Vapor (unedited)

1.7

The window was wide open, giving her the view of the dark sky. It was really dark, there were no stars nor there was the moon. Just plain color of dark blue almost black and she literally stared into nothingness, her mind swirled with endless thoughts, racing relentlessly. She had to wonder why she made all the choices. Why she would choose to break his heart, why she would want to fall in love. 

It was all in black and white but she purposely made it all gray with various range of color pallet. Easily said, she was making it all tangled up in complicated strings. She sighed heavily, ruffling her long hair to the back. As she blinked, drinking in another view that appeared out of nowhere, standing in front of the window. He was smiling, his head cocked to the other side and-

***

His eyes snapped wide open, his chest heaving up and down. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as his other hand reaching to switch on the lamp on his nightstand. The dim glow from the lamp illuminated his room and he pushed himself to sat up. Zach leaned against the headboard, groaning. He threw his head backwards until his head hit the wall behind him, gazing up to the ceiling when he felt his eyes stung and his chest constricted. Sometimes he thought it was unbearable when he thought about it. But having a dream, (now that he thought deeper into it, it was something similar with visions because it all ends up happening although he didn't predict it to happen, but some force forced him to accept the dream he has) in which it felt so real, the hurt was bearable even though it still made him breathless in a very suffocating way. 

He was drowning.

He was drowning in all the words he lets out aloud. He was drowning every time he had to fake smiles. He was drowning when he pretended it was fine. 

He wanted to stop drowning. He wanted to feel fine before the dreams came. But he couldn't remember how his life before the dreams came in his sleep almost every night. The memories were vague, like something fogged up his visions and he could see glimpse of them sometimes when he tried to reminiscence. 

Zach definitely didn't regret that he decided to confront Elis. When he started to approach her about his so-called-dreams, he thought Elis would knew and maybe has an answer or reasons behind it. Unfortunately she has no idea about it and he tried not to be disappointed when he found out Colton (besides Lily) was their guardian.

It's not that he hates Colton, but he was afraid actually. The things he saw in his dreams... before she actually get to know with Elis, his dreams were that of their past lives. Ever since that, the dreams gradually became different that he didn't know how to cope with it. Like, the dreams evolved around the people he knew at the moment, even though mostly it was just about Elis. For an example, the thing during Hanna's birthday, he had dreamt about it few days before that.

 He had had a hard time of accepting it, but he had to, for his own sake. That was the reason why he had to force himself to accept it, and admit it to himself that the dreams he had about Elis even he wasn't in it, it was all some kind of predictions or visions or the likes of it. It was pretty insane and he desperately wanted to talk about it with someone who would understand. 

He glad that Lily was his guardian and she even helped him a lot although he mostly consult her about the dreams rather than his feelings. It would be more personal and intimate, he rather talk about it with Elis rather than talking about it with Lily. Only in his current situation, the only thing he could do was keeping it to himself and do something about it that made him forget about those intense feelings. 

"You actually dreamt about me going into her room in the middle of the night, didn't you?" 

His head snapped up towards the voice, completely taken aback. He could see the silhouette of the figure that slowly sauntered near him until Zach could properly make out the whole figure. 

"I kinda did... but I didn't expect you'd be here." he replied, shifting under the covers. 

"You should be grateful I tried to act the other way round."

Zach chuckled lightly and nodded. "I know you didn't mean to feel the way you are feeling about us, Colton..." Zach assured him softly.

Colton gave him this look, hopeless and vulnerable. He on the side of Zach's bed, throwing his shoes and he got under covers when Zach shifted more to give Colton some space. He even threw his sweater and his tee, leaving himself half naked with only shorts. 

"It's cold..." Colton complained, leaning on Zach shoulder.  His hand snaked around Zach's waist, pulling him close. "...and you are so warm..." he mumbled as he snuggled closer. Zach chuckled again followed by a quiet hum. 

"You are so twisted..." Zach commented in a whisper, his hand ruffling through Colton damp hair. It felt cold under his skin that he shivered involuntarily. He lets out a shaky breath. 

"I am, right? You know it's really insane when Elis thought something like that. I was shocked beyond words I don't know what to say. And knowing you accept it, despite how you feel about it, I am really thankful."

Zach shut his eyes, humming a, "really?" while leaning his head on top of Colton's head. 

Colton nodded slightly and he sighed comfortably. "I know too well how much you guys complement each other and I know full well how much you guys need each other. Elis didn't see that yet and I can't blame her about what she chose now. It'll be a long way. Around the time you guys will be pulled back towards each other and only God knows what will happen to me for fucking up all of this..." 

Zach frowned, he craned his neck a bit to look down at Colton who was already comfortable in his arms. "You aren't fucking up anything. You are helping her grow, Colton. It's really good, for anyone in that matter..." Zach spoke softly, in reassuring way.

"I hate it that you remembered everything. You'd sound so wise and old..."

Zach laughed. "It's not really a bad thing... It helps me understand things..." Zach replied, relaxing.

"Good... There'd be no troubles for us, then." Colton said sleepily.

Zach observed him, smiling softly. He rubbed Colton's shoulder, easing him to sleep. "Go to sleep, Colton. We'll meet tomorrow..." he whispered.

***