Zella stopped. "Yes?"
"I think you've had enough time to absorb everything," Zeph began.
Zella fidgeted with her fingers as she placed them protectively together. "I have."
"Great, then I think it's time we have a little talk." Zeph's voice went from firm to demanding. "Number one, what the hell were you doing sitting at that counter?"
"I always sat at the counter," Zella stated, "I talked to Xiam and Iri that way when they were working easier."
"Yeah, but it was still a counter," Zeph argued. "You never sit at a counter. I taught you that, didn't I?"
"Yes." Zella said softly. "Since it was Xiam's place, I figured it would be fine."
"Well apparently that wasn't the case," Zeph continued, "I never said there were any exceptions to sitting at a counter, did I? I mean, what did I say? Do you even remember?"
"Counters are free for anyone to sit," Zella responded. "A guy could come up, sit next to me and talk with ease. In a table or booth, they couldn't get away with that."
"And?" Zeph pressed.
"Only girls looking for someone sit at counters," Zella said in shame, "It was like I was asking for it."
Oh that had to hurt. Zeph lost his composure a moment as he lost himself in her sad expression. Head hanging low, he could only see the shame and sadness in one of her eyes. He closed his eyes for a second, found his composure and continued his act. He couldn't become soft. "Why didn't you get up and leave then? You weren't stuck to the counter, were you?"
"No, I told him I wasn't interested," Zella said.
"Yeah, but does that ever work? You should have moved." Zeph crossed his arms in a gesture of superiority. "The simplest things I taught you and you didn't even bother following them. Why'd I even waste my time teaching you?"
"I'm sorry!" Zella looked away, her head still bowed. "It just happened."
"Well there's really no way to change the past, is there?" Zeph asked rhetorically. "So from now on, the rules are as follows. You obey me everywhere you go. You tell me or take me everywhere you go. You don't talk to anyone that I say you shouldn't. And most of all, you follow the most simple rules before this happens again."
Zeph watched her nod in agreement, as a small sniffle had escaped her. He looked at the ground in front of her, seeing tear drops. The guilt speech was complete, he couldn't do it anymore. He felt his throat growing tight, he must have hurt her so much...
"Fine, let's continue walking then go home." Zeph watched Zella walk obediently by his side. He continued to have a stern look on his face, but inside, he felt so low. It wasn't her fault, I shouldn't have to treat her like this. To treat her like this would be like treating me like this. It was Xiam's place, he was right there somewhere, she would have been fine. Without messing with her, she would have told anyone off well enough who bugged her. If they kept bugging her too long, she would have moved or called for Xiam. It wasn't her fault, it just wasn't. He glanced briefly at Zella at his side. Her head still hung down in shame. She shouldn't have to look like that. He saw the way her tail drooped down against the ground, lost his stern look and stared at a nearby tree.
He couldn't take it anymore. "That's enough walking Zella, let's go home."
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Zeph called out from the staircase as he saw Zella head for the front door.
Zella stopped and looked back, annoyance all over her face. It had been two months since Zeph came to live with her and he was always hounding her about where she was going. "Muin wants to take me out somewhere and talk sister to sister. Okay?"
"Where?" His irritating question came.
"I don't know. Do you want me to call her up and ask her?" Zella's voice was sharp toward him, he had treated her as more of a child than he did when she was a child.
"No, I guess I can trust in that," Zeph agreed. "I'll watch you head over to her house though."
"I'm not gonna escape," Zella insisted. Couldn't she get away for two damn seconds? "She just wants to take me out before…" Zella didn't catch herself in time. Oh great, he was going to notice that slip-up.
"Before?" Zeph pushed. "Before what?"
"Before I get too big and noticeable," Zella said knowing he'd get it out of her one way or the other.
"No way, you're not talking to any guys just to get one quick thrill before motherhood," Zeph growled.
"I didn't say that's what I would do!" Zella growled back. "Stop treating me like such a kid! I know what happened was wrong, I know it was all my fault but you need to start trusting me somewhere along the way." She felt Zeph's eyes go up and down her. Not like a normal male looks at a woman, no, he was being overprotective and making sure nothing yelled 'come get me'.
Zeph sighed hesitantly. "Fine, but no talking to guys."
"Fine, I won't talk to any," Zella muttered. "Now may I go Guardian Zephyr Smilliat?"
Zeph pointed to her trenchcoat. "So what are you hiding beneath that?"
Zella looked at her coat. "I'm not hiding, it's cold."
"Cold enough for a jacket, not a trenchcoat."
Zella gave in and took off the coat. Damn.
"…" Zeph seemed to have trouble forming words as he saw Zella in her strapless sequined red dress along with one of her silkiest shawls draped around her shoulders to hide the bareness beneath. She was even nicer in that then she was in her blue-tiered dress the other night. Zeph quickly regained his faculties and held his finger up to make a point. "You…" He pointed straight at her. "No guys, none, whatsoever!" he demanded.
"I already agreed to that." Zella just gave Zeph a second look. He still looked kind of different, never looked that way before. "How do I look?" She chuckled as she saw the expression on Zeph's face. "Hello? Zeph Smilliat, are you there?"
"You look nice." He coughed and shook his head. "It looks suitable if you don't go near any guys." He crossed his arms. "Remember, if anyone comes near you-"
"I'll call you right away. I promise, Muin and me are gonna be fine. You worry way too much." She giggled. "Are you sure you like this? You keep staring at me."
"I'm not staring at you, just go before I change my mind!" Zeph suddenly yelled at her out of nowhere as he stomped up the stairs.
He waited to hear the front door slam before he headed to his room. That hadn't gone as expected, no doubt she was angry with his outburst, but he had to get out. He went over to some books that had been piled up in the corner, gathering dust. He grabbed the first one on top and blew off the dust. He rubbed the remainder of the dust off and looked at the title. Understanding and Ignoring Female Attraction.
Zeph started in the table of contents, looked up which page he needed to read, He needed to refresh his memory again. Down, down, down…here we go. Clothes. To show off the female figure, women often wear clothes that will attract the opposite sex. It is important to note that clothes are just clothes. They have no power over you. "No power over me," Zeph repeated. They are simply cloth with certain colors. Pink, Red, Blue, Silver is also considered an attractive color at times when paired with another bright color. "Simply cloth with a certain color." They are simply tailored; there is no magic to their charm. Just remember: They are just clothes. They are only clothes. "They are only clothes," Zeph repeated. "Simply colored cloth, it's just cloth, it's got no power over me." He set his book back down. "It was just cloth. It holds no power over me." Convinced he was now fine, he set the book back down.