Zuro

VIII

Zyah needed to learn how to watch her tongue. It had been difficult to do though since she could barely even keep her emotions in check. "You and I both know that Pappa always said it would happen Vern, I was only saying that because it would've been what Pappa wanted." Vernon raised an eye at his sister. "Are you sure?" As an attempt to hide her lie and keep from spilling the truth, Zyah sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded her head.

Even though he knew that she was lying, he knew not to force her to see what everybody else did. "You're a terrible liar."he chuckled just as Kyan walked in. "Your erm, your bath is ready." Zyah couldn't help but smile at her best friends nervous behavior. "Thank you, Pilot." Vernon gave Zyah one last hug. "Talk to him, if you're not going to tell me. He deserves to know Zyah." Zyah's eyebrows creased in confusion as they pulled out of the embrace. Vernon winked at her as he walked out of the room. "We'll be downstairs when you're done in the shower." Kyan spoke as he turned his back. "Actually, Ky would you come back up to my room in about an hour?"

Zyah had spent an entirety of forty five minutes in the shower, fifteen minutes drying her hair and looking for clothes comfortable enough. Kyan was impatient, he knew that she wanted to talk, otherwise why would she have called him back up here? He didn't bother knocking, expecting that Zyah  be dressed, considering the hour was up. He was ever so wrong. Walking in on her in nothing but her sports bra and boy shorts had him hot and bothered in ways he didn't think the sober Zyah would appreciate.

"Oh, fuck, shit sorry Zy."He heard her chuckle as he threw his hands over his eyes. "You've seen me in less Kyan. We have to talk." She was serious. He sucked in his bottom lip biting down on it to restrain himself as he nodded. She moved onto the bed and waited for her best friend to follow suit. "So, are you ready to say your final goodbyes?" Kyan asked as he sat down beside her, unable to keep his eyes trained on one spot. Zyah took in a deep breath and Kyan lifted his head and looked at her in her eyes peace. His rattled heart stilled as he watched the sadness in her eyes grow by the second.

Without a thought, Kyan's hands wrapped themselves around her wrists and pulled Zyah into his chest. Zyah shivered as his hands soothingly rubbed her bare back. It made her think about the night before, she needed to be open with him. Was it not fair to the both of them? She fought off her true feelings long enough before Vernon stabbed her with cupids bow. Kyan needed to know how she felt. Taking a deep breath she unwrapped herself from his embrace.

"I'll be okay, I promise."  Kyan nodded. "Well, why did I have to come up here? Why don't you come downstairs?" Again, a wave of sadness washed over her. "I'm not ready to face the fact that they're no longer here, it hurts to much to know that nobody's going to call me down there for supper, nobody's going to come knocking on my door to talk to me about what a dick you've been. They're not going to be there sitting at the kitchen table teasing us about coming out of my room together."  Kyan laughed, his head falling forward onto her shoulder. "They really were the life of this place, weren't they?" Zyah nodded with a tight-lipped smile. "It's going to be okay, I promise, you'll have me whenever you need to lay off some steam, just like you've been there for me."

As much as Zyah had wanted to blurt out that she didn't mean anything she'd said on their way here, she decided to keep it to herself, she didn't want him to feel like she was taking him on an emotional roller coaster ride. Maybe she could tell him on their way back home, when everything had calmed down. Thinking about home Zyah's eyes grew the size of saucers. "I miss Zuro! I wonder if he's okay? Do you think he misses us?" Kyan laughed as Zyah was hyperventilating. "You don't think we should've brought him with us?""Zy, relax, Zuro is fine. I've actually got this app on my phone that's connected to the camera's I've got my eye on him all of the time."

Zyah and Kyan spent two hours hauled up in her room, talking about how Kyan and Vernon had created a newfound bond, apparently they were ,more like best friends and brothers should be. Not that it made any sense to Zyah. It amazed her, how well her older brother had handled the funeral arrangements and she laughed at how they argued over deciding whether or not Zyah should stay here with her brother or go back with Kyan. "Don't worry though, I got it through to him that this was the only way you could make your parents proud, you're stuck with me Captain."

Suddenly it hit Zyah; who was doing the eulogy? "Vern was actually hoping you'd do it? The Eulogy He said you're better at speaking publicly." Zyah suffered some whiplash as she caught on what Kyan said. "Is he crazy? I can't do that!"Kyan frowned. "Why not? You'd be great. I'll do it with you if you like. Like we did at my parents funeral?" Zyah nodded. Thoughts were swarming her brain and she didnt know if she was even thinking. "Come on, you must be hungry, I sure as hell am. Vern said he's ordering out? Your aunt Lena is coming to cook for tomorrow and asked him to keep the kitchen clean.

They were almost halfway out the door when Zyah spoke. "I can't go out in my underwear, what would my dad thi-" Kyan didn't waste any time. He pulled the sobbing girel into his arms. "Shhhh Captain, it's alright. It's all going to be okay." How stupid could she be? Her dad would never be able to reprimand her rebellious behaviour ever again. "Why can't I get over this? It's no fair." Kyan nodded in understanding. "Look baby, it's going to fuck you up, i'm not going to lie, but I promise I'll be there all of the time, wherever, whenever." Zyah nodded in acknowledgement. "Now, throw on that pretty sundress and lets show Vern how you can throw down."