A Suite and Magical Life

Chapter 6: No one can hate you more than the one who loves you

January 9, 2007

The Dreamscape 

Zachary Martin was worried. Usually, Alexandra Russo had popped into his dream by 9 p.m., using the Dream Helmet. She was never late, and in fact, often she was early. Yet, today, she was not just running late but had crossed the point of being "fashionably late". It was now 9:15 p.m., and Zack was wondering where she was while waiting at their favorite spot in the Dreamscape, which was Zack's old house in New York. Maybe she won't pop in tonight, he thought sadly.

At that moment, almost as if he had used a summoning spell, Alex Russo materialized in his dream. He noticed that while she was as fashionable as ever, her hair was ruffled, her face was smeared with dry tear marks and her eyes were bloodshot. Was she crying? Zack thought to himself. More importantly, what could make Alexandra Russo cry? he wondered. He quietly ran over the list of things he had done or said to her over the last week and couldn't remember anything he did which could have angered or saddened Alex. He was still on guard and remained highly alert and cautious.

"Sorry I'm late, Zack." Alex spoke, breaking his reverie. "I got caught up in something." 

"Alex, were you crying?" Zack asked.

"Looks like you're not completely dense." Alex praised mockingly. "Yes, I was crying."

"Why were you crying? What, or who, made you cry?" Zack asked her, both curious about the catalyst for this turn of events and hurt by her comment about his density.

"I don't want to dump my problems on you, Zack." Alex said, avoiding his eyes guiltily.

"Oh, don't be like that, Alexandra. We're like family, you know you can tell me anything." Zack assured her. "Rest your head on my shoulder and tell me, what are your problems?" he consoled her.

Alex glared at Zack. That look, full of vitriol and anger, made Zack quake in his boots. Before she said anything, he realized that her anger was directed towards him. "You are my problem, Zachary Martin." she witheringly revealed, stunning him into a shocked silence.

"How am I your problem? What did I do? I would never even try to hurt you, let alone make you cry." Zack retorted, making Alex shake with anger and utter fury.

"Don't you dare try to pretend otherwise, you sneaky, black-tongued lying weasel! You know what you did!" Alex roared, causing Zack to give an involuntary shudder in fear.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!" Zack fought back, only to see the futility of his action, as it only made Alex angrier. He saw the tears she was fighting back, and involuntarily felt both guilt and shame. Why? he scolded himself. You did nothing wrong. You have nothing to feel ashamed or guilty about.

"YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH HANNAH MONTANA! NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO DATE HER EVEN THOUGH SHE LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY!" Alex roared, causing Zack to cower in utter terror. "YOU JILTED ME FOR HER! I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STUPID I WAS TO THINK THAT THE GREAT LIBERTINE LOTHARIO, ZACHARY MARTIN, COULD EVER DITCH HIS OLD WAYS!" she yelled at the top of her voice and as loud as her lungs could muster, before the dam of her emotions broke and she burst into hysteric tears.

Zack was stunned by thus outburst of emotions. Her words hit him like a sledgehammer but took time to process. In love with Hannah Montana? Jilting Alex for her? He realized that she must have popped into his dreams that time that he had been dreaming about Miley and must have misinterpreted the situation. He had to set the record straight before the situation slipped out of control.

Even though he had been shaking in utter fear and terror internally, Zack mustered up enough courage to ask Alex, "What gave you that impression? Why do you think I am in love with Hannah Montana and not you, when, as you so conveniently pointed out, you both live in different cities than me?