Chapter 2 : Bygones

Zia Stephanie's POV

I began to feel anxious. My palms started to sweat, muscle tensed, and shoulders stiffened. Ready for something but I am unsure of what. It was as if I was splashed by a cold water, enough to make my system paralyzed in vain. I instantly froze on my spot. I keened my eyes at him, trying to study his features. But for a split of seconds, he vanished. I blinked.

The sound of the incoming vehicles of the police and sirens of the ambulance muffled into my ears. The press was gathered outside the school area, which added to the noise lingering in the air. Was it just a coincidence? Because that was time the stakeholders were also busy having a board meeting.

It was like the world around me during this time became much more elaborately complex, every detail pronounced like zooming into a high definition photograph, Each pixel of color began to stand out on its own like taunting dots, mocking with wicked grins as if they were hiding each secret.

I was on my deep thoughts when I heard Aki asked, "Are ya' alright?" I was taken aback when she slapped my left arm. I winced and I furrowed my brows at her. I gently shook my head, up and down, lips turning up.

"I'm way more than fine," I said, grinning from ear to ear, raising my brows at her. Her eyes glinted with worry momentarily. Then, she nodded.

I pressed my lips together, forming a line. "Steph, can I take a look on ya' shots?" she asked. The corner of her lips curved into a smile. My forehead creased, shaking my head before I handed the camera.

I gazed at her, still furrowing my brows. "This poor little soul!" she said with her trembling lips. She batted her lashes, with her eyes swam with tears and added, "I think I'm going to have some nightmares."

I gently shook my head and gazed ahead. I saw Franz, wearing his new fitted shirt while wiping his sweat, walking towards us. His eyebrows were shut in lines as if he was carrying the world.

He stopped in front of me, jamming his hands in his pockets. "What's up?" I asked, looking up to see his reaction.

He blew a sigh and in his british voice, he said, "Still grey. There's no suspect, we've been terribly busy. I'm knackered. " I fought the urge to laugh in this serious conversation, but I failed. Franz folded his arms into his chest, scratching his head.

"H-Hey!" Aki looked up, smiling, almost reaching her eyes. Franz sat beside her, crossing his legs, while still wiping beads from his temple. Something was up with his two. But I could not figure it out...not yet.

"How is it?" Aki asked. Her eyes were looking at Franz. I snorted beside her.

"Gutted! We're still looking for the cause," Franz replied, still wiping his face gently.

I leaned against the benched, creasing my brows and out of the blue, I asked, "Are the doors in the left wing locked?"

Franz folded his arms, jerked his head to my direction and replied, "As far as I know, yes." He scrunched up his face and said, "But the locks were unlocked."

"How about the footages of the cctvs?" Aki asked, still looking at the photos. I pursed my lips, thinking about the guy in shadows, still not sure to tell them about the boy at the left wing. Who are you?

"Still workin' a tad," he uttered, shoving his hands on his pockets, eyebrows snapped together. I nodded as a response, leered towards the small crowds.

"I've got a call," he said, raising his palm into the air. "Be right back," he added, placing his hand into his hips, walking away from us.

I walked towards the plastic armchair, placing both of my hands into the surface. But before I started to travel into my dreams, the corner of my eyes caught Aki sat near me.

But then I woke up with my head feeling heavy as the noise coming from the crowd muffled into my ears. Loud noises from the crowd made me squinted my eyes towards them, they broke my slumber. I opened my eyes slightly, the first one that I caught were the girls trying to hide their screams, pressing their lips.

My eyes darted at the girl near the bench. "He looks effin' hot," the girl with a short black hair said, giggling in her chair. She was trying to hide her blush on from her hand.

Aki gave a laugh, choking in her water bottle and turned wide eyes on me. "Are you okay?" I raised my eyebrows before I asked her. She cupped my face, fixing my hair.

"He's coming," Aki yelled, tucking her hair into her ears, blinking several times.

I looked puzzled, leaving my eyebrows in a line, and asked, "Who are you referring to?"

She was about to answer when another girl with a long gray hair screamed. "Girl, do I look okay? That's my makeup, my turn! C'mon!" I gently shook my head and let a deep sigh.

I scrutinized the eyes, sneered as I saw a young nerd looking boy walking towards our direction. Oh, well. Now what? Well, everyone has looks and I can't question that. I waited until he passed by. I thought it was him whom they refer to, but he turned right towards the entrance of the canteen. I sighed and gazed back at the tree beside me. It was already fall.

"There he comes. Damn he's hot," she yelled, tapping my shoulders. When I turned my sight into the left, I met Aki's eyes beamed with excitement. I shut my eyes momentarily, feeling the soft breeze that pierced my skin.

She pinched me that made me opened my eyes. "Pardon me?" I furrowed my brows at her.

"Look!" she uttered, pointing with her rosy lips at my back. I folded my arms leveling my chest, still raising my brows.

As I turned around, tilting my head. I looked at him curiously, studying him. A boy wearing a tribal t-shirt and a black ripped jeans, smiling from ear to ear, making his freckles showed up into his face.

I was caught off guard, it was as if a thunder stuck at my mind, reminiscing the past.

The corner of my lips curved into smile as I walked towards their wooden door. The balloon escaped my gripped when I heard several screams. The horn from my left hand left a soft thug from the marble floor.

"Look at your child, Belle!" a cold, baritone voice yelled. I heard a glass broke. I covered my ears, trying to ease the noise. "Look at what you have done," he added. I pursed my lips as I heard them at their room.

"She's already nine!" my Mom screamed. I blew a sigh and slowly walked towards the slightly open wooden door. The room was a complete mess. The needed items were piled on the floor - deodorant, magazines, books, lost valuables.

My heart sank the moment I saw my Dad almost slapped my mother and yelled, "Why can't you just listen to me?" I pressed my lips together as teardrops fell from my eyes. Why are they arguing? Should I just buy myself a gift then?

My mother's index finger was pointed towards my Dad and said, "No, David, you listen to me!"

Upon closer inspection, I found the picture frames crooked upon the walls and pieces of furniture looked out of place in their present positions. "Now tell me, you have something on your mind, aren't you?" my Dad added with his cracked voice.

"For Pete's sake, I have no intention of –" I wrapped myself, hugging. This is not what I want for my birthday. I just want a happy family. I closed my eyes shut, tears running down into my face.

"No! I thought you wanted to raise her like a normal child!" Dad yelled that I almost stumbled into my place. I tried to peek once again.

Overall, it looked as if a couple of monkeys were trapped in this room for days and resorted to petty destruction of property in order to break their boredom. My mom yelled, "It's not what I am talking about!"

"Shut the Pete's up," he replied. I covered my ears with both my hands and started walking.

Warm sun from the sunny summer sky batted down on my exposed legs clobbered with sunscreen. Summer was not my favorite season, but at moments like these, I would love to appreciate its's warmth.

My eyes landed on the ornate bed of grass that was surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes and shrubs. A fountain stood in the front right of the garden, spouting water high up into the air. The rows of flowers were barely visible at first but offered a spectacular surprise when found; they were home to all sorts of life.

Resting on my bench chair, I observed the wide expanse of chaos held at the park. The cloudless day was perfect for this sunny day. The light blue sky was brilliant against the green waves. It felt so picture perfect.

The sun beamed upon my face, my gaze was locked onto the cloudless sky, a shining blue that could allow me feed off its beauty and live forever. This day could make everyone live off its beauty forever. Maybe because now it was the end of Summer, things seemed overgrown, tired, over their best, tangled, starting to rot, going to seed, faded, and woody.

I am tired of feeling being alone, sucked about their fights. I gazed towards my crowd. Their laughs, chitchats and their screams muffled into my ears. Every time I gazed towards a complete family laughing together, my heart started to feel heavy and pained.

I longed for their nurture like a seed waiting for the sunlight and the water, running through their roots up to their leaves. Up until now, I could not feel the emotions that they tried to make me feel. For a moment I do not know how to respond or react, whether I should breathe or not.

I propped my chin on my hand as I swung my feet together. My mouth curved into a smile as I saw the archways overgrown with flowers were scattered throughout the garden, giving people an elegant way of exploring the garden and all it has to offer. Roots have already begun to crawl their way over and around the garden, eager to claim all pieces of land.

The fountain was definitely the main attraction within this garden. The rows of flowers were surely a sight to behold, and the bushes and shrubs deserved to be paid attention to as well, but everything will always be overshadowed by the fountain. I started to play my favorite song and looked heavenward towards the cloudy sky. I was in the middle of singing when I heard a rapid clapping.

My eyes darted towards a cute little face with her chubby cheeks, with freckles on her cheeks and a reddish lip grinning from ear to ear. "Brother look at her! She looks like an angel," the cute girl said, giggling.

I could not help not to laugh. But then a felt sudden goosebumps rising from my spine when I notice that he was looking at me intently. Those cold eyes staring at me, as if trying to read my soul...that was scary.

I recomposed myself and returned her gesture. I smiled and asked, "Who is this little girl right here?"

Her face beamed with joy and uttered, "I'm Mae –" She pointed her index finger towards her side and added, –" and he's my brother, Ethan." She jolted upright, clasping her hands behind her back.

I met his eyes and nodded. "Ethan Rowthorn," he repeated. His black hair compliments with his little freckles on his cheeks, paled lips, and skin. He extended his right hand in front of me, smiling.

I straightened my back and returned his favor. "Zia Stephanie Miller," I said, resting my other hand towards the wooden bench. "You can call me Steph," I added as my chest rose with its rapid pounding.

I glanced at him and in a stern voice, he said, "It was nice meeting you, Stephanie." He gave me a lopsided grin, making me noticed that there was a scar on his lips.

I heard Mae snorted beside him, as she ran towards the swing. My eyes caught her playing with some other kids. "Yeah, likewise," I mumbled.

He sat beside me on the wooden bench and asked, "So, how's life?" I looked towards the other children busy playing with each other having smiles on their faces.

"Still alive, breathing," I said with a smile on my face. He shook his head gently as if my answer did satisfy him. "How long have you been here?" I added, raising a question.

The corner of his eyes crinkled towards me and replied, "Couple of weeks?" I nodded.

"Are we some sort of neighbors?" I asked, observing his reaction.

He stuck his nose in the air, and grinned. "Well, probably?" he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Skeleton's Arc street?" he added. I tilted my head towards him, my lips left open.

"Yeah," I stuttered. His face flushed red while droplets of sweat dripped from his temples.

His whole face lit up. "Have you eaten?" he asked, furrowing his brows at me while running his hands through his hair. I was about to answer when I heard a loud growl on my belly. "Let's grab a bite?" I furrowed my eyes at him, still could not believe what I have been hearing. My lips curved into a smile once again.

"Mae, come here!" he yelled, grabbing the attention of his sister. Did I just gain some friends?

Needless to say, I am caught of guard: words that hold no immediate value, projected through a screen of background noise, bustling conversations, tinkling waves, tapping feet, squeaking shoes against the concrete, and small contained laughter.

The creak of the wooden chair made me back to my senses. I blinked. "Akemi Susahi," I said as I have called her attention. I gazed at her eyes, grabbing her arms, and said, "I really think we need to go."

I paused for a couple of minutes, trying to calm myself. "Chop, chop!" I added as I mimicked her voice. We stood up from our seat, head hanging down as my heart pounded fast.

But before we could pass the cafeteria, I heard a baritone voice called my name. "Stephanie," he mumbled. I shut my eyes closed momentarily trying to calm myself.

There was a long paused until I broke it off. "Welcome back," I uttered, a hint of stuttering plastered through my voice. I gazed at him, patting his back. I went pass through him, gaining back my composure. "I need to go, " I said as I bid goodbye and continued walking once again. My hands started to tremble, and my eyes started to sting.

I looked up heavenward, locking my eyes towards the dark blue sky, and whispered, "What are you up to? Why now?"