Fly Free

Chapter 5 | Zoe

"Thanks, Cruz." Ryder thanked Zoe tentatively.

The two started walking down the path side by side. Still hand in hand.

"Sure. Like I said I'd do it to anyone anytime- but I'm sure you would've had it covered," Zoe quickly added looking behind Ryder, "nice wings."

As Zoe pointed to the large Falcon-like wings on Ryder's back, he brightened. "You too! But aren't they cool?" Ryder exclaimed, "I had just manifested when I came out here and well- Why did you jump out of a window anyways?"

Zoe considered telling Ryder everything, but she doubted Ms. Rogers would like that so she made part of it up. "Oh ya about that! I didn't know Gabrielle's mom worked here! I was just talking to her and-"

"She threw you out of a window?!" Ryder exclaimed looking ready to explode.

"No! No no no! Calm down it's ok-" Zoe said laughing.

"You're not the only one who can stand up for someone y'know," Ryder interupted teasingly.

"I know, and thanks, but she just allowed me to jump out of a window, so that it could jumpstart my manifestation."

"I don't know if that's any better."

Suddenly, Zoe realized that she was still gripping Ryder's hand. Unfortunately, Ryder realized too and quickly removed his hand, but attempted to cover it up by waving her up into tree.

Zoe's breath caught. Ryder, of course, didn't know why since he hadn't seen her visions, and was teasing her about being scared. Zoe burst out laughing at that, "I just jumped out of a tree ready to punch Bolt in the face. You think I'm scared?" She scurried after him using her wings to give her a boost.

The two just sat in the branches for a while. "So, you manifested?" Zoe asked trying to fill the awkward silence. 

"Ya. Falcon, obviously, but also Sprinter like Mr. Anderson predicted. My eyesight is also a lot sharper now." As Ryder talked Zoe pulled a notebook out of her backpack, and started writing.

"Cool, so did anyone else we know manifest?" Zoe asked.

"Ya. Um I don't remember a lot of them at the moment but a few that I do remember at the moment are:

1. Lya manifested as a cheetah and a Sprinter like me

2. Bradon manifested as a wolf and a Voicerator

3.  Vyctor manifested as a Lion and a Voicerator (they're gonna get annoying quick)

4. Gabrielle manifested as a fox and a Muffler

Uh I don't remember any others though, but I'm sure it won't be hard to figure out."

"Huh. A fox. Fitting." she whispered.

"What does that mean?"

Oh god did I say that out loud?! "Oh um. Foxes are kinda cute, and uh also smart so I don't know. It makes sense that she's a fox." Zoe said quickly, but in her mind it was a whole new story. Because foxes are sly and deceiving. They look cute but they steal things. Valuable things, and take them for granted. They're practically twins.

"Maybe you're part fox too." It was so quiet she almost didn't hear it, but somewhere in the midst of manifesting she must have also gotten better hearing.

"What does that mean?" Zoe asked. Under her own speculation, calling someone a fox wasn't the best thing, but she had just called them smart and cute.

"Oh just that er you're smart too," Ryder said quickly, and his ears were practically tomatoes.

"Right. Um I better go my uh dad will be mad if I'm late." Zoe said slowly while ripping the page out of her notebook

"Right, Right. Cya!"

"Adios,"

Zoe jumped out of the tree, and started flying mid fall. While she was falling she had slipped the paper into Ryder's bag. It took all her might to not to focus on the fact that Ryder had called her smart... also possibly cute.