Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Zeta Project'. I do not own any of its characters. It's just a fanfiic.

As English isn't my native language, I want to thank Antje for her editing help on this chapter.

The Hero

by Iglika

Chapter One

Was he a vid star?

Or he was a rock star?

I tried to see with the corner of my eyes if my big sister looked at him as well…

She didn't, but her grumpy expression, which she tried to cover with boredom, was clear enough for me that she actually was very angry that such a tough guy was already taken.

Yes, he was taken.

I let go a deep sigh and…

I carefully turned my head to look at him again.

I had never seen him before, but he really looked like a vid star.

I mean… his perfect profile, his stylish short black hair with cute forelock, his deep blue eyes…

He was dressed in a long deep-violet coat, dark grey pants and lilac T-shirt.

No matter how tough he was, he was taken for sure.

There was a blonde girl beside him.

His girlfriend.

She constantly leaned on him some way or another, she tried to sleep on his shoulder, she cuddled in him, wrapping her hand around his arm, but she changed her poses almost every ten minutes. She looked like someone who was so tired that she couldn't find a place to rest. I knew how it felt, but it was strange that he didn't look as tired as she was. Maybe because he was a man, and maybe because she was so thin and he was so strong…

And kind. He was just like the guys I loved – tall, big boy with broad shoulders and tender heart.

How did I know he had a tender heart? He was so gentle with her; he hugged her all the time, trying to make his hug as comfortable for her as possible. I was curious where they had caught the bus, because they hadn't any baggage. The girl even hadn't any jacket; she was dressed just in light blue jeans and black sleeveless blouse with white designs. Why they hadn't any baggage? That was a little bit strange and definitely stupid as they had no way of entertainment during the long journey. Although… I was so tired of listening to the music, of watching TV or disks, or even reading my holo-books. I had my laptop with me, but I was annoyed with the games I had.

And there was no way for me to watch the landscape outside as my sister did. She had used the fact that she was older than me to take the seat by the window.

Anyway.

I tried to forget that I was with her now.

I didn't like to talk to her too much. She was poor company. She didn't like to talk to me too much either. She was… or she wanted me to believe that she was smarter, more beautiful and more worthy than me to get the best things in life. As for me… I was just her stupid little sister, a boring teenager, who brought her troubles and nothing more.

Well, she was interesting indeed and beautiful. At least she had learned to use all kinds of make–up to create a really charming effect on her otherwise ordinary face. Her skin looked so tender, her long golden hair had sleek curls and her bright blue eyes looked really mysterious.

I was younger, that could be an advantage…

Yeah, right.

Happy sweet sixteen.

Our parents had just split up. Mom left and as we had never been too close with our father, he had packed and went to build his own life anew. My older sister had her own life as well and now she had to take me to my grandparents. A boring duty for my sister, a waste of her precious time.

It wasn't like she hated me, but she didn't love me either. So the fact that I wouldn't be able to see her very often didn't bother me too much.

I glanced at the couple beside me again. Now the blonde girl had leaned her head on her boyfriend's shoulder, trying to get some sleep again. He looked at the window, although outside was absolute darkness already. The glass reflected only their silhouettes, but he kept looking at the window; and, somehow thoughtfully, he caressed her head, slowly interweaving his fingers in her short blonde hair.

Probably it was very comfortable to doze under such tender caresses.

Did I envy her?

Of course I did.

I sighed.

I would never have such a handsome boyfriend. This girl was so beautiful…

I was blonde and blue-eyed just like her, but who would fall in love with an ordinary girl like me? I sighed again and I tried to lean toward my sister in order to look at the window.

She pushed me back. "Take your seat!"

"But I want to see where we are!" I protested.

"Don't you see? It's totally dark! Besides, you have a map too. The road is upon some rocks and a huge river now. Nothing interesting."

Yeah, right!

I crossed my arms and I looked at the couple beside me.

The blonde girl had turned her back toward the window, she was leaned her hands on her boyfriend's shoulder and her chin – on the back side of her palms. Both of them looked at each other straight in the eyes. She spoke something to him, and he listened to her so seriously, completely absorbed in her words.

The engine of the bus produced some dull sound, but it wasn't the only reason why I couldn't overhear what the girl said to him. She whispered intimately.

What had she talked to him? What had captured his attention like that? And what answer had he given her so quietly as well, smiling at her so kindly and so lovingly?

They stopped talking; now they just looked at each other, face to face.

Would they kiss? I bet they would! They weren't kissing the last hour, so it was about time for them to kiss again.

I knew it!

I sighed one more time.

Yes.

They kissed.

I couldn't be more envious than I was now.

The blonde girl huddled up in him again, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she closed her eyes for another try at sleep.

Hmmm, as she would finally sleep, then she wouldn't mind if I steal her boyfriend for a while. In my dreams, of course.

I remembered when I was a kid and my family traveled with our car, I loved to look through the window and imagine that a knight spurred his magic black horse along with our car.

Now I'll imagine that that black-haired guy was my knight.

No.

I couldn't.

Something didn't feel right. Although I envied his girlfriend, I didn't hate her. The truth was that I wanted to be her friend, rather to make her angry and sad stealing her boyfriend. And most of all I doubted he could be stolen at all. He looked so hers! They both were so tied to each other, they looked so right together, as if she was born for him and as he couldn't be next to any other girl.

And I doubted he was a vid star or a rock star. Not only because I knew all the famous stars all around, but he was somehow different. He hadn't the victorious and obsessing look in his eyes as Adam Heat. He was peaceful, really kind, somehow understanding, and that made him even more attractive than any Adam Heat…

Suddenly the bus jolted. It hit the rocks and gave a lurch…

I screamed, lost among the other screams…

The blonde girl and her boyfriend exchanged a quick glance. He stood up and made his way toward the driver who looked unconscious. The blonde girl jumped to her feet. "Zee?"

A strange metal cable had slipped out of his wrist and it was plugged into the bus's computer. Zee turned toward the blonde girl and he answered, actually explaining to all of us what had happened. "The driver is faint. The bus was badly hit by the rocks. The control panel is damaged; I can't bring it back on the road. We'll fall in the river any second, but please don't panic! I'll help you all to escape safely!"

I knew it! I knew he was a hero!

Why wasn't I scared?

Why was I so sure we could rely on him?

The bus shook again. Obviously it had hit by the rocks a second time and…

The window right above the blonde girl's head cracked, breaking into pieces.

Zee yelled, "Ro!"

The bus flopped into the water and everything shook… We all screamed again in horror. A huge stream began to flow through the hole right behind Ro…

to be continued…

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