Chapter 11 - Eric POV

She is gone. Now that Zinnia was gone, I could feel the empty place inside of me that I never even knew existed. How could she mean so much to me?

It frustrated me to the cold, bitter core of my being. I should have told her that I wanted to go with her but after what I saw I didn't know what I wanted. Now that she is already gone, I know for sure that I would follow her to the end of the world if that is where she wanted to go.

On the other hand, I am not sure whether or not I would follow her beyond the end of the world, and according to what I witnessed, she wasn't part of this world anymore. The human world.

(Could it really be true? No, it couldn’t. It shouldn't, but... If it was true, is she really going Ťhere?!)

"Sick joke!" I yelled to the heavens above.

"Who are you talking to, dude?"

I jumped around, ready to attack, because for that instant, I let my guard down.

"Dude, seriously, you should cut that shit out. You look like a diseased animal, and it's like totally embarrassing...remember I have a rep to protect."

Irritation filled me as I stared at him. "Ya, whatever."

I turned around and started walking away when he called me;

"Eric, wait up, walk a little slower. Ratchel and her mom are walking this way." The lust dripping of each word could be heard by a deaf person. I rolled my eyes mentally but started walking slower, out of habit.

Then I heard her shrill voice ; "Chad! Eric! Wait up." Her voice raised the hair on my back and definitely not in a good way.

I stopped, and suddenly, all three were standing in front of me, ready to gossip as per usual.

I inclined my head; "Mrs Niomi, Ratchel."

Ratchel kissed Chad like he was her boyfriend and gave him a flirtatious smile before turning the same smile towards me.

She was beautiful, but that beauty was but skin deep. Her personality was rotten, and not even a teaspoon could be shallower than her. And she wrote the book on; how to be a slut in a few easy steps. First rule sleep with any guy who wants in... especially if it is your best friends boyfriend.

"Eric? Are you listening to me? Or are you missing Zinporkia already?"

She grinned at me and then turned her gaze on Chad, who was staring at me, questioning.

"Oh! Dear, haven't he told you?" She placed her hand over her mouth dramatically.

"Oh, Eric, I didn't know you haven't told him about your affair with my dear, fat ass sister, Zinnia, oops !" She giggled and looked at her mother. (How could any normal being live with these creatures and not crack. How on earth did she not crack and kill them or something?)

"Is it true bro ,did you have an affair with fatso ?" He looked at me mockingly, but the confusion was still thick in his voice. I looked him square in the eyes and then asked him; "Do you want the truth, or do you want to hear what you want to hear?"

"I want the truth, man."

"I honestly like Zinnia a lot, or I think I might just be in love with her, but it doesn't matter. She is gone."

I looked at him and waited for what I expected would happen if I did tell the truth, and then it happened, all three in front of me burst into hysterical laughter.

"Well, at least I don't cheat on my girlfriend with a shallow, cheap whore." I whispered so that only Chad could hear me. He choked on his own laughter.

"Dude, you wouldn't...would you?" he whispered back.

"I haven't decided just yet." I told him, with a cruel smile lifting one side of my lips.

"Haven't decided what?" Ratchel chimed in.

"Nothing too you!" Chad cut her off rudely.

"I haven't decided whether or not I am going to tell your only true and very best friend that you are sleeping with the love of her life." She looked shocked and fear started filling up her eyes.

Chad gave me a fierce scowl.

Her mother was about to give me a lecture but stopped abruptly.

"Hey, guys." Silvia spoke next to me as she touched my arm gently in greeting before moving to Chads side, kissing him softly.

"Now, look here, talk about the devil, hey, Chad?" I smiled at her questioning look.

I could see Ratchel getting uncomfortable from the corner off my eye. Suddenly, she blurted out; "My mother and I are on our way to an...appointment. Sorry we can't stay longer to chat, but I will see you tonight at the movies."

She air kissed Silvia, and with a power walk, ass swaying, they were gone.

I looked at Silvia sympathetically. She is actually one of the nicer people in the group, and like myself, she only pretends to fit in. When she is with the group, she gets just as shallow as Sandra and Ratchel. Physically, she is very beautiful with brownish, red, loose curly hair hanging to her waist. Her waist one off those hour glass shapes. Her eyes a light brown, and her lips always pink. The two flaws she has, is in fact, that she knows she is beautiful and loves using it to her advantage and that she is much too gullible.

"What were you talking about ?"

She looked at Chad expectantly.

"How I couldn't wait to see you tonight." he smiled nervously.

"I couldn't wait either. That is why I was on my way to you now. I thought we could spend a little time together alone." she purred. As if she only then realized I was there, she turned her gaze upon me. "Please don't get me wrong, I love spending time together with all of you. It's just the last few weeks, we haven't spent any alone time together, at all. If you had plans, though...." she trailed off.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Chad nodding and mouthing. "Yes."

I ignored him and asked her; “I thought you have been sleeping over at his place this past week."

"I have, but Ratchel have been turning up the entire week so they could help each other study. Apparently, there is a huge paper due next week or something. I don't have history, so I'm no help there. When I get back from picking up dinner their both asleep, so I just leave them be.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind at all. I just miss you alot." she looked like a love sick puppy as she directed the last off the sentence towards Chad.

It felt like my heart wanted to rip out of my chest. Humans can be just as cruel. How could one girl do this to her best friend? Why did she do it? Suddenly, I felt utterly sick.

"Will we be seeing you tonight?" Chad asked.

I knew he wanted me to think of something so that he didn't have to spend time alone with Silvia, as he had other plans already.

"No, I won't be able to make it."

"Why?" Silvia asked

"For the simple reason that I don't want to." I said nonchalantly.

They were both shocked because I have never rejected an invite before.

I was simply tired of living this lie.

"What are you going to do tonight?"

"Did I mention that Sandra will be there?" Silvia asked at the same time as Chad.

"No, Silvia, you didn't mention that Sandra will be there, and truthfully, I couldn't care less and for what I am doing tonight... I don't know, maybe drink myself to death."

Their shock filled eyeballs grew too big for their faces.

"Now, if you will, please excuse me, I have to go."

"Bye, we will see you tomorrow?" She asked

"I don't know just yet, will have to see if I am still alive." I said, walking away.

I didn't exaggerate. It was the truth; I wanted to die. A fast, painless death.

Why on earth would Silvia think I'd care if Sandra was there or not? She is beautiful, blue-eyed with red or rather orange hair. If you look at her from a distance or meet her for the first time, but if you get to know her, you'd realise she's most likely the devils mistress.

She's most definitely not shallower than Ratchel, but she's rude and conceded. I don't know how Zinnia could be friends with her.

"She's gone." I sighed to myself.

The thought echoed through my head over and over. Everything started to look duller and dead, and my head started spinning. I felt weak and drained.