Zane~Chan's Street Diary

The Witch and the Emo

Day 15:

Lucinda's PoV:

I gently stroke the small fire as the potion gradually starts to boil. I look up at the bubbling navy blue liquid before dumping a couple of diced mushrooms into the cauldron. I stir the potion as the blue mixture bubbles more ferociously. I toss a handful of sugar into the potion making a tiny explosion.

"Zane is here," Bigglesworth says in my mind.

I look up and hear the sound of footsteps from the bottom of my tower. Zane soon pops his head out of the trap door.

"Hello, Lucinda," Zane says, climbing out of the trap door.

"Good evening, Zane," I say softly. I try to keep a straight face as I look him over. The surprise that he looks like the High Priest of Okasis is essentially over in Phoenix Drop, but the resemblance is still unnerving.

"Are you okay, Lucinda?" Zane asks, frowning. At least I think he's frowning; I can't tell with his mask.

I grimace before making a dismissive gesture. "Yeah, it's just the usual."

"Sorry," Zane mutters, as if sorry could fix all the mistakes of his counterpart. He runs his fingers through his hair before looking at me again. "Anyway, do you have the stuff?"

"Yeah, I got it," I say. I grab a bag full of books and give it to Zane. "These are all the books in my collection that mention other dimensions."

Zane grimaces as he looks in the bag. "This is all of them?"

I sigh, "I'm sorry Zane, but you're the first person to make such a big dimensional jump. I'm not even sure how much these will help."

"Thanks anyway, Lucinda," Zane sighs. I stare at him stunned.

"You're welcome, Zane," I say before turning back to brewing my potion.

I add a spoonful of spider eyes to the blue liquid making another small explosion. The potion starts to fizzle as it slowly changes into a light gray. I grab my staff and tap the cauldron a few times before sighing contently. Now it just needs to sit for a few hours.

I realize Zane hasn't left yet. I feel his eyes lingering on me as a newfound surge of sadness washes over him. It's different from his disappointment a second ago. It has a sense of longing within it, I recognize it from the first time he saw me in the prison when I was brewing the truth potion. I slowly turn my head to look at him.

"Are we together in your world," I blurt out before I feel my face rapidly warm up.

"What?!" Zane splutters. His face reddens with the same intensity as mine.

"You're enjoying looking at me way too much for it to be normal," I say before grinning. "I know I'm hot but still."

"No, we're just friends," Zane says, looking away.

"Then do you have a crush on me?" I ask, studying him.

Zane blushes again before slowly shaking his head. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm not in love with you if that's what you're asking," I sigh as I feel my blush returning. "It's just that there was a time that me and my Zane were engaged to be married. So, I just thought..."

"As I said, we're just friends," Zane says, as the two of us return to our normal pigments.

I lean against the wall and cross my arms, "Then why are you always looking at me like that?"

Zane's expression darkens as he looks away, "It's a long story."

I frown, "I'm a good listener."

"I don't like thinking about it sev-- Lucinda," Zane growls.

"Alright," I sigh.

Zane sighs before walking back to the trap door.

"Aphmau said that you aren't going to come with us on our voyage," I say before he climbs down the ladder.

Zane looks up and nods, "Yeah I decided to stay in Phoenix Drop."

"Do you mind if I ask why?" I say. "You might be able to find something about how to get home."

Zane frowns, "I know, but I want to be here if my friends find a way to rescue me."

"I guess that's as good of a reason as any," I shrug.

Thank you all for waiting so patiently for another chapter of ZCSD. I'm sorry it took so long to finish this part.

I've been having a bit of writer's block recently. I have a few ideas of what to do next but no idea of how to execute them. I originally wanted this chapter to be longer but without any ideas of how to continue it, I decided to stop after two months of procrastinating. But either way, I'm going to hopefully get back into a good writing schedule now that it's summer.

Remember: Constructive criticism is very appreciated.

Notice: I still would love to hear your ideas for small fluff, angst, etc. chapters. I might use them and give you a shoutout at the end of the chapter