Chapter 10

Zachary

As Xav gently healed the throbbing bump on my forehead, I leaned back, my eyes closed, straining my ears to listening to what my dad was saying in the living room.

"I still can't believe you went off like that!" Xav exclaimed, his brows furrowed, telling me that he was still mad at me for not listening to him. Thinking back, I had been very stupid. Why did I even go out in the first place? I wanted to kick myself for being so stupid. So inconsiderate and so immature. "We were all so worried!" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. If I wanted to be taken seriously, I was going to have to act the part.

"I'm sorry bro, I really am," I said, softening my tone of voice so that he would forgive me. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously.

"Are you using your gift on me?"

"Definitely not," I protested. Okay, maybe I was, but only a bit. But then again, what's the use of having the gift of persuasion if you're not allowed to use it? My gift wasn't exactly as powerful as Victor's, but I did have a few extra talents like being able to read people's thoughts at times, better than even Zed. "I am genuinely sorry." Xav looked at me worriedly, as Zed came into the room, sighing with relief at the sight of me.

"Thank God it wasn't a big injury. You should have stayed at home, bro, like you were supposed to." I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Sometimes I honestly felt like Zed was my older brother rather than my twin. He always made it seem that way. We ha that strange twin bond though between us, where you feel as if you can sense the other's emotions, except since we were savants I guess that bond was multiplied. And right now, I could tell that he was hella mad at me, but anger was overruled by the relief that I hadn't died. Sky appeared at Zed's side, biting her lip in worry. I couldn't blame her.

Mum came into the room, tears glistening in her eyes. I suddenly felt terrible. I was an absolute idiot. Mum had only set all those rules for my safely and here I was, throwing a strop because no one in the world understood me. My grief immediately felt like a tiny dot compared Mum's pain.

"Sweetheart..." she began and then came forward to pull me into a hug. I definitely needed it. Suddenly I didn't want to grow up anymore. I wanted to go back to the younger days, when I could easily crawl into my mum's arms whenever I had a problem. But my brothers had grown up so quickly so I felt that I had to too. Now I realised, that that was a stupid thought. My mum would always be here for me, no matter what happened. Dad, Vic and Yves came into the room. I wondered where my other brothers would be. No doubt on their way here. Everyone always came rushing over when something happened to me. Although it was amazing to know they cared for me so much, it did make me feel slightly vulnerable, as if I couldn't cope with it myself.

"Are you sure they aimed for your head?" Vic clarified, using his serious tone of voice. Heck, that was his normal tone of voice. I don't think he had any other. The boy had definitely missed down on the humour gene.

"Um, yes." Wasn't it obvious? "Either that, or they aimed for my arm but had a terrible aim. I don't think the Kellys would appoint a terrible shooter to kill me." I wish I hadn't said that. Everyone winced at that, even Vic who was practically incapable of emotion. Even I winced. I would have been dead. That was not a nice thought.

"We can't be exactly sure that it was the Kellys, but we can take a pretty good guess. If they've come straight for you, it definitely can only mean one thing." Vic paused, not wanting to quite admit the truth. "Revenge."

Alexandria

I was hoping to see Zach at school the next day, but I never got the chance. I wanted to explain why I had had to go all of a sudden. Only later had I realised how awful that must have seemed. Though I felt sad that I couldn't tell him exactly why. I couldn't tell anyone. They couldn't know. The day dragged on, but Zach kept entering my thoughts. What was wrong with me? Zach Benedict would not even look twice back at me if he could help it. I had to get him out of my head. Besides I had better stuff to do. After school, I decided to take my dog Pip for a walk. Pip was amazing. He was funny and good to talk to (my gift was to be able to talk to animals, which sounds crazy but it really isn't when you've spent your whole life doing it ). Pip suddenly decided to go for a run without me, leaving me stuck on my bum in the grass after I fell trying to catch the frisbee he'd thrown at me. That dog was insane sometimes. I didn't want to get up, I lacked the effort, so decided to wait out in the grass until Pip returned. I really hadn't felt like moving today and wouldn't have come out to the park anyway if Pip hadn't insisted. I sat there, staring up at the clouds, when suddenly a figure approached me, their shadow gaining me before the person. Okay, I'll admitted it, I freaked out. Until I realised that that person was Zach.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, immediately getting up and brushing the grass off my black jeans. I looked down at my jumper, which read I'd rather be sleeping. I couldn't have said it better myself. "I didn't expect you to be here." Great conversation starter Alex. He chuckled softly. He looked so cute in the fresh sunlight that shone bright in his face, lightening his angelic features.

"I'm sorry to startle you. I just wanted to say hi." He smiled slightly too nervously if you ask me.

"It's okay. And I'm so sorry for leaving so suddenly like that, it's just my mum-" I stopped in my tracks, just about managing to hold my tongue before it spilled out. "My mum called me to get back home urgently." Thank God he didn't ask why.

"It's okay, really." He paused, taking a deep breath. Maybe he was going to ask me... "When's your birthday?" I gulped. Oh God I was right. He had also thought about it. I felt my heart do a small leap of joy. He had thought about it, about me.

"Seventh of August," I said, my voice almost fading away. "You?" I looked at him hopefully. Please, please, please... He stared at me, looking quite speechless.

"A week earlier. Thirty first of July." I was dumbfounded. It was happening. And then, shattering my hopes like a large red fist through fragile glass, Melanie Parker showed up. Melanie, the mean blonde at our school, the one who seemed to always give me dirty looks in school, no matter which way I turned. I ignored them obviously, she did it to everyone. But most important of all, Melanie, who had the hugest crush on Zach. Maybe he liked her back. She was really pretty after all. I zoned out, not quite hearing what she was saying, but the next thing I know, I hear a bark. A very familiar bark. Pip. And as usual my life had great timing.

Thanks so much for all the reviews. I decided to not keep you guys waiting since the last chapter was left on a huge cliffhanger (sorry for that, but I love you guys). Please keep all the reviews coming, theya re absoluetly awesome. I'm not really sure when Zed's birthday is, so I guessed that it was the thirty first of July, which is when Zach would be born as well. I hope you guys like this chapter. Thanks again xxx