Chapter Thirty-Three – Change of Attitude

When Ray came back, Zarine was already asleep, lying onto of her blankets. Her chest rose and fell slowly and steadily. She looked so peaceful, so pure and so innocent. He almost regretted being mean to her earlier, almost, but not quite. Taking a step closer towards her, he saw goose bumps on her arms. He turned away, feeling annoyed at himself. What was wrong with him? He couldn't even keep his eyes off of her!

He got into his own bed, but couldn't sleep. He didn't think it was right for him to just let Zarine catch a cold like that, even if he was mad at her. Throwing the covers off of him, he got up, went over to Zarine and picked her up. He tucked the sleeping girl in snugly before going to sleep on her bed.

Zarine's POV

The next morning, I woke up, confused. How did I get there? I remembered thinking about Ray and I assumed that I fell asleep on my bed. How did I end up in Ray's bed?

Did Ray move me to his bed? Why? I'll ask him later, if he'll even talk to me. I better go make breakfast for the others.

Inside the kitchen, I saw that Kai was already drinking coffee.

"Morning," I greeted him with a smile.

Kai just looked at me before turning back to his coffee. I sighed and rolled my eyes. What was up with guys?

"What do you want for breakfast?" I asked.

He just grunted.

I sighed again, "As much as I would like to read your mind, I can't. So do you want pancakes, waffles or what?"

"I'll just have a sandwich," he answered finally.

"With what?" I asked.

"Whatever," he replied.

"If you don't like what I put in your sandwich, then it's just too bad," I said, annoyed.

I bustled around the kitchen, getting ingredients. Ray came in, sleepy eyed, when I put the sandwich in front of Kai.

My eyes brightened at the sight of him. Maybe he'll be nicer today. I smiled at him, "Hey Ray! What do you want to eat?"

Looking down at me, his face expressionless, he replied icily, "No thanks, I'll do it myself."

My smile faded. My heart sank, I had a bad feeling that he won't forgive me anytime soon. Shaking off that feeling, I decided I would try again later.

I decided to make pancakes for the rest of the team. I opened the cupboard and saw the mixing bowl way up at the top. I stood on my tiptoes, but I still couldn't reach it. I turned around and looked at Ray, who was just putting waffles in the toaster, pleadingly. He just looked at me coldly before turning away. Luckily, Kai, who was putting his plate away, reached up and got the mixing bowl for me.

"Thanks," I said gratefully.
Normal POV

Kai frowned at Ray. Something was wrong. Ray usually helped Zarine without even thinking. And what was with that cold attitude?

One by one, the Bladebreakers appeared. By the time, Zarine was finished cooking, even Tyson had dragged himself out of bed to find out what that mouthwatering smell was.

"I can't wait to dig in," Will said eagerly. "Her cooking is the best!"

"No kidding!" Max agreed.

Zarine put a plate of buttered pancakes loaded with syrup in front of Kenny, Max, Will and Tyson. She sat down beside the empty seat beside Ray, and smiled at her friends and brother eating her pancakes happily.

"Aren't you going to eat something?" Kai asked with a raised eyebrow. She'd usually eat something, even if it was only ice-cream.

The small girl shook her head, "No, I don't feel well." Catching to worried look on her brother's face, she assured, "It's only a headache."

"Go lie down," Will told her firmly.

"Alright," she said and left.

"Ray, why don't you go and make sure she's all right?" Kai said.

"Fine," Ray said reluctantly and followed Zarine.

"I know you don't want to come," Zarine said without turning around. Looking back, she reassured him, "I'll be fine, you can go back."

He stopped and stared at her as she disappeared into the room. She closed the door behind her quietly. Standing against the door, she sighed. She knew Ray was never going to follow her. He was still mad at her. The treatment he had given her earlier had proved it. Once he would have given anything to be with her, now he would give anything to stay away from her. Maybe she should quit the team, and go back home. She wanted to forget the last two years and leave it behind her.

After Zarine had gone inside, Ray stood in front of the door, debating whether he should go in or not. He had been so mean to her. His hand moved onto the doorknob. He wanted to turn it and open the door, but he couldn't. A part of him still wanted to ignore her and hurt her, so she would know what it felt like when she neglected him.

'You're being childish,' Driger said disapprovingly in his head.

'Am not!' he retorted.

'Then go in there and apologize,' his bit-beast said.

'I can't!' Ray said. 'Besides, she probably doesn't even care.' He removed his hand from the doorknob instantly.

Driger sighed, 'It's your decision. Choose wisely, because you may never have another chance.'

Later...

Zarine was walking down the hall in search of her teammates. Her headache was gone, but instead of feeling better, she felt worse. She couldn't get her mind off of Ray and how his attitude toward her had completely changed. She was so preoccupied, she walked right into Max.

"Sorry!" Zarine said.

"It's okay," Max smiled at her. Noticing the sad look on her face, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Zarine forced a smile and replied, "Nothing. I'm fine."

He could tell she was lying, but knew better than to push the subject. "Okay, but if you want to talk, I'm here." Then he remembered something. "Oh ya! Mariam called and said she'd meet you at the mall at two today."

Her face lit up at the prospect. "Thanks!"

"Come on, we're supposed to meet the others to go to the police station," he said.

On the street, Kai walked with Ray. "What's up with you two?" Kai asked.

"Who do you mean by 'you two'?" Ray asked, pretending not to know what Kai meant.

"Ray, don't play games with me!" Kai snapped. "I meant you and Zarine!"

"Nothing," Ray replied coldly.

"I'm not stupid, you know. Why would your attitude toward her change if there was nothing wrong?" Kai asked.

"It's not like she had been extremely nice to me either. She never spends time with me anymore. All she cares about is that brother of hers," Ray said.

"Don't tell me you're jealous!" Kai said incredulously. It was totally ridiculous!

Ray snorted, "Jealous? Me?" But as he said those words, he wondered if he had been jealous. "Let's stop talking about her, I'm sick of it."

Kai didn't pursue the subject any further. He could tell Ray was really jealous and upset.

Will was walking with Zarine some distance behind the others. Zarine had been really quiet the whole way. Will wondered what was up with her. She looked really unhappy.

"Zarine, is there something wrong?" he asked quietly.

Zarine shook her head, and answered, "It's nothing."

"Yeah right, it's nothing! It must be something bad to make you look this sad," he said.

"Ray is mad at me, and I don't know why," she told her brother. Maybe he could help her figure out what Ray's problem was.

"Ask him," Will suggested.

"I guess that might work," Zarine answered uncertainly.

At the police station, a police told them t wait in a room. Then, a hand cuffed Jordan came in with an officer.

"Mr. Dickenson said you should know what the Dark Force wanted, so I bought their leader here, to answer your questions," the officer told them.

Zarine stiffened at the sight of Jordan. She pressed close to the person next to her for comfort. That person stepped away and set distance between them. She looked up and met Ray's unfriendly stare.