Ashbourne's Powers

Chapter 7

*Dylins POV*

After we all finish dinner, Jay and I walk into the front yard and I sit up on the small concrete wall next to his house, separating the front yard from the next house. Then I stand up in disbelief. "You.. you have a car?" I turn to him, my eyes wide. "Oh, yeah. My dad works for the Capital, so he has a car." He says, walking over to it. "That's so cool!" I say practically hopping over to him. "You think?" he asks. "Of course! I've never been in one and I've only seen a handful." I say, staring at it. Only people in the Capital have cars. Our ancestors made that a rule to help the environment, considering many things are in walking distance and if they're not then most people just use their powers.

"You uh, wanna go for a ride?" he suggests. I turn, looking at him, not believing what I had just heard. "You know how to drive this?" he nods his head, and I smile bright. "Yeah!" I squeal. He goes back inside, and comes out with the keys. We get into the car, and he starts driving. It feels so strange to be in this. I hear the wind blowing past us as we go at speeds I have never felt before. I sit in awe as Jay drives around, looking at the houses and buildings pass us by so quickly. After a few minutes, we're heading out of the city, and I stick my head out the window, my hair everywhere, smiling. I breath in the fresh air and shout excitedly, adrenaline coursing through me. We drive around until the sun fully sets, and we go back.

"That was so amazing!" I say. "Thank you for that." I say to him as we go back inside.

We go to the living room and talk for a while. Then, it all seems to just go wrong. We were having a conversation about his family and what they've done together and I look at Zinnia playing with their dad and shes just so happy, and I feel this overwhelming sense of sadness and dread. my mind gets clouded and I stand up and run to his front door. 

"I just need to go Jay.. I.. I can't stay." I say, walking into his front lawn. "Why? What happened? What did I say?" He asks, following behind. "You didn't say anything, Jay! You didn't do anything wrong." I snap, turning around. "Then what is it?" He asks, holding one arm with his other hand across his body.

"I just... I want what you have! I want a father! I want someone who's there! My mom is never there! You and your sister have grown up with a father! Someone who you run to when they come home from work! Someone who would tuck you in at night instead of a babysitter because both of your parents were home instead of working! Even when my dad was here I never saw him! He left when I was eight! I never heard from him again! I never saw him! I want that! I want that love! I never got that, Jay! Never!" I shout to him, but I can't scream anymore, and I break into tears.

I bend down to my knees and he gets on his, and embraces me. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry." He says in my ear. "I didn't mean it... I, I  didn't know." He continues, rocking me back and forth. I push him away and stand up. "I just.. I need to go." I say, wiping the tears from my face. I open his gate, and walk down the sidewalk.

When I get home, I go up to my room and change, and take a long shower. I end up thinking about a lot of things, and by the end of this train of thought I'm sitting in my shower, crying, the hot water raining down on me, mixing with my tears. My face hot, eyes red and swollen, and my body exhausted, I get out of the shower, and trudge into my bedroom, put some shorts and a tank top on, and fall into bed, stuffing my face in my pillow, falling asleep.

*Jay's POV*

I lay in bed, staring up at my ceiling, listening to the faint whirling of my fan circling a soft breeze around the room. I don't know what to think. I didn't want to go after her because she was clearly heated, and needed space, but I also did not want her to be alone.

I twist and turn under my covers, and then I hear a soft knock at my door. I look over to see Zinnia standing there in her pj's. "Hey, what are you doing awake, sweetie?" I say softly, sitting up. She walks over, rubbing her eyes. "I heard you hit something when you came into your room. What's wrong?" She asks as I pick her up to sit her on my lap. "Oh, nothing. I was just a little upset is all." I say, avoiding it. I take my hand off of her hip and put her on my legs, setting my hand down. Then she softly grabs one of my fingers, and runs her hand across the now bruising knuckles on my right hand. "Are you sure?" She says. I just nod. "Oh.. well. I hope Dylin comes back soon. She was nice." She says, sliding back down. "Yea. I hope so too." I whisper, my stomach turning a bit. "Now. C'mon. Let's get you back to bed." I say, taking her hand. I walk her back to her room, and tuck her in. After that, I sit in bed for a while, and conclude that I'm going to go to her house tomorrow.

-- The Next Day --

I got out of bed early to go on a run, and then I went home and changed, and flew over to Dylin's house. I knocked on her door, and I heard soft footsteps. "Hang on!" The voice seemed far away, and then I heard distinctive footsteps coming downstairs. She opened the door, her hair still messy, and her still in the clothes she slept in. "Oh, hi Jay." She says. "Hey. Did I wake you? Sorry, I know it's kinda early." I say sheepishly. "No, its fine. I wouldn't want to sleep too late anyway. Do you wanna.. uh, come in then?" She asks moving aside. "Sure." There is a silence between us, and she breaks it. "About last night.. I just, I saw your sister and your dad and I just.. I -" I cut her off. "No, I get it. No need to explain. Really. You're fine."

She smiles as I walk inside, and she closes the door behind me.