DISTANT

Chapter 13

Listening to Love Don't Cost A Thing by Jennifer Lopez, Zayna danced her way to the park. Music was like her escape from reality. She was taken away from all the worries and stress in the world the moment she clicks play on her MP3 Player.

She pulled out her earphones when she saw her cousin, Charlie, was sitting on the swings.
She took a seat next to him and whispered, "Charlie" but was greeted by silence.

"Charlie." She said a bit louder.

She reached over and pulled off his hoodie, just to find him sleeping. Zayna being the girl she is slapped him across the face.

His eyes shot open. Without thinking, he jumped Zayna and pinned her to the ground, holding a dagger across her throat.

Her breath hitched in her throat. "Charlie", she croaked out, "Bud, it's just me, Zayna."

Any sudden movement and she would have a beautiful scar. That is if he doesn't kill her on the spot.

Charlie blinked for a few seconds until he was brought back to reality. Slowly he removed the dagger from her and placed it in his back pocket. He climbed off her and offered a hand, which she gladly accepted.

"Charlie, where in the world did you get that knife?" Asked Zayna carefully.

"Oh this shiny toy. I've been learning how to use it in case of a situation like the one just now." He replied ever so casually.

"Crazy bum." She mumbled and sat back down on the swing.

She hugged herself because of the chilling breeze that was nipping her soft skin.

Charlie, being the wonderful cousin he is, handed his hoodie to his freezing cousin.

"So why did you call me here?" She asked.

"I was bored at home and also I wanted you to get your mind off everything going on and just relax. You could use a break from time to time." He said, sitting on the table that was placed in front of Zayna.

Charlie's phone vibrated in the middle of their conversation. He pulled out his phone and read the message.
Zayna watched as she saw that he was grinning from ear to ear while typing something back.
Once he put his phone away, he looked up to see her smirking at him.

He turned around just to make sure that she was actually looking at him.

"What?"

"So, who is she?" She asked still smirking.

"Who is who now? " he asked dumbfounded.

"Who's the girl that I'm going to have to hug for making you smile like that." She asked walking over to him and sitting on his lap.

"Oh no. No. No. No. No. No. She's....... I mean....... Oh shut up!" He exclaimed burying his face in her neck trying to hide his blush.

She giggled before moving her neck so that she could see his red face.

"Whoever she is, I'm glad that she is the reason that you're smiling like that. You deserve to be happy. Ever since Papa's death you haven't really been yourself. Your smiles were fake but I can tell the smile you had just now was genuine and I'm glad that she is the reason behind it." Said Zayna looking in his eyes.

Charlie didn't respond. He pulled her into a comforting hug whispering, "Thank you."

Zayna hugged him back just as tightly. While hugging him, she felt her top beginning to dampen.

"Aww. Don't cry Charlie. No seriously, do not cry. Mom just bought me this shirt." She said trying to lighten up the mood.

He let out a chuckle before pulling away from her. She gently kissed away her cousin's tears and hugged him again until he calmed down.

Zayna and Charlie layed down on the grass and stared up into the sky, admiring the bright stars.

********

After a while Charlie walked her back to her house. When they reached the doorstep she turned around to give him another hug.

They stayed in that position for what felt like forever but in reality it was most properbly just about 5 or 6 minutes.

"Okay, Charlie you can let go now. You need to go home and get some rest." She whispered, trying to pull away.

"No I wanna stay with you." He whined like a 6 year old, tightening his hold on her. He could really act like a child when he wants too.

"Lee, you see me in two days." Said Zayna.

"Stop being such a baby." Giggled Zayna before leaning up and giving him a kiss on the cheek and one last hug.

Zayna stayed at the door until she made sure that her cousin made it to the end of the road safely. She was really blessed to have such a caring family.