Wandering Alone

Chapter 7

The next time I woke up, I was in a different room. It has blue walls, although one was dark green, and was neat as a pin. Curiosity poked at my mind as I scanned my surrounding, trying to figure out where I was. There was a desk to my right that had a lamp and laptop on it, but the thing that caught my attention was a sketch pad. I couldn't tell what was on it in the dark, but I decided to look later. There was a dresser next to the desk, on top of it was pictures of little kids and an older couple. I smiled slightly. They looked happy. The last thing I saw was a brown leather couch. When my eyes fell upon it, - or rather, the person laying on it - my heart almost stopped.

I was in Zane's house.

Asleep on the couch, curled into a ball, lay Zane. Why did he bring me to his house? Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, almost knocking me out right then and there. I let me head fall back on the soft pillows, but fought to stay awake. I needed to find out why I was here. I fought a loosing battle though, soon I was fast asleep.

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Voices. Lots of voices.

I groaned an rolled over, trying to ignore them. But, alas, my sleep was not meant to be. Slowly, they got louder, until they were practically screaming in my ear.

"DEMITRA!"

Sat straight up, knocking my head with someone. I heard a child scream before I opened my eyes, sending chills up my spine. When I did open my eyes, I wished I hadn't. Several children crowded around me, staring like I would break. A child, whom I assume I bumped heads with, was crying in her mothers arm. The mother was patting her on the back, trying in vain to calm her.

Gilt washed over me then. I felt so bad I felt like crying, myself. Hesitantly, I rose to my knees and scooted forward so I was a few feet from the girl. I reached out with one hand and touched her on the shoulder.  I pulled back when she flinched. "It's okay." I cooed, touching her again. This time I left my hand there. She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. She had long blond hair and blue eyes. Her little button nose made me want to pinch it. She looked to be about five or six years old. Her little pink dress with butterflies reminded me of a dress had when I was her age.

Her crying turned to soft sniffles as she examined me, but the tears still ran down her face. "I'm sorry." I whispered, looking into her eyes, "Will you forgive me?" she stared at me for a second, before nodding and holding out her arms. Her mother smiled and held her out for me to take. I hesitated. I had never held a child before. Slowly I grabbed her under her out stretched arms and lifted her so she touched my body. She wrapped her arms around my neck and legs around my waist, so I slipped my hands under her thighs to keep her in place.

I heard someone chuckle next to me, loud and long. I rolled my eyes, recognizing it imeaditly. "Looks like Aria likes you." Zane said in-between chuckles. I sat back aginst the pillows, careful not to hurt Aria, and let her relax. She burrowed her head into my neck deeper, causing me to shiver; her tears were cold. Then I noticed the children running and screaming all around me. I couldn't help but shutter as my headache started to come back.

"All right boys, settle down and introduce yourselves." The mother shouted, obviously noticing my discomfort. The boys, because they all were boys, scrambled onto a line argue foot of my bed, standing straight. "Well, go on."

The tallest boy took a step forward, "I'm Jake, and I'm thirteen years old." he said, and then took a step back.

"I'm Miles, and I'm eight." Said a younger, slightly shorter boy.

"I'm Ian, and I'm six." the littlest boy said, holding up five fingers. I couldn't help but smile. They all looked remarkably the same. Each had dirty blond hair, bright blue eyes, and pale skin. Except for Ian, his hair was lighter than the rest.  The whole thing reminded me of a scene from Cheaper By the Dozen.

"Okay boys, scoot!" The woman said, patting Ian on the back. The boys filed out of the room, running and screaming as soon as they were out of the doorway. The lady sighed and ran a hand through her blond hair, much like her children's, before turning to me. "Hello, I'm Zane's mom." she said, smiling.

Was it weird that I was nervous?  I mean, come on, I was meeting Zane's mother. "Hi Mrs-"

"No, please, call me Emma." Emma insisted, giving me a kind but stern look.  That's something that makes a good mom, they know how to be firm and yet make you love them at the same time.  Unfortunately, my mom had no such skill.

"Nice to meet you, Emma." I said, chuckling slightly. Aria stirred in my lap, twisting to look at her mother.

"And that, as you already know, is Aria." Aria turned to look at me as her mother spoke her name, smiling widely.  Even though she was young, she was already strikingly beautiful.  When she got older, her mom would have to watch out for those boys.

"And how old are you, Aria?" I asked, acting like I had no idea.  Kids loved that.

Aria giggled, "Four." She said. Zane laughed again, prying the child from my arms.

"Not yet, silly goose. Your birthday is tomorrow." He informed he informed her, poking her nose.  She protested, but eventually Zane convinced her it was so.

"Come on Aria, Demitra needs her rest." Emma said, holding her arms out for the small kid.  Aria immediately looked horrified.

"No mama, I want to stay with her!" Aria screeched,  squirming in Zanes arms, trying to break free.

"Aria." the second she heard my voice she stopped and stared. "If you do what your mom tells you, I'll play with you later." I was sad to see her upset, but I really was tired.  She smiled as Zane set her on the floor. She ran to the door so fast, I hardly noticed when she stopped.

"Promise?" She asked, poking her head around the door frame.

"Pinkie promise." I held out my pinkie finger for her. She ran to my side and wrapped her little finger around mine, laughing. Then, she was gone.

"Can I get you anything?" Emma asked.  What the hell was this place?  Everyone was so nice!

"I'm good for right now, but thank you." She nodded and walked out as well, leaving me with Zane. When the door was closed, I exploded,

"What the hell am I doing here?!" I screeched, bewildered. 

"Calm down, Demi." He whispered, sitting down on his bed. "The doctors release you from the hospital last night but said you couldn't be alone. There was no on at your house so I had to bring you here." After be was done explaining, he handed me a cup of water, which I drank.

"Not surprising there." I muttered under my breath, referring to my empty house.  Zane wasn't' meant to hear, and if he did he chose not to comment.  We talked for a little while, but I started to fell drowsy. When my eyes just wouldn't stay open any longer, Zane stood up.

"I think you need a nap." he walked to the door, but the stopped, "I'll have some food for you when you wake up, if you want it." I nodded, but he knew I probably wouldn't. He opened the door and began to walk out. Suddenly, I felt the urge to talk,

"Thank you, Zane." How someone who I barely know could do more nice things for met then my mother had done in my whole life was beyond me.  He paused, I could see him smiling slightly, before he closed the door.