Those With Wings

Enough- Taking Off

Piper's POV

I caught Alex glaring, and then scowling as his sister flew off, and Zero continued to question my father, completely confused.

"Chillax, Alex," I said, leaning back against my chair. His hazel eyes shifted my way, and seemed to burn. I felt pleased at the attention. Burning. I loved burning, fires, dragons, flying...

I shook it off. Now was not the time to go dreaming about being like a dragon. WIth Daisy near, it was always difficult: mainly because of the connection I felt to dragons. I could nearly feel the spread of their wings, the wind running under their bodies as they flew...

The longing grew more passionate, and I locked it up in the back of my mind before it was too late. If I continued thinking about it, my hands would start burning and I was pretty sure my parents weren't in the mood for that.

"Cheer up," I told Alex softly, "you'll find a nice girl soon enough. There are bunches of pretty girls in the school."

He shrugged, and his countenance remained cold, yet angry. "I don't care about them. I've seen them all. Empty heads, that's what they are."

I frowned. "Not all of them. Hailey is smart, and very pretty. She has gorgeous eyes, too. Sea green. And she's strong. I think you'd like her."

Alex shrugged. "I couldn't care less. I've seen her, talked to her. I just don't feel it."

I patted his shoulder. "Sometimes it doesn't happen immedietly. I mean, from what I've seen of Luanna and Zero...Well, they seem close, but not in love. Or well, the shushnub is definitely head over heels, but Luanna seems pretty cool towards him."

The girl's brother looked rebellious. "I don't want anything like what Lu and Zero have! That'd be pure torture!" he hissed, making sure Zero didn't overhear our conversation.

I gave him a reluctant nod, and then realized my hand was still on his shoulder. I snatched it back quickly, and he grinned at me. "I ought to go home, thanks, anyway."

I flushed, and he threw me a last challenging, smug look as he walked out, Zero following him quickly.

Zero's POV

I gave my mom and dad a kiss on their cheeks the last night, and wished them a good night's sleep. My mother's eyes followed me, and I wondered if she knew what was going on.

Tonight, Luanna and I would be leaving. Flying towards the kingdom of the- well, I don't really know what. I still didn't understand why we had to go chat-chatting to the queen either- I mean, didn't the darned woman try to enslave Luanna and Alex? But I had a hunch that asking Luanna about it would earn me a glare and being ignored, so I held my mouth wisely.

"You ready, shushnub?" she said, waving the note she'd written for my parents.

I nodded, and took a step towards her. Last chance, loser.

"Luana...I just want you to know, in case something happens, that you're everything to me," I mumbled, aware that it sounded like a cheap line from a movie.

She glanced at me. "You're pretty important to me too, shusnub."

I took a deep breath. "I wish you'd stop calling me that and just tell me you love me too."

Luanna took a startled step back, and then turned to the window, emotions flitting over her face. It was a while before she spoke, and when she did, her words were disappointing.

"Let's just finish this. I want to get it over with."

For a moment, I thought she meant us. But then she untucked her wings and opened the balcony doors.

I gripped her shoulders before she could jump and fly off, but she just glared at me. "Zero, let go. I don't want to talk right now, okay?"

Panic rose inside me. "Lu, I don't want this to be my last day and not having you tell me that. Just tell me. Please?"

For a short moment, her features softened, and she looked like a true angel as she gave me a sad look. "I love you, Zero. Happy?"

I gave her a nod, and that must've been the signal for her to go back to the harsh Luanna again, because her face went cold. "We should go now. Are you coming?"

I nodded again, and didn't tell her what I really thought.

No, I wasn't happy. Because those words -those four words- had sounded like lies, forced out so my feelings wouldn't be harmed. But as I looked at her take off, I knew that it was enough anyway. It was enough for me.