BRASS AND GOLD

I laugh out at this and he seems to mirror my vibe as his smile gets bigger. And I love to see him this way. Hale, hearty and happy.

“Infirmary seems to suit you, Hayden. If only I’d known earlier, I might have conspired something.”

“That’s a dark thought, and hence out of your league.”

Minutes pass by and I start mapping the lines on his forehead.

Evening has almost descended causing the room to go comparatively darker, which reminds me I’ll have to leave soon.

He continues to look at me through the dim light, with an unreadable expression.

“Why are you skipping meals, Zach?”

He closes his eyes and looks away and I sit silently waiting for an answer that he’ll probably not give me. But it has been bugging me ever since.

He used to skip meals back in Cambridge as well, and we had had many incidents like this, even one where he had to be put on an IV drip. He never told me his reasons then, just went hulk angry whenever I mentioned it.

I look down to my jacket in my lap when Zach gently takes my hand into his. He clutches it tightly and then I hear his hushed voice.

“Brit’s not okay.” I clasp my other hand over his caressing it gently. Is Brit not well? Is that why he’s been neglecting his own health?

“Ever since that day, she’s been in shock. She gets nightmares, convulsions. And- I don’t want to see her like this.”

His pained voice cracks at the end and I squeeze his hand in assurance. Why didn’t he tell anyone about this?

“You know I remember a time when I had teasingly told her that her favourite doll looked like the wicked witch of the west, you know the green faced one with the broom and the hat? Surely you’d remember her from when you saw the mirror this morning…”

He smiles fondly and I smile with him too, closing my eyes momentarily, with a small tsk.

“She hit me so much, she didn’t talk to me the whole day. And then at night, she just stealthily slides into my room, gets under the covers and holds me to sleep.

She said she was still angry but the doll reminded her of the witch now, so she couldn’t sleep alone.”

His eyes are set off far away and the dreamy smile flutters inside me.

I can imagine the small yet naughty child he must have been and the thought makes me so happy.

“So, I’ve always known that at the end of the day, she’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.

And now that end of the day is exactly what she fears. I don’t know how to take her out of it. I’ve tried… everything.”

He closed his eyes once again and my heart pricks for this hurt little boy who just confided in me.

“She’s a strong young woman, Zach. She’ll make it through this. You and I can’t even imagine what she’s been through. But from what I’ve known her, she has a powerful spirit. And she has an amazing brother too.”

He opens his eyes to look at me and tightens his hold on my hand.

“You can’t always protect her. Everyone has to fight their own battles, Zach. Let her return to school. Let her continue her life. Maybe sign her up for some counselling.

But at the end of it, it’s her who’ll have to do it. You’ll have to let her get hurt, so that she knows how to heal from it on her own.”

“What do I do – just leave her on her own?” He asks me, his voice a little louder, and his eyes a litter more helpless.

“You hold her when she’s scared.

You help her stand and then leave her to walk.

You look her in the eye and tell her that she’s more than this.

You make sure that she knows she’s loved and not alone.

You be the person we both know.

Because you’ve been trying so hard to continue being Zach Hayden that you’ve almost forgotten how stunningly incredible he already is.”

Zach smiles a slow sad smile, closing his eyes and I brush off the hair fringe off his forehead feeling the softness of it.

“And to do that you have to remain alive and healthy yourself. Which means you’ll have to eat and not faint.” I say out, trying to diffuse some of the seriousness.

“And, you’ll have to get your own lines.” I let out a laugh while shaking my head.

“I did use my own lines okay. I just borrowed the pattern.”

He narrows his eyes, with a scowl, looking at me with humour filled accusing eyes.

“You stole the whole format.”

“Yes that is called adding an emotional and nostalgic side to great advice, so that it takes the intended effect. Not hoping it’s something you’ll get.”

“Intended effect taken.”

I giggle, and he let’s out a small laugh of his own.

“Children. I’m afraid that’s going to be all. I have to dismiss you both, so come on. Off you go. And you, eat.”

“Totally Nurse Willa. You’re the best. Did I tell you that you look gorgeous today, by the way?”

Zach detaches our hands and shuffles out of the bed, to put on his shoes, while I laugh casually at his lame flirting.

“Not with me, Hayden. Come on, up.”

“I’ll see you around, Willa.”

“I’d rather you didn’t and keep healthy. Now go. You too, dear.”

“Thank you.”

I say and take my jacket back into my hands as Zach stands up. We both make off to the lockers and I silently hope Brit gets better. And Zach with her.

“I can’t believe you flirted with Nurse Willa. It’ll be just a female organism who’s alive and she’ll be enough for you, right?”

Zach laughs out heartily this time and I join him. It’s the best sound ever. And I feel like wanting to hear it over and again.

“Are you calling Nur-“

“No, I’m definitely not calling her that. But just making the point.”

“Well, she didn’t complain.”

“Yeah, for reasons unknown.”

“I happen to take that effect with the ladies. Or as you call it, female organisms who are alive.”

I look at him, and he raises his eyebrows twice, trying to look arrogant, but it comes out funny. And I bite back a ridiculous ‘laugh in his face’ moment.

I scoff and leave him behind to make my way towards the locker. I make sure to take all my papers and the smile on my face never leaves me.

Maybe Zach Hayden isn’t so much as a red flag anymore. Well he might have just shifted a little to orange or yellow.

*

“Shut that fucking thing right now Callister or I’m gonna shove it up your ass!” Lily screams from my side and I open my eyes groggily.

This isn’t the usual drill on the morning after a Harry Potter marathon night.

I tap my hand on the table trying to locate the device causing the trouble. Ughh! Who calls this early on a Sunday morning!

“Del , I swear I’m gonna flush that phone down the toilet and you with it!”

“Hello? Who is it?” Lily throws her head over my waist and I turn to look at her still sleeping. You better not drool on my t-shirt Preston.

“Is this Alanna?”

“Didn’t you call her, you moron? Get a life honestly, it’s a Sunday morning. What the hell do you want?”

“You’re going to rot in hell! Your hair will fall out, you’ll turn bald and all your reproductive organs will get non functional you blithering blabbering blister of a baboo-“

I shake Lily off after her maddening screech into my cell phone and she flips right over, landing on her stomach. Honestly her loud yell is waking me up more than my ringtone.

“Hello?”

“Alanna? This is Professor Nicholas Collins. I’m calling to remind you that the teams will be arriving shortly and I hope that the East Wing is all prepared.”

HOLY FU-

I sit up straight violently, and clamp my hand to my mouth in horror and disbelief.

Oh God, I’m hyperventilating. I’m palpitating. I think I’m having a panic attack.

“Alanna, are you there?”

Lily stretches beside and opens her mouth yet again when I immediately shut it with my hand.

She mumbles against it and I think of an appropriate reply. A good professional and decent reply that’ll probably overshadow the previous mess.

“Yes sir.”

Wow. I want an autograph. Or do you do signed photographs?

“Okay. I’ll be around at 4 to check up on everything.” I hear the beep meaning the call ended.

I sigh deepl-

Wait? Check up? 4? Teams? East Wing? That’s TODAY?

What’s the dat-

HOLY FU- FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES!

“No, no, no, no, no, no!” I dip my head into the blanket and my muffled no(s) remind me of how idiot of a person I am!

“What’s the matter? Cut the noise will you?”

“That was Professor Collins.” I mumble against the blanket and Lily sits up with lightning speed.

“What!”

“That was Professor Collins.”

“Dumbo, I heard that the first time. It was exclamatory, not interrogatory.”

“It’s my turn to flush you down the toilet.”

“So we called him a moron? Asked him to get a life, said he’ll rot in hell, go bald and impoten-“

“Stop reminding me!” The blackness in front of my closed eyes and the head against the blanket are not helping my situation.

“The teams come today.”

“Oh. He called for that, then I think he really does need to get a lif-“

“The East Wing looks like a haunted manor right now.”

Silence prevails. And I can sense my impending suspension letter floating in it.

“I wish I was your Hermione, Del. Time turners really should exist.”

Let me die, please. No, wait- 911.

“Hello? Alanna?”

“I fudged up.”

*

“This is the mess of the decade! I’m dead. I’m so dead. Collins is going to give me detention for the whole year. And that comes even after suspension and suing me for badmouthing-“

“You don’t get sued for badmout-“

“Oh God, I’ll be suspended! And then Dean Brandon is going to realise that I’m so fudging irresponsible. He’s going to strip me of the position-“

“Alright Alanna-“

“And then he is going to think that I put the institution’s rep at stake so it’s no where near enough and he’s going to expel me-“

“Will you just liste-“

“Holy Saint Francis I’ll be expelled! Celia will be so mad she’s going to disown me. I’ll never graduate. I’ll never have a job. Then I’ll have to live on the streets all my life. I’ll be so poor I’ll never get to eat chicken again.

I won’t get to buy that house with the glass walls, I’ll never see Paris and I’ll never even get to attend Lily’s wedding because she’ll make new frien-“

“JUST SHUT UP!” He grips both of my shoulders and shakes me violently. His loud yell makes me stop dead and I freeze.

“Relax.”

“How the living fudge am I supposed to relax, Nate? You’ve been at practice all along and Collins and Brandon put me in charge to get the area ready for humans to live. College support staff asked me to call them when I needed, which I obviously didn’t.

They even gave me contact numbers of people who could help me.

And I FORGOT! Like I totally blanked out! How did I do that? Is that even possible for a human being?”

“I get it but just lis-“

“Well the point is I screwed up. Big time. Collins will be here at 4 , the teams at 5 and I’m standing in a tank top and shorts. And nothing’s done.”

“How can you say that? Everything’s done.” I blink thrice and look at those blue eyes wishing that they carried some magic to make this day never exist.

“Nate. That place looks like a gutter.” He rolls his eyes and holds my shoulders tighter, talking as if to a scared animal.

“Josh’s brother is in the cleaning business. He’s having him bring some of his people down. It’s gonna take an hour at most.”

“We just have four hours.” I deadpan.

“Yeah, so when you take one out of four you’re left with three. Remember, genius?”

“The lights are out.”

“Zach’s gone to fetch the electrician. And I’ve brought over some spare.”

“Thermostat’s not working.”

“Electricians fix that too.”

“Three beds are broken.”

“Sawyer’s on it. Once the place is clean and habitable, he’ll get it done.”

“Who’s Sawyer?”

“Someone you have no place in your brain to worry about, right now.”

“Sheets and duvets?”

“Lily’s getting them.”

“There’s like a mesh of cobwebs on the windows.”

“Yeah, doesn’t Sofia love spiders?” He arches one brow with a smirk. There isn’t time for drooling.

“She’ll never do that.”

“Looks like you and I will have to cover that.”

“You’re gonna clean cobwebs?”

He flashes his dimpled smile to me. I don’t want to get expelled. I want to stay. So that I can see Nathaniel Alderidge's dimple everyday.

“Desperate times. Desperate measures.”

“Curtains.”

“That, Sofia can manage.”

I count to five and look up, down and then sideways.

“I’ve got it covered. Sit. Try to do that thing we call breathing. It’s kind of essential.”

He slides his hands off me and I close my eyes for a minute. I turn to look at the haunted horror building in front of me with crossed arms, Nate standing close beside.

“Can I get you something?”

“Poison.”

“Alright.”

I heave deep breaths. At least it looks civil from the outside, Alanna. There’s your silver lining.

And Nate’s here now. That’s your gold.

Author's note:

Wouldn’t Zach and Brit been adorable kids?

Anyone else has had a history of embarrassing phone calls? Lily’s pure swag, though.

And Nathaniel. Do I even need to start?

Like, vote, comment.

Love me some diamond.

You know brass, gold… Silver, so diamond… Uh no?

No. Okay.