Ashbourne's Powers

Chapter 6

*Dylins POV*

I still can't believe what happened up there even as we walk back into my house. It felt as if my heart had stopped. I don't know what I was thinking, but I was happy I took the risk. I felt like I was still flying, and my heart felt a spark up there. He grabs his things, says goodbye, and starts to walk out the door.

"Oh, wait! Your jacket!" I say, realizing I still had it on. "Oh, its fine." He says, and grabs the door handle. "I uh, I had a really great time today. Thanks. Do you, want to hang out over the weekend too?" He asks, nervously. "Well, I can hang out tomorrow, but I have to practice my routine at some point, so, not the whole weekend." I say, smiling. He nods, and leaves. I make myself another cup of tea, and head up to my room, unable to stop smiling. When I finally get tired, I crawl into bed, and drift off.

*Jays POV*

I woke up the next day, and went out for a run. I came back to my house, and got ready for the day. I made breakfast for my sister, and got her ready. Then, the babysitter called to cancel, and I saw my plans for the day go along with her. "Hey." I say as Dylin picks up her phone. "Looks like we won't be seeing each other this weekend." I finish.

"Oh, why?" She asks, curious.

"I have to take care of my little sister. The babysitter cancelled." I say regrettably.

"Oh, that sucks. You know.. if you want, I could come over." She suggests.

"Well, if you don't mind a little kid being around, I'm fine with it." I reply.

"Well then, where do you live? I'll be over in a little bit." She asks. I tell her the address, and we hang up. Sure enough, not too long after, I hear a knock at the front door.

"Hey Dyl!" I say to her as she walks inside.

"Hey!" She says back, a big, bright smile on her face.

"Jay!" I hear faintly from upstairs.

"Yeah? I'm downstairs!" I reply. I turn around to see my sister in her pjs coming down the stairs. "Morning!" She says, hugging my leg. "Morning. Hey, I want you to meet someone." I say, turning to Dylin. I pick her up. "Zinnia, I want you to meet Dylin. Dylin, this is my sister." I say to her.

"Hi Zinnia, its wonderful to meet you. You have a beautiful name." She says to her, smiling brightly. "Hi Dylin!" She says back, waving. I put her down, and she runs off to go play. "Zinnia.. where'd she get that name?" Dylin questions, closing the door. "Oh. My mom. It was her favorite flower." I say, looking back at Zinnia playing in the living room. "Was?" She asks, suddenly looking up at me with her brows furrowed. "Yea.. she uh, she died, a while ago. When Zinnia was only a baby." I say quietly. "Oh... im.. I'm sorry I asked." She said regretfully. "No. Don't be. It's fine." I said. "Come on. Let's go upstairs." I say.

We go upstairs, and by the time we're done talking, its already late afternoon, and I had already given Zinnia breakfast and lunch.
Then, I hear the door downstairs, and an excited squeal. "Daddy!" I hear Zinnia shout. "Hi baby girl! How are you?" My dad says.

"Come on, let's go downstairs, Dyl." I say standing up. She follows me down the stairs, and I see my dad. "Hey dad." I say, walking to him. "Hi Lucas. Oh, and who is this lovely young lady, may I ask?" He says, smiling, looking from me to Dylin. "I'm Dylin, its nice to meet you, Mr. Kett." She holds out a hand to him, and he shakes it. "Oh, none of that here. You can call me Pax. It's very nice to meet you, Dylin." He says, picking up Zinnia. "Okay, come on pumpkin, let's see what's for dinner tonight." He takes her off into the kitchen, a big smile on her face.

"Lucas?" Dylin questions. "Oh... yeah, that. He still will sometimes call me that instead of Jay. It was my name before." I say, rubbing the nape of my neck, embarrassed. "Lucas.. I like it." She says, pushing my arm. "No need to be embarrassed. At least you have your identity. Technically I still don't really even exist to the Capital." She says. "Oh, come on, that's not true." I say as we walk back upstairs.

"Of course it is." She says, sitting on my bed. "No, its not Dylin. You exist. Just because you don't have powers doesn't mean your not real." I protest.

"But it does mean I'm useless. That there's no point for me until I get my powers. If I get them." She says.

"Once again. You're wrong." I say, and she starts getting flustered.

"Yes it is, Jay! It's entirely true! There's nothing for me unless I get my powers! Powers are everything in this world! They're your reputation, your name, and your job! It reflects your entire life!" She says louder.

"Oh come on, Dyl-" I push, before getting interrupted.

"No! Stop Jay! Admit it! Your powers mean everything. They are everything! Of course you wouldn't know that because you have your powers! I don't! I have nothing! I can't even get my marking filled in! You have yours! You've had yours for so long now!" She says.

It's true. I have had my marking filled in. It's a circle with a bird inside, and a cloud on my chest. It reflects my flying ability. Then she shouts, "This means nothing, Jay! It is nothing!" She lifts up her sleeve, and points to a small, swirly line on her forearm. "I'm nothing without powers. And until I get them I'm useless." She says quieter, and then walks downstairs and I hear the front door open.

I go downstairs, and find her sitting on the steps in my front yard on my porch, and sit down. We both sit in silence for a while, and then she slides closer to me. "Sorry. I just, I got upset." She says, looking down at her hands. "No, its fine. I understand. I should have just let it go. It's okay." I say reassuringly. We sit on the steps for a while and talk, and then my dad comes out and tells us that dinner is ready.

"Dylin, are you staying for dinner?" He asks. "Oh, no. I don't want to overstay my welcome. I've been here all day, its fine. I'll go home." She says.

"Does your family want you home for dinner?" He wonders. "Oh, no. It's just my mom and me, but she works until very late." She replies. "Oh, well then, you have to stay. I wouldn't want you eating by yourself now when your here already and there's plenty of food for everyone." He states. "Well, that's very nice of you. It would be lovely to have dinner here." She says. For a moment, I saw both my father's and her smile falter, knowing there is so much sadness in that one simple thought that she must eat alone so much. "Well, of course. Come on in." He says, moving from the doorway to let everyone through. We both go in, and enjoy dinner.