Song listened to - See You Again (Ft. Charlie Puth) from FF7 soundtrack - I could literally weep to that song. WTF is wrong with me lol
*Chapter 43*
"What crawled up Selka's butt!" Penny exclaimed as the three slowly moved about Zane's destroyed loft, though Tammy was doing an excellent job of fixing things up.
"I never knew him to be this mean or greedy," Tammy muttered as she flicked her hammer; all at once, Zane's massive wall of windows bleeped in a regenerative tone and all of the glass quickly flickered back to normal.
"He's just mad that Tessa ditched him at the Academy ball?" Oliver wondered as he wrinkled his nose, he began sweeping broken shards of glass into one pile in the room.
"I think it goes deeper than that, quite frankly," Penny uttered under her breath, she gently picked up a few chairs that had fallen over.
"What people will do for power," Oliver furrowed his eyebrows, "Think about it... Tessa is next in line to rule Sugar Rush. Either mom and dad will eventually step down, or will make me and Tessa proper heads of Sugar Rush."
"Either position, Tessa and any significant other she weds into Sugar Rush, will hold a lot of power," Penny eased softly, Tammy nodded.
"I'm just glad she can see through Selka," Tammy grumbled, "I never thought he was such a jerk. He always was so kind and charming... I wonder what happened."
"He was presented with something he can't have," Oliver volleyed as he stopped what he was doing and gestured his hands, "Think about it... This guy has had everything, in his life, just handed to him. He has high standing with big wigs in Arcade, he goes to Game Central Station Academy, the top Academy in all of Litwak's, and he had Tessa in the palm of his hand. That guy had everything he could ever imagine... Zane has the last piece to his puzzle of royalty."
"He's never going to get it back," Tammy heaved an annoyed laugh and bulged her eyes, "Not after THIS mess."
"You think Zane would make a good head of Sugar Rush?" Penny innocently wondered, with girly charm; Oliver wrinkled his nose and beamed her a kind smile.
"You kidding? He's awesome," Oliver chuckled, "I could have sworn I'd have to take on the role of 'big brother' when it came to any guy that Tessa was interested it, but... So far, she's making my job obsolete."
"Zane's wonderful," Tammy smiled a kind smile as she focused on what she was fixing around Zane's loft, "I just wish he'd come out of his shell more... Somehow, I feel like he's just full of secrets and surprises."
"I get the same feeling," Penny prod, "I'm sure Tessa can pry it out of him, eventually."
Tessa eased her body tight to Lickity's back and felt surprised with how fluid this adventure had been going. She lightly gripped Lickity's fur and finally found a groove of ebb and flow; Lickity's strong body effortlessly darted along the marked path, in which she knew led to The Flip Side. Lickity's spine rolled as she quickly sprinted through the land, her large paws and claws gripped the earth beneath her like cleats to turf. She was sharp and precise, her tail was stiff and held Lickity in tight balance. Tessa glanced over her shoulder and noticed Lickity's tail fins were wide open, as if to held aid her in turning, like a rudder on a plane. Tessa eagerly pat Lickity's neck and made sure to be as kind as she could be. She often had to wonder, in the past, if Lickity was pushed like this; the gashes and neat, sharp lines of scars along her snout lead to suggest a whip was likely involved in aiding in steering and orders. Tessa felt her heart sink, and knew she had to prove to Lickity that those days were over. She lovingly reached down and pat Lickity's side as she effortlessly carried Tessa through the land, like a cheetah hunting prey. She smoothly glided over the earth, purely flying without the aid of her wings.
Tessa began to feel her heart surge in nervousness; she had to wonder just what kind of hurt Zane was in. She hoped he wasn't physically hurt, though she furrowed her eyebrows harder and began to worry if he was even with his light bike. She noted it was missing from his garage, though she had hoped it was safe in his hands. She shook her head and bowed closer to Lickity, to help aid in her aero-dynamic figure. Her ears laid tightly flat against her head, and she kept her wings practically glued to her sides. Tessa felt her heart jump as she suddenly caught a small glimpse of the infamous clearing; The Flip Side was just within reach. She lightly urged Lickity on, and begged her to push just a little farther. She knew Lickity probably could handle long flights a lot easier than long runs, though she pushed through to the end. Lickity exhaled a breath of a chuff and shook her head a little as she finally slowed her quick gallop to a steady trot. As she slowed to just the edge of the trees, just before the clearing, she peered into the field, as if it were instinct to make sure the coast was clear before she carried on; Tessa dared not to argue.
"Good job, Lickity," Tessa eased quickly as she lightly pat her neck; Lickity panted softly through her broad nose and let her mouth hang open slightly.
She perked her ears and mumbled a noise in question. She cocked her head and took a concerned step forward. Tessa lightly sat up and fixed her eyes on the clearing; she felt her heart drop as Zane, as well as his light bike, came into view. He was stood just before the gaping hole of The Flip Side, as if he was contemplating entering it. She lightly pat the back of Lickity's neck, as if to kindly cue her to push on. Lickity lightly chuffed and trot out into the sprawling, glorious field. The sunshine hit them with gentle, hot force, though Tessa could feel a twinge of nervousness crawl over her skin. She furrowed her eyebrows and lightly began to scoot off of Lickity, which cued her to stop her trot towards Zane. Tessa jumped down into the field and felt a million memories flood her mind, with just the feel of the soft grass. She eased two dozen feet away from Zane and tilted her head curiously. She softly approached him, so not to startle him.
"Zane?" Tessa wondered softly, though she largely flinched, as did Lickity, as Zane whirled around and gasped in pure fright. Tessa put her hands up and shook her head innocently, "Whoa, easy... It's just us."
"Tessa," Zane hissed as a kind, though broken, smile sprawled his face.
Tessa beamed a small smile, though it slowly sank as her eyes had time to process just what kind of a state Zane was in. She slumped her shoulders and exhaled a faltered breath; she shook her head and could swear the sight before her was merely an illusion. Zane's left eye was badly blackened, and he suffered three hard, bloodied gashes to his lower left jaw as well. He had a few hard bruises around his neck, as if he had been choked. Tessa cupped her hand to her mouth and raised her eyebrows in terror. She shook her head and felt hard tears sting her eyes.
"A-Are you okay?" Tessa hissed as she pushed closer to him; no amount of wrecking Selka's miserable life could make up for how much grief she suddenly was hit with.
"I'll live," Zane exhaled a small chuckle. He waved his hand lightly and looked down, though the amount of sorrow and grief in his eyes couldn't have fooled anyone.
"Why did he do this to you?" Tessa wondered in a hiss of a whisper as she stepped closer, though she flinched once Lickity exhaled a chirp of concern and stepped closer to Zane as well.
Zane exhaled a hard sigh and let his tired eyes get lost in the mirrored sky of The Flip Side, though it was riddled with contrasting stars and dark clouds. He shook his head and, as easily as he could, he shrugged his shoulders. He was draped in a white, comfortable shirt and a pair of tattered, grey cargo shorts. His jet black hair looked as if it could potentially be bed head, though the grappling bends, in weird ways, led to suggest he was aggressively grabbed. Tessa tried her hardest to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks as she watched Zane's fragile chest rise and fall.
"Selka is absolutely certain you will fall for him, one day," Zane heaved a chuckle that looked painful to emit. Tessa harshly furrowed her eyebrows.
"Well he's going to be waiting for an eternity," Tessa argued, "He beat you up because you and I went on a date last night?"
"From seeing our... Little, display of affection, he's certain that you and I..." Zane trailed off and waved his hand outwards, he scoffed an embarrassed noise with a half smile. He gazed off into the distance and tiredly continued, "Swapped codes."
"So he's the master at jumping to conclusions," Tessa retorted as she flung her arm out, lightly, "What is it to him? Why is he so obsessed? He stole Jeska from you, and it's not like you STOLE me from him. I left him. It wasn't your decision."
"That's why he's mad," Zane lightly argued as his eyes finally pierced Tessa's, "He's mad that a girl finally stood her ground to him. He's mad someone as powerful, as wonderful and as beautiful as you realized what a piece of crap he is."
Tessa lightly raised her eyebrows and dropped her arm slowly. She peered at Zane in kind confusion, though her face read a hint of neutral annoyance. She finally heaved a gentle sigh and looked out to Dead Zed's glorious scenery. It was crisp with sunshine, the field's grass swayed with the rippling breeze, which caused Tessa's long hair to wave about delicately. She lightly glued her eyes back to Zane's in curiosity and squinted, lightly. He nodded just barely, in her direction, and kept his gripping stare on hers.
"He's mad that our paths crossed, and that our deep friendship is blossoming into something more... Something he can't have," Zane braved, though he finally tore his tired eyes from Tessa's and peered downwards, "I'm just so tired of causing you all of this grief..."
"What?" Tessa hissed as she took a step closer and bent down, just lightly, "You really think you're the cause of all of this?"
"I know I am," Zane said firmly, yet sadly, as he slowly pierced his eyes on hers, once more. Tessa flinched and gave him a look of mild disgust.
"How could you say that?" Tessa eased in disbelief as she shook her head.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Tess," Zane said sadly as he peered into her soul, as if the words leaving his mouth were slowly tearing his heart into little pieces, "A lot I really... Can't afford to tell you."
"What do you mean?" Tessa argued, "You always said you could trust me with anything."
"This isn't for my sake," Zane eased, though he furrowed his eyebrows, "I'm just trying to protect you."
"From what!" Tessa barked as she gestured her arms outwards, "From Selka? I wrecked his sorry hide three times! I've never seen that fool scramble away from me, so quickly! I'm not scared of that idiot!"
"I'm not trying to protect you from Selka," Zane said deeply as he furrowed his eyebrows; he stood solid as Tessa took a gentle step closer to him.
"You don't need to protect me from any lame standing you may not want me to have at Academy, I can handle Selka's death stares," Tessa argued, she gazed at Zane desperately, though she largely flinched as he sprung into action and tightly, yet gently, gripped her upper arms, as if to get her attention once and for all.
"I'm trying to protect you from myself!" Zane urged quietly, he gazed sorrowfully into Tessa's glassy eyes as he shook his head, "I can't keep causing this much turmoil in your life, Tess, I-I don't like being on the brink of destroying something I care so deeply about!"
"You're not making any sense," Tessa urged nervously, though her eyes billowed with the tears she so desperately fought to keep back. She felt her heart sink as Zane gently released her and took a step or so away. He peered down to the ground and shook his head sadly.
"I can't let you live your life like this," Zane said quietly, "Living on edge, always watching Selka's move, worrying about Sugar Rush and your own life... You have Academy, now. You can't let anything distract you from school."
"I'm not worried about Selka harming me or my kingdom, Zane," Tessa began to feel angry.
"I really don't think it's wise to be seen together, anymore," Zane uttered, as if it was the hardest thing he has ever had to say. He furrowed his eyebrows in grief and didn't dare Tessa's eye contact.
"This is ridiculous," Tessa hissed as tears spilled down her cheeks, she shook her head and gestured back to Lickity, "All those memories, all the good times we've had? You're going to throw it all away because some idiot down the road from you is jealous of you?"
"You don't understand," Zane uttered as he sorrowfully glared down to the ground.
"Right, I guess I'll never understand, then," Tessa yelled. Zane flinched and shut his eyes tight, as if bringing this torture upon himself was surely going to aid in his game over. Tessa scoffed an annoyed noise and took a few steps backwards, towards Lickity, who hung in nervous wait, "I guess I'll just be leaving, then. I won't bother you with my burden of a presence, anymore."
"Tessa," Zane hissed as he finally peered up at her, though he raised his eyebrows in a sudden pang of sorrow that hit his skin; Lickity exhaled a gentle whimper of confusion and took a step or two closer to Zane, as if to politely ask what was going on here. She laid her ears flat, in a sorrowful gesture of confusion, and let her snout wrinkle a few times, as if the scent of the air was palpable enough to sense the anguish of the situation.
"No, Lickity," Tessa bellowed through messy tears as she gently pushed on her snout; Lickity flinched and curiously peered up at Tessa through sad eyes, "He doesn't want you, or me, anymore."
"Tessa, come on," Zane heaved as he squinted his glassy eyes as well, "That's not it, at all..."
"C'mon, Lickity," Tessa urged as she quickly mounted Lickity's back. Lickity perked her ears in a curious, saddened way as she exhaled a kind, confused grumble. She dared to try to take a step closer to Zane, though Tessa gently grabbed the strong, shoulder of her right wing and tugged on it, as if to get her to stop. She swiped her face free of tears and glared down at Zane, "We gotta go, Lickity. Say goodbye."
Zane raised his eyebrows in pure sorrow and gazed at Tessa; he opened his mouth to speak the things he had been trying his hardest to confess to her, for awhile now, though he flinched once Lickity began to lightly step away. With one quick swipe, Lickity bowed her head and turned heel. As quick as Lickity was, she ran across the clearing and towards the path in which she had arrived, though she left Zane's presence as if it was the hardest thing she had to do. Zane slumped his shoulders and finally let the tears escape his eyes as he watched his two best friends vanish before him.