The Pain Thief

Chapter 22

THE POWER TO TAKE

Zoe hated how weak she was feeling. She staggered haphazardly to school, noticing that Jack wasn't there where he usually was. She rolled her eyes, knowing that he probably assumed she'd still be sleeping and not coming to school. Normally she would've stayed home, but just couldn't handle sitting around, not after what happened. 

Finally she arrived. She was only a little later then usual, so Jack would already be in homeroom. Zoe wished she could call upon her wolves to help her, but they needed to recover too and of course it was too public. 

Arriving in the classroom, she saw Jack reading something at his desk. His head was in his hand and it looked like he was spacing out. 

She smiled nervously as her heart sped up. She couldn't help but to stare at his deep black hair as he stared out the window, not noticing her standing there. 

She blushed as she caught herself and decided to mess with him a little bit. Zoe snuck up on him, walking on the opposite side of him so he wouldn't see. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't even move when she sat down at the desk in front of him. 

She decided the easiest way to get him to notice her was to slap his arm out from under him.

"Hey what do you think you're-" he paused when he realized it was her. "Zoe! I-I thought you were at home!"

She scoffed and shook her head. "Don't count me out so easily."

He was struggling with his words for some reason. "Um Zoe... you're all healed?"

She pulled her sweatshirt down a little so he could see that her shoulders were completely healed. He seemed incredibly relieved, letting out a breath. "Still Zoe you should be resting now."

She got up, about to say that she was fine, when a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She would've fallen if Jack hadn't stood up and held her. It passed and she stood straight again, but he kept his hand on her arm. 

"Zoe..." he said sadly. 

She looked him in the eyes and gave him a shy smile. "Just have faith in me Jack. I'll be fine. I promise."

***

Zoe ended up staying for the day, but ended up dozing off repeatedly during lunch. Jack didn't seem to mind, letting her rest on his legs while he sat and watched the people. 

"Aren't you cold?" he asked her. 

Zoe smiled, keeping her eyes closed. "I like the cold. It's... cleansing."

She heard footsteps approaching then and opened her eyes, sitting up and turning so she was facing the person. It was Sarah. 

Sarah sat by them, but didn't say anything. Zoe just looked at Jack who looked just as confused as she did. Zoe inched a little closer to Sarah and asked gently, "Um Sarah? Are you ok?"

Sarah frowned. "I'm scared."

"Of what?" she asked, despite the many answers she could come up with to that question. 

"This tracker thing... what if I'm no good at it?" Sarah looked up to her, her eyes sparkling sadly. "I want to be able to help you guys but what if I can't?"

Zoe settled herself next to Sarah and Jack sat by them too. "Sarah I think we all have those insecurities," said Zoe. "Jack and I... we're limited to either attack or defense and these past few fights we haven't had the other to help us out. We worry if we're not doing enough to help the other person, but if we worry, we only end up distracted."