Last chapter...
"Easy, Will.", Angelo said calmly hoping to calm her down. "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Stay back!", Will said as she sees Angelo take a step towards her. "I said stay back! Take another step towards me and I'll blast you!"
"I can't do that, Will.", Angelo said as he took another step towards Will. "I'm not going to leave you like this."
"I'm warning you, Angelo!", Will said. "Take one more step, and I fire!"
'Time for a leap of faith, Lord.', Angelo thought to himself as he took a step forward.
Once he took a step forward, Will saw it and fired a thing of lightning at Angelo.
Chapter 37:
Everything went in slow-motion for Angelo and Will! As the lightning closed in on Angelo, Will saw that Angelo didn't move at all, liked she hoped he would do! Angelo just braced himself for the impact of the attack, hoping that this would show Will that he still trusts her. But right before it hits him, the lightning disappears! Once it vanishes, Angelo looks to see Will fall to her hands and knees crying.
"Thank you, Lord.", Angelo said to himself.
"It was a mistake.", Will said in a soft tone getting Angelo's attention.
"Will?", Angelo questioned looking at Will.
"It was a mistake of Kandrakar to make me a Guardian.", Will said sadly as her tears flowed. "And to of given me the Heart of Kandrakar was an even bigger mistake as well! Look at what I've done! I almost helped brought a great evil into our universe! Matt! You! The others! You... You all could be dead right now! And it would of been all my fault!"
Angelo, who hears the pain in her voice, slowly walks towards Will as she cries. Once he's near Will, Angelo kneels down to her and uses his right hand to gently tilt her head up so that she's looking at him. Will then sees Angelo give her a sad smile. Will then reaches out and clutches onto him as more tears stream from her eyes as she hugs Angelo tightly.
"It'll be okay, Will.", Angelo says as he hugs Will in comfort. "Everything will be okay."
"I'm sorry!", Will said in between sobs. "I'm so sorry! You and Taranee were right. I should have talked more about my feelings about all of this."
Will was about to say something else but she stops herself. Angelo senses this and hugs her closely. But he doesn't say anything, as he waits and gives her time to continue with what she has to say. But when she says nothing, he decided to try and break the tension.
"No matter hat happens, Will, I'll be there for you.", Angelo said as he holds her close givign her the comfort she needs. "Even if the others keep their distance from you, for a while, I'll be there for you. I make this promies as your best friend."
That was it for Will as she breaks down completely! All of the defenses she created over the years, since her parents divorce, finally crumbled down as she cries even more. Feeling her pain, Angelo just holds her more as he rocks back and forth trying to comfort her and calm her down slowly.
"It's okay, Will.", Angelo said as he comforts her. "Let it out. Just let it all out."
"I wanted to tell you guys about everything! I really did!", Will explained as she cried. "Everything from how I felt about giving up the Heart to the dreams of Xin Jing! But I was afraid that if I did tell you guys about any of it, you'd all have the Oracle take my powers away and then you'd all abandon me! I was afraid of it being like Fadden Hills again!"
"Aw, Will.", Angelo said understanding where Will was coming from. "That wouldn't of happened. And remember, you did have some true friends in Fadden Hills."
"And they all ended up moving away.", Will said as she stopped hugging Angelo yet was still leaning against him. "You were the only friend I had left there. I could be myself around you. But during the times when we weren't hanging together, I had to get tough around the other kids that always picked on me."
"Well, you don't have to do that anymore.", Angelo said as he sat against a tree with Will still leaning against him.
"I know. It was stupid of me to think something like that.", Will said. "I should of known the girls wouldn't abandon me. But when I had to give the Heart up to Hay Lin, part of me thought that it was the Heart that gave me my friends and I was scared that I would lose it all. And because of that fear, I may of truly lost everyone!"
"No you haven't.", Angelo said. "I'm still here, aren't I?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts!", Angelo said. "You and me have been best friends for years, Will Vandom. And that's not going to end anytime soon."
"What about Matt and the others?", Will asked as she looked up at him.
"To be honest, I don't know.", Angelo said. "When it comes to Matt, I sure he'll be there for you. No questions asked."
"You can't be sure about that.", Will said sadly.
"You have a point there.", Angelo said. "But let's hope for the best."
"And the others?", Will questioned.
"Well, things may be different for a while.", Angelo said knowing what he was going to say next was going to hurt Will a bit more, with the fragile state she was in. "But I'm quite sure that things will be okay in time. Though Hay Lin might have some negative feelings towards you after all that has happened between you two and it might take some time for the emotional wounds to heal."
Will knew Angelo was right about Hay Lin. After all she said and did, Hay Lin would be keeping her distance from her for a while. Will tried to be strong but with the fragile state she was in, she couldn't hold back the tears as she began to cry again and hold onto Angelo tightly. Knowing she needed the comfort, Angelo held her close. The last time Angelo remembered Will being like this was when her father left her and her mother. He rememebers Will blaming herself for her father leaving and breaking her mother's heart. But in time, she was able to see that it wasn't her fault at all. And she became stronger from it all. And Angelo knew that, in time, Will would get through this as well and become stronger from it all.
At least, he hoped she would.
"I just wish none of this ever happened.", Will sad softly as she loosened her hold on Angelo a bit. "Kandrakar should of picked someone else to be the Quintessense Guardian."
Surprised at what Will said, Angelo uses his right index finger to tilt Will's head up so that she's looking up at him and the stern look in his eyes.
"Never say that, Will!", Angelo said. "Wishing for something like that would be the same as denying that you or I ever did something wrong. Besides, you and the girls did a lot of good together. Never forget that, Will. Never."
"Thanks.", Will said with a small smile. "That means a lot to me."
"Don't mention it.", Angelo said.
"So, what happens now?", Will asked pulled away from Angelo a little and sat next to him.
"Well, we go out to where the others are waiting for us.", Angelo said. "Then there will be some apologizing. And after that, the healing will begin."
"Mainly with me being alone most of the time.", Will said sadly as she rested her head on Angelo's shoulder.
"You'll be okay, Will", Angelo said. "You're a strong person. You just have to find that strenght again."
"What do you think the Council of the Known Worlds will do with me?", Will asked.
"I have no idea.", Angelo said. "The only way to know is to go out there and find out. So, let's head on out there and get this all over with."
Angelo began to stand up when Will grabs his arm and stops him.
"Wait!", Will said as she grabbed onto his arm. "Can we stay here a little longer? Just a little longer."
Angelo looks into Will's pleading eyes and sees that she's still a bit scared to face the others. Understanding her fears, Angelo sits back down against the tree and sits next to Will as he wraps his left arm around her.
"Okay, Will.", Angelo said. "Just a little longer."
"Thank you.", Will said with a small smile as she rest her head on Angelo's shoulder. "For everything."
"Everything?", Angelo questioned.
"Yeah.", Will said as she looked forward as she still had her head resting on Angelo's shoulder. "If it was Matt who came in here looking for me, he would of just comforted me while telling me that everything would be okay and that he'd be with me through out all of this."
"Didn't I say the same thing?", Angelo asked.
"Yeah, but you also were honest when you told me how you felt about everything.", Will explained. "You didn't hold anything back. I remember my mom telling me that a true friend is one that is honset with you when you need to hear the truth. No matter now much it hurts."
"Well, I'd want you to do the same for me.", Angelo said.
"Think the girls will be honest with how they feel?", Will asked.
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "They may be nice about it and all, but they'll let you know how they feel."
"I guess you're right.", Will said as they both sat together. "Angelo?"
"Yeah, Will?"
"Sorry that I shot some lightning at you earlier.", Will said. "And throwing one of my energy swords at you during my fight with Hay Lin."
"Apology accepted.", Angelo said with a smile,
After about a half an hur, Will and Angelo were standing at the doors of her Healing Chamber.
"So, you ready to do this?", Angelo asked ready to leave the Healing Chamber.
"To e honest, no.", Will said. "Part of me is a bit scared, but I know I have to do this. So, let's do this!"
"Alright then!", Angelo said as Will touched the doors to her Healing Chamber. "Will?"
"Yeah?", Will asked as the doors began to open slowly.
"You look stronger already.", Angelo said with a smile.
"Thanks.", Will said returning the smile.
A few minutes earlier...
Knowing that Will and Angelo were soon coming out from Will's Healing Chamber, the Oracle sent for the others. They were of course happy to see Hay Lin up and about. Mainly Irma who hugged her best friend. But when they asked about Angelo...
"Why was he aloud to go in after Will alone?", Taranee questioned.
"To give Will the comfort she needs before she comes out to face you all.", the Oracle said.
"With all due respect, Oracle, but I'm Will's boyfriend.", Matt said. "If anything, I should be the one to give her comrfort after all that's happened."
"That's just it, Matt.", Halinor said. "That's all you would of done. Given Will comfort, when more was needed."
"What do you mean?", Matt questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Had you went in there after Will, you'd of been comforting Will while telling her that everything would be okay and that you'd be with her through out all of this.", Joel said.
"Well... Yeah!", Matt said.
"But you wouldn't be honest with Will when it comes to all that happened.", Nigel said. "That's what Angelo is doing right now. He's being honest with Will and telling her about howw he feels about what happened. It sucks but he has to do it. Not just because he's the Protector, but because those two are best friends who can be honest with each other no matter how much it hurts."
"The power of friendship can be a wondeful thing.", the Oracle said with a kind smile. "When the time comes, you all must be honest with Will about how you feel about all that has happened."
Hay Lin, Irma, Taranee, and Cornelia looked at each other for a few seconds and nodded. Each agreeing to be as honest as they can with Will. Suddenly, the doors to Will's Healing Chamber began to open slowly. Everyone looks to see Will and Angelo walking out of the Healing Chamber. Once out of the chamber, Will and Angelo look around to see the others standing there. As the doors slowly close, there's silents among them all. Then, Will takes a small step forwards and...
"Hey guys.", she said with a small smile. "How's it going?"
A/N: Well, it may of took a while, but Angelo got Will to come out of her Healing Chamber to face the others. Now the question is, how will it all work out? Will they be angry at Will or will they be forgiving? Read the next chapter to find out.
Please review.
Again, I'd like to thank TTigzer for her help with this chapter. Thank you, TTigerz!