Finally it was around the time I usually have dinner. I pre heated the oven and put in a premade frozen chicken casserole. "Tonight we are having a chicken caserol. Its premade though." "Oh I don't mind. I know how you eat. You need to stop making all this premade stuff. Its not healthy." "You know I don't have time for all that. I barely have enough time to preheat the oven and put my dinner in." after I put the dinner in I plopped my but on the couch next to Nova. "Ok I have a confession to make. Its about what happened when we were kids. Remember what I said about the breakfast with the French toast? Well I did start it. Teo took the blame for me because I was scared of what would happen if the grown ups found out." "Why exactly did you do it?" "It started off as an accident then Teo threw the next one. I picked up my fork and it flung and hit Teo." "Oh so that's how it started. Well at least mom and dad believed him and you got off the hook." "Hey I was just a kid then. What was I supposed to do?" We talked until the timer when off. I took it out of the over and put it on my table. "Lets let it cool for a bit Nova." He nodded then we talked for a few more minutes then headed to the table to eat. "Do you think he will come out with you by my side?" "He might. He came to the studio when you were practicing." "Ok. I hope we find out tonight. I'd rather not get the police involved." Once we were done eating I cleaned off the dishes and said, "Ok lets get to our walking." I already had on everything I needed ahead of time so we can walk.
I walked the path I usually do. Then I felt the presence again. I looked at Nova, he nodded to let me know he feels it too. He turned around and no one was there. "Lets act normal and talk. Lets go to an open area to not cause trouble." I nodded and we acted normal until we got to an open space. "OK who are you? If you don't tell us we are going to get the police involved." Said Nova. The man finally came out. A hooded man said, "Please don't get the police involved. I'm only trying to protect her." "Who are you? What are you protecting her from exactly?" "That accident wasn't by accident. Someone was purposely trying to hurt her. Or kill her. I was hired by someone to watch over her." "What is your name? Show me your face." "Once I show my face, I hope Zee would remember me." He pulled down his hood, and when I saw his face I had a flashback. I was close enough to a tree that the flashback made me fall backwards into one. "Zee? Zee! Are you ok?" I was having a memory return when I saw him. Then finally I came back. "I'm ok Nova. Really. He is an old classmate. Why have you returned? You left without notice none of us knew where you went not even the teachers. They were shocked when they found out you disappeared. What exactly happened?" "It's a long story. Maybe some other time. Be careful. Your next performance could be dangerous." "Thank you for the warning. Please stop sneaking around now that I know you. You can guard my door if you are so worried." "That I will do." "Ok then. Follow us back to my apt."
We got back to my apt and Nova said, "If I leave here can you promise to take care of her even if it's the last thing you do?" "Yes I will." "Will you be ok Zee?" "Yes thank you once again. Tell Teo thanks as well and I'm sorry about back then." "Haha oh he won't care. Don't worry. I will anyway." So he went out the door and I locked it. We visited awhile then it was time for bed.
A couple of months went by and it was time for another concert. As usual I dressed for the occasion. I dressed for a mixture of hip hop and street dancing. I did my warm up then I nodded that I was ready. The announcer announced me like normal and I came up and said a few words before I started. I was halfway thorough when I felt a pain in my side. I looked down and saw blood. I had been shot. I didn't even hear the gun.
I almost fell to the ground when Revy caught me. She dragged me behind the curtain for some privacy. "Shit. I was too late." Said the man that was supposed to protect her. His name was Zane. "How is she?" "It looks like it was a clean shot. The bullet went right through." Said Revy. "Get her to a paramedic I'm sure someone called by now. I have to get out of here." "When she wakes up tell her I will be back." "Sure." Nova rushed over to find out what was going on. He had special privileges since he knew her. "How is she?" "I think she will be fine. It was a clean shot." "Oh thank god. I will ride with her to the hospital. Go tell Teo to head home with the car ok?" "Yes I will." "I will be headed to the hospital after I tell him and I am sure he will too." "Yeah I know that idiot." Nova rushed to an ambulance and got in and they rushed her to the hospital.
Once they got to the hospital Nova was told to wait outside until they stabilized her. He listened to them and waited. He saw Revy and Teo come in. "Hey guys. They told me to wait outside until they did emergency treatment for her. I hate waiting damnit!"
An hour later a doctor came out and said, "Are you 3 here for Zee?" "Yes we are how is she?" said Nova. "She is sleeping right now. We wont' know when she will wake up. Even with a clean shot wound no one knows when that person will wake up. As of right now she is breathing easily. Go ahead on in." "Thank you doc." Said Nova. All of them walked in and saw Zee in a hospital gown with a mask on and an Iv.
It was nighttime now and no signs of Zee waking up. Her face had a look of pain. Then she ended up coughing blood. Nova Teo and Revy were both still there. "Teo go get a doctor NOW!" "Yeah right away." He ran to find a doctor. Luckily it didn't take him long. He told the doctor what was wrong and the doctor ran to the room. Teo followed.
The doctor got in the room and saw what was going on. "OK you 3 need to go in the waiting room. I will call you when I am done." "Yes sir." They all left her room and waited for her.
The doctor felt Zee's head and she had a slight fever. He took the bandage off to check the wound which was bleeding. When she coughed she had popped a stitch. "Dammnit! Hang in there Zee. Stay with us ok?" He gave Zee a shot for the pain and hopefully the coughing of blood will stop. He re stitched her wound and waited awhile for the medicine to work. Then he felt her head again. This time the fever had gone down. "Oh good. Things are working. Zee I'm gong to get your friends back." He went to go get them.
"Nova?" "Yes doctor. How is she?" "I just gave her a shot for pain. I restitched her wound. I just hope no more coughing up blood happens. For now she is fine. The worst part is usually at night." "Thanks doc." Said Nova. The 3 when in the room and sat next to her bed. The 3 talked to her for a bit then Nova's phone vibrated. He saw the name and said. "Teo I'll be back. Its mom and dad. I will just be outside the door." "Yeah ok sure." "Well I better be going. I have got some things to do." Said Revy. "Oh ok. Thank you for being here with Zee." "No problem. I'd do anything for my friend. Even kill." He could tell she wasn't joking. "Call me if anything changes ok?" "I'll have Nova do that but yes." She got her purse and left the hospital.
Once Revy was in her car she dialed a number. "Hello. Its me Revy. I have a favor. Do you know a man named Zane? He wears a black hood. If so find him and have him tell you if he knows who might have shot Zee." "As you wish sister." "Ok bye." She left for home.
Back at the hospital. "The doc said she is fine right now. They don't know when she will wake up. I'm going to stay in a hotel nearby so I can make sure she gets home ok." "It's a good thing you are self employed. How is your story coming along?" "Its good mom. I got it halfway done I'll do my best in the hotel room." "OK well I better let you go back to Zee. Let us know what happens ok?" "Yes mother I will." They hung up and he went back in the room. "I saw Revy leave. Is she ok?" "Yeah she said she had things to do."
About a week has passed. It was now nighttime. Nova and Teo just finished dinner. Teo eventually went home and just came back today. An hour later there were finally signs of Zee waking up. "Hmm. Nova? Teo? Are you there?" she said with her eyes closed. Teo get a doctor. "Is there a doctor here? Zee is awake." Teo went back to the room after hearing a doctor will be in soon.
"A doctor will be here soon." Said Teo. Zee was finally just opening her eyes. "Where am I? What happened? I remember performing then feeling a pain in my side. Now I am here." She tried to sit up and said "Ow." 'then she lifted the gound and saw a bandage on it. "I get it now. They found me after all." "Who found you Zee? Did you piss someone off again?" "Ha. You can say that. I don't think they want to kill me like Zane is saying. I sort of remember what happened. I beat up a member of their group a couple years ago. I went into hiding and they eventually found me. I can't remember the group name. I just know who might have shot me. It was the dude I beat up, his older brother. His name is Arlo. The one who shot me. If Revy is gone I have an Idea of what she is doing. Can I borrow your phone Nova?" "Yeah sure."
I dialed Revy's number and her phone rang. "Hello. Nova?" "No its Zee. I'm using his phone. I know what you are doing. No need to find Zane unless you found him already. I can tell you the man's name who might have shot me. Its Arlo. 2 years ago remember when we were at that party? Well I got into a fight and beat a man up. I went into hiding and they must have finally found me. Tell your partner to find Arlo if they find his little brother that is fine too. Make sure he tells you where he is even if you have to do that technique." "Ok Zee. Get some rest ok. Don't' worry we won't hurt anyone unless its necessary even the one who shot you." ;"Ok when you do find him tie him up somewhere and give me a call on Nova's phone. Or if I get out in time I will call you." "Ok get some sleep. Talk later." "Yeah see ya."
The doctor was a little delayed so he just walked in. "Hello Zee." "Oh hey Doc. Long time no see." "Yes it has been since the last time you got hurt. What was it like a year or 2 ago?" "Hehe. Yeah more or less." "Lets check that wound of yours." He took the bandage off and I flinched a little because it hurt. "It looks like its healing pretty good. The stitches will be able to come out in 2 more days. Until then you need to stay here." "Yeah I know. Oh doc. This is the childhood friend I was telling you about back then. The one who dissappeard. His name is Nova and his little brother Teo." "Nice to meet you both. She has been coming here around lately. She seems like a regular here." "Haha yeah back when we lived somewhere else she was a dared devil as well. Multiple visits to the doc or hospital." "Was I really that bad?" "Oh yeah you were."
A couple days later she was able to go home. Nova took her home and walked up with her to the apartment. "OK Zee. Remember take it easy. You will be able to go to the studio, but if you feel tired or in pain rest. I know you and I am sure Revy does too. We know how you like to overwork yourself." "I can't tell you that I won't hurt myself. I can say I will try not to ok?" "(sigh) Just don't get yourself back in the hospital or killed ok?" "I can only try not to." "See you later. Give me a call if you need anything." "Yeah thanks Nova." I went inside the house and it looked clean. "Wow my neighbor must have done this for me. Teo must have came here to let my neighbor know what was going on. Also she took care of Bella. I will have to thank her when I get a chance." I chilled in my bed and decided to call Revy. I dialed her number and the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hey Revy I'm home now.' "Oh I was just about to call Nova's phone. It was a hassle but we managed to catch both him and his brother. What do you want to do with them?' "Is your partner there with them?" "Yes why?'" "Keep them there for the night. Pick me up the normal time for practice. I will deal with them there. I just got back and I am too tired to deal with their shit now." "Ok sounds good get some sleep." So we hung up and I laid down to rest. I also closed my eyes.