4

“Are you sure you don’t wanna join the cheer club?” Stacy asked.

We all were seated with our food on the trays. “I don't know Stac, I have actually no idea.” I sighed. 

She took a sip of her cranberry juice, her eyes lingering at my face with confusion, “you were there it in the last year, why not now?"

How could I tell her that I quitted cheer practice just too get in the skating club.

“I’ll give it a thought.” I said making her smile.

Flora was still nowhere seen, probably out there with that jerk, Nick.

“Why are they so hot?” Ava questioned, resting her chin on her palms. “Who?” Marcus asked.

“Them.” She pointed out to the table in the far corner towards the window. Marcus turned around. His face immediately turned into a frown. “The nerds?"

“Yes, they all look so yummy.” She said dreamingly. He looked back at us with his frown deepened. “What’s with that look, Marcus?” I asked him. 

“They are fucking cheaters.”

“How so?” I questioned. My eyes drifted at there table. One of the boys laughed at a joke told by the bob-cut girl.

“The one sitting in the middle took my spot.” He hissed.

“Allow me introduce them to you.” Lucas suddenly barged in the conversation. Feeling intrigued I asked him too continue.

“The girl who has short hair is Lilliana Bay, the other girl is Scarlett Hudgens. The darkish brown haired boy is Noah Reck while the one who has his hair tied in a manbun is Ryker Young.” He paused.

“Hot as fuck.” Ava giggled.

'What a drama queen,' I thought to myself.

“The last one sitting in the middle between Scarlett and Noah is Zachariah Diaz also Marcus’s sworn enemy.” He finished off his speech with a dramatic bow making us chuckle in response.

“Sworn enemy?” Ava curiously asked. “Yeah, he kinda is the Captain of the boxing and swimming club.”

“Woah, both?” A smirk formed on my face. “Yep.” He said popping the ‘p.’

“How can you be the Captain of two clubs at the same time? Isn’t it against the rules?” I asked. “It is but I guess he has his connections with the headmaster.” Jacob said making me turn towards him.

 “Really?”

“Rumors have said that he is the Uncle too Zachariah.” He said and I nodded in response. “Also that’s how that group didn't attend the first week.”

I hummed. Thinking of that, I didn't see them in the last days.

My eyes trailed back towards him, Zachariah Diaz. He was wearing a dark blue fennel with a white t-shirt underneath. A silver chain hung around his neck. His hair looked messy, but in a good way. Dark dirty blonde curls rested just above his eyebrows. Glasses rested on the bridge of his nose making him look like an ultimate nerd. But those eyes had everything. Bright blue. 

A color that brought happiness.

I liked the way how his eyes would slightly cinch from the corners when he laughed. The way his lips would curl up showing a dimple on one side of the face. He was gorgeous. Handsome.

Beyond handsome.

I couldn’t take my eyes off. He was the definition of hotness. Ava was right.

Tuning my friends out, I stared. My eyes took in every detail. If someone would call me a creep at this moment, I’d be glad.

In a matter of seconds his head tilted and he looked straight into my eyes. 

My breath hitched.

This was the second time we had an eye contact. Intense one for me to be specific.

Raising an eyebrow at him, I slightly shifted my head to get a clear view. 

A faint tint covered his ears making me smirk in approval.

The sound of the bell  broke our intimitate stance. Getting up, I threw my tray in the trash can and strided outside without giving him a second glance.

The rest of the day went by in a blur.

And right now I sat on Flora's bed expecting some answers. She existed the bathroom with a guilty struck expression. “I’m sorry Tina.” She said as she sat next to me, her head hung low. “I’m really sorry.”

“I.. I never wanted to ignore you,” her voice weak and throaty. Giving her a gentle squeeze, I asked her too continue. “My parents had seen that video of yours and the situation went downhill, I.. I had too show them that I wasn't talking to you anymore.” She sighed. 

“Right now, they’re not here but if the maids find out that you came by, they are gonna tell them.”

Looking at her, I brought her close to me, giving her gentle hug. “Its okay Lora, it wasn't your fault.”

“I’m really really sorry Lest.” She mumbled against my skin. “It alright, I forgive you.” I gently patted her back.

Detaching myself from the hug, I smiled at her. “Still friends right?” She asked in hope.

 I nodded. “Of course silly.”

“Wanna watch a movie or something?” She asked. Shaking my head in a no I replied, “Mom is gonna be gone so I have too cook, maybe on the weekend we could watch a movie and go for shopping?"

“That sounds great!"

We bided our goodbyes and I drove back to my home.

Arriving in the lounge I threw my backpack on the floor and strided towards the kitchen. Mom had always loved fettuccine. She was a fan of Dads cooking. Grabbing the ingredients from the cupboards I started making her favorite dish.

An hour later I was finished.

Ascending towards my room, I plopped myself on the bed. Thoughts after thoughts flooded my mind.

My mother wasn't the best. But she was good enough after I returned from hell. She was there for me but not all the time. I had too deal with my demons alone at night. She used too kiss me goodnights but that stopped when I reached a certain age. She still loved me but I knew deep down she still thinks I was responsible for Dads death. 

Which maybe I was.

If I hadn’t asked him to eat that goddamn icecream we would still have been a happy family, where I would be happy.

But this isn’t a fairytale. It's a harsh reality.

The reality where no one helps you but your own self. Where you drown and there is no one to save you, even your own shadows leave you behind.