I Need A Hero

Chapter Five

A/N: Hi guys! So, this is the next chapter of I Need A Hero. We're sorry it's taken so long; it's been written while we're in the library at school, and we only have a few minutes before school begins to work on it, so of course it takes awhile. But nonetheless, we hope you like this chapter! - Becky & Aaryn

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know I've been crying at Zachary's grave for hours, because the sun begins to set on the horizon. I feel weak and my stomach growls from hunger. I have to go back to my family, back to Uncle Joe's funeral.

Wiping my tears, I stand up. I take a deep breath before I start walking back to the funeral spot. I'm hoping that everyone is still there, because if not, I'll have to walk home, and that's something that I don't want to do.

I think about a lot of things as I walk, such as how my life is going to be without Uncle Joe. All I know is that it's going to be very, very different. I'll only have one person to tell all my troubles to, and that's Camille. I won't have anyone to play one of my favorite games, Candyland, with- unless Camille wants to play, and she rarely ever does. I won't have anyone tell me right before they leave, "Dream big, my Angel. Things will get better if you believe. Just dream and believe, Beauty."

Uncle Joe was the only one to do any of those things. He was the only one to really make me feel like I was accepted, other than Camille, after Zachary died. I've honestly never really been able to imagine my life without Camille or Uncle Joe- but now I have to live my life without Uncle Joe. How am I going to do that?

It takes me almost twenty minutes to walk back to the funeral spot, seeing as I'm walking slow because I'm thinking. When I finally reach the spot, I see that everyone's gone home, but Uncle Joe's coffin still hasn't been burried. I guess they wanted to wait until I was finally able to control my crying and say goodbye.

I walk up to the coffin. It's sealed shut, but it doesn't matter to me. I honestly don't want to see Uncle Joe's dead body again. I'm afraid that if I actually see his cold, limp, dead body again, that I might vommit all over it.

"Hi, Uncle Joe," I say, tears streaming down my face once again. "I'm sorry for running off earlier, but I just couldn't deal with it. I couldn't deal with all the sad faces and everything. So, I ran off. I visited Zachary, you know. I hope you two are looking out for each other up there wherever you are, and that you're looking after me and Camille as well. I'm really gonna miss you, Uncle Joe. As in, a whole lot. You've been there for me through absolutely everything. I honestly don't know what I'll do now, because I won't have anyone to do the things we used to do with anymore. That is, unless Camille wants to, but I doubt she will. Anyways, I better go. Camille's probably worried sick, and as for Mom and Dad- I have no idea. I love you, Uncle Joe. So much. I'll miss you more than you can imagine. I love you. Goodbye. Rest in peace."

I wipe my tears and head home. I'm not even half way home before it starts to rain. I don't even try to cover my head. Instead, I stop and look up at the cloudy sky. "I love you, Zachary and Uncle Joe. Please look after me and Camille. I miss you both," I say, my voice breaking multiple times.

I swallow and begin walking again. I know that I don't have that much longer until I reach home. Hopefully, my parents aren't fighting. I know it's mostly hopeless, but I want them to get along. I want it to be the way it was before Camille was diagnosed with cancer, before Uncle Joe got sick, before Zachary died.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I run into something. I know it's not a pole, because it's too soft. I can feel warmth coming from the object, so I know it has to be a person. The person steadies me by grabbing my wrists gently and watches me carefully with shockingly green eyes. My eyes widen as I take in all of his features. Curly black hair falling into his bright eyes, very muscular build, and clad in black from head to toe. He's really quite.. well.. sexy and that's saying something, considering I've never said that about anyone.

"Daydreaming like that will get you hurt someday, best to watch where you're going," he says softly yet sweetly, still holding onto my wrists.

I, of course, can only stare at him with this confused look on my face. I know everyone in town, considering it's a really small town, yet he's a total stranger. Maybe he's just visiting family or something. Who knows?

"Be careful and maybe I'll see you around some other time."

With that, he simply just walks away and I still continue to stare after him, dumbfounded. That was weird, I thought. 

I shake it off and continue home. My mind is occupied by the guy. I've never seen him before, so he must be a stranger. Maybe he's visiting family, or maybe he's new at school. Though he seems a little old to be in high school. 

I finally make it home, and I go straight up to mine and Camille's room. Camille's already in her bed, reading a book. I take my jacket off and toss it onto my bed. 

"What book are you reading?" I ask Camille softly.

"Awakened," she says. "It's a good book. You should read it."

I smile at her. "Is that from the House of Night series?"

"Yep."

"I'll read it."

"Haha, so where were you?" Camille asks, closing the book and looking at me.

"I was at Zachary's grave," I say, not looking her in the eyes.

"Lily..." Camille says, but stops.

"What?" I ask.

"Zachary died three years ago," Camille says. "You have to stop going to his grave. I know what it's doing to you. It's killing you that he's dead. You wish it were you. You want your roles to be switched. You want Zachary to be alive while you're dead. Well, guess what? It doesn't work that way. You just need to forget about that day."

"I can't just forget about it, Camille!" I say, turning around and looking at her. "He was my best friend! I kissed him right before he died! How the hell am I just suppposed to forget about it?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Camille says. "I just don't want you hurt."

"It's a little too late," I say. "I'm going to get ready for bed." 

I grab a pair of pajama pants and a tank top from my drawer and change in front of Camille. Then, without brushing my hair or teeth, I just climb into my bed and close my eyes. 

"Goodnight," Camille says as she turns off the light.

"Goodnight," I say, right before I drift into a dream-filled sleep.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: OK THERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER! Again, we're really really sorry for the long wait! We know that it's been too long of a wait, but we're not exactly able to write. I got ungrounded from my computer, back I have to wait until it's fixed, so I've been using my brother's laptop (Not to mention, I have Dance class every Monday and Wednesday and Friday and Saturday), and Aaryn's far too busy with school (As am I) and marching band. So, we barely get to write.

AAAANNNNDDDD YOU GUYS MET DALTON FINALLY!!! YAY!! What do you guys think of him?????

Anyways, we hope you guys like what we have! We'll update as soon as we can!

PS: The photo on the side is of Drew Doyon, who plays Dalton Crowthers :)

-Becky and Aaryn