I'll never forget the anger and disbelief set stiff in his eyes as if I was looking into a crystal ball. I didn't really blame him; thinking Zane had vandalised and stolen from us. His words shot out like fire bolts or lightning, sudden, tense, shocking.
"LEAVE. NOW! NEVER SHOW YOUR FACE IN THIS AREA AGAIN!"
Zane shot me a pained and despairing look before turning away. It made me feel that he's been running a race and fallen over on the finishing line, allowing the second person to take his place in first. He'd lost. Lost me…
I couldn't face my Dad that night. There was an awkward, untrusting feeling in the air, travelling like incense fumes. It filled every millimetre of the house and our relationship. Refusing to go inside, I lay on the patio, wondering if this was how lonely the stars felt. I mean-they're all miles apart, floating aimlessly through space. I couldn't help worrying if Zane blamed any of this on me. Maybe he didn't want me anymore.
I suddenly had no control over my eyes. Tears crawled their way out, diving onto my pyjama top. I told Zane everything. If I couldn't talk to him, it would all build up inside, consequently resulting in a mental break down. Emma and Cleo would understand up to a point although it wouldn't last. Never having liked him, their sympathy would turn into bored comforting, making me feel unwanted and longing to talk to Zane even more. I know he hadn't done anything wrong, and that it was all Nate's fault but-Nate! This was all Nate's fault!
I was so ready to storm up and down the Gold Coast looking to scream in his ear, when I remembered it would involve telling him about Dad which, unfortunately I would never live down…like before. No. Not again.
So I decided on running away.
When Dad went next door to discuss and make deals on 'the hole in our roves problem', I grabbed me school bag, shoving a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, a book and a few bags of crisps into it as I went along.
Then I ran. Right out of sight. The long way so Dad wouldn't see me through Mrs.Witbury's window. Round the back of Zane's house, and onto his patio. Tapping on the French windows, wondering if he was awake, I prayed his Father wouldn't hear. One last bash on the glass and Zane woke with a start. I watched him blunder over to the doors to let me in. I checked my watch-it was quarter to midnight already! Zane must have been asleep for at least an hour and taking one look at his gorgeous ruffled morning hair, it could've been more.
Once he got his eyes sober, he lifted my chin and gazed into mine for a few seconds. He then gave me a short but sweet kiss on the lips and squeezed me so tight, neither of us wanted to let our grip loose. His hair smelt deeply of cinnamon, due to his luxury shampoo.
He sighed then whispered close in my ear, "I love you loads..." before pulling away, looking at me, stroking my hair and saying, "like marshmallows!" A soft smile crept softly over his moonlit face as did over mine.
I hugger him again giggling before the words, "love you lots like jelly tots!" came over my lips.
It was then that I realised why I was here! The melted problem solidified in my mind again.
"Listen, Zane. Run away to Mako with me. Just tonight. Please?"
"What? Now? Just us, alone on Mako?" He whispered, voice sounding more intrigued by every syllable.
"Yeah. Just us for one night to freak my Dad out or something. Maybe a realisation of just how much I'm in love with you…" my fast exited tempo slowed to a sort of distant zombie tone as I gazed into his soft, deep brown eyes staring back, lost in me. We were both lulled into a trance for around twenty seconds until Zane reached for a haversack draped over a chair and threw some things in it. Grabbing my hand and slipping through the glass door, he ran with me all the way down to the harbour (or jetty) where the sleeping Zodiac bobbed.
