::Take It Like A Traitor::
Day Three:
So here it was: the big day, when I'd begin my traitor trip. I didn't want the day to go by. The faster the day went, the sooner I'd have to play the part of the pawn of the Bad Dudes. Even when I watched the clock, the time didn't seem to slow down. The clock kept ticking. And quicker than usual. Like the sound of drums on a death walk. It was obnoxious, like white noise in the back of my brain.
It wasn't hard to pretend like nothing was wrong: I'd been doing that my whole life. What was hard was avoiding Lloyd's gaze. It was like he knew that I knew something, or he'd realized I'd been tryin' to plant one on him the other day. Once or twice I'd slipped up and he'd caught my eyes with his own. It was scary, and kinda awkward. But at the same time, it was like…those big chocolate-brown eyes, piercing into mine and straight through my heart…it was like they were sayin' somethin' to me. Telling me, "hey, Zelos…it's okay…it's gonna be okay…"
……yeah.
Maybe that's weird.
…Is that weird?
……weird.
Anyways,
The whole entire day was kinda off-ish. And I think the others felt that, too. Raine seemed even more engrossed in her studies. Presea wasn't only unusually quiet, but also wouldn't even look at anyone. Sheena hardly noticed my pervy comments, let alone hit me for 'em. Everyone was seriously quiet, which made me feel even louder and more obnoxious than usual.
And Mithos.
The little runt was practically shooting Photons form his eyes. He kept looking at me with this evil grin, and I just wanted to deck the punk in the jaw. I wanted to stand up and yell, HEY, STOP LOOKIN AT ME LIKE THAT! I'M NOT GONNA KILL THEM, OKAY?! But I knew damn well that I couldn't. I just pretended like I didn't notice him staring, and waited for him to look away.
Gawh, every look, every glance, every tiny movement from anyone made my stomach clench and turn over. I wasn't used to this nervous sensation.
Tabatha started dinner. I seriously didn't feel like eating. Let alone slipping a drug into everyone else's dinners and watching them eat. But I did as I had committed to: While Tabatha left the kitchen to replace her battery, or whatever weird dolls like her do, I slunk into the cooking room, poured the contents of the vial into the cooking pot, and left unnoticed.
Y'know, guilt is a sickening feeling. Sometimes, when a person is constantly doing little things that are morally wrong, they become numb to the gut-churning feeling of guilt. But there are some things that people do (like stealing form a museum, killing an innocent man, or betraying your best friends) that can cause a guilt so heavy and unsettling, it could make even the biggest liar, or the Chosen of a world, feel sick to their stomach and queasy.
I, Zelos Wilder, felt that guilt right then.
Everyone sat around the big dining table. Lloyd sat down next to me, making me even more uneasy.
As everyone but Mithos and myself began to devour their dinners, I couldn't help but look over at Lloyd.
…He wasn't eating.
He caught me watching him and looked away quickly, with an awkward nervousness.
The brunette stood from his chair, stating in an empty tone, "I'm not really hungry…I think I'm gonna go to bed…"
When he started to walk away, I nearly frog-lept from my chair, grabbing his wrist.
"Wait!" I called in a panic.
…It got quiet. Everyone stared, mouths still full of food.
I cleared my throat, "Uh…Really! C'mon, Bud! Tomorrow's a big day! You gotta eat something!"
Lloyd looked at me skeptically. "Zelos…why are you so concerned…?"
He tried to turn away, but once his back was to me, I pulled him into a hug, nuzzling against his shoulder form behind, "…I'm just worried about you…"
Mithos' snake-like voice arose, breaking the awkward silence, "Well you two seem like good friends…" his voice was smothered in sarcasm.
"Yeah…" I sighed, leaning against Lloyd in defeat, "…..doesn't it…?"
My heart dropped a thousand feet.
It had all begun.
(( to be continued in sequel, soon to be named. ))