"Are you sure you're okay Lexi?"
Alexis turned to her roommate Mindy and nodded, "Yeah… I'm fine, just-" she tried to think up an excuse other than the truth, "- miss my brother that's all." Okay so it wasn't that far from the truth. Alexis did miss her brother, but he was back now, and fine well except for the memory loss, but right now she was thinking about what she'd seen on the beach last night.
"You've hardly eaten anything…"
"I'm not very hungry," Alexis pushed her plate lightly away and looked at Mindy in the face. "I think I'll go for a walk…" she stood up about to leave when Mindy grabbed her hand.
"Hey Alexis, tell me what's going on with you?" Mindy's gaze was not just curious but a little suspicious as well. Alexis sighed and slumped back into her seat.
"Okay… okay," she said looking over her shoulder to where Zane sat – not alone but with plenty of fans and friends around him, though decidedly best-friendless – she looked back at Mindy her voice lowering to a harsh whisper, "You'll never guess who I saw down by the beach yesterday…"
Mindy leaned closer and sly smile on her lips, obviously intrigued by the news of some new gossip, "Ooh… who?"
Alexis leant forward slightly more, "Only Zane and Chazz…"
At the other end of the Obelisk dinning hall Zane nodded in reply to his friend, "Mmm."
"I know like it was so totally awesome," the Obelisk continued, speaking to the whole table but it sounded to Zane that the conversation was just directed at him. Hero worship.
A couple of girls from down the table replied to the boy and the conversation carried on. It was getting boring though, truth be told Zane thought he should've arranged to meet Chazz tonight, though he had held hopes of going to see his best friend after finishing dinner. However, perhaps sooner was better than later. He stood up and dismissed himself from the table, making sure no one was going to try and come with him.
Making his was out of the dinning hall Zane passed Alexis who was leaning close to her friend Mandy – or Mindy – or whatever, and talking in whispers. He smiled to her, and she blushed. Typical. She was probably talking about him; of course he'd known for ages that the younger Rhodes liked him. It was obvious from everything she did towards him, and he liked her, just not like that. She was attractive, he supposed, he could just never have feelings like that for her when Chazz was around. Sure he thought she was cute, but still, not while Chazz was around.
"Hey Zane."
Zane looked over at her, she was still slightly pink in the face and her friend – Mindy? – was looking at him slight oddly but he just smiled warmly in reply, "Alexis… Mindy."
"Hey I was wondering if you're going down to the light house tonight?"
"Uh, maybe," Zane frowned slightly at her, he usually talked to Alexis by the light house but they never arranged to meet…
"Because I am, and I was wondering if you wanted to meet down there later?"
Oh God, was she asking him out? "Well I've got a load of essays to do tonight…" Zane said trying to think his way out of it, which he usually did well however he looked down to see Alexis was pouting slightly sadly, well no harm could come of it if he just agreed. After all it wasn't like she was going to rape him or anything, "I'll see if I can make time," he said feeling slightly uneasy at the way Alexis smiled at the reply, "I'll see you later then…" he added dismissing himself.
The corridors were luckily deserted, seeing as most people were at dinner, maybe it wasn't that lucky, just obvious. Zane passed a couple of people on his way, none of whom he knew but all seemed to know him, it was odd but had been happening for such a long time the Obelisk had gotten used to it. He pushed the door to the infirmary open slightly and looked around; still deserted except for Atticus, and nurse who was drawing the curtains she looked over at him as he entered.
"Oh… Zane, come to see Atticus again?" Zane had been up here so many times that the nurse knew him by name now, she had been one of the only people who hadn't before Atticus had returned the school. Zane gave her a small smile, "He's sleeping at the moment, poor dear, but you're welcome to sit with him. You can wake him if you want – he hasn't had any visitors since his sister yesterday lunch time, he'd probably appreciate a friend."
Zane nodded to show he understood and made his way over to the seat next to Atticus' bed, the nursed smiled pleasantly, "I'll leave you too it then," and with that she bustled out.
Zane watched her go then turned his cerulean gaze back to the former Obelisk who was lying asleep in bed. He didn't make a move to wake him; perhaps talking to Atticus about what was going on for Zane would be easier if Atticus was asleep. Zane smiled slightly at the thought.
"Hey," he said softly into the silence, "This is odd… I've never spoken to some one sleeping, it's crazy… well… anyway I need to talk to you about something…"
-------------------------------------------------------
Back in his room Chazz stared down at the padlock in his hand then up at the door. He was sitting on his large, king-sized bed cross-legged thinking. Everything was so confusing. It even hurt his brain to think about why it was confusing.
Sighing he tried to concentrate the main question which was killing his sense of reason was this – did he want to put a padlock on his door or not? The simple answer was yes, but there was something, some small, mindless feeling somewhere in the back of his head that was telling Chazz that he didn't want to lock Zane out. Maybe he wanted Zane to come and take him back to the beach – maybe he wanted to kiss Zane… I'm insane; I've actually gone insane, Chazz thought whilst slumping back to lie in his bed, disentangling his bed to rest them.
He clutched the padlock tighter in his hand. Damn Zane, damn him to hell! It was just like him to trick Chazz into this kind of the thing. Zane was clever like that; he could confuse Chazz like this. Chazz scowled at the ceiling. But, even so, he did like the feeling of Zane's arm around his waist… Zane's mouth on his own… Zane's tongue – No! No! NO! Chazz tried to stop thinking about it. No, it was wrong. Zane had got it wrong. He was just a slightly attractive older guy who was tricking Chazz into thinking the wrong thing, tricking him into liking him, which, of course he didn't! No, Chazz hated Zane with his stupid azure eyes and kinda cute looking hair and his strong arms and – stop it! Chazz mentally kicked himself. No more.
Acting on pure spontaneous instinct Chazz stood up, made his way quickly over to the door and slammed the padlock on. There. No more Zane. Good, Chazz couldn't help a small sinking feeling rising within himself, no – it was good!
He turned around and lent against the door when an ugly yellow creature flew out of his pocket and floated in front of his stormy gaze. Chazz sighed angrily.
"Hey boss!" the Ojama was far too happy for Chazz to let his mind rest.
"What do you want?"
"You're looking pretty unhappy."
Chazz shook his head and made his was over to slump back on his bed, he put his head on his pillow and lay sideways, curling up slightly on top of the sheets.
"Boss?"
"I'm fine," he replied dryly.
"Why'd you put the padlock on the door?"
Chazz closed his eyes to the yellow duel spirit, "To stop that arsehole Zane getting in here."
"But you like Zane."
Chazz's eyes snapped open and he stared at Ojama yellow in a mingled look of shock and disgust, "No I don't."
"Yeah you do Boss, you keep thinking about him."
"Shut up! No I don't!" Chazz hissed, aiming a swipe at the spirit who dodged out the way.
"But you were thinking about him a minute ago – you were thinking you liked to kiss him."
Chazz swallowed feeling a blush climb up his neck into his cheeks, "You're wrong you stupid little… slimy thing! I hate Zane and I hate you!" he aimed another swipe for the Ojama again and this time caught him around the middle, closing his hand around the yellow creature's little belly. The thing squeaked in shock, "I do not like Zane! And I don't like kissing him! It's gross and disgusting and I hate it!" Chazz hissed squeezing the little duel spirit in his hand.
"Uh… okay, whatever you say Boss," the thing replied although Chazz could detect a sense of sarcasm to it's voice, "But if you hate him why are you blushing?"
Chazz let out a small scream of annoyance, "I'm not blushing!"
"Uh yeah you are."
"It's cause it's hot in here! Now get out! Go away!" he said pulling his deck out of his trouser pocket and finding the Ojama's card, "Leave me alone!" he said forcing the yellow spirit in his hand back into it's card. It disappeared and Chazz sighed - stupid Ojama, didn't know what it was talking about.
However, although Chazz wouldn't admit it, the Ojama did know what he was talking about. He knew a lot more than Chazz would say.
---------------------------
Atticus woke up, feeling a little groggy he didn't open his eyes, just yet, when a voice disturbed his thoughts.
"This is odd… I've never spoken to some one sleeping, it's crazy… well… anyway I need to talk to you about something…"
Zane? About to open his mouth to speak Atticus thought better of it and kept his eyes closed and his mouth shut. Maybe Zane was going to open up to him like he'd used to – after extensive torture – well Atticus playing his ukulele and singing rhymes at his best friend. He tried to rearrange his features back into a kind of sleepy blankness as Zane continued to speak.
"It's about Chazz – and your sister really."
So Chazz and his sister – weird. Well he supposed Chazz had liked Alexis for a while maybe, well perhaps. Most guys liked his sister. Well all Atticus knew for sure was that Alexis liked Zane, which was maybe why the guy was up here talking to him. Maybe she'd gone off with Chazz and left Zane that sounded more like it. Atticus might've grinned with self-admiration, if he wasn't desperately trying to strain his brain into keeping a straight face.
"I suppose if you were awake you'd be on Lexi's side really… I can understand that obviously, but-"
Zane had stopped speaking and Atticus could hear him taking a deep breath, but what?
"But thing is I don't really like her – well I do like her but not like that. Anyway, I just don't want to see her get hurt… I know it's stupid to be thinking like this already I mean she hasn't even said anything but it's obvious. I sound so paranoid. But aside from Alexis, I like someone else. I told you about it before – before… you know all of this. Like I said – I like someone else, well more than like. And I don't want Alexis to get in the way…"
Atticus mentally raised an eyebrow; get in the way of what? And he didn't have any idea which girl Zane was talking about; hell he didn't have any idea about what had happened before he'd become a shadow rider, well apart from ages before. No, he'd lost all his memories – and he hated it. Atticus wondered if the nurse was going to give him one of those muffins for a late night snack, that would be good.
"She needs to find someone else-"Oh, Zane was still here.
"Cause I like Chazz."
What! Zane didn't talk for a while and Atticus dared to half open one of his eyes to see Zane standing looking out of the window, the curtains had been drawn but Zane was holding one of the curtains to the side. Atticus opened his other eye only to shut them quickly again when Zane turned around.
"I guess you don't remember huh? But I like him Atticus – so much. And I know he likes me, he does… I'm sure of it. He has to. I like him so much – I need him."
Boring – with a capital 'B'. Atticus would've sighed if he was sure Zane wasn't looking. But really was this Zane talking? Atticus was sure he'd never been like it before it was so weird.
"Hmm I sound like an idiot don't I? I guess I've wanted to say that aloud to someone who'd listen for ages. Not that you're listening cause your asleep – okay I'm going to stop myself before I start to ramble or something. Anyway I miss you Atty, I miss my best friend and I want you back to talk to."
Atticus heard Zane sigh and wondered if he should 'wake up' now but he decided against it as the next thing he heard was the door open.
"Better go now though… got some essays and stuff to finish off you know? I said I'd meet your sister later too. Should be fun."
Atticus heard Zane chuckle slightly and then the door shut and he opened his eyes. Zane was gone. Well. That would be something to not tell – or accidentally let slip to Alexis next time she visited. If he didn't forget that was.
A/N Hmm, this is going a little too deep for my likings. Hoping to make the next chap more fun and whatever. I dunno Atticus is likely to reappear some more cause he is rocking. Anyway I've sorted out my plot in my head, and Alexis is being evil so sorry to all you Lexi fans. Plus I've mixed up all the time zones by accident, like I know Chazz wasn't in Obelisk blue with Ojama yellow and Atty wasn't in the sanatorium at the same time – just go with the flow people! Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed! I'll update soon !