Sick Little Games (Zack Merrick)

• Prime Witness •

AN// feel free to lecture me about regular updates. I know how annoying it is not to get them, but exams suck and rn, so does life #emophraseoftheday

{ s e v e n }

"Let's go, Justice." She didn't even bat an eyelid as she smiled and waved me over, already walking down the hall.

I turned to the girl to see her scoff and roll her eyes, walking into the bathroom muttering something.

I followed Mariah with an open mouth and wide eyes. Did that actually just happen? Of course it did. I was a prime witness. What actually was that?

I looked back at Mariah to see her smiling face, calm and usual. She strutted along the hall without a care in the world and even waved at a few girls who gave her wide smiles.

And then there was me, trailing behind her like a lost puppy, probably looking like I've seen a ghost. A very scary, animalistic ghost.

"Come on," she laughed "you're so slow. We have next lesson together right? English?" She stalled to wait for me, talking like she has been all day, and I just gawped, like a moron.

"I-yeah, yeah we do." I finally replied, nodding wildly. I can't believe what I just saw.

Nothing like this ever happened in my private school, not that I saw anyway. We all just got on with our lives, and from what I know, there were no threats made in the bathroom, ever.

I think I want to go back to a private school. I've only been here a day, and I'm scared, confused and feeling a little vulnerable. Maybe it's just some first day sort of thing, but do I really want to risk it?

Hopefully Jack'll explain a lot to me tonight.

"Good. You're lucky there's a spare seat next to me." She winked, and smiled without a care in the world.

We continued walking until we got back to the cafeteria and walked back to the table we were sat on.

After the- whatever it was, that I just witness I'm glad I get to sit down.

I followed Mariah, and sat next to her, in the exact same seat as before, and again she began chatting with Lisa.

"So new girl, how's your first day gone?" Vic, I remember him as the short one so I can put a face to the name, asked me. I got a smile from Oli, but Zack and Alex were busy doing their own thing.

*

"You'll see, English is always so boring. We basically just sit there because the teacher just walks in and out of the classroom 24/7." Mariah explain to me, she then carried on talking as usual. Her chattiness is definitely growing on me because it means I can just listen and observe instead of whispering my way into a conversation.

Yes, I'm that shy person.

Mariah lead me to a table and sat down, I went to sit next to her but I noticed a girl there. She was pretty and petite, with a shiny nose ring and long brown hair. In fact, I think I've seen her around the school earlier today.

Mariah sharply looked at her, and then smiled at me. "Move, Tay."

I almost flinched at the tone of her voice. The girl, however, Tay didn't even blink. She just turned to look forward and ignored everything.

"Hey," I quietly got Mariah's attention and she gave me a bright smile "I'll go and sit over there." I pointed to an empty seat I spotted earlier and she frowned and scowled. I thought she was mad at me because she turned to Tay again.

"You're a fucking bitch, making the new girl sit alone..." I quickly walked over to the empty seat, still hearing Mariah's voice but blocking out whatever she's saying, or yelling, at Tay.

I sat down and immediately looked forward to see if anyone had noticed the commotion. This empty seat is in the back left corner of the classroom, one seat away from the wall. Mariah's is about two rows in front of me so I guess if we wanted to talk she could always shout over a few people.

Hey, she's confident enough for it.

I leant back in my chair, realising Mariah's earlier argument.

One that I actually listened to.

The teacher isn't here, she hasn't even shown up yet. Isn't there a rule where by if the teacher doesn't show up 15 minutes into the lesson then you can leave without punishment? Us shy people can think about these things too.

I let my eyes scan across the classroom, and in the corner of my eye I caught movement from next to me. I jumped a little, my body reacting automatically, and then I realised I was sat next to somebody.

This is exactly like me, I'm quiet, I blur right in, and I let everything else blur around me. Maybe I'm just ignorant.

I turned to see one of the boys from our table earlier. I instantly recognised him.

Zack Merrick.

He had both earphones in, and I could distinctly hear a drum beat, so maybe he actually has good music taste.

Okay Justice, that's not offensive. Sometimes pop music can be good too.

"Justice!" My head snapped back to Mariah quickly, shouting over some annoyed people. I nodded slowly and tried to make my hair a curtain over my face. "Are you still coming tonight?"

Tonight? Tonight... I tried to wrack my brain for plans that I've agreed too.

The beach popped into my head, remembering that I agreed to go earlier, and I nodded again, aware of people looking between both of us.

"Good." She winked, and that was the end of the conversation as the teacher finally walked in.