Chapter Nine: Be My Friend

After lunch, Zelda was making her way to math class. Did I really do the right thing? I mean I lied and it is weird that I don't feel guilty lying. Something is wrong with me. She then bumped into Richard. "Oh hi Richard, I am sorry."

"Oh it is fine my sweet." Richard said, grabbing her hand. He then noticed her bandages. Did she get into a fight or something? "Are you okay? You have bandages everywhere."

"I am fine." She said, smiling. "I just fell. No worries…"

"You are a bad liar Zelda." He said, letting out a sigh. She got hurt because of him… "I heard you are with that jock. Are you sure you want to be with him?"

"Yes Richard." She said, pulling her hand away from him. "I have to get to class." She walked passed him.

"His popularity is giving you a hard time. Ugly rumors about you and angry mobs, do you even want those horrid things?" Richard asked. She paused when she heard that. "Is he even worth that?"

"I will always be misunderstood by everyone here." She said, turning to him. "But as long there are people here who knows the real me, I really don't care about all that."

"And what is the real you?" Richard asked.

"You figure it out…" She said, walking away. He then pinned her to the wall. "Richard, I don't have time with this. I need to get to class."

"Tell me something Zelda, does he really love you?" He asked.

"Yes…" She said. "He said so himself."

"Then if he truly loves you, he would have stopped these rumors and angry mobs." Richard said. "He is supposed to protect you from these things. And don't tell me that you fell because we both know that is a lie."

"Richard, I know you are concern but I am fine." She said. "I am very happy." He then cupped her face.

"I am concern for you." He said, smiling. "I care for you deeply Zelda. I don't want anything bad happening to you."

"Richard?" She said.

"Please Zelda, let me know the real you." He said, moving his lips to hers. She didn't know what to do.

"Am I interrupting?" A voice said. They turned and found Chad.

"Chad…" She said, walking to him. Oh thank God he is here… Chad didn't bother looking at her. He was busy giving intense glares at Richard. "Chad?"

"Sorry Babe, I will meet you inside." Chad said, kissing her forehead. "Save me a seat."

"Okay…" She said, walking inside. I hope he is not mad at me. I am having such a weird day.

"What the hell are you doing to my girlfriend?" Chad asked. He has the nerve to kiss her.

"I am trying to confront her." Richard said.

"That's my job Richard." Chad said. "Stay away from her."

"If it is your job to confront her, why are there horrible rumors about her? Why are there angry mobs that want her dead? Why are you not doing a damn thing? Now she is injured because of you." Richard said. "It seems to me that you are doing a terrible job as her boyfriend." He then walked to him and stopped the minute he was beside him. "I admit you beat me Dickson but if she gets hurt because of you again, I will be forced to step in."

"Then I will make sure that will never happen. Zelda is mine and there is nothing you can do about it." Chad said. "Number 115…"

"Number 274, Infinite needs a protector and you are not fit to protect her." He said, walking away. You failed last time…

Chad let out a sigh and walked inside the room. He found Zelda sitting in the back, staring at the window. Am I hurting her? He sat beside her and moved his desk to hers. She was still staring outside the window. Am I doing a bad job? He grabbed her hand. She turned to him and smiled. "Hey…"

"Chad, we didn't do anything I swear." She whispered. "I was on my way to class and I bumped into him and then…"

"I believe you." He interrupted.

"Oh good, I thought you were mad at me." She said.

"No, I am mad at myself." He said.

"Why?"

"I know we have been dating for three days but I should have made sure that you are okay." Chad said. "The rumors and my fan club… I am sorry that I didn't protect you from these things. Plus, Gwen and Johnny… I should have been there to protect you Zelda."

"Oh Chad, it is not your fault." She said.

"No, it is my fault." He said. "It is my fault that you are hurt. It is my fault that you are getting attacked."

"Chad, rumors will always spread and people will always be judgmental." She said. Chad didn't say a word after that. I wonder what he is thinking about. "Chad, I can't stay for your football practice. I need to help my dad with Pizza Ritz." He nodded his head and she let out a frown. I guess I should give him some space.

Chad excused himself from football practice. He wasn't thinking straight of what happened today. Richard is right. I am hurting her. He rode his bike to the park and sat on the same bench he confessed to Zelda. So how can I fix this? How can I stop this from happening? "Damn it, I wanted this and I thought I was ready. I never thought there will be problems right away." Then his phone started ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and from a text message from Zelda.

I heard that you are not at football practice. Are you okay?

How did she find out that I wasn't at practice? He thought. He then let out a sigh. I am going to kill Maurice after this…

I am fine. I just have a lot on my mind.

I can't make her worry about me. Chad thought. Then another text appeared.

Okay, I will text you later. I have to work. I 3 U!

He smiled after he read the text. I waited for so many years for her to say "I love you" to me and to say it back to her. I waited for so many years to return her love tenfold. He went through his touch phone and stared at the photos he took with her when they were just friends. "Damn it Chad, stop beating yourself up. She is alive and still happy." He scolded himself. "Next time, make sure you get there on time." He then smoothed his screen to his phone. A photo of her kissing his cheek was on the screen and it made him smile even more.

"Chad?" A voice said. He turned and found Gwen.

"What do you want Gwen?" He asked. "I thought you have cheerleading practice."

"I wasn't in the mood so I excuse myself from practice." She said. "May I?"

"Sure…" He said. She sat beside him and it was silent for a brief moment. Both of them avoided eye contact. "Gwen, if you are going to pour your heart to me please don't."

"No, I am here to tell you that I done with you." Gwen said.

"Really?" He said, turning to her.

"Well, this has gone long enough and it came to the point that someone almost died." She said, frowning. "I am sorry for hurting her Chad." He didn't say word. "I always wanted you to love me but I felt someone already stole your heart. Even when Zelda wasn't in the picture, I felt someone was already in your heart. Moreover, it turned me into someone that I am not proud to be. I was filled with hatred not only towards her but also to myself." She then grabbed his hand. "Zelda made me realize that I was going about this love thing all wrong." She then started leaking tears. "She is such an idiot, protecting me." Chad pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Thank you…"

"She can be an idiot sometimes." He said, letting out a small chuckle. "She can also be clumsy, naïve, stubborn, reckless, and silly but that makes her… her… She drives me crazy most of the time."

"Really?"Gwen said. "She drives you crazy?"

"Yeah, there was one time that I fell asleep in her house and she drew on my face with a marker." Chad explained, laughing. "I woke up and his cousin Nigel was laughing like crazy and I was furious when I found whiskers and swirls on my face. I have to chase Zelda all over her house but she tripped in the kitchen and she got flour on her hair. Nigel and I laughed so hard because she looked like an old woman with white hair. It got worse when she imitated an old woman and it made us collapsed to the ground laughing." Gwen let out a small giggle. "I got her back when she was in her room, listening to music. She had headphones on, she didn't notice me come in, and she was drawing on her desk. I snuck towards her and I yelled and shook her chair. She screamed with fright and fell off her chair. She chased me around her room and she tripped and hit her face. Her nose was red and I called her Rudolph for a while. She was mad at first but she started laughing afterwards."

"She doesn't sound perfect at all." Gwen said.

"She doesn't but her imperfections make her perfect in my eyes. There was one time that she folded her legs too long in class to the point that they were dead asleep. When our class was over, she stood up and fell to the floor. I had to help her get to our next class and she pretended to be an injured soldier in a war. She kept calling me Sergeant and telling me "It is too late for me Sergeant. Go on without me," She was too funny on that day." He then turned to the sky and smiled. "But even when she is silly and clumsy, there were times that she was compassionate and caring. There was a time I got the flu and my parents were out of town. I couldn't do anything and I didn't want my parents to hurry back. I was too sick to walk or cook something to eat. I thought I was going to die of starvation and boredom but she climbed up to my window to check up on me. She even brought me some pizza. She will stay with me to keep me company and take care of me. And before she leaves, she will sing to me to sleep. She kept on coming and I kept telling her to use the front door but she loves to climb up to my window. What an idiot… But she took care of me when I sick and I was happy she was there for me."

"No wonder why you are so in love with her." Gwen said. "I mean, if I were a boy I would probably fall in love with her too." He then started to laugh.

"Yeah, she is a keeper." Chad said.

"I am in her debt. Not only she protected me, she also gave me a chance to be close to you. I have never had a nice conversation with you and I am happy I got to know you and Zelda more." She said, smiling.

"Zelda would probably push you of being her friend." Chad said.

"Really? You really think that she wants to be my friend even with all I put her through." She said.

"Yes, she is that trusting." He said. "But I guess you have friends of your own."

"Actually no, I don't. I guess you can say being not myself made me alone." Gwen said. "And I don't deserve her friendship and even yours. I hurt both of you and I just want you to know that I am truly sorry for what I did."

"I will forgive you but only in one condition." Chad said.

"Sure, anything…"

"Be yourself… I like this Gwen better." He said, patting her head. She blushed in front of him. Then his phone started to ring. He turned to the phone and it was a text message.

Are you hungry? I have a pepperoni pizza with our names on it.

He smiled and let out a small chuckle.

Is it okay if I brought someone over to eat the pizza with us?

Sure! You had better hurry though. I am on my lunch break.

I will be there soon. I 3 U 2!

"So was that Zelda?" Gwen asked.

"Yeah, she wants me to join her for lunch." Chad said.

"Then I guess I better be going." Gwen said.

"No, you are coming with me and we are going to eat together." Chad said, smiling. "I think Zelda will also like the real Gwen."

"Thanks Chad…" She said, blushing even more.

Zelda was waiting for Chad and his secret guest to come over. The Pizza Ritz doesn't have any customers so it was a good time for her to relax and eat something. Then her father walked toward her and offered her a can of soda. "Thanks…"

"Bunny, what is troubling you?" Her Dad said.

"Well, a lot of things." She said, letting out a sigh.

"Care to share…" He said.

"Well…" She said. "Dad, did you have any problems with Mom's parents?"

"Oh yes, they gave me a hard time. Well, I did got their daughter pregnant when we were just in high school." Her father said, letting out a sigh. "They told me I wasn't good enough for their daughter. Why?"

"Chad's birthday is a few days away and I am worried that I might ruin it if I go to his party." She said. "His parents don't like me very much but Chad insisted on me being there. Also Chad is blaming himself for what happened to me today. He said that he was supposed to protect me but really I am fine."

"Zelda, the boy simple cares for you and it is normal for a boy to feel guilty when their lover is hurt." He said. "And the parent thing, you shouldn't give up. Try to get along with them even when they dislike you. If Chad is worth it then don't give up. When I got your mother pregnant, her parents were furious. They hated me and they wanted Reina to get an abortion. Reina was destined to be a famous opera singer and now she can't because of you."

"That sounds horrible. I must have been a burden to you both." She said.

"No, she was so excited and in love with you. She wanted to keep you but I told her to get the abortion. You see I got a big fat check from her parents. The check for my disappearance and I accepted it. She deserve better than me." He said. "But I became selfish and stopped her from getting the abortion." I remember it like it was yesterday…

I raced through the hospital like a mad man, searching for the room. When I did, I made it just in time. "REINA, STOP!" I found her on the hospital bed.

"Henry, what are you doing?" She said.

"Please stop…" I said, walking up to her and grabbing her hand. "I can't let you do this."

"But you agreed to it and left me." She snapped. "I know you took the money and left. The money was so important to you than me." She then started to cry.

"I know but… I know you deserve better. You deserve a better life and I have nothing to offer you except my love. I was about to leave but to where?" I said, wiping her tears away. I then turned to the doctors. "Can you give us some time alone please?" The doctors nodded and left the scene. "I don't want you to abort the baby. I want to be there for you. I will find a job so I can support you and our child." I then started to cry. "I am sorry for leaving you. I promise it won't happen again. I was so afraid that I would never be the man you dream to have. I am afraid out of my mind that the child will suffer because she or he has a lousy father. I agreed to your parents' proposal because I thought it was for the best but I couldn't stand being away from you. I love you too damn much Reina."

"Henry, I love you too…" She said, hugging me. "Please don't leave me."

"I won't and to prove that." I said, pulling out a ring. It was a golden band ring with a medium size diamond. "This was my mother's ring and Bernie and Monty gave it to me. My mother always believes in love and the right person and I want to believe that too. I want to believe that I am the one to love you. I want to believe that I am the right person for you. I started believing the minute I heard you sing. So Reina Michaelis, will you do me the honor of being Mrs. Reina Uno? Will you marry me?"

"YES! I WILL LOVE TO MARRY YOU HENRY UNO!" She cried happily, hugging me.

"If I did give up on that day, I wouldn't have the second important girl in my life." He said, kissing her daughter's forehead. "So my Bunny, never give up on love no matter how hard it is. Also, be mindful of how Chad feels. A man's pride is on the line when his lover is hurt… He feels that he failed."

"But Chad hasn't failed me at all. He is wonderful." Zelda said.

"He is but you got hurt on his watch and he feels bad about it." He said.

"Thanks Daddy, I think I understand how Chad feels now." She said, smiling. Then the door opened and it was Chad and Gwen. "Gwen?"

"Hi Zelda…" She said.

"I thought we can all eat together." Chad said. "I hope you don't mind."

"Zelda, who is this?" Her father said.

"She is…" Zelda said, staring at her. "She is my new friend Dad."

"Oh really, then hello young lady… My name is Henry Uno, I am Zelda's pappy." He said, smiling.

"Hello Mr. Uno." Gwen said. She called me friend…

"Please call me Henry." He said.

"Alright Henry…" She said shyly.

"Well, I will leave you kiddies alone." He said. "It is good to meet you Gwen."

"You too Henry…" She said.

"I am amazed you are here Gwen." Zelda said.

"I am amazed as well." She said.

"Well, you all must be hungry." Zelda said, grabbing her hand. "Come Gwen, you are going to love my Dad's pizza. It is to die for."

"Are you sure you want me here?" Gwen asked. "I mean…"

"You are my friend so hurry up and let's eat." She said, smiling. Gwen started to cry. "Oh no, what did I do?"

"You are such an idiot." She cried.

"Where did that come from? I thought we were friends." Zelda pouted. Chad tried to hold his laugh. "You have something to do with this."

"Hey, I just invited her to lunch." He said, smiling. Then Maurice and Cree entered the room. "Hey guys…"

"Zelda, I am starving. Can I get a deep cheese pizza?" Maurice said.

"I want pepperoni on mines." Cree said. "And pineapples…" She then found Gwen. "Oh hi Gwen, are you joining us?"

"Yes…" Gwen said, wiping her tears.

"She is my new friend." Zelda said. "But she keeps calling me idiot and crying when I call her friend. Am I am an idiot?"

"I am not going to answer that question." Cree said, giggling.

"You are a meanie Cree." Zelda said.

"If she is your friend, then you are my friend as well." Cree said, smiling. Gwen was shocked to hear that and it made her cry even more. Who would have thought that we would be friends with Gwen? Then Zelda grabbed Gwen and Cree's hand.

"THEN LET'S EAT! WE NEED TO CELEBRATE!" Zelda cheered.

"ZELDA, HOW ABOUT ME?!" Ruby screamed, racing towards them.

"Of course Ruby, I didn't forget about you. You are just in time." She said, giggling.

"Oh Ruby, you are such a doll." Ruby said, blushing. Maurice and Chad smiled as they watched the four girls. Zelda and Cree were chatting away and finally Gwen felt comfortable being call friend. Ruby on the other hand was hugging Gwen. She was happy she gained another girlfriend, another beautiful girlfriend.

"Things just got crazier." Maurice said.

"Yeah…" Chad said. She is an idiot alright but she is my idiot.

"Agent 274, I am partnering you up with someone." The KND commander said.

"What? Why? I don't need a partner. I am fine on my own." I said.

"You are a fine agent Chad but you don't know the value of teamwork so I have no choice but to partner you up with someone."

"Fine, who is he?" I asked.

"You mean she…" Infinite said, appearing next to the commander. "Hiya Blondie…"

"It is agent 274 to you, idiot." I said.

"Aww… What did I do this time? I thought we were friends." She pouted, crossing her arms. I let out a chuckle and offered my hand to her. "Hmmm?"

"I don't know what it is about you but you have this way to make people happy." I said.

"I guess it is good to be an idiot." She said, giggling. She grabbed my hand and gripped it firmly. "I promise to be the best partner ever."

She was the best partner ever…