Chapter 12 : Day Siezed!

Zoey avoided Charles completely the next day, almost expertly.

He just wouldn't understand the need for her to be in public for the last time; so she could relish in it and never forget it. Her hormones would rear their ugly heads if she saw him.

She cooked breakfast with Hank quickly, and helped bring the dishes to the dining room before she scarfed down her plate and said she needed to unpack.

Then she left to her room, giving an excuse to anyone who knocked at her door so they would leave her alone.

When late afternoon came around, she heard Charles' voice accompanied with hard knocks on her door.

She shook her head and continued reading the Catch 22 book she had swiped from Charles' collection.

There were more knocks, but they suddenly stopped.

A second later, she felt him invade her mind.

'You can't hide in there forever.'

She gasped and shot out of her chair, rushing to the door to swing it open.

"We had an agreement, Charles!"

"Well it's about time," he said wheeling himself in, knocking her legs to push himself past her.

She stared at him, surprised. She then saw what he was holding on his lap, and blushed as she looked away. Bags with her needed 'supplies'.

"They came this morning, but since you weren't opening the door, I have to hand deliver them," he said, and she heard the bustle of the bags as he set them down.

She finally turned to face him.

"Please, I can't talk to you right now, it would be better if you-"

"Get dressed, we're going out.

"Wait… what?"

"Get dressed; Frank has the car all ready. Let's go."

He then left, swinging the door closed behind him. She got ready in a daze, pulling on her boots and grabbing a coat on her way out. Charles met her at the front door, and they walked to Frank's car.

"Charles, what is this?"

"I was dull and didn't realize that the trip to get what you girls needed was more-so your last moment to be out in the city."

She almost stopped in her tracks, but lightly stumbled over her footing as she smiled.

"You broke the agreement and I didn't even know-"

"It was all over your face, Zoey. I'm sorry it took me a while to realize it. I hope this will make up for it," he said as Frank opened the car doors.

They drove into the city and Frank dropped them off at a deli where they had a nice meal, talking quietly about anything but what was going on back home. Charles gave a few details about his time in college; Zoey explained what bartending school was really like.

They cleaned their table up and walked out onto the busy sidewalk. Zoey smiled at the strangers sniping at each other as they bumped shoulders, the honks of the cars, the usual city life.

"You have an half an hour, Zoey."

She turned to look at him, tilting her head.

"Alone in the city. Meet me back here in thirty minutes. And no more, or-"

"Or what, Charles? You'll chase after me?"

He frowned. He opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head.

"See you in thirty minutes," she said, walking away quickly.

She walked the streets, grabbed a pretzel at a stand, and window shopped for clothes, but splurged on a jade ring, a toy for Ori, and some books, even some YA's for Janie.

She knew her time was up, and made her way back. About a block away from the deli, she felt her body accept a new power, and froze. Someone cursed at her as they bumped into her and made their way around.

Suddenly the car honks near her stopped, and the TV's in the window of the Electronics store all turned off. She looked to the street and saw the car owners stepping out of their stalled cars, the honking now echoing from a block away - angry at the unexpected roadblock.

Her knees buckled and she leaned against a nearby lamppost. She looked around in the crowd, and met the fleeting eyes of a tall man with bushy eyebrows staring back at her. They continued to stare at one another as the honks from far away grew louder.

"Zoey!"

She broke eye contact with the other mutant, and saw Charles coming towards her quickly.

"Zoey!" he said again as he reached her. "Are you alright?"

He looked around at the scene she created, and frowned.

"Time to go," he said, holding out a hand.

She shook her head and straightened herself. He pulled back and muttered under his breath.

Soon enough Frank pulled up from around the corner before it stalled a couple yards away. She sighed, and shook her head. She looked around for the stranger, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Zoey, concentrate, it'll be okay," he said.

She took another breath, and shook out her hands.

A few moments later, she felt the power leave.

The honking stopped as car engines revved back to life, the TVs turning back to the news broadcasts and talk shows.

Frank pulled up close, and they got in without a word.

A while into the drive, Zoey finally spoke.

"You were right. Though you probably know it."

"Zoey, no-"

"No, its… I understand now, Charles," she said, turning her head to look at him and meeting his gaze immediately.

"It's okay."

She smiled, and he returned it, and they enjoyed the ride home in a comfortable silence.

Janie was roused from her nap by a frantic knocking on her door. She groaned, and stumbled out of bed. She grumbled as she reached for the doorknob.

"What?" she asked irritated at whoever was at her door daring to interrupt her nap.

It was Alex. She straightened quickly, but then gave in to the fact she looked a mess and felt like crap enough, and couldn't do anything about it. Good thing the supplies Frank had awkwardly brought to her were tucked in her dresser.

"Your nap usually lasts until two. It's three thirty."

She tilted her head. Alex only stared back.

She sighed, and walked back to sit on her bed, sighing. Alex came in and closed the door behind him.

"I'm more tired than usual I guess."

"What did Charles and Zoey go out for? I know you guys are close… We've all been contemplating the situations…"

"Like what?"

"Well Sean said it was for breaking off Zoey's current relationships... Hank contemplated surgery, and I say it was a date..."

Janie talked briefly to her when Zoey came home, handing her some books for her and a stuffed unicorn for Ori.

She had only said that it was her last time out in public, and that it was for the best.

"It's a girl thing," she lied, looking anywhere but Alex.

He was in her room, leaning against her bookshelf, partially filled with her own journals. She could feel the thump of her heartbeat.

"Is everything okay?" Alex asked, walking to sit right next to her. She stood in surprise, not expecting the close contact. He stood as well, staying close.

"You need to stop this."

"'This' is what, exactly?"

"Don't be dull, you know what."

"I want to hear you say it, Janie."

She shivered, and took a big breath.

"Stop coming so close to me. You know it makes me nervous - and not the scared kind."

Alex only smiled. He nuzzled his nose against her ear, bringing his arms around in a nice embrace that she refused to return, taking in a big breath before he pulled back.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?"

She could only stare.

"Are you ready for more detail-for-detail later tonight?" he continued.

Janie sighed, and shook her head, almost cowering at the frown Alex took.

"Am I gonna get the silent treatment from now on?" he asked angrily.

"No! Just… don't ask me about those things. I'm not ready yet."

"Janie," he said softly, raising a hand to touch her cheek. She didn't flinch, and his mouth quirked in a smile.

"I promise to keep it light tonight."

She sighed.

"Fine. But when I refuse a question, that's that. The same can go for you too."

He quirked his mouth again, and nodded.

"See you later tonight."