My friend named Z.

Chapter 4 : Finally found you.

I wondered along the streets.

I was positively sure this wasn't Amsterdam. Amsterdam  had the darkest , dullest streets known to man , but no. This place was way too vibrant , and full of life. I passed a young man talking in rapid Italian in a telephone booth , countless pasta shops embroidered with the Italian flag then a woman sitting in a Gondola humming in tune with the boatman. Judging from all the signs , I was certain that this had to be Venice , Italy; the most romantic city in the world.

Venice? Why was I in Venice and not in Amsterdam?

Fresh worries evolved in my mind. Why in the world was i doing here? What happened to Amsterdam? Where was Z?

All i could do now was sit along the pavement and watch the world go by , waiting for the melody to bring me back home. Despite all the pleasant beauty , a part of me was still feeling very uncertain and burdened. I buried my face in my chest trying to force the melody to come.

 "Clog!Clog!Clog!" My ears suddenly twitched. "Clog!Clog!Clog!" Yes i hear it. The farmiliar sound of a woman's high heels just like on Christmas. Oh no, not here, not now. Please.. 

 "Clog!Clog!Clog!"

The sound was coming closer, getting louder.

 I finally looked up. A pair of hazel eyes starred back at me. She was back.

The uninvited " Christmas guest". I screamed.

I screamed my lungs out as i watched the background fade , I screamed as i watched the navy-haired woman cupped her ears.There was no melody this time , just the shrill cry of my screams encapsulating me.

Within seconds, I was beside Gary again. I sprang up and looked around.

The navy-haired freak was still there. This never happened before. My eyes widened as I opened my mouth.

"Don't you dare!" Navy-haired freak warned knowing i was about to scream again.

Gary started barking, making a hopeless attempt to defend me.

"Great. First it was the owner now it's the dog." She spoke with a rich European accent.

I stood frozen. I could actually hear every word she was saying. She could see me, I could see her. 

Navy-haired freak walked towards me , but not before Gary pounced on her.

No. She did not dodge. Nor did she tried to defend herself. She just stood there , eyes closed. Gary leaped, and instead of delivering a full on body slam , he... he... just simply went through her!

Yes , he did! As if she weren't there at all. Well i had to do what i did best. Scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" I made a mad dash to the door, tearing ever so slightly as I did so.

" Shut up!" Navy- haired freak yelled and rolled her eyes. " This isn't new to you."

"B-but y-y-you walked through my dog!?" I trembled and gingerly pointed to Gary.

My head started to spin. What if she's a ghost? What if she was some spirit trying to haunt me. What is going on? Dying seemed to be a really good idea right now.

" Relax kid. I'm not a ghost." She was getting annoyed. " You couldn't touch me back in Amsterdam either."

Wait? Amsterdam? Did she just say Amsterdam?

Then i recalled the times i tried to keep Z warm during the winter , but my hand only went through her. The times people , dogs , any form of animals that went through me, when I travelled to Amsterdam. I was just like a ghost, I couldn't touch anything.  It was weird at first of course , but i've learnt to get use to it.

 Everything seemed to make sense now.

"Wait a minute," I gasped finally realising it all.

" Y-You're Z aren't you?"

 "Took you long enough to realise that." Z folded her arms. 

" But how? The last time i saw you, you were just a little girl! How could you have grown so much in just a year?" I stared intensely at her every detail.

She was Z? Z, the little orphaned girl? I couldn't believe it.

"What made you think when you travelled to Amsterdam , you were still in the same time period?"

My eyes widened.

" W-W-WAIT....I-I-I TIME TRAVELLED ??!" 

No way.

 "What else?Don't play dumb with me kid."  Z snapped. " See you." 

" Wait Z! Don't go!" 

Z raised an eyebrow.

" I've waited my whole life just to see you. I have so much to ask! You can't go just like that!" I cried." I just might never be able to see you again." 

" Of course you'll see me again. It's not like i'm gonna die anytime soon."

"B-b-but how are you going to get home? Where are you going?"

"Look kid , I just have to wait for the melody to take me back.I thought you knew that?!"

"I-I-I don't-- But w-wait! Z , please! I really need to talk to you!" I stammered. I couldn't find the appropriate words to convey what I really wanted to say. 

"Just call. I'll be there."

Before i could answer , i could here  the familiar melody echoing again.

"Guess i don't have to wait after all." Z tucked a straying lock of hair behind her ear. " Ciao."

She slowly faded, as vibrant purple swirls engulfed her , emitting an enchanting glow.

"Is that how it looked each time i left Amsterdam too?" I wondered to myself.

" How in the world am i gonna call her?" I sighed and lay down beside Gary. 

" I can't believe what just happened ?" I  pinched myself making sure this wasn't just a dream.

" Z was actually here! She actually lived through it all! "

I smiled finally absorbing the miraclous reality of the situation. Sure, she was a lot meaner than I last remember, but she was the only friend I had.

My fears, my worries, my doubts was replaced my a comforting reassurance. I couldn't stop smiling to myself.

I looked around my home, dark and deserted as usual.

Everything was normal, from the rusty iron bolts in the door , to the excessive amount of dust above the fireplace.

But something certainly didn't felt right though. 

Today, I didn't shiver when i looked around my home . Today, I didn't clog up my mind with more thoughts.

Today , I didn't feel so alone any more.