**Chapter 1: Life's better with Someone to Trust**
*Edilio* never really felt awkward when girls flirted with him, and there were a lot of those. He didn't blush or make an unattractive grin, he just smiled.
When Taylor had realised that Sam was a lost cause, she had started on Edilio. It made sense really, he was the next person in command, apart from Caine and Albert. Caine was pure evil and Albert was simply Albert.
Taylor liked a man with power, it automatically made her in a powerful position, even if it was the FAYZ. Plus, he was hot in her eyes. Who better to go out with the Edilio.
*' hey, Eddy, I can call u that right? So I was thinking your hot and I'm hot and we're both single. So d'ya wanna go out with me ( because I'm so absolutely fabulous; was what she meant)?'
' I'm ok, er, thanks Taylor' Edilio said giving her his friendliest smile. He was about to say sorry, but she had 'bounced' of to sulk.*
Edilio stood know on the houseboat balcony grinning at the memories. It was late and he should probably have been in bed, but he couldn't sleep and besides, he liked musing while watching the lake. It calmed him.
In fact, he thought, he had never really properly liked a girl. Sure he'd had crushes on hot girls at school, but what did that mean in the big world.
Edilio gave a small laugh at the irony of it,' the big world'. How big exactly was his world now, the FAYZ? Small.
He probably had never met a girl he really liked, not as a friend he meant. Yeah, that was it, he hadn't met the right girl yet.
But what about that incident-. NO! He thought whilst flinching at his own abruptness. No. He mused more calmly. He refused to acknowledge it. Actually, he was going to prove to himself that he could love a girl by going out and seeking the right person to love.
He yawned. In the morning
That morning he felt confidence flood his mind, he was ready and excited about his new task. *but I mustn't be too hasty *he thought* I should take my time and pick the right girl*. Though he was tempted to run to the nearest girl and get down on one knee.
The first girls he saw were Sinder and Jezzie, both very nice girls and good- looking. They were heading up to there gardening patch near the barrier.
' Hi Edilio' Sinder said. ' What are you up to.' since she was the older of the two he decided to make his move on her.
' Hi Sinder' he said shyly. 'could I have a word... Privately.'
' Oh of course, Jezzie, ' she looked at her friend.' Why don't u go on without me, I'll be there in five.' then she returned her attention back to Edilio,' what's the problem?' she asked.
' Oh, there's no problem,' he said hastily, then scolded himself for that reason. Sinder raised her eyebrows, almost everything in the FAYZ was a problem, from a small cold to starvation. No wonder she seemed suprised. ' it's just that I wanted to tell you that, umm... I have feelings for you.' he gulped. He knew this wasn't the way to find love, to tell the first person you saw that you liked them, but he really didn't know how to find love.
Sinder was taken aback and her mouth dropped slightly. Then she straightened herself and looked into Edilio's eyes. He found himself staring back blankly. What was he going to do know, wasn't she supposed to say something.
She approached him and but her arms around his neck loosely. He checked to see if anyone was watching, but there was no one, unfortunately. What had he got himself into? He wanted to love a girl but now he didn't. His heart raced but not out of love, out of fear.
She lent in so their foreheads were touching. He wanted to break away but he was paralysed and couldn't talk. His throat was dry.
She looked at his lips and then his eyes then suddenly made the move so that his lips pressed against hers. She kissed him and he had no choice but to kiss her back. He found no joy in kissing her, it was like kissing your sister, though heaven knows why you'd do that.
She broke for air and he took the opportunity to take two steps back. She smiled at him but he could not smile back. He just stared at her scared of her and why he didn't enjoy kissing just the teensiest bit. Her smile faltered when she realised he was not content.
'Whats the matter?' Sinder asked worried, ' did I hurt you?'
' No' he said quivering a bit, ' I don't think this was a good idea, it never happened' and with that he ran off to his room in the passed Sam and Dekka on the way but didn't stop to talk to them. He lied in the bed with tears in his eyes.
What was the matter with him, why wasn't he capable of love?
It must have been five minutes when there was a knock on his door. He didn't answer of say anything for that matter. He just wanted to be left alone.
'Edilio? Are you there?' Sam questioned. No answer. Sam opened his door anyway and went over to Edilio who just ignored him and gazed up at the ceiling. ' You OK?' Sam asked, worried. Edilio shook his head with a small gesture. A single tear flowed down his cheek, and he made no attempt to hide it from Sam.
Sam was very worried, he had never seen Edilio like this before, something had changed him. Edilio had always supported Sam and been a big secure pillar of confidence when Sam was troubled but the pillar had crumbled and Edilio was sulking in his room.
' What's the matter?' Sam asked. Again ,Edilio shook his head.
Sam stared at Edilio for a moment then left. 'Good' thought Edilio.
After five long minutes, Edilio fell asleep.
He was woken up by a knock at the door. He felt slightly better. This time Edilio had the willpower to get up and answer the door. It was Dekka. She looked like she wanted to be somewhere else.
' Can I come in?' Puzzled, Edilio welcomed her in.
They sat on the edge of his bed.
'Edilio, what's wrong?' she asked, looking at him intently. He looked away.
' You can tell me, I'm your friend. Whatever it is it doesn't matter, I mean, if your sick then we'll take you to Dahra.'
' I'm not sick!' he urged. ' I just want to be left alone'
' You can't stay in here forever! Come on Edilio we need you!' She was getting irritated now. She stood up and was about to leave when Edilio blurted:
' I kissed Sinder!' Now that made her stop. She turned and the fury had left her eyes replaced by confusion.
' Why are you sad then? You should be happy that you've got a... Girl.' Dekka replied.
' Because I didn't enjoy it, I wanted to prove to myself that I could love, but I can't, I'm heartless.' His voice failed at he end and he looked down.
Dekka stared at him. Was it possible. Surely not.
' I'm going to be honest with you.' She said ' if anybody in the FAYZ is heartle_ ss, it would be you. Is the man who fought against nearly invicible bus-high metal bugs with a shotgun, heartless? I don't think so. Once you've decided, come out of your room and get through your unnecessary sadness so you can be a man again, just don't drag the lake down with you, they need you Edilio.' And with that she left.
The next morning Edilio left the boat early to go for a walk. He didn't want to go near the lake of be in sight of Sinder's plot so he marched up a hill and sat facing the lake, he could see it all, from the marina to the barrier. Thank god the barrier didn't produce electricity because other wise the fish in the sea and the lake would be fried.
' Admiring the view are you?' asked a voice from behind him, he swiftly turned and saw the 'Artful Roger' sitting behind him with a pencil and paper. ' No don't move , it would have been a nice picture there with your head in the way.' said Roger sarcastically with a smile on his face.
' Oh sorry' said Edilio embarrassed. He blushed a bit and looked at Roger who grinned at him.
' You can see a lot from here can't you.' said Roger. ' Even highly positioned men failing at kissing a gardener.' Edilio turned white and Roger laughed. There was something soothing about that laugh thought Edilio. But at the time there was only the fact that Roger could have told everyone about his failed kiss.
Roger saw his face and said ' Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out. Your secret's safe with me.' At that Edilio sighed in relief. ' What? You thought I'd tell someone? I'm so offended!' said Roger pretending. Edilio smiled so Roger continued. ' I thought you'd trust me! Do you trust me Edilio? ' Edilio nodded. ' Then close your eyes.' Edilio hesitated but nevertheless, closed his eyes. He heard,' open them in ten seconds' so he counted. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Edilio opened his eyes and Roger was gone. He turned his head to look when something tackled him to the ground from behind. On the ground he was turned over and , suprise suprise, Roger was pinning him down to the ground. Edilio could have broken free but he wanted to see what Roger was doing.
' Why did you trust me?' asked Roger
' I don't.' Edilio replied
' That not what I asked.' countered Roger. Edilio thought.
' Life's better with someone to trust.'