A/N: Yeah, I apologize. It's been like forever since I last updated. I've been real busy, and I was also suffering from a writer's block. But it's all good now because I have an idea of where this story is going. The chapter is shorter than ususal, but the important thing is that I updated...so yay! lol. I hope there are still readers out there interested in the story. R&R

Chapter 7

"It Still Hurts"

After a few days in the infirmary, Z slowly recovers from her injuries as Jack, Bridge, and Syd help her regain strength and memory during breaks from training with the simulator. As they work out at the gym for almost an hour, Sky Tate suddenly walked in the room. All eyes turn to him as Syd made a gesture for Tate to come inside. "Hey, Sky! Come join us."

"Yeah." Cadet Landors smirks playfully at his teammate as he places his arm on Syd. "After yesterday, it looks to me that you're muscles are wearing off. You might want to work out some more." Jack joked at the thought of yesterday's training when they sparred in the common room.

"Funny." Sky responds scornfully. He averted from Jack's gaze as his eyes fell on Z. After one glance, he turned over to the group. "Anyway, has the mail arrived in yet?"

Bridge shrugged his shoulders. "Not that I know of." He turns to the others. "What about you guys?" They all nodded their heads in response. "Nope. I guess not."

Sky looked down and bit his lip. "Alright, well let me know if you receive anything. It's really important."

"What is it?" Syd curiously asks.

"It's nothing you should worry about." He told her reluctantly.

They exchange suspicious looks as he promptly leaves the room. Jack watches as Sky exits before turning to the others with a thought in mind. "He's hiding something."

"Yeah. I'm sensing that too." Z looks down and deeply sighs. "He's changed. All because of me."

"Don't say that." Syd places a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault that you lost your memory."

"She's right." Bridge nods his head in agreement. "The good news is you're slowly regaining your memory back and making progress."

"Yeah but if only it didn't have to take time things would go back to normal."

"Which is why all of us have to be patient. We'll help you get through it, Z."

She pursed her lips and looks up. "You think Sky is still mad about us being friends?"

"He'll get over it."

"I don't know." Z becomes doubtful. "He seems distant from the group."

"Sky is stubborn. We all know that." Jack chuckles. "Trust me, he'll get over it."

After training was over, Jack decided to visit Sky in his room. Before walking in, he knocked on the door and after several times, there was no answer. The doors then slide open as he slowly walks in. "Sky?" He knocked again. "Can we talk?" He steps inside and looks around the room. When Cadet Tate was nowhere in sight, Jack took a seat on his bed and sighs. His eyes began wandering on the floor when suddenly he spotted a portion of a white envelope hidden half way under the bed. Jack furrowed his eyebrows as he reaches over it. He studies the envelope carefully which read on the top New Tech Military Academy. His lips parted when suddenly Sky walked in the room unexpectedly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jack immediately dropped the envelope and stood up before him.

"Nothing, Sky. I was just—"

"Going through my stuff without permission?"

"Well no…I was—"

"Have you been reading the rule book, Jack?" Sky questions with his arms crossed. "Section 248, under article B-16. No invading other cadets' property without consent."

Jack grunted in annoyance. "Can you just hear me out here, Sky? I was just looking for you."

"What do you want?"

"To talk."

Sky casually walks towards him and snatches the letter from off the ground. Jack furrowed his eyebrows as he watches him stuff it behind his pillow. "Okay, about what?" Sky asks while laying down on the bed.

Jack clears out his throat to speak. "Well, I'm concern. Lately, you've been distant with the squad. You don't train with us. How come?"

"Do we always have to do things together?"

Cadet Landors raises an eyebrow due to Sky's odd behavior. "No…but we usually do."

"Is that all you want to talk about?" He questions rather abruptly.

"One more thing." Jack points out. "Does your sudden isolation from the group have to do with Bridge and Z?"

There was silence in the room as Sky took a moment before responding. "Maybe." He murmurs in slight hesitation and then shook his head. "Why am I saying this? This has nothing to do with you, Jack."

"I'm the leader, Sky. My job is to make sure the group functions as one, and the fact that you can't get over one mistake forces you to exclude yourself from the team and that makes it my business."

"You don't understand what I'm going through, Jack!" Sky argues back offensively. "How would you feel if Syd kissed your best friend?"

Jack smirks at the thought. "Well…I wouldn't mind seeing Syd and Z make out."

Sky rolls his eyes. "I'm serious, Jack."

"Alright." Jack chuckles and puts on a serious face. "I'm sorry, keep going."

"Let's just say…it was a guy best friend. How would you feel? Wouldn't you get ticked off?"

He pursed his lips and sighs. "Of course I'd be extremely angry."

"Well that's how I feel right now. I'm trying my best to get over it, Jack. Really I am, in fact I've been stressing over it for the past few weeks now but the truth is Bridge is my best friend and I'm crazy about Z." Sky's eyes wanders to the floor as he drew in a deep breath. "I don't know…it hurts to see them. It's going to take time and I need that space to think it over and decide what I want to do with my life this point on." He looks up at Jack sincerely. "Can't you just accept that?"

Jack studies his friend carefully and nodded. The look on Sky's face was filled with genuine truth and sadness. He completely understood. "Alright," Jack nudges him on the shoulder, "But on one condition."

Sky wrinkles his forehead. "What's that?"

"Talk to Z."

He averted from Jack's gaze. "Dude, I don't know about that…"

"Sky, she lost her memory. She could use your support yah know." Cadet Tate presses his lips together in uncertainty. "Just talk to her." Jack encourages him as he places a hand on his shoulder. "It's the least you can do to help her."

"Okay." Sky nods his head in agreement. "I'll talk to her."

A/N: Don't forget to review! And I'll do my best to update soon. PeaceOut.