T.A.A Chapter Two "For Better or For Worse"

Chapter 2


My first reaction? Scream.


Once my voice died, I took in a large breath to start another scream. He clamped his hand over my mouth. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please, don't scream." he said lowly, his eyes darting around to catalog his surroundings. I blinked, stunned.


He propped himself up onto his elbow. "Listen, please, go home. Just go home and pretend you never saw me." he managed. He was practically begging me. "W-Why do you have wings?" I asked.


"Ah, these. . .er, were put on me." he said, frowning. He looked away, ashamed at being different, and I made up my mind.


"Get up." I said, standing as well. "Can you stand?" I asked a second later, realizing he was still bloody. He stood up shakily, almost falling. I supported him, feeling him totally lean on me. Almost all of his weight was on me. Why would he trust me so easily?


"Where are we going?" he asked, wincing when my hand groped his stomach. I tried to get a firm grip around him so I wouldn't drop him. "Well, home." I said, smiling up at him.



"Wait here. My Mom's inside. I gotta get her to leave before you can come in." I said when we reached the clearing.


My house was smack in the middle of the circular clearing. The field was green and lush. I adored where I lived, but hated the distance it was from town. My house was a nice red colour, bricks forming the walls. It was a totally cozy house.


(Here's the house-----------> http://www.tennessee-fieldstone.com/fieldstone/natural-stone-house.jpg)

I ran inside, trying hard not to freak out. Hey, Mom! I brought a sexy guy home, who, by the way, has wings! Imagine her face.

"Mother?" I called. She was in the kitchen. In front of clients, her hair was down, voluminous, auburn and her face was perfectly made up, not a wrinkle in sight. Her clothes were the latest fashion.

In front of me, she had gray in her hair which was up in a teachery fashion, wore cute baggy sweaters and jeans, and glasses drooping to her freckled checks. Her green eyes were bright, and I wished I had gotten her eyes. I inherited my father's washed-out blue eyes.

"Ana-Sweetie, I'm happy you're on time. I'm just about to leave." she said, scooping me up in a gigantic bear hug - which I adored. I hugged her back hard. "Come back soon, okay?" I asked, trying to sound cool, but my voice cracked. I hated being alone in this huge house without her.

She cupped my chin in her hands and kissed my forehead. "I will be back as soon as I can, Ana-Sweetie." she promised, holding her pinky up. We locked pinkies, grinning at each other. Then, a car honked outside. "That's Jack!" she said with plenty of excitement. Jack was her driver AND her hairdresser. Not to mention, he was at the top of her list of "Potential Husband Number Three". My father had been her first husband. He lasted a year, then they divorced. I was born after that.

She remarried when I was three to fur-selling Zack. He lasted only a month. I had hated him. He kept calling me "Sunshine". Gag.

Now she's preying on Jack. I loved my mom, but she has awful taste in men. Except for my dad. Dad was a keeper. She shouldn't have lost him.

"Bye, Mom. Love you." I said, waving. She waved back and blew me an air kiss. She ran out the door, leaving me entirely alone.

Almost.

As soon as she hit the steps that led to the driveway where Jack was waiting, I hit the back deck. I ran faster than lighting, I think. Maybe. I have no idea, but I came across Light (what I'm calling him for now), bleeding and waiting. He smiled at me when he saw me.

"I'm sorry. It took a little longer than I thought." I said weakly, offering my hand. He took it, and I glanced back to see Jack and Mom driving away. "Come on." I said, helping him up. We reached the deck and went inside. I led him up to my room (my thoughts were pure, I swear!) and he sat down heavily on my bed.

"Okay, how about this: I get you some Band-Aids or something, a shirt, and you explain what's up?" I asked. "I'm gonna need more than a Band-Aid." he said, frowning. He lifted his arm, revealing a large gash on his side. "Oooh. Yea, you're gonna need some. . .gauze or something." I managed. He raised an eyebrow.

"Better than being a toilet paper mummy, right?" I said a few minutes later, wrapping gauze around his stomach. He shrugged. "What's your name, anyway?" he asked logically. "Me? E-Er, it's Anastasia." I said. He stared at me. "I know it's weird." I said. That was the most common reaction to my name. I had always hated my name.

"I think it's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." he said.

I had always hated my name until now.

Trying hard to keep my cool (and most probably failing miserably) I thanked him. "And yours?" I asked. "My what?"
"Name."
He laughed. "Mine's weird too. They call me Zen." I looked up from cutting the gauze. I had always thought Zen was, like, Buddhism. Though I think I love the word 'Zen' now.  

"I like your name." I managed, blushing furiously. Zen beamed. "Who's 'they', anyway?" I asked. No rhyme intentional. "Well, I don't really know myself. They're the ones who put wings on me. Scientists." he said. Whoa.

"God, did they kidnap you? Were you sold into it at birth? What happened?" I said, stunned. "U-Uhm, yeah." he said indirectly.

He didn't want to talk about it. I got it. I shut my mouth and stood up. "Done?" he asked, looking at his stomach. "Yup, all done." I said.

"Thanks," he said, smiling at me. He looked sooo like an Angel. He stretched his wings out, fluttering the feathers a bit, trying to get blood back into them. "Do you keep them tucked in all the time?" I asked. "Yea, most of the time. It fells good to get some air through them, though." Zen replied. "You can FLY with them? They're not just for show?! Really?" I said, ecstatic. It had always been a dream of mine to fly.

"Yeah." he said, enjoying my delight. After basking in my attention for a few minutes, and telling me all about flying, he said, "Anyway, I should leave now. Thanks for your help, Anastasia." he said, standing up.

As soon as he did, he clutched his side, wincing. "You should stay awhile. There's a guest room. You can have that one." I said.

He stared at me for a few minutes. ". . .You're a sweetheart, Anastasia." he said. My face flushed. "I don't know how to thank you." Zen went on. He grinned at me. "W-Well, what can I say?" I played it over.

For some reason, watching Zen walk out of my room, I had a feeling my life was gonna change drastically.

For better or for worse, you know?