#Chapter13I sat up on the bed, ready to drink the hot chocolate he made for me. He makes the best hot chocolates in the world. Whenever any of us had a bad day or got upset, he always made us hot chocolate. He is thoughtful that way. My mom had other ways of coping with hormonal and distressed family members. She hugs them and listens to them patiently, before taking us out for our favorite treat. My family is great that way.I took the mug from his hands. He chuckled at my eagerness. "Are you ok, Zara?"I wondered how they decided which one of my parents would come and talk to me. Last time something like this happened, they played a game of rock, paper and scissors. The thought brought a small smile on my face.The best thing about my dad is that he knows exactly when to give space and what questions to ask. His soft blue looked at me with concern. The blue eyes I get from him.I gave him another small smile and nodded my head."You know we are here for y
#Chapter14'My gaze traveled from one end of the classroom and stopped on Harper, because he was staring right at me with a stony face.'******"Ok, you have stalled long enough. Now you will tell us what happened!" Samantha's voice was determined like her whole personality. Samantha and Natalie sat down across me on the cafeteria table.I cringed. I had been trying to escape my inquisitive friends since yesterday night. They had absolutely no idea why I left them at the party, when we were supposed to have fun. They had no idea who dropped me and why I ran away in the first place.I didn't pick up their calls yesterday night, hoping they would think that I had fallen asleep. And in school, I evaded them in the two classes I shared with them.But now I had no choice. I had to tell them. I have never hidden anything from them in all the years we have been friends and the guilt had been weighing me down. Taking a deep breath, I looked up from my plate of spaghetti and
#Chapter15I put my stuff down on a random desk in the middle of the classroom. The class had yet to start and I just hoped that Ms. Wilson was on time.Students slowly started trickling and claiming seats when Ms. Wilson walked in. Ah, no wrinkled clothes and flushed faces. Ms. Wilson started the lecture and I suddenly felt conscious. It was as if I felt somebody's gaze on me. I tried to shake off the feeling but it only got stronger.In an attempt to calm my subconscious, I turned around to check if anyone was looking at me. I didn't share this class with anyone I was close to, so I didn't really expect to be a subject of someone's scrutiny.My gaze traveled from one end of the classroom and stopped on Harper because he was staring right at me with a stony face.A shiver ran down my spine and I gulped, because the way he was looking at me was just so intense. I wanted to look away, I really did but I just couldn't move my body and turn around. Somewhere in the
#Chapter16'"If I had known, you worked here, I would have come here before."'******It has been two weeks since Harper's birthday and everything had returned to the way it used to be.Harper had gone back to his ways of groping and sleeping around, with anything that walks and has a vagina. He has an insatiable appetite, I swear. He has been ignoring me. I had no idea why, though. Before he was just oblivious to my existence, but now, he was clearly avoiding me. He practically ran the other way whenever we happened to be in the same hallway.I didn't miss the way he looked at me, when he thought I wasn't aware he was around. Well, whenever his mouth wasn't attached to someone else's.I had realised that Harper was clearly not the man for me. Man whore is not my type. I think I got upset in his birthday party because he took me for granted and while I was sure he felt nothing during the kisses we shared, I did feel something. The kiss was passionate and literally t
#Chapter17Monique and Antony were both immersed in their work. Monique was baking pies while Antony was coating frostings on the pastries. They looked damn good. The pastries, I mean.Monique looked up and gave me a warm smile. "Hello Zara. How was your first week at school?""Tiring. And full of drama." She laughed. "That's senior year for you."I moved closer to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then, I moved closer to Antony and gave him a kiss. He had his earphones plugged in and so didn't even see me coming.Antony was a really nice guy and a really great friend of mine. If only he wasn't gay. He gave me a peck in return and went back to frosting without taking out his headphones. He wasn't a man of many words and I learned it a lot early in our relationship. I went back to the front of the shop and took up the job of the waitress.Hours passed by waiting tables and taking orders, when I noticed it was 6 in the evening. One more hour to go and I would
#Chapter18'"Why do you hate Harper so much, Zara?"'******I took my bag and changed out of my uniform as Stephanie took charge behind the counter. I sent a quick goodbye to Monique and Antony. I thought I would be at Natalie's house for the sleepover by 8 but I was running a little late.I wasn't worried about the fact that I didn't have clothes with me, I would just borrow Natalie's. I got in my car and started driving towards Natalie's house. I had to give my details to the security man posted on the gate of the colony Natalie lived in. The same colony where Harper lives in.Why does this colony even need security guards?! It was not as if Arada was full of cutthroats and criminals.I parked in Natalie's driveway.Her house held a modern yet conservative touch to it. With light cream walls and two huge pillars supporting the patio, the house was simply magnificent. The wide garden wrapped around the house and gave it a soothing aura. The house consisted of tw
#Chapter19We looked at each other, silently communicating and moved closer to each other."No. Do you know about any gossip? Anything to take my mind off The Notebook?!" She looked at me expectantly.I chuckled. Typical Nat.Samantha shushed us, yet again.We both rolled our eyes at her behavior.I just nodded my head at Natalie's question. I did have something to talk to her about. The visit by Harper, Aiden and the boys was still fresh on my mind. The way he looked at me, how he guessed my favorite item in the menu and how later, he claimed that it wasn't just a "guess".So in a hushed voice, I told her everything that happened at Monique's. She listened attentively and then released a breath.Nat looked like she was deep in thought."Why do you hate Harper so much, Zara?"I flinched at her loud volume. I looked at Sam to find her snoring softly and the credits of the movie rolling in. Great, now she can't shush us. That bossy woman!"I hate him be
#Chapter20'Or was she talking about Harper leaving hickeys on each and every girl?'******I was floating and falling.Ugh! Not again. I had been having the same dream every other night now and it was becoming a nuisance, because in the end, I always woke up in the middle of the night after experiencing a terrible headache and then, I would have trouble going back to sleep again.It was the same every time.Falling and floating.Not being able to feel anything at all.Being surrounded by darkness. No, not darkness. Blackness. Utter and complete blackness.Then, being thrusted in a direction.The thrusting ceased and my body lay still.Then came the falling and the fear of crashing down and never waking up again.And then came the soft touch of grass on my bare skin.As I lay on the grass, I waited for the headache to come and split up my skull.But, it never came. That's how far the dreams had progressed every time.I gently peeled my eyes op