Aftermath...Where do we go?((Zane))

[sassy]

Everything was going great, Saski was out with Zane, after her so politely invited her to lunch. They had taken a seat on the balcony one of the best seats in the restaurant when there was screaming and people running everywhere. Saski could hear the people from Diagon Alley and as she stood up to look over. Suddenly a troll came out of nowhere from around the corner. After that everything was pretty much a blur.

Her eyes were closed and her head was pounding. She opened her eyes slowly, where was she? The last thing she remembered was being on the balcony and Zane pushing her out of the way, she had the vague recollection of someone speaking to her but wasn’t sure if it was real or a dream. Her hair was a mess, her hand ached and throbbed terribly, and her fingers were on fire. She squinted against the light, as she looked around her. There were injured people everywhere, people crying in pain and she barely saw Madam Pomfrey as she zoomed by. Who were all these people?

She tried to sit up, putting her hands down to move herself, but she screamed out in pain as her left hand touched the bed, she hadn’t even noticed the cast. She clutched her hand to her chest fighting the urge to cry out again, the pain was intense. She looked at her fingers, several of them were bandaged, and she had a flash of putting her hand in broken glass. She had the worst headache of her life and she put her head back and closed her eyes again. This couldn’t be happening?

Her head shot up a few seconds later. Where was Zane? The rush of blood sent her head spinning and she had to put it back down. Just then one of the nurses past and she called out to her, “Hey you! Zane…Zane Jade, do you know where he is?” she demanded, even a little concussion wasn’t going to slow her attitude.

[zane]

Zane's eyes blinked slowly, open and closed, as he finally re-entered a state of consciousness. He looked around him, not completely recognizing where he was, although the place looked faintly familiar. A soft blanket engulfed him and a warm sensation was running throughout his body. He sat up abruptly, suddenly remembering what had happened. However, as he did this a sharp pain ran through both his right and left leg. He looked down to notice that both of them were in casts. He sighed heavily and slapped his hand to his forehead, causing an already slight pain to become more prominent.

He had been out with Saski, treating her to a lovely lunch and having a wonderful time. It was the first time he had been out since the beginning of summer and it was a much needed outing. He had just pulled out Saski's seat for her when they heard screaming. Saski had jumped from her seat and peaked over the edge of the balcony to see what was happening. It was only moments later that Zane had seen an enormous troll coming from around the corner with a vicious look in his eyes. He saw the troll batter up to swing at both him and Saski and out of instinct Zane pushed Saski out of the way to protect her from the troll. Zane looked down at his leg, remembering the stabbing pain that had occurred when the troll clubbed him in the legs.Zane looked to the side of his bed and saw a chart, curiously picking it up, ' Zane Jade S7- broken left leg, broken right ankle,' the chart read. He sighed heavily and looked around for a wheelchair, he needed to find Saski and make sure she was alright. Looking down he noticed one was sitting just next to his bed, so he strategically lifted himself from the bed to the wheel chair and began to search the hospital wing frantically.

The hospital wing was packed with students of all ages and houses. About thirty minutes later, Zane found her. She was laying, asleep, on one of the hospital beds. She had a brace on both her wrist and her neck and her fingers looked to be cut pretty badly. Her hair was a mess and her face was slightly bruised, but she still looked as beautiful as ever. Zane sighed in relief and wheeled himself over to Saski, placing his arm on her bed, "I'm so sorry," he said sincerely, "I never meant for you to get hurt." He couldn't help but feel immense guilt swelling up inside him.

Zane was sitting there, watching Saski sleep, when his owl Fright flew threw the window carrying what looked to be a newspaper. He landed on Zane's shoulder and Zane untied the paper from his leg. He opened it and sighed, rolling his eyes, 'No Duh,' he thought as he read the title 'Diagon Alley Attacked' He turned and looked at Saski again and then something popped into his head. He tore a clean area of the newspaper off and wrote down simple directions then tied them to Fright before sending him out the window.

About an hour later Fright came back through the window carrying exactly what Zane had ordered, a dozen roses and a get well card. He untied them from his leg and set them next to Saski's bed, only after signing the card and putting the roses in a vase. Saski had still not woken up and Zane was beginning to worry. They had finally established a connection and losing her would be devastating to Zane.

He watched the room as people came and went and Madame Pomfrey buzzed about busily. He saw a nurse walk by casually and called out, "Hey, Hey you," he wheeled his chair closer to her and grabbed her arm, "Is she going to be ok? What's wrong with her?" he said anxiously. Just as he was asking he heard a cry from behind him, "Zane... Zane Jade. Do you know where he is?" he turned to see a very worried looking Saski calling out his name and wheeled over to her, "I'm ok, I'm right here," he said trying to calm her.

[sassy]

Saski looked at the bewildered woman she was questioning, “Well? Where is he?” she demanded again. The woman was overwhelmed with the flood of patients after the attach she had no clue who Zane Jade far less who she was. She was infuriating Saski. “Since you seem unable to tell me that, tell me what’s wrong with me. Can you manage that?” the woman fumbled for Saski’s chart that was resting on the bottom of her bed. “Umm…Saski Kilani Stark…umm.” Saski rolled her eyes; she already knew her own name. “Minor concussion, lacerations to fingers on both hands and a broken wrist.” Thank God it wasn’t worse, that would really have ticked Saski off.

She hated being confined, especially there with all the injured. “Well now that I’ve got that, how about you finding Zane Jade for me?” she had barely uttered Zane’s name when who should appear, wheeling himself over to her, but Zane himself. She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face, he was alright. “Zane…” she looked at the woman, “Leave,” she ordered, and the woman scuttled away. She looked at his legs, he was a mess. It was only then that she noticed the roses in a vase beside her bed. She looked at him curiously, who had sent them? It certainly wasn’t going to be her parents, roses weren’t their style. She reached for the card, which was more painful than she had expected with the numerous cuts, some deeper than others, that covered the majority of her fingers.

She finally manoeuvred the card and was able to open and read it. She smiled at Zane, “Thank you,” she replied. She had never received roses before; it was more than flattering to her. “They’re great.” Her face became more concerned after that as she looked at his legs again. “Are you going to be alright?” she asked more gently than she’d spoken to the nurse. Saski was genuinely concerned, she was really enjoying herself with Zane when this all happened, more than she had with any other guy.

Just then an owl appeared overhead and dropped a note on Saski’s lap. She again read it with some difficulty and pain, it was from her sister Porsha, she was telling her that the Stark children were going to be at Hogwarts as soon as their carriages could get them there. Saski was stunned, she didn’t think she’d see any of her family, but it was no surprise to her that her parents weren’t coming, as she later read in the note. Her face fell, despite her attempts at indifference, it still hurt that they wouldn’t even come to see her. She put the note aside. “Do you remember what happened?” she asked Zane, “All I seem to remember is a troll and you pushing me, after that I don’t know.”

[zane]

Zane watched Saski as she calmed down and realized the flowers and card on her bedside. A smile crossed his faced and he blushed a little as she thanked him. He was glad that he had made her smile, she needed something to brighten her day, especially at a time like this.

Zane Wheeled himself closer and placed his arms on her bed next to her legs. He looked up to her, she had never looked more beautiful than she did now and Zane could not stop staring. No matter how beat up she was, she could never look bad.

Zane smirked cockily as Saski asked him if he were going to be alright. He looked down at his legs and then back to her, "Oh this," he said shrugging off the pain, "It's nothing, don't you worry your pretty head about me," he said smiling to her. It was no secret that Zane was not one to recognize, let alone announce his own pain... weakness was not his style. Not only that but if his father found out he would never live it down.

Zane frown a little as Saski asked about what had happen. The scene at the restaurant had not been his favorite, he was having an amazing time when it was ruined. He ran his fingers through his dark hair and sighed, "Yeah, I remember," he paused momentarily, "I had just pulled your seat out for you when I looked over the balcony and saw the chaos below. There were Death Eater's everywhere, attacking citizens below. I wasn't too concerned until I saw the troll. Knowing how ignorant they are and seeing it coming towards you, I pushed you out of the way. I got clubbed in the foot, rather my foot than your beautiful face of course," he said blushing slightly. He cracked his knuckles and then continued, "When I looked down a piece of the roof had fallen onto you and you were unconscious, I held you for a while until I was hit with something and knocked unconscious as well. That's all I really remember," he said honestly.

Zane looked curiously into Saski's eyes waiting for her response, he hoped she wouldn't be too upset.

[sassy]

It was really very sweet of Zane to get her flowers, she couldn’t get over it. Despite her mean, arrogant and frozen demeanour, Saski was completely different when you got to know her. There was a softer side to the girl, that only ever seemed to come out around Cleopatra her cat. The feline was one of the few things that held Saski’s heart…a difficult commodity to come by.

Zane wheeled closer and for some reason her hand went to her hair as she tucked it behind her ear. Her normally elegantly and tastefully styled hair was dishevelled and falling wildly around her shoulders. She suddenly thought of what she must look like…a frightful mess, dirty face no doubt as the rest of her was, she could tell her hair was everywhere.

She couldn’t help but smile back at Zane as he cavalierly brushed off his injury. “Usually I would Zane, but you did save me from a raging troll so I am afraid it required,” she said teasingly. Truth be told she was genuinely concerned despite her playfulness. Saski hadn’t really expected a prophecy of his need for help, Zane didn’t strike her as the type to admit to needing help. She recognised the trait from her own behaviour.

As Zane spoke Saski began to remember little things. She recalled getting there and be extremely pleased with everything, including the company when she heard screaming and a ruckus. She had looked over the railing when a troll came around the corner but after being pushed she couldn’t recall, but Zane filled in the blanks for her. Apparently he had gotten hit by the club meant for, and then he had stayed with her while she was unconscious. She was surprised, flattered and bewildered, and there was a hint of pleasure there too. Zane had held her through her injury when he didn’t have to, he could have simply saved himself.

She looked at her hands as she fiddled with the bed sheet, “Thank you Zane,” she said gently. She looked at him, “Thank you. You didn’t have to stay with me, you could have gotten yourself out. So I guess I owe you,” she said with a smile.

[zane]

Zane smiled when Saski joked about the troll, however, pushing Saski out of the way was the only option in Zane's book. He was not about to let a lady he cared so much about get the hurt, not if he could help it. He didn't completely feel like he had protected Saski, he had let her down, he had let himself down.

The smile that had been apparent when Saski had thanked him quickly his face as she said that she owed him. He looked up at her tentatively, "You don't owe me anything," he reassured her, "If anything, I owe you... I'm sorry that our dinner was ruined." He placed his hand on her leg gently, being careful not to hurt her in any way. He wanted to tell her how much he cared about her but he did not want to scare her away. Not only that but he did not want her to feel obligated after the situation in Diagon Alley to say that she shared his feelings.

Her rubbed her leg momentarily then turned to her curiously, "Are you thirsty, hungry, is there anything I can get you," he asked. He looked around for a nurse, "Hey, some help over here," he snapped anxiously. A small mousy looking nurse came over and stared questioningly at him, "Yes?" He looked to Saski and waited for her to decide whether or not she was hungry or thirsty. He himself was in the mood for some ice cream, but being the gentlemen he was, he would not order before Saski -- possibly would not order at all if she was not in the mood.

[sassy]

“Oh I owe you Zane,” she said shaking her head. A Stark always paid their debt and she owed Zane a huge one for saving her. She smiled, “No, you listen here,” she said firmly but with slight playfulness. Why was she acting like this? Saski was usually very nonchalant with people, never affected or very moved but here she was smiling and worrying. This wasn’t how she usually acted.

“I owe you Zane,” she said firmly. “I owe you dinner. You don’t owe me a thing. How about you have dinner at my house when we get out of here?” she suggested with a smile. She liked Zane, she knew it but wasn’t about to say anything of the sort to him. He made her feel and Saski wasn’t very used to that, in fact it frightened her, though she wouldn’t never admit it. Saski wasn’t used to true kindness from people, the closest she had to that was her best friends Israel, Dawn and the rest of the Queens. They understood each other since they came from similar households and backgrounds. Things were different with Zane and she couldn’t explain why.

Her heart jumped in her chest and for a moment she almost grabbed her heart, when Zane rested his hand on her leg and rubbed it gently. That was a new feeling for her. What the hell was it? Saski wasn’t used to being touched in a manner like that. It was almost affectionate, she thought as she looked at Zane curiously. She came to her senses a few seconds later when some little nobody of a nurse came to his call. “I want a water, bottled, sparkling and a sundae,” she replied as Zane asked her if she wanted anything. She was very hungry for some reason, but didn’t want food. “You going to have anything Zane?” she asked.

[zane]

Zane smiled at Saski, " I would love to have dinner at your house," he said gratefully. He wondered whether or not it would be just them or if he would be meeting the family as well, but decided it was better not to ask at the moment. He did not want to upset Saski, so anything he was unsure about could wait until later.

Zane was grateful when Saski decided to order something, he was starving but he considered it extremely rude to eat in front of someone who was not eating. He turned to the nurse, "I would like a piece of apple pie and a goblet of pumpkin juice," he said deciding to give into his sweet tooth.

He turned back to Saski a curious expression upon his face, "when would this dinner take place?" he questioned a playful smile adorning his handsome face. He was secretly thrilled that she invited him to her house but he was not going to show that just yet, he did not want to seem to involved in there relationship if she was not. He moved his hand from her leg and rested his hands upon it, looking up at Saski, an adorable expression of interest upon his face.

[sassy]

Saski smiled as Zane said he would love to have dinner with her. “Good,” she replied with a smirk though she was trying to hide it, she was glad he had accepted her offer. “You do know that I don’t invite just anyone to my house, don’t you?” she said with a mock air about her. She would have to get one of the house elves to whip something up for them, her parents wouldn’t be there of course they were never around most of the time, and that suited Saski just fine. It was when they were around that there were problems.

Zane asked for apple pie and pumpkin juice, so they were both indulging their sweet-tooths this time around. She waited for the woman to leave before answering Zane’s question; it was no one’s business that she was having him over.

“How about this Saturday, we might be a little banged up but I think we can still make it fun,” she said with a smirk. He looked so cute…Saski found herself thinking. Saski what are you thinking!? She scolded herself…this was Zane, she shouldn’t be thinking that, but she was. Zane removed her hand from Saski’s leg and she looked at him. she was going to write home to make sure the house elves went shopping from now for their dinner the following Saturday. She was excited, and Saski didn’t get this way usually.