Zenix and his Past [ABANDONED]

Chapter 30 - Zenix

    "I... I can't believe that just happened..." I murmur and Zella puts her arms around me.
    "I can't believe it either..." she whispers. I feel warmth and I hug her back. But I start to ache, which makes me groan.
    "Ugh... I hurt everywhere..." I complain and close my eyes slowly and open them again.
    "Why don't we just sleep for the night?" Zella suggests. I nod and lay on the ground as I pick at my cracked skin. "Do you think the monsters will come back?!" Zella asks Garroth nervously.
    "Well, THOSE monsters won't since they're- ya know, dead. But incase some others come, I'll keep watch while you two sleep."
    "Thank you..." I mumble before closing my eyes again. I feel Zella kiss my forehead and she settles in next to me. I begin to drift to sleep...

*****

    I feel a hand on my forehead. I expect it to be Zella, since I don't think that would be a Garroth thing, but when I open my eyes, it IS Garroth... He stares down at me, and says, "Time to get going. I really don't want to leave Phoenix Drop in the drunk hands of Dale for too long, so let's go!"
    "Ugh..." I groan as I roll over and get up, my unstable legs wobbling. I see Zella, who is busy packing her things... and my things... she picks up a piece of paper that was in my backpack and smiles at it.
    "I... I didn't know you kept this..." Zella murmurs with astonishment. I know what she is looking at. It is a picture of me and her from three years ago as we stand in front of the well in God Grave... smiling... "We need a new up to date picture." she says and walks over to me. I stare at me and her in the photo. I... I don't even recognize myself... everything has changed since that time when it felt as if nothing in the world mattered... I was smiling so hard, my eyes were closed and she was blushing like crazy. I never noticed that... Zella walks over to my bag again. She sees the other picture I have and immediately starts laughing. "Oh my goodness gracious, how do you have this?!" she yells. The picture is of me and her at age six. I always loved that picture... Zella walks over to Garroth to show him the pictures. "See, this is Zenix and I when we were six. And this one is of us just this year."
    "That's ZENIX? No way, he's too handsome to be him- just kidding- you're pretty hot, Zella- uhh that sounds wrong... yeah, YOU GUYS LOOK NICE! YEAH!" He stammers awkwardly. Zella looks at him funny, but she just shrugs.
"Hey, Garroth, you can keep that recent one if you want," I say.
"Thank you! I'll totally keep a picture of your hotness Zen- I mean Zel- no that's even worse.... I'LL KEEP THE PICTURE, THANK YOU GUYS!" Zella blushes and looks awkwardly at her hands.
"Uhh... thanks Garroth... I guess..." Zella murmurs, "You aren't that bad yourself... uh, nevermind... " I give her a glare. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!
    "Are we ready to go?" I ask, trying to end whatever the heck is going on.
    "Uh, yeah! Yes we are, Zenix! Good question! Are you two gathered up?" He asks.
    "Yup, I'm ready!" I reply. I look over at Zella, who is still blushing.
    "Yeah, I am ready. And, I can walk this time, Garroth. Although, I did really appreciate it..." He blushes really hard.
"Uh yeah, it was nothing... ANYWAY, LET'S GO!" he averts any more of the conversation and starts to jog. "COME ON, CHILDREN!" I roll my eyes at him calling me a child and I catch up to him, Zella right behind me. I begin to run, but my legs feel like they are made out of wood or something and it feels impossible to even walk!
    "Zella?" I ask.
    "Yeah?"
    "What is a common side effect of wither?"
    "Well, you become overly tired and your muscles don't work as well and you know, your skin turns black and cracked... but don't worry, it will go away soon!" she explains. I groan. Why am I running then?! Hearing this, Garroth stops, and looks at me.
    "Do you want a ride, Zenix?" He asks. I groan again.
    "I hate being the weak one..." I grumble under my breath and Zella laughs.
    "Uh, you should be used to this by now!" she jokes.
    "Yeah, but I should be able to help myself..."
    "Oh, don't you worry, little boy. As soon as you're able, then we are doing some hardcore conditioning. So enjoy this while you can. And look on the bright side, by me carrying you, you can stare at Zella more than usual, you creeper!" He jokes. I see Zella give Garroth a weird look and I just hold my head. Ugh, why... I try to climb on his back, but he just picks me up and slings me over his shoulder. Zella smiles at me and I just close my eyes from embarrassment. But Zella starts talking to Garroth.
    "Hey, thanks for doing this for Zenix. It's really nice of you and it's not like we ever got to have this when we were in God Grave," Zella says. Do they think I am asleep?!
    "Hey Zenix. I know it must be hard, since you're around me, but can you stop sweating on me? It's gross- I'll try to tone down my hotness a little bit! Okay, I'm done." I want to smack him, but that would be rude so I just flick him and close my eyes again.
    "Hey! Now now, Zenix! That was RUDE!" Garroth scolds. He abruptly stops and grabs my ankles and pulls me off his back and holds me in the air by them. "THAT WAS VERY RUDE! I AWTTA MAKE YOU RUN NOW! You're lucky I'm so NICE TO YOU!" He flings me back on his back and starts running casually again.
"That wasn't very nice of you at all! Come on, Garroth, he is WITHERED for Irene's sake!" Zella yells at Garroth.
"Well, SOR-RY M-mom." He starts, then stops. "N-nevermind. Sorry, Zenix." He keeps running, silently. His eyes clouding over, his usual grin gone.
    "I-I'm sorry for yelling at you like that... Are you okay?" Zella asks nervously.
    "I-It's fine. You didn't do anything wrong, just- I don't want to talk about it." He replies.
    "Oh... well, you can always talk to me about it if you ever want to. I have learned that we can sorta relate..."
    "Yeah, what even-" I begin.
    "I said, please drop it, Zella. Can we leave it at that- shut up, Zenix. I don't need you trying to defend your girlfriend. She can speak for herself." He snaps.
     "I..." Zella starts, but she stops talking and practically avoids Garroth's gaze.