When The Clock Strikes Twelve

Chapter 11

Zaria wrapped her arms around Jaye, catching her just as her arm flopped to the ground. Zander helped her lay Jaye down on the floor. Zaria looked at Zander, alarmed. "What do we do?"

"She's probably just exhausted. We don't know if she's had anything to eat since yesterday. We should probably just let her sleep and give her food as soon as she wakes up."

Letting her stay passed out was the last thing that Zaria wanted to do, but she knew that Zander was probably right.

Zander grunted. "Let's get her somewhere more comfortable." He picked Jaye up, making his way to the stairs. Zaria followed, even though Zander didn't seem to need any help. They passed Aram on their way up. He gave her a questioning look, but she waved him away. Later. she mouthed.

They opened the door to Zaria and Jaye's apartment and Zaria pointed to Jaye's room, following Zander into the dim room. Zander put her down on the bed gently, pulling her jacket off carefully. Zaria unlaced her shoes and tugged them off, trying not to disturb the deeply sleeping Jaye. Finally, she was in nothing but a t-shirt and jeans. Quietly, they backed out of the room, not speaking until the door was closed.

"I don't know how long she'll be asleep," he explained. "But she needs someone here with her when she wakes up to-"

"I'll do it." Zaria said immediately.

Zander looked at her, unsurprised. "You already missed yesterday's practice, and you're not the most adept..." he said, trying to be gentle.

"I know," said Zaria "but you're the only other one who would actually do it,"

Zander raised an eyebrow at her boldness, but she forged on.

"-and you have to be downstairs soon to tell them what to do. And, also I'm the only one that can help with the nightma-"

Zander, whose gaze had been wandering around the room lazily, looked at her suddenly.

"What did you say?" he asked her, his calm demeanor completely gone. "She said she wasn't having the nightmares anymore."

Zaria swallowed, realizing that she might have said a little too much. "She- she has these really bad nightmares. She's always screaming and kicking."

"I know." Zander said impatiently. "She had medication, but she left it behind. She told me she doesn't need it anymore. She said she wasn't having the nightmares anymore."

Looking down hesitantly, Zaria explained how she had been helping Jaye with the nightmares without her knowledge. Zander's gaze stayed on her the entire time.

When she finished, he nodded, gazing at the door that Jaye was behind. A few moments passed, the silence becoming heavier and heavier.

"Okay." he said. "You stay with her. As soon as she wakes up, get her some food and then come get me, alright?"

Zaria nodded, trying to hide her smile. She turned back to the door, and opened it carefully.

"Thank you, Zaria." said Zander. She turned to him, but he was already walking away.

Staying by Jaye's side was interesting for about 5 minutes. Zaria realized that she had no idea how long Jaye would take to wake up, and she had virtually nothing to do. She remembered what Zander had said You're not the most adept... She knew it was true. She glanced again at Jaye, who was sleeping deeply, giving no sign of waking up anytime soon.

Sighing, Zaria started to work on the exercise drills that they had been doing. There was no way she could climb the smooth walls, and she had no partner to practice martial arts with, but she did her best. Soon, she was panting, her muscles trembling. She lost herself in the routine of working out, going through the drills absentmindedly, stopping every once in a while to get water from the kitchen. The sun was starting to peek over the window sill when Jaye finally stirred. Zaria froze mid kick, and rushed to Jaye.