When he saw you

CHAPTER TEN: HOME

Zion

"Hey Zion, are you ok?" Emma's voice asked on speaker phone.

"Yeah, I'm good," I lied. "why do you ask?" I added quickly.

Emma knew I got detention because of the fight in the hallway, but I didn't tell her about the fight with Kayla and Evans. It embarrassed me that my friends felt that way about me and I didn't notice because I was stuck in my world. It was easier to think you were the only one with problems.

Kayla still wasn't taking to me. Her dad came home late most days. I could hear him talk with Mrs Sawyer while checking Kayla's room to see if she was still awake. I knew they hadn't had the chance to talk about the fight at school. Kayla was going to get in trouble too because of a mistake I made.

The only good thing that happened from all this is that Emma talked to me more. After I defended her in the hallway, she felt more comfortable with me and told me more about herself. So far I knew she hated school, lives with a verbally abusive drunk of an uncle and started smoking at fifteen. She had to change school because they recently moved.

"You've been spacing out a lot in the past few days." She says. "Is it because of the detention? That was two days again, Zion."

I completely forgot today was Thursday. It was hard to keep track of what day it was or how long I spent doing something. I spaced out a lot and would have missed lots of classes if Emma had not been there. The last two days have been tough. My two best friends in the whole wide world acted like they didn't know me.

Kayla's room was literally next door to mine and she wouldn't let me in. All I could do was do my best. I took her study snacks, offered to help with her homework. I even sat at her door last night till it was nearly midnight. Mr Thompson had found me sleeping next to her door and helped me get to bed. He knew something was going on, but he didn't ask.

"Actually, Emma, I might need some advice." I say, sitting up on my bed.

"Shoot." She replies.

"I wasn't the only one who got detention thanks to the fight. My friends got detention too, and they had clean records. They got in trouble because of me and now they won't talk to me because I've been an asshole to them, even though they've always been there for me."

"Damn Zion, that's fucked up! Why didn't you say something?"

"Because I didn't want you to think I was a shitty person. Which is actually the truth."

"Don't say that Zion. You're an amazing person."

"You think so?"

"I know so, and your friends know it, too. That Kayla girl, what is she secretly smart, or is it rich?"

I laughed. Emma's accent gets the best of her even when she tries to sound American. I know what she was referring to. Most people don't know this, but Kayla has worn nothing from a thrift store. All her clothes come from known brands, but she is not popular in school, so you barely notice.

"Actually, she's kinda both." I answered.

"I knew it, first day I saw her, I thought this chick knew what she was wearing."

"You're so funny."

"It's not that hard, Zion, just apologize to her. She's got a big heart somewhere that cares for you."

"I've tried everything. Kayla has never been this angry with me before. I feel like I'm going to lose her for real."

"Bullocks! Go buy some chocolates, flowers and add a written note. Trust me, it'll work like a charm."