Chapter Forty-four: Tark and Mayzel

"Why won't you love me?"

I had asked her that many years ago. With my memories intact, I could recall every moment she avoided my wanton gaze.

Jopp's voice rang in my head. "You were never meant for her! She didn't love you like a wife! She loved your father!"

I didn't want it to be true, and hearing it from his loud mouth the first time made me very angry.

Mayzel led me away from everyone's prying eyes and sat at the water's edge. The lapping waves left seafoam at her feet.

"Come and sit," she ordered.

I paced behind her, because I had a feeling she still didn't feel the same way. My heart felt like it would burst if she told me the same thing I've heard for so many years.

Each time I had poured my heart out to her, and each time she had wiped my memories.

"I'll never stop loving you," I revealed as I sat beside her. "Even if you're billions of light-years away, I won't stop thinking of you."

"I did love your father, but only from afar," Mayzel admitted as she took my hand and held it. "I was afraid to put you in danger, but I taught you how to defend yourself. I see that it all paid off." She gazed at the approaching sunset and sighed. "I've always wanted to see the stars and the worlds that surround them." She glared at me with furious violet eyes. "By myself!"

Her words struck me as harsh whips to my soul, but I knew it was inevitable. She was a loner, and I dared to love her.

"Good-bye, Tark," she offered before she vanished.

"Good-bye?" I started. I stood and glanced around, but she was really gone. The warmth of her hand faded from me, and I gazed at the sunset she was fond of.

"Tark?" Jopp asked as he approached. "It's already midnight. What are you doing out here?"

I blinked and realized night had already fallen. The stars shone above us, and I couldn't help but cry.

"Don't let her get you down like this," Jopp told me as he led me back home. "She's a major asshole. Even I could've told you that."

"I wanted her fine ass!" I sobbed. "She just left like I was nothing!"

"There, there," Jopp started. "You're the hero of this world, you know. You can have any woman here, and she'd treat you a thousand times better than that she-devil!"

"They won't have her bubble butt!" I shouted, half-crying, half-yelling. "They won't have those beautiful tatas that come from Venus herself!"

Jopp froze, and that's when I noticed Noforl was standing, waiting on the patio.

"Who the hell are you talking about?!" Noforl demanded. "You dare to mock my sister?!"

"Your sister's an asshole!" I hollered back. "Who the hell cares for an orphan and leaves him after he confesses his love?!"

"What sick bastard of an orphan would try such a thing?!" Noforl blasted.

"All of you better shut the hell up!" Mil ordered with Rif beside her. "You just woke up the whole treehouse and then some! One more peep out of your loudmouths, and you're sleeping with the fishes! Got it?!"

I gulped, her usually kind face twisted with scorn. She huffed as she entered the house, Rif right behind her.

"Don't speak ill of my sister, Tark," Noforl hissed.

"Try to stop me, Noforl," I shot back.

Jopp pushed me away from him and dragged me towards the treehouse.

"I can take his scrawny ass!" I blurted. "Ram it through a damn grinder and we can get devilled eggs!"

Jopp covered his mouth to keep from laughing. "Shut up, Tark. Here, sit down."

The leaf hammock swayed as I sat inside of it.

"Mayzel just needs some time to herself," he revealed. "If she really loves you, she'll return within a month."

"What if she doesn't?" I queried. It felt as if my throat was being choked.

"You deserve better, Tark," Jopp replied. "Alas, only your heart can make that decision." He covered me in a light sheet and sighed. "Go to sleep. If you don't, Mil will haunt your dreams."

I stared at him until he entered his room from the balcony. I sighed as I gazed at the stars and wondered where Mayzel could've gone. "Good-bye, Mayzel," I offered before I drifted off to sleep.