Dilara

Chapter 65:

Today is the first day I've gone to school in ages. I've been stared at so much. Going from the new girl in school to the most talked about.

Everyone knows what happened, everyone's knows he's gone.

Vittoria called the principal and said that Adriano got into a car accident.

Principal Carter than decided that he should tell the entire school.

'Dilara, it's good to see you back,' Mr Thompson; my English teacher says stopping by my locker.

'It's good to be back sir,' I reply.

'Whenever you're free, come into my classroom and collect the work you've missed.' He says.

'Yeah, ok.' I say, closing my locker.

'DILARA!' A girl exclaims.

I turn around and I'm tackled by Alara.

'Oh my god,' I gasp.

'I've missed you so much,' she says.

'Nice to see you again,' Carlos says.

'It's been boring without Diana wanting to start some drama with you.' Kai laughs.

'She can go jump of a bridge, I've had enough of her bullshit.' I roll my eyes.

Alara looks at me and gives me a small smile.

I'm glad none of them bring up Adriano, or ask why I wasn't here. I don't know what I would do if they did.

Lorenzo, Terzo, Zoya and Alora walk towards us and they stop at my locker.

Kai and Aiden tense up. I remember that everyone's intimidated by them.

'Hey Alara,' Terzo says.

'Hey,' she replies.

Aiden can't take his eyes off Zoya.

'I love what you've done to your hair!' Alora says.

Alara has her usually curly hair in two braided buns.

'Thanks,' Alara replies.

Carlos clears his throat.

'Well, my football game is tonight if you guys want to come.' He says.

'I did say that I would show up.' Lorenzo replies.

'Make sure to save us all a seat.' Zoya says.

They walk away, heading to their first period.

'We'll see you guys later,' Alara says, as we make our way to our Spanish class.

**************

Carlos, Kai, Aiden, Alara  and I sit at our usual table, Alara gives us all a packet of crisps each.

Of course she's the mother of the group.

'Ok, what did we miss what's the gossip?' Alora asks.

Her, Terzo, Lorenzo and Zoya join our table and sit down with us, making everyone look our way.

'Diana's been able to go through the whole football team,' Kai says. 'She trying to move to the basket ball boys but they don't want her.' Kai and Aiden laugh.

'Zoe's dad has been paying to keep his daughter out of trouble, and she also got a nose job.' Alara explains.

'That was caused by yours truly,' I say signalling to myself.

Alara's jaw drops.

'What did you do?' Carlos asks.

'I was with one of my guy friends and she tried moving to him,' I explain. 'And then she brought up....Adriano.'

The entire table falls silent and I bow my head.

'Your hair looks really cute though,' Kai says, tapping the table.

'I like what you've done with it,' Aiden says.

'Thanks,' I reply.

Diana walks past our table and just stares at us, her eyes land on me.

She's walking with Zoe and Becky. Of course she's this desperate to have friends and not be all alone.

'Do you guys smell something?' Diana asks them.

Kai rolls his eyes and Aiden sighs.

'It's like sewage,' Becky laughs.

'That smell is coming from your mouth,' Terzo snaps.

'I can smell it from here,' Zoya adds from the other side of the table.

'Guys stop,' Zoe mutters, not looking me in the eyes.

Her nose job is still healing.

'I'd advise you to listen to Zoe,' I say. 'Unless you want a new nose job too.'

'Whatever,' Diana mutters before walking away.

'I don't know what her problem is,' Alara says.

'I don't care,' I reply. 'I didn't do anything to her until she provoked me.'

Kai starts talking to Terzo about basketball and how he would like to play a match with him one day.

Aiden talks to Zoya about her hobbies and interests and if she'd like to go to a movie sometime.

When Terzo hears that his eyes narrow.

Alara and Alora are rambling on about something.

I get up and go to the vending machine. I put in my coins and press a button so I can get a Dr Pepper and a packet of cookie dough bites.

I look behind the machine and see someone in the student parking lot.

The same guy.

The guy who was opposite Starbucks.

Black hood, black mask, black clothing.

He's staring at me.

The Dr Pepper falls and cookie dough bites to the bottom and I look down at the flap so I can pick it up.

I quickly look back at the window and the man's gone.

Should I tell someone about this? What if I'm just imagining it.

Isn't that a side effect of grief?

I walk back to the table and sit down.

Lorenzo turns to me.

'Are you ok?' He asks.

'Yeah,' I clear my throat.

'You seem a little shaken,' he says.

'I'm fine, don't worry.' I reply, taking a drink of Dr Pepper.

I look down at my hands and see that they're shaking.

'Zoya,' I say.

'What's up?' She replies.

'Do you have that flask of Tequila on you?' I ask.

'Yeah,' she replies.

She bends over to her bag and takes it out. She gives it to me.

'Thank you so much,' I say.

I drink more Dr Pepper and unscrew the lid of the flask.

I pour a lot of it into my drink and then hand it back to Zoya.

Everyone continues talking and my mind keeps on going back to that guy.

Is it really a coincidence that I saw him twice? Is he following me? Or is this all just in my head?

How could he know what school I go to, and how did he get into the parking lot without getting caught?

It must be all in my head.

There's no reason for someone to follow me.

Right?

*AUTHORS NOTE*
Who's following Dilara, and is she safe?
Instagrams:
@adrian0_giovanni
@dilara_caesar
Have a nice day!