CHAPTER FIVE

As soon as Nebula had gone to see her mom, they all headed back to Zenon's. ProtoZoa volunteered to sleep on the couch for his last few days of his stay, so Neb could sleep over a few nights. Once back and comfortable at Zenon's, they all went upstairs to the living room, and sat down and just talked.

"So, you never told me why you were here PZ," Nebula said, questionning.

"Well, I uh.." He began.

"He came because of me. I was an unstable wreck and he came and helped me sort things out and protected me. I haven't gone to school at all in the past few weeks and hes been showing me what a real friend is like," Zenon said with a smile. "It's been great," she finished, with a sad smile. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her what seemed to be the thousandth hug of the few weeks. She leaned into his grasp and hugged him back, absorbing the warmth. Lately, the hugs had ended but his arms managed to stay around her some way, keeping her close. Nebula had noticed, and inwardly smiled, but didn't say a word. She had the whole shuttle ride home to ask him about it, but needed to get Zenon alone to ask her.

Nebula knew that if Zenon didn't have some feelings as more than friends towards ProtoZoa that she would have pushed him off or gently shrugged away. But as Nebula dually noted, Zee didn't do any of that. In fact, she saw Zenon's arm still around Proto Zoa. These two were up to something, whether or not they knew it yet.

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Proto Zoa smiled up at Zenon, confirming Nebula's suspicions about him. He wished he could stay longer or that she would come back to earth with him, because he was afraid of not seeing her, not having her around. She.... she... she completed him. He never felt so inspired or laughed as much or even had this much energy when he was on earth. Way back then, he felt empty. Sure, he was a huge rockstar, but that didn't fill his life with purpose. Just because there were millions of screaming fans that wanted him in every way didn't mean that he was complete... or even happy. He was normal, he had his good days and his bad days.

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They stayed up late watching VChips again, this time it was a really old movie, made more than 50 years ago, that Zenon's mom had. Something called Pretty Woman, it had this ancient woman who was one of the best of her time, Julia Roberts, in it. Nebula was engrossed in it, Zenon was dozing next to Neb with her head resting on the sofa, and Proto Zoa was engrossed in Zenon. Her blonde hair was down for once, falling about four inches below her shoulders, and over the past three weeks, he had memorized her deep blue eyes that were now hidden between peacefully closed lids. Her form was curled up into a semi-fetal posistion, only stretched up to the edge of the couch, beside his legs. He knew that he wanted this moment to last forever.

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Zenon stirred awake just in time to see the very end of the movie, when Vivian told Edward about rescuing one another.

"What happens after he rescues her?" Edward asked Vivian.

"She rescues him right back," She replied, leaning down to kiss him. Zenon turned the T-Tube off, and told Neb to get up.

"C'mon Neb, beddy bye time," Zee said, stretching, a smile playing with her face.

"Uhhh... don't wanna get up..." Neb argued, laughing a little. She tapped Zenon's legs, and indicated for her to be quiet. She then gestured at ProtoZoa's sleeping form. Zenon brought her hands up to her mouth to keep herself from laughing. Neb was giggling, but bit her lip to keep from making a sound. There was ProtoZoa, most popular rock star in the world, sitting on Zenon's couch, head tipped back, mouth wide open, and making the quietest and funniest noise Zenon had ever heard. It was snoring... but not exactly to the same effect. Zenon had heard that sound before, but only in AgriScience class, so she couldn't identify it completly, but Neb apparently could. When Zenon looked at her with a confused look, she was shaking with laughter, her hands over her mouth now. Zenon mouthed to her 'What does that sound like?' and Neb looked up at her with tears in her eyes. She was trying, really trying not to laugh, but when she saw Zee's confused look and kept hearing that noise, all her efforts were futile.

She burst out laughing, a glorious noise, and then explained the slip up to Zenon.

"He.. He... sounds like a duck!" She said through her laughter. Zenon looked at her with a glare almost. ProtoZoa's sleeping form stirred and the noise subsided. He didn't wake up, but he did close his mouth. Zenon decided it was time to put an end to this. She made Neb go on down stairs, and she brough her hand up to his face, and gently forced his head lower, as to make him comfortable, and overed him with a blanket. Zenon couldn't help but smile as she watched his chest rise and lower with each deep breath. It was so peaceful that it made Zee sleepy too. She bent down an whispered a little something in his ear.

"Sweet dreams, Love," she said, thinking he couldn't hear her. Was she wrong! He heard her and was quickly awake, but had to fake sleep for the next few minutes till Zenon went downstairs with Neb. Once she was downstairs in her room, he shot up, a smile spread across his face. She called him 'Love'... and she wasn't British! Maybe... maybe it meant something...?

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The next two days passed quickly, Neb and Zee having chats with Zoa, and just some Neb and Zee chats. Finally, Neb got the opportunity to ask her about Proto Zoa. He had gone out to do something... he never really said what. They were in her room, Zenon stretched across her bed and Neb in her usual spot, going through Zee's closet. Neb decided it was now or never.

"Zee?" She began.

"Yeah Neb?" Zee answered, flipping though a MZine.

"Can I ask you a question?" Neb asked, not wanting to mess this up in any way.

"Of course Neb, you are my best friend!" Zee exclaimed. Neb decided to be plain straightforward about, so it came out.

"Do you like ProtoZoa?" Neb asked quickly.

"What?" Zee asked, caught off guard.

"Do you like him... as more than a friend?" Nebula persevered.

"Well, uh, I, um, I mean... yes?" She said, trying to avoid it knowing there was no point to it. Nebula smiled a knowing smile, and gave Zenon a reassuring gaze.

"Theres nothing wrong with it Zee," Neb reminded gently.

"I know.. its just, hes got all those earth girls and quite a few space girls throwing themselves at him, and it makes me think, why me? How did I get lucky enough to have him as a friend? I couldn't hope for any more! I am being selfish enough as it is! I can't do that to myself or him. I don't want to get hurt and I don't want to hurt anyone, especially not him," Zenon explained.

"Zee, you do what you think is right. I, personally, believe you two belong together. You know the way that fecalhead Greg treated you, and that sick jerk major Orion, I mean, come on, he hasn't tried anything with you. You have known him for almost five years, and you two are inseperable whenever possible to be near each other. Take it from me, you like him a lot. I think he likes you. But you can't be sure... until you tell him. Don't listen to me, listen to me, its your choice. Maybe just get to be even better friends with him, like a sister. Though personally, I think ya'll should hook up!" Nebula explained herself. Zenon was completly perplexed by Neb's last sentence, having never heard that type of talking in her life. Seeing the confusion, Neb explained that it meant 'get together'.

"I don't know Neb. I will just have to think about it," Zenon said. "Lets go on to bed," she said, flipping the light off.