literature

Time For A Nap

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I lean my head back and cover my mouth as I yawn. Then I lull my head forward and smack my lips absently as I continue walking toward the unknown. My eyelids droop closed every few seconds.

"Orchid? Are you okay? Are you tired? You haven't been sleeping, have you?" Zane quickly asks, the concern obvious in his tone. "Maybe you should tell Leif it's time for a break."

I swat my hand dismissively as I'm hit with another yawn. I shake my head, trying to stop anymore from coming. "No, no, no. I'm fi-" Yet another yawn and I cover my mouth again and turn away.

Zane cocks an eyebrow. "Hmm?" he hums smugly.

"Fine," I finish curtly, folding my arms. "I'm fine. I don't need any rest."

But that is a lie. I haven't been sleeping all that much since we hit the two week mark. I'm scared this was a huge mistake. What if we end up like my parents? I can't stand causing all of the people I care for most any harm, but that's what I may be doing. I lie awake at night, guilt drowning me. At first, Zane would stay up with me, because it appeared he had a case of insomnia as well, but after a couple days, I realized he was just doing it for my benefit. I pretend to sleep so he won't feel bad about making me stay up alone. Sometimes I'll watch him in his sleep, which is surprisingly entertaining. He smiles a lot in his sleep. I wonder what he's dreaming about that makes him so happy, but I can't ask him without exposing myself. There are rare nights when he doesn't smile at all; those are the nights with the nightmares. I'll wake him from those, claiming he woke me up by tossing and turning.

Another blasted yawn attempts to contradict me. I growl to myself. "I'm fine, really."

"Have you been having a hard time sleeping again?" he asks, ignoring my last words. "Why haven't you told me? Even if you don't want to talk about it, I don't mind staying up with you. It's not a bother."

"It's all good, Blue. I've been getting more-" More yawns, turning my words into lies. "Than enough sleep." I can't lie when I'm sleepy! It's not fair.

His blue eyebrows knit together. "You look like you haven't slept in days." I begin shaking my head wildly, not in denial, but trying to force myself awake. I rub my eyes and force them open as wide as they can, but now my head is spinning. I give a small yelp when I trip over my own feet, but Zane catches me before I can fall face down. He sits me down, and frowns. "Will you please ask for that break?"

"No," I say stubbornly, trying to get back up, but he's holding me down.

"Why not? You need your rest."

"Because I don't want to slow us down. I don't want to be a burden."

"You wouldn't be a burden, Orchid."

"I'm still not asking."

He sighs. "Fine, be that way." He looks toward my friends. "Leif!"

"No," I hiss, reaching to cover his mouth.

He easily keeps my hands away. "Ex-excuse me, Leif." A few of my friends look back, surprised he's spoken up. "I think now would be a good time for another rest from walking. I think some people require a break." He looks down at me sternly.

"Your wizard legs not used to walking so much?" Leif taunts from the front of the group. "Too used to travel by your flying house tool?"

"N-no, that's not-"

Leif cuts him off. "I don't hear anyone else complaining, so we're going to keep moving until I say we can stop. Deal with it."

"Zane, leave it alone," I mutter.

"I can't. You need to sleep, even if it's a short nap. It's better than what you're getting." He looks forward again, then at me, and I can see he's debating something in his mind. "Stay here a moment." And he starts walking to the front of the group. This entire trip he's kept to the back, so this is the first time he's cut in front of people. I'm stunned for a moment, but I quickly get up to follow. He reaches Leif before I can catch up and puts a hand on him. "Pardon me, but we really do need a break. It's nearly lunch time anyway. So-"

"Do not touch me, wizard," Leif warns. He shoves Zane away, right into me, and the force was enough to push me down onto the ground. "This better not happen again."

I open my mouth to snap at Leif, but my wizard friend is already over me, mumbling apologies like mad. "I'm so sorry, Orchid. I didn't mean to knock you over. Are you alright, are you okay? Did I hurt you? Sorry, sorry, sorry." He helps me back up, but turns his attention back to the shape shifter. "Leif," he snaps. "If you'd bother listening to me, you'd know I'm not the one who needs a moment. Orchid–" I cover his mouth, but he removes my hand. "Orchid looks like she hasn't had a moment to sleep all week, and she's not a wizard, so she shouldn't be punished. Unless you think she should be because she's friends with a wizard."

Leif stops and turns around to glare at him, and to my shock, Zane doesn't look away as I thought he would. He holds the other man's gaze.

Everyone else is silent for a moment, waiting for what comes next.

I'm starting to get anxious. "Zane. Zane," I whisper. "Let's just go." I tug on his arm to pull him to the back again, but he won't budge. "I'm okay, really. There's no need for this. Just come on."

He waggles a finger at me, smiling ever so slightly. "Someone has to take care of you because you're not taking care of yourself."

"You don't have to do that."

He laughs softly. "Oh, but I do."

I want to ask why he'd say that, but Leif finally speaks up. "Okay, okay. We'll stop for now." He turns away from us and tosses his hands up. "Everyone eat up and be ready to move on in an hour."

"Thank you," Zane says sincerely. But it comes as no surprise when his words are not acknowledged by the man walking off.

I reach into my bag and take out a vial of seeds. Zane shoves them back into my bag. "Blue, I need to grow some extra food."

"We've got leftovers from breakfast."

"But-"

He leads us to out of the center of the group to a space just beyond everyone's earshot. He takes off his bag and sets it against a tree, then pulls off my bag and takes out my quilt. "Time for a nap. I know you need more than an hour of rest, but it'll suffice until tonight." He holds out the quilt.

I don't accept it. "I don't need a nap. Go get yourself some lunch."

"Then you're saying that was all for nothing?"

I narrow my gaze. He's using guilt on me. But I won't let it work on me. Not this time. I sit on the ground and fold my arms, making an indignant sound. He sits right next to me.

"If you don't sleep, he's going to think I used you as an excuse." By his tone, I don't think he cares that all much. It's not like Leif can despise him anymore than he already does. "Please. It'll really make me feel better, Orchid." I look away defiantly. "I'm not eating until you fall sleep," he threatens.

"Then I hope you're prepared to starve… or at least wait until tonight."

"I think I can make it, but I'm not entirely sure," he says, feigning weakness.

I roll my eyes. "Oh, please, Blue."

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him reaching toward me, but hesitate. Zane bites his lip, looking unsure of himself, but then he lets out a breath through his nose and grabs my hand. That makes me look at him. "Orchid. Please, please, just do this one thing for me. I know you don't owe me anything and it's just a nap, but I worry more than enough as it is."

I frown. "You're… wrong, you know."

"How can you accuse me of being wrong? It's just a nap I'm asking of you. Is that so hard?"

I pat his hand with the hand he doesn't hold. "No, no. That's not what I meant. You're wrong about me owing you nothing. I owe you my life. You of all people should know that." I squeeze his hand before he can deny it. "It's not your fault. None of it was. And you know what; it's not even Sydelle's." He quirks his eyebrows at that. "It's the world we live in, the world that's told us to fear and hate those things we know nothing about. When you try to go against the norm… unpleasant things tend to happen."

"Did these things have to happen to you?" he asks quietly.

"Would you have preferred that it happened to you?"

He blushes and looks at our hands. I took that as a no. But then he says in barely a whisper, "Yes." Zane rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. "I'd rather it all happened to me instead of you."

"Well… in a way, things did happen to you then, huh? Just not directly."

"I wish that hadn't involved you."

I sigh. "So do I, Blue. So do I. But life isn't fair."

"I disagree. It isn't life that's unfair, it's the people."

There's a long pause. "Tell you what…" I grab the quilt. "I'll take that nap after all. I don't want to be a burden, but I'd be even more of one if I make myself sick, now wouldn't I?"

"No, never a burden. I wouldn't mind helping you if you were sick." His cheeks turn a deeper shade of magenta. "I wouldn't be excited about it, because of the fact you were sick, but I'd be… happy to make you feel better." Zane runs a hand through his teal hair then drops my hand. "Alright, so time for that nap." His hands take back the quilt, but with a single flap of the cloth, it's spread out. He tucks it under for me and I nestle myself into a tight ball. "Now get some rest. You'll need it. I'll fetch enough food for both of us. You can eat while we're walking." He starts to get up.

I reach for his hand. "Wait. Blue?" He sits back down. "I just want to say… thank you. So much. For taking care of me. For everything you've done for me." Then without waiting for him react, I close my eyes, retract my hand and pull the quilt high enough that the edge tickles my nose.

I hear him start to say something, but he snaps his mouth shut. Zane sits there for several heartbeats until I sense him lean forward to stand up, but he hovers over me for a moment. I could feel the warmth radiating from his flushed cheeks. "It's my… pleasure to take care of you, Orchid." And he lightly presses his lips to my forehead. "For as long as we're together, I'll always take care of you." The warmth increases, and then he gets up and leaves.
I'M SO SORRY! I KNOW I TOLD SOME OF YOU I'D BE DONE BY TODAY AND I'D HAVE THE LINK READY, BUT I DON'T! D:

I mean, I'm done. Editing, formatting, all that jazz, but when I go to click the button that makes it official, the glorious and magical button that makes it available for sale, NOTHING HAPPENS! It's as if I didn't press the button. And I've checked to see if I just expected more, but nothing's changed. So there must be a glitch or something but oh gosh, I'm so sorry.

So, as retribution(and it's been ages since I've posted anything), I shall give you one more snippet. I know it's not riddled with romance, which would be much more fitting given today's date, but I find it adorable in it's own way. Zane's trying to take care of her, but she's being thick headed.
And I feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about his last line:blushes:

Again, I am so sorry. I really feel horrible about the wait. I hope this makes up for it, at least a little.

These lovely characters belong to me. For more excerpts of Follow the Arrow click right here.
Happy Single's Awareness Day everyone:blowkiss:
© 2012 - 2024 v-gal015
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Dabug123's avatar
awww zane! hes so sweet and adorkable! >___< oh gosh they're just too cute!