The Symbol

Chapter 6- Hiding

Zero's Alan's POV

I wake up to a brutal silence. I open my eyes, confused at where I am. It takes a moment to remember, and when I do, I burrow under the blankets and wish I could sleep again. Eventually, Pandora's voice comes to the speakers in Lily's room. "Lily would like to know if you're up Walker Zero." I make a muffled sound from the pillow that my face is buried in. "I take that as a yes?" "How about you take it as a no." I mumble. "She would like to know if she can come in." Pandora replies, completely ignoring my snarky retort. "It's her room." The door clicks, and Lily walks in, a Walker Racing League cap on her head. She takes it off and sets it on the small table by the door. "The Disney Channel kids are staying the night, so I had Astrid assign them rooms." I nod, then hunker down in the covers again. "You okay Alan?" I look up and give her the 'are you really that dumb' look. She sits down at the foot of the bed. Giving her a slightly angry look, I pull myself out of the blankets and scooch over to her. "What are you doing?" "I want cuddles." "Alan..." I grab her and pull her close to me, ignoring her protests. "I already told you that I can't fall in love with you." "You think I don't know that?" I murmur in her ear. "It hurts so much to know that. But I can't let you go. I want you to stay with me, to take away the pain." My eyes start to water, so I pull one arm to dry them. She takes advantage of that and starts to sit up. "Oh no you don't." I say, grabbing her and holding her tighter. "Let. Me. Go." Lily says grumpily. But she doesn't struggle. So the only response I give is loosing my grip on her. She huffs, trying to hide the obvious fact that she enjoys the attention I'm giving her. Eventually she gives up and lays her head on my chest, and even though she still has a faint glare on her face. "Still want me to let you go?" "Mmmph." "I'll take that as a no." "Mmmph." I grin. She glares. "Can I touch your hair please?" I ask, my hand hovering over her head. She nods, her eyes closing. At that moment someone bursts the door open with a loud "LILY I NEED HELP!" Her head pops up and I let go. "O.M.GEEEEIIIII!!! WHAT AM I SEEING HERE!!!!!!" "Hi Queenie..." Lily mutters. I turned my head away as soon as I heard the doorknob turn. "Is that Zero!!!!!" Queenie squeals. "Yes." I mutter, grabbing for my mask. "Were you guys making out?!" "NO!" Me and Lily both yell, swiveling around to glare at her. Queenie gives the 'I-don't-believe-you' look. "Anywaaaaay, the magic girl needs help with Pandora." "Sophie?" "Yeah." Queenie then turns on her heel and saunters out. Lily starts to get up. "Wait." I say, grabbing her wrist. She flinches and her hands start to shake. Her breathing becomes shaky. All of this in the span of a second. I let go. "Yes?" Lily replies, after calming down. "Where is your hoodie?"

"I'm not wearing one."

"Then take mine."

"I'm literally three feet away from the closet."

"I don't care. Take the dam hoodie." Lily rolls her eyes and takes my hoodie. 'She looks cute in my hoodie.' I muse, making sure she can't read my thoughts. Then she pulls the sleeves over her hands. I smile, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "You need to stop hiding." I whisper. "I wish I could Alan. You don't know how much I want that." Lily replies. Then she turns around and leaves.

Later that day, after I put on my Aviation hoodie, I'm going to get a coffee, and I run into that traitor. Miles freezes. "Heeeeey man, can we just pretend that we didn't run into each other?"

"No."

"I was going to come back! I swear it on Zeus's beard!"

"I don't give a crap about your promises. I've seen where they lead."

"Please listen to me!" I flinch. "That's the same thing you said that night." I grab Miles's shirt. "You and your friends are going to be gone by the end of the week do you understand?"

"Aren't you going to kill me?"

"Lily told me no. But I will if you don't leave."

"Alright." I let go, glaring at his retreating back. "ZEROOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

"OW DYLAN THAT WAS MY EAR YOU IDIOT!"

"Someones angry."

"You yelled in my ear."

"Touché"

"What do you want so badly that you had to yell in my ear?"

"I need date ideas..."

"Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

"I don't. But I want to ask Queenie out, and I don't know how."

"You shouldn't have come to me. I suck at girls."

"No you don't. You had Lily the day you saw her."

"Not the same d- WAIT. HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT."

"Let's just say I will never look at that specific tree the same."

"I SWEAR DYLAN!"

"Soooo, about Queenie..." I sigh. I really don't want to do this. "Miles!" I yell. He jogs back. "Yeah?"

"This is Dylan and he needs girl advice. And I can't give him any."

"Fair. Come with me, and I'll give you as much as I can." I sigh, and head towards the elevator. "Studio..." I mumble, pressing the corresponding button. Time to head to heaven.