Sub Rosa Ties ( A High School Dark Romance)

Gerard

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white as I accelerated past another car on my right, narrowly avoiding a collision.

If I could get away with it scot-free, I might have risked hitting the car, but at this moment, I couldn't afford any additional troubles adding to the sorrow already weighing heavily on me.

Anxiety, fury, and frustration churned within me, a turbulent mix of emotions leaving me unsettled and uncertain.

I ran my hands through my hair in a swift motion, trying to alleviate some of the tension building up inside me.

As my car came to a stop in front of my school gate, I waited impatiently for the security to open it up, feeling a sense of urgency to find some semblance of direction amidst the chaos swirling within me.

It all began last Saturday when I called her, Zera. She refused to share her location with me, which immediately raised my suspicions.

When I arrived at her house around 7 pm, her mom was worried sick, saying Zera had told her she was going to Sarah's house.

However, Zera had told me she was going shopping with her mom. In that instant, I knew she had lied to me, and I was determined to find out why. I repeatedly called her phone, but she didn't pick up, adding to my growing concern.

Two hours had elapsed, and I had called Sarah numerous times. Initially, she had tried to cover up for Zera, but eventually, she called back admitting she had no clue where Zera was.

As the heavy raindrops drenched me from head to toe while I sprinted down the streets, my mind raced with worry. Despite the anger bubbling inside me at Zera's deception, all I wanted was to lay eyes on her and make sure she was safe.

"Where the fuck is she?!" I muttered in frustration under my breath as I raced down an unfamiliar street. The thought of reporting her missing to the police had already crossed my mind.

I was drenched from head to toe, the rain soaking through my clothes. My wet jacket hung limply in my left hand, while my T-shirt clung tightly to my body. With my phone gripped tightly in the other hand, I dialed Zera's number once more.

She didn't answer. I was on the verge of dialing her number again when Sarah's call came through.

Ringing up Sarah was the last resort, I never really fancied the girl. But for Zera, I'd bend over backward.

"Hello?"

"She's here," Sarah's voice cut through the phone, halting me in my tracks. My chest tightened with fear, my brows knit with worry, and my phone pressed against my ear.

"Zera's with me. Right here, in my room," she reiterated, perhaps assuming I hadn't caught it the first time.

"She is with you?" I exhale, my voice cracking slightly from the cold.

"Yeah."

"Is she hurt? Injured? How did she make it to your place? Where did you..." I trailed off, halting the flood of questions before Sarah could respond.

"Sarah?"

"Yes?"

I swallowed hard. "Please make sure she's safe. Send me your address, I'll come get her tomorrow morning," I murmured instead.

There was a brief pause before Sarah replied.

"Okay. I will," she said, and I ended the call.

Even though the call was brief, I could feel Sarah's hesitation to say more. I had intended to extract the truth from Zera myself.