Chapter 13: I Don't Believe You

Alanis looked around Angel's room. Zac stared back at her from all directions with blank brown eyes. "I'm sooooo glad you're home! It's been a long time since I saw you last!" Angel said with bright eyes and a smile. Alanis cracked a smile. She didn't like seeing so many pictures of her best friend on a wall. Angel looked around her room. "Taylor doesn't smile much… I think it's kinda rude," she said flopping onto her bed. "Taylor's a better person once you get to know him," Alanis said with a smile, "he doesn't play Monopoly well either"
Angel raised an eyebrow.
"You met Hanson?"
"Yeah… Zac was my friend too" Alanis let out a little laugh "I still can't believe we pulled that many jokes on Isaac"
"Zac was not your friend" Angel said with a sneer. Alanis looked up. She could tell Angel was mad.
"Yeah he was"
"No he wasn't"
"Why don't you believe me?"
"Why don't you just tell the truth?"
"I'm Zachary Walker Hanson's friend and that's that"
"Prove it"
"How?"
"Call him"
Alanis stood there silently. She wasn't calling Zac. Angel might see the number then broadcast it over the Internet. Zac didn't need that. Alanis didn't need the burden on her shoulders. "Fine, if you don't believe me then I guess we aren't friends anymore" Alanis said.
"Fine"
"Fine" Alanis said and opened Angel's window.
"Don't tell me… Zac taught you how to fly right?"
Alanis didn't answer and jumped from the windowsill. Angel ran to the window and looked down. Alanis wasn't lying on the ground with her head split open, she was hanging from a branch of the tree that was in Angel's backyard. Alanis dropped from the lowest branch then ran to her house.

In tears, Alanis fell on her bed. She had just lost another friend. Around her room were her favorite things. Her stuffed animals, her paintings, her pictures, her movie posters, and beside her bed on her nightstand was several pictures of her and Zac. One was where they were covered in green slime, another was them after a game of soccer against Taylor on a rainy day, one more was one with Zac's arm around Alanis's shoulders. The photographer had given them each a frame that said "a long lasting couple". Zac had laughed but put the picture in the frame and hung it above his bed.
Alanis missed Zac. And Taylor was out there, somewhere. It began to rain. Alanis cried herself to sleep

Alanis awoke with a start at the tapping on her window.
*PING*

*PING*

*PING*

More rocks hit Alanis's window. Alanis threw the window open. There stood a wet Sam.
"Look to those who will cherish your presence! They will be your guides to the bright life! The boy is out there my child! Find him and you will lift the burden that holds you down inside! Remember my words!" Sam shouted. Then lightning came down from the sky making Alanis shield her eyes. When she recovered Sam was gone.
"Sam?"
The only answer was the patter of rain against Alanis's window.