A Diamond in the Rough

Chapter 9 (Part 2)

Alexis

My hands started to feel lighter and my screaming vanished. Zach's hands slipped out of mine as we both fell into the water. I landed on my knees with my hands on the ground, feeling the wet sand in between my fingers.

"Alex," oh God, again with the nicknames, "look up." Zach's voice made me open my eyes.

My head was hanging to my chest and my eyes first fell on the dark water. There was something bright and yellow in the reflection and I was almost scared to look up.
"Alex," Zach put a wet finger under my chin and lifted my face so he could meet my eyes.

I looked back at him and sighed. I slowly raised my head and there was a big ball of yellow, orange, and red high up in the sky. 

"It looks like the sun," Zach commented.

"It's beautiful," I sighed in awe, "did we do that?" I looked back at him.

"I have feeling we did," Zach nodded.

"Well that was one of the most painful things in my life, what exactly did it accomplish?" I groaned, if that was all just for some pretty light show I was going to hurt somebody.

"The fire I started is gone," Zach sighed.

The tone in his voice made a bell go off in my head. For awhile, I had forgot about all the lies that had been revealed and I wish it could've stayed that way forever. 

"Zach, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you. I just... I had never been in a situation like this before, with someone who trusted me so easily and I trusted so easily. Please don't be mad at me, I don't have any other friends," I whimpered pathetically.

Then he laughed. I was expecting some lash out of fury but instead he laughed. And it wasn't one of those sarcastic laughs like Tyler always did, it was real and beautiful.

"I was mad and I was upset and I was confused. But I don't blame you for anything," He said.

"What? You don't?" Surprises, surprises.

"I think I get what you're going through. Not entirely but I do in a way. Just because you did what you did, didn't mean I was just going to abandon you. I wouldn't want that to happen to me," He explained with a simple shrug.

"Zach, you are an amazing person," I smiled lightly at him.

"I come from amazing people," He said.

He grabbed my hand as he started to stand and pulled me with him.

"You hear that?" he asked once we were standing.

"The city," I beamed.

"Yeah. Everything must be back to normal," He smiled.

Everything back to normal? That made me think about Tyler and his friends. Tyler was never a good person now that I think about it. I used to think he was good until he got me in the alley that one night, but it turns out he never was. He dated me for money, and no good person would do that.

"Zach is Tyler... is Tyler dead?" I met his eyes again.

"I didn't stay to see," His voice got quieter.

"And his friends? They died in that explosion didn't they?" I thought I was going to die.

"It would be in a miracle if they didn't." 

"I feel horrible. I know I shouldn't I mean, they tried to kill us so it's only fair right? And it's not like we meant for them to die right? But it still isn't right to let someone die like that but... someone's life is over now. I just can't get..." I never finished my sentence.

Zach always surprised me. And when he did, they were pleasant, beautiful, calming surprises. The only thing that made this one different was how perfectly romantic and strange it was at the same time. He kissed me and I swear in that moment, I really did die. And I was perfectly used to it.

Zach

Only a week had gone by after all the events that happened revolving around the Sun God necklaces and Alexis and I were already closer than I had ever been to anyone in my life. I had met her dad when he got back into town and the three of us had a conversation about Alexis's freedom for a solid three hours. He never completely explained his reasoning for it in the first place but after my persuasion she had finally gained it. She wasn't completely free, but had way more freedom than she did before.

The two of us hung out like we were childhood friends, barely leaving each other's sides. We had breakfast together every day this week and the main topic of our conversations usually were about the book and it's still unsolved mystery.

But, forgetting about the book, Mr. Brown had bought me a new motorcycle in thanks. I was going to say I couldn't accept it, but Alex wouldn't let me refuse. So I kept it and gave her lessons on it so I could break it in.

It was Friday morning and even though it wasn't my assigned day, we both went to visit Connor and catch him up on everything that happened. As soon as we came up to the table he turned around and beamed at us. 

"I know about what happened, but I still want you to tell me. Explain everything," He jumped with excitement.

Alex gave him the book and the original stone and he sat with his eyes glued on us for the next half hour.

"You guys are amazing!" he exclaimed.

"You know, none of it would've happened without you bud," I smiled at him.

"Well still. And now I know how you were the key Alex," He pulled out a piece of paper and scribble down on it.

He slid it across the table and we both looked down at it: 

                                     Alesa = Alexis and Morenav = Brown, morena is brown in Spanish.

"That's what it meant?" That didn't make any sense to me.

"Well the flower said, free her and free yourself. Alex is free and now you are too," Connor shrugged.

"Free of what?" Alex asked me.

I thought about it for a second and then smiled at her and Connor, "Loneliness."

A/N

YAY THE END. this is obviously my only "short story" but I wrote it hellas ago for school and just put it on here. If you made it this far, congrats. I owe you one. Check out my other stories for more exciting adventures!!