A Not So Fun Bed Talk

It was right after they fought and won against Kalona that things changed. Everybody was back but Tulsa's House of Night was never the same.

Zoey was nominated Tulsa's High Priestess, but seeing that she didn't had the knowledge to fulfill her job, the Council decided to let her finish her years as a student before she'd take place as a actual High Priestess, which was great for Zoey. She was really nervous just thinking about all the responsibilities she would have after her 4 years studying. While she was studying, Lenobia would be in her place as temporary High Priestess.

The Staff and the students realized their lack of judgment and apologized to Zoey. It was their first night back and everybody was exhausted. The Nerd Herd said their goodbyes and went to bed. Stark, as a good warrior, took Zoey to her room seeing that she was still shaken with everything that happened. When he was just turning to go to his own room, she called him.

"Stark…" she whispered.

"Yeah?" he looked at her with tired eyes.

"Can… Can you stay with me this night? I just… That's the first night I'm actually sleeping after… you know." She looked down while talking.

He comes closer, hold her into his arms and touch his forehead with hers. "Of course, of course I can. Come on, let's get in".

He put her on the bed, took her shoes off and them his own. Then Stark lies beside her and hold her close to him. Zoey snuggles closer and closes her eyes. She knew that she would probably stay awake the whole night but she was glad Stark was there with her. While she was thinking about that, Stark whispers on her ear.

"Zoey… You have to let yourself feel it"

"Feel what?" She was afraid she'd know where he was trying to get at.

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about"

"Know what, Stark?" She was beginning to feel annoyed, that's what she's feeling.

"Look, I know I wasn't supposed to "spy" on your feelings and I had my mouth shut the whole time. But just because I didn't said anything doesn't mean I think what you are doing with yourself is right" His tone was dead serious and that made Zoey quiet. He just kept talking.

"After Heath died and you came back, you locked all yours feelings deep inside of you so you could focus on killing Kalona, and you did. See, I get that it was necessary and that's exactly why I didn't say a word. I knew how you felt for Heath and how broke you were when he was gone. Hell, I felt your soul shatter. If you though it was for the best to ignore all the pain you were feeling for his lost, who was I to say something?" His words were rushed like he had been holding himself for some time and suddenly he was saying everything on his mind.

"But then, when we finally defeated him you were still like that. Pretending there's nothing wrong with you, that there is no pain on you, not from losing Heath or killing Kalona. I know that some part of you loved Kalona and that part is suffering just as much as you are suffering for Heath. But you acted like you got through everything and was just fine" He was starting to slow down his words and his tone was beginning to have angst in it.

"I know I don't have any right to tell you what to do but… I can't stand anymore. It's like watching you drown without you knowing you're drowning. That's not right. You don't have to pretend anymore, it's over. You have to let yourself feel the pain. It's okay to suffer, it's okay to cry."

Only when he said it that Zoey realized how much she just wanted to scream and cry her heart out for Heath, for Kalona and for everybody's death. She wanted to have someone to say that everything was going to be alright, that the pain would eventually go away. So she cried, sobbed, whimpered, sniffled and cried some more. She cried so much that Stark's shirt was probably soaking, but he didn't said anything, he just held her strongly in his arms while she let everything out. And when Zoey started calming down he started whispering sweet things on her ear and let her mourn silently next to him. Both of them stayed awake until it was time to get out of bed to start a new day.

"I think it's time to get up…" Zoey said.

"Hey, we don't have to. I can talk to Lenobia and say that you still are too tired and need some more time to rest" He said kissing her forehead.

"No… I really want to go back to having classes. You're coming with me, right?"

"Of course, my lady." He kissed her lips softly. "Always. Even when you get tired of looking at my face and tell me to use a paper bag in my head. Actually, I always wanted to know how it feels like using one. I bet I would still be pretty hot with it." He gives her a cocky

"Stark, you're impossible" Zoey can't help but chuckle.

"Oh, is that a smile that I am looking at?" Stark then cuddles closer and kisses the tip of her nose.

"Thanks for being by my side. I don't know what I would do without you"

"My pleasure, my lady."

Zoey didn't know if the pain was ever going to fade away, but she was certain that with Stark by her side, she could handle it.

The End


I hope that you liked! I'm planning on doing each chapter as a different moment on their life. Some of them are going to be funny, others are going to be more angst like this one. I decided to make this one first because even though there are a lot of fanfics talking about after Tempted, just some of them show Zoey's suffering. Actually, I'm not sure at all if that was any good…

So, review just to tell me if I suck or not (lol, but seriously, just tell me in my face) so I won't lose my time writing this fanfic.