Zero to Infinity

Zero contemplated his next move as he watched Gordon and Jenny talk, sitting as an eagle high up in the tree. He could feel the anger and jealousy boiling inside of him, but he knew he couldn’t let it overcome him. He would have to be careful.

Gordon was standing a little too close to Jenny for Zero’s liking. He could see the way Gordon was looking at her, and it made his blood boil. He was getting too close. Zero had to act fast.

He stepped forward, interrupting the two of them.

“Hey, Jenny,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Jenny glanced at Gordon, unsure. But Gordon just smiled and nodded, letting her go.

“Sure,” Jenny said, following Zero away from Gordon.

“What are you doing back here?” she asked.

Zero didn’t answer straight away. He was trying to come up with the right words.

“Jenny. I know you’re probably tired of seeing me now and I know you believe you’re making the right decision. But we’re all worried about you. And we want you to do what you believe is best, but we don’t think that…”

“What? You don’t think that he’ll change for me? You don’t think that he cares? You don’t think that he’ll stop killing Theorians?”

All the statements that Zero really wanted to say, she threw in his face. He was right. He didn’t think any of those things were possible. But he had to trust her. He just didn’t know how to express to her that he did truly love her. The times they spent together, shifting in the woods, he enjoyed those moments. She made him feel a sense of freedom, openness.

“I don’t have time for this zero. We’re set to be on Mount Pioneer in a month. Once there, I have to become the matriarch. With him. On my side, it’s his rightful place to become one of the councilman”.

“I understand that, but do you know he was originally meant to be a councilman?” Zero said.

“It doesn’t matter what he used to be. Because today he’s my soon to be husband. We will be married and he will be an official councilman”.

“Yes, I understand. Jenny.”

“Zero. I do love you. But I have to do what’s right,” Jenny pleaded.

Zero could feel a lump in the back of his throat. His insides ran warm in his face, became flush. His desire and love for her grew stronger and stronger with each day passing. And he stood face-to-face with her resisting the urge to grab her by her face and kiss her deeply. He did not know how to show her. He cared. Because he had always been so certain and direct and all his approaches. Words always seem to be just enough. But when he was with Jenny, words were never enough. He never could say the right thing or do the right thing. She made him so nervous that in most cases, he second-guessed himself.

Gordon returned towards Jenny and Zero.

“Have you two finished... Talking it out”

Gordon seemed to have a bit of arrogance about his words. It was as though he knew he was taunting zero. Like he could tell zero. Had fallen in love. And though his love was not real for Jenny, he could believe exactly how Zero might be feeling. Jenny was a sweet girl. Compassionate and caring. He knew Zero was betrothed and that he actually loved her.

Although Zero and Gordon used to be best friends, watching him squirm because of it seemed to tickle Gordon. A bit of power. And arrogance filled him up. Jenny would be his wife and there was nothing Zero could do about it.