A/N: I know, quick update but this one is really short and that's only because I'm slowly building up towards the climax. I hope you enjoy anyway and leave a review afterwards. Comments are always encouraging, thanks!
Chapter 8
"I Wish You Knew"
Z was glad to have a friend like Sky—someone she could confide in and trust other than Jack. Her eyes were fixed on the water as waves continue to unfold and overlap each other with her mind set elsewhere.
"Z," Sky was trying to get her attention as she shook her head after a long pause and faces him, "and you were saying?"
She couldn't find the courage to tell him just yet as she stood up, looking down at her now dry male companion. "Let's take a walk."
A smile crossed his face. "Okay, sure."
They both began walking near the edge of the water as silence filled the air. Sky peered at Z from the corner of his eye trying to read her thoughts but couldn't do so as her eyes remain wandering off. "So…" He started off for the awkward silence was secretly killing him. "What were you about to tell me?"
Z looks up at him with a weak smile. "Look, Sky I'm not the girl you think I am. I'm different." He wrinkles his forehead, unsure of how to respond. But before he could say anything, Z continues. "I've done some pretty bad things in the past."
"A sweet girl like you? Nah!" He remarks as Z returns him a cold glare after missing the point in which she's trying to put out there. "Okay, I guess at first you weren't that sweet…"
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Sky." It came out a bit harsh as Z sighs and softens her tone. "Sorry…"
"No, don't be." He lingers on her gaze with worry expressed all over his face. She wanted so bad to tell him her secret—a secret that has kept her away from people who are nothing like her.
"It's just hard for me to open up to someone." She explains to him.
"I understand."
"But all these things I've done…" Z trails off obviously stressing over the past, "I've done it to help people. But at times I feel such a bad person. It's just that people don't deserve to go through so much just because they're different!"
Sky stopped, making Z stop as well before him. He could see the frustration in her eyes and yet as they looked at each other carefully, they both felt some kind of connection. "You're not a bad person, Z." He assures his female companion with a smile. "You just felt what you have to do is the right thing to do. Sometimes you just have to break the rules…" He thought about what he just said as it begins to cloud his mind. "Which is exactly what I'm doing…" Sky suddenly murmurs to himself, followed by a deep sigh.
She furrowed her eyebrows in bewilderment. "I didn't catch that. Say what?"
He shook his head and forces himself to smile, "Oh nothing. Anyway…so what if you're different? It's better than being all the same right? That makes you who you are." He tells her genuinely for this was all coming from his heart. "You're a great person, Z. I've gotten to know you a lot better this past month and I feel like I've known you forever. And I'm willing to know more about you. But as for me…" he breaks off and sighs as the guilt took over his mind, "I'm just a cold hearted person."
"What?" Z didn't believe every word of him being a cold hearted person as she releases a surprising chuckle. "You're like the sweetest guy I know, Sky." He couldn't find the courage to even look at her as his gaze remains off to the side, or anywhere but her. "Is there something you want to talk about?" She asks noticing his odd behavior. But he just looked at her and smiled in response as he closes in the gap between them and places his arm around her. It feels good to have someone like Z to hear him out and understand the things he's been going through, especially with his father. He could never open up to the cadets in the academy. It's not that he didn't trust them…he just found Z first who he could confide in and feel comfortable with. But he just didn't have the heart to hurt her...and tell her who he really is. Hiding it was secretly tormenting him deep inside. As much as he wants to tell her...Sky just refuses to hurt someone like Z regardless of how much harder it would take in when she finds out the truth for herself. He just couldn't do it.
There was another moment of silence and as they stayed close together near the water, Sky unexpectedly lifted Z up on his shoulder and headed out towards the waves. He thought they've been dried long enough and it's about time to put their drama aside and have some fun before the day ended. Z, screaming with laughter began kicking, trying to break free from his holdbut was too late as he wrestled her down under water.
Z appeared above the surface, catching her breath as she turns around and began splashing water on Sky's face. The two, roaring in laughter finally forgot about everything and just focused on the good times they were having. It was as though they were the only ones that ever existed in the world—no one else…but them together washing away their troubles.
A/N: It gets interesting in the next chapter...so if you want it...you know what you gotta do!
