Chapter 8- Never Again

I wasn't able to sleep. I just kept thinking about how and why? She lived here alone and on her own struggling through and basically making end's meat. Not socialising with anyone. Afraid they might tell true authorties and send her away. I was the only thing she had at this point, just me. But, why me? Why was I the only one she felt safe around.

My thoughts were caught off as Zoey began to nestle herself into my chest even more making herself comforatble. I could feel her breathing and heart rate at a nice steady pace. I was happy, she was calm, safe, and for once she was not alone. The comfort allowed me to drift off, knowing she would be right here when I woke up.

It had been ages since I had a sleep like that, I walk up and wasn't tired, exausted, and dreading the day to follow. I began to feel around with my eyes still shut and didn't feel her around me. I sprung out of her bed to look for her. I probably looked like a innocent child looking for his favorite toy. Under the sheets, bed, in the closet, she was no where to be found. Then again I don't think she would be in the closet. I began to grow worried and scrabled around until. Bacon. It smells pretty good.I could use some bacon. I walked down her stairs to the pleasant aroma. There she was, cooking breakfast as if we were married and was heading off to work before reading the morning news and having my daily cup of coffee.

I peaked from behind the staircase, she had saw my head eyes watching her work her magic.

"Hey you're awake, I didn't wanna wake you, you looked so cute in your sleep. I just decided to make us breakfast. You're not like against it are you?" She had said.

"Uh no of course not. You didn't have to do this you know. I'm fine just going to my house and having breakfast with my...CRAP!" I had cut myself off realising I had told my mom none of this. She must of been worried and thought I was kidnapped and killed. How am I gonna explain this to her. Plus, I can't just leave now since Zoey was so kind enough to cook us both food.

"Is everything alright?" She said with a worried look.

"Uhhh, nothing I just left my...dry cleaner on. Haha. So is that bacon?"

She nodded and smiled knowing it was my favorite. We sat there and talked about what had happened She told me when she was seven her parents went missing after they had gone on one of thier annual date nights. The police had investigated for a long time finding no traces of evidence behind to reveal where they were. They had given up and she was devestated. Her grandmother had offered to take her in, and she lived here ever since. Although she couldn't part with her friends from her other school so she continued to got to the school up until about a couple months ago. On a monday morning Zoey began her morning rutine of getting ready for school, she noticed her grandmother wasn't downstairs watching daytime t.v. like she usually does before dropping Zoey off at school. She went to her room and saw her sleeping. She poked and begged her to get up, but she wouldn't, she was gone. Zoey was devasted by this. Her grandmother was the only person she had and she was gone. Zoey didn't want to tell anyone thqt her grandmother was her only caretaker so she told everyone that her "uncle" in the states had offered to take her in. She had to leave school in order to provide for herself and to plan out whay she was gonna do without anyone to help. She had to spend the money her grandmother had saved for Zoey to go to college in order toplan her funeral. It was truely a sad time for her. She was the only there. None at all. She spent the next couple of months working night shifts at a local factory leing about her age in order to get the shifts that paid for overtime. She was alone, until that one day she decided to go out and get away from all that. The day we first met.

I can tell she was happy that I had showed up. I was the first person to step into the house for months and spend sometime with her. She would constantly have her hand on mine as we ate, and smile and giggle when ever I shoved a full piece of bacon in my mouth. She would then do the same and began to imitate me.

"I'm Mike and I sure do love bacon. Om nom nom!" She had said shoving at least three pieces of bacon in her mouth. I couldn't even do that, and then she swallowed it in one gulp. I sat there looking at her with awe.

"What?" She said wiping off crumbs from her mouth.

"I...I think i'm love." I said goofingly.

"Just now? Well, am a little embaressed, cause I have been for awhile now."

"Well I was, but now I know that you are the one for me." I said to her holding both of her hands and looking into her eyes. We had to stare at each other for awhile, but had broken away to continue eating. I had glanced at my watch and noticed the time. 12:29, dammit I really need to go, the longer I stay the more worried my mom's gonna get.

"I hat to do this by doing this but I need to go." I had said grabbing my jacket.

"Really? Why?" She had said with a disapointing look on her face.

"Don't worry, i'll be back, i'm not leaving you alone. Not anymore."

The assurance made her smile, so I kissed her check before taking off. I had drove up to my driveway that had a police car right outside parked where I usually park. I walked inside and saw my mom talking to the police officer and crying. My coming in caufht her attention and she imediatly gave me a giant hug.

"Michael, where have you been, I thought they had taken you or worse?" She had said sobbing onto my shoulders.

"It looks like you two need sometime to figure this out. I'll dismiss the missing person report and call off the search." The officer had said before heading out the door.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to worry you like that it's just Zoey had a bit of uh family emergency and I had to be there for her." I had explained to her.

"Wait? You two didn't" My mother's attitued changed from devasted to scepticle.

"No! Of course not we're not ready for that. Why would you think that." I had pleaded against what she was thinking.

"Well how come you didn't call and tell me." She had told me.

"I forgot the time had caught up with me and I was focused on her more than anything."

"Well, please just don't scare me like that again. It's sweet you care about her but, she has a family that cares about her and can help her out and so do you. Remember that family comes first." She had said. If only she knew.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I have to get ready for work now" I had told her and ran up stairs and started getting ready.

So that just about sums it up. And now i'm just sitting her on break writting on you. Heh, i'm reffering you as a person. Anyway, that sums about the last couple weeks since I wrote in this thing. Anyways, Michael out!

I closed the journal I had been writing in. I had to write in it in order to collect my thoughts and air some things I couldn't share with others. It was helpful, but made me feel like a girl, cause technically it was a diary. I had to get back to work as I could hear my co -workers calling out for my help.

*Mal's POV*

Ugh, why the hell do I still work here. All I do is just fake a smile all day and pretend to enjoy the place and the idiots that eat here. Oh yeah, the money. God why does life have to suck. Plus, I have to deal with that little peon Mike. Jeez, he's so happy all the time it sickens me. I hate him so much, I just wish I could. I began to take my two fingers and prentend to squash his head.

"If only it was that easy." I had said to myself. It looked like he was leaving, Thank God. Now I can enjoy my break in peace without him bitching about my "personality".

I walked off and told one of the spazes to cover me. I walked and noticed that this book had just been sitting there. Probably one of these idiot's books that simple minded litrature. Doesn't help to write in it and ruin it for them hehe. I opened it and saw that it was hand written.

"Oh, some poor sap had left thier diary here just for me to have as some bathroom material. Wonder who it belon... Mike!" I had said with a sly grin on my face. I beagn to read over it. Zoey, alone, on her own, underage.

"Oh Mikey boy, you just handed me the tools to your own demise. Hope you like the taste off defeat buddy. Ha Ha Ha!" I had said laughing manically to myself plotting my attack against the little dweeb.