Chapter 36
✾Zak✾
Vera brought me the toast and she actually put a small blob of jam on the side, “Thank you.”
“What were you thinking about earlier?” She asked tucking some hair behind her ear and sitting down next to me on the couch.
I picked up a piece of toast and took a bite out of it. Just having something physical that I could chew was nice. Now if I can keep it down is the next question. I’m worried that I’ll have to go to the bathroom and it’s just going to come back up. Nothing ever tastes good the second time. Found that out again when I tried to get dinner with them the first night. And all they were having was lentil soup. It tasted good initially eating it…not so much on the return trip.
“Just that I wish I could climb the tree like I use to. I miss just being able to run three miles without really breaking a sweat. I use to be able to do so much…” I leaned back against the back of the couch and looked up at the ceiling, “Now I can’t even walk downstairs without being out of breath,” I couldn’t help but laugh a little at myself, “I’m so pathetic.” I ran my fingers through my hair and adjusted my glasses before looking back down at my plate just to have my glasses slipped down my nose a little once again.
“You’re insane…” She said in a monotone voice and I looked over at her and blinked confused, “You ran three miles. I would die if I ever tried that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little, “It was from years of running and working out, “I wouldn’t mind getting back to that state of fitness. Though, I still have the same fitness for body wise that I had when I was alive last I’m just not in the same shape internally I guess.”
“Quit sulking. You’re alive again now, I know you can get back into shape I believe in you.” Vera was so encouraging. I was wearing one of my t-shirts and shorts that Vera brought down the first day we officially met.
“Then let me do something for you,” I want to pay her back from pretty much babying me since I’ve woken up. Though I’ve been mostly sleeping all day. I’m just always so tired it’s ridiculous.
“Like what?” She asked raising an eyebrow at me.
“If you could get me a sketchbook I’ll draw your characters for you. That book will just be for your characters and the places they go. As a thank you for doing so much for me,”
Her eyes grew wide in shock and then tears started to well up at the corners of her eyes, “Zaaaak…” I just moved the plate out of the way in time before she tackled me down to the couch in a tight hug.
“We’re home~” Vera mom chimed in as the main door to the house opened up.
I felt the glares from Vera dad as he walked in with a few bags in his hands, “I-I-I-I-It’s not what you think I swear.” My face heated up so quickly and it felt like a volcano was going off with how hot my face was.
“Mhm…”He said in a very disapproving tone as he walked to the kitchen.
“Daddy, it’s not like that at all. Zak said that he would draw my characters for my stories. I was so happy I hugged him.” Vera defended getting off of me.
“Oh hon they’re just kids, let them be,” Vera’s mom commented waving at her husband.
“We were young once too…” Does he think that just that hug was going to lead to anything more serious??? We’re just friends.
“A-a guy and a girl can just be friends without having feelings for each other,” I said, though I was quite with my answer. Though I do care about Vera and her safety I don’t want to face her father’s wrath. I’m sure my answer was so quiet that not even Vera could hear me. I was fiddling with my last piece of toast. I wasn’t really hungry anymore. I kinda just want to go back to bed.
“Dad you upset Zak,” I guess she didn’t hear my statement, that’s good then.
“V-Vera it’s fine, he didn’t upset me…I was just thinking was all, don’t worry,” smiling up at her I pushed my glasses up before finishing the toast. I stood up with the plate, made sure that I was stable enough to walk and headed out to the kitchen to put the plate in the sink and then started to put groceries away. I’ve been down here enough while they were putting stuff away to know where most of the stuff goes.
“Zak sit down. I don’t think you should be standing up for so long.” Vera panicked taking the stuff that was in my hands out of it.
“I’m okay, I’m not dizzy or anything,” I said going back to the table and grabbing more stuff. I’m putting the stuff that’s up high away.” I shrugged, “You don’t have to be so worried about me, I’m not that fragile.” I put stuff away and then put a hand on her head with a smile, “So relax, I like seeing you smile more than stressing.”
I took the chance of her staring up at me to snatch the stuff she took from me back, “H-Hey give those back!”
I laughed, “You can’t reach up here anyways so I might as well put it away.”
She started scolding me and I just continued to chuckle as I put stuff away, After I was done Vear’s mom made me sit back down on the couch and she made sure that my vitals were still okay and that I wasn’t running a fever. It was just a little lifting; good god I’m not going to keel over again because of that. But I understand that they’re all worried about me. I’m kinda upset though that Vera’s dad seems to not like me anymore. It’s probably because of the fact that I’m human now and he’s worried I’ll do something to Vera.
“Oh Vera, do you think at some point we could go back to the tree house?” I asked her and Vera’s father’s arms flew between Vera and I and were straddling me. I instantly leaned back into the couch as he glared at me.
“You two are to never go back to the treehouse again,” He ordered.
“Y-yes sir.” I nodded quickly.
“When your healthy again you are to protect my little girl. Don’t let her do something stupid because god knows she will.”
“Yeah!” I heard Vera protest but I don’t dear look at her with her father over me like this.
“Y-Yes sir,” I stuttered. “I promise I’ll protect her with my life.”
“Good,” He said, my heart is pounding in my chest, he’s a very terrifying man when he wants to be. He removed his hands from the both sides of my head stood back up. “Your name means to protect; you better live up to it.”
“I promise I will,” I nodded slowly.
“So what were you two talking about before we got home?” Vera’s mom asked and I looked over to see that she was talking with Vera.
“Zak is going to draw my characters for my stories!” She exclaimed. I couldn’t help but smile, she was so happy that I was going to do that for her.
My ears started to ring and everyone’s voices were being droned out. It felt like little needles were being stuck into every part of my body. Come and sleep. I need to talk. There’s that voice again…who is behind that voice? I can’t stop consciousness from slipping away from me.
“Honey catch him.” Vera’s mom’s voice was really fuzzy and sounded really distant. I felt myself falling but couldn’t stop myself. I was out like a light.
Now I’m in the darkness again, “Well you go what you wanted, come out,” I said looking around, I’m not all that please that I feel like I was forced to go to sleep.
A hand came out of the darkness and shot past my head and then a torso hit mine and arms wrapped around my body. I naturally put my arms around the person and out of the corner of my eye I spotted short burnet hair. “A-Anthony?” I whispered and he pulled away from the hug. It was him and his kind smile. “Please come to the tree house when you feel better. I know your weak right now, but when you can I need you to come. I want to talk with you.” He was my best friend when I was alive. How could I just ignore him?
“But we’re going to be totally different ages when we see each other again,” I mentioned and he shook his head and had a sad smile on his lips. “Anthony…what happened?”
“I’ll tell you about it when we see each other again okay?” He had such a sad smile on his lips. He slapped my arm and put his hands on his hips, “And just when were you going to tell me that you’ve been hanging out with a pretty girl all this time?”
I was dumbfounded…I didn’t know what to say, “I-I mean V-Vera and her family…they moved in…” I had no idea what to do and Anthony just started laughing.
“You’re the same as ever,” He slapped my back, “I think I’ve taken up enough time of yours. But please come and you have to come alone.”
“But how? Vera’s father doesn’t want either of us going near the tree house,” I explained.
“Come when no one else is in the house. I know you told me when we were both alive that you don’t like the place, but this is important.”
“Anthony, do you know who this woman is? The one that was talking to me before?” If he’s been at the tree house maybe he would know.
“I’m not too sure myself. But when you come maybe she’ll show herself to us? You never know right?” He slapped me on the back like he use to when we were in school. “Now get going. You have a pretty girl who’s fussing over you.”
Has he been watching? I went to ask but he just put a hand to his lips, “When your senses get sharper again I’m sure you’ll notice. Just relax, get your strength back.” He stuck out his tongue at me, “Now go. I’ll stop taking up your time.” Before I could protest he was gone and everything started fading again.
I opened my eyes and it was dark. There was some moonlight coming into the room. I was back in the spare bedroom again. Vera’s father must have brought me back up here after I passed out. He’s the only one strong enough to carry me. I looked over to see Vera sleeping with her head on my bed. I reached over and lightly shook her. I got a light hum out of her. “Vera could you please go to bed, I’ll be okay.” I said. She hummed again and crawled into bed with me. I didn’t mean this bed…Whatever I’ll take the scolding tomorrow from it. I sighed and made sure she was under the covers. Then I brushed some hair out of her face. I was getting really hot in the t-shirt so I took it off before I re adjusted myself back in the bed with my back to Vera and I fell back asleep. It was late anyways.
