara, I just miss him so much, I-I loved him more than anything, and now he's gone… I can't take it." Sobbed Zip.
"Don't Zip, just don't." Lara said sternly. She let go of Zip and stood up. "I don't want to think about him." She left the computer room and jumped, grappling a metal hook in the ceiling. She climbed up the rope a little, and then swung, jumping onto the balcony.
Zip sat there for a moment, then turned back to the computer.
There's work to be done, he thought, so I should do it.