Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 7: Secrets and lies

Determined to get to the bottom of it, I decided to ask Selie about the things Taryn told them. During a quiet moment, I approached her and asked, "Hey Selie, what exactly have you guys been talking about? Taryn always tells you not to tell me."

Selie paused for a moment and then replied, "Oh, we were just talking about stealing some art materials from the classroom cupboard."

I knew Selie well enough to see through her lie. She was a master of lying, but I was also good at detecting liars. "Really?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Art materials?"

Selie nodded, but her eyes gave her away. I could tell she wasn't being honest. Why would she side with Taryn? I thought. Selie and I shared a genuine interest in anime, and I thought that bond was stronger. But it was clear now that Selie had chosen Taryn over me.

I was confused and hurt. Why would Selie do this? She knew how much our shared love for anime meant to both of us. It didn't make sense. Feeling a mix of betrayal and sadness, I decided to keep my distance from Selie for a while. I needed to figure out what was really going on and why my friend had chosen someone else over me.

The situation reached a breaking point one afternoon. I was in the classroom, trying to focus on my work, when I overheard Taryn whispering to Selie and Luna. They were giggling, and although I couldn't make out the words. My heart sank, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me.

I decided to confront Taryn. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Why are you excluding me?"

Taryn looked at me with a mix of surprise and annoyance. "You're overreacting, Zara. We're not excluding you. You're just imagining things."

But I knew I wasn't. The changes were real, and the sense of betrayal cut deep. I walked away, feeling more alone than ever, dreading what would happen next.

One day, I walked into the classroom and placed my bag next to Jessica, ready to sit with her. To my surprise, Jessica said, "No, don't sit with me. You don't talk much and you're boring," in a casual, whining tone. I was taken aback. Why would she say that? But instead of making a scene, I just said, "Okay," and moved to sit with Selie. Selie and I always had something to talk about, like our favorite anime shows, so I knew she wouldn't see me as boring.

During games class, I noticed Jessica, Taryn, and Selie walking together, chatting and giggling. Feeling a bit left out, I decided to stick with Luna. Luna didn't talk much, but I liked her. We started reminiscing about the old days when we were classmates before but never had the chance to get close. This became our routine in every games class-I would hang out with Luna, while Jessica, Selie, and Taryn stuck together.

One day, I asked Luna what Taryn was telling them during lunch that she forbade them from sharing with me. Luna, being kind-hearted, agreed to tell me but made me promise not to reveal that she did. I agreed, and Luna said, "Taryn told us she saw the class teacher having an argument with the discipline incharge."

I was taken aback. "That's it?" I asked.

"Yeah," Luna replied.

"I mean, it wasn't something that I wasn't supposed to know or something to hide from me, right?"

Luna agreed and said she didn't understand why Taryn would make a big deal out of it either. Curious and frustrated, I decided to confront Taryn directly. "Why are you preventing them from telling me this stuff?" I asked.

Taryn replied, "Because you would start rumors and spread it everywhere. You might tell anyone else."

I was stunned. "Why the hell would I do that?" I exclaimed. It made no sense to me.

After that day, Luna started to frequently tell me the things Taryn shared during lunch. It felt good to have someone who trusted me and didn't think I would spread rumors. Luna and I grew closer, and her honesty helped me see that not everyone in our friend group was against me.

One day, during a free period, Luna and I were sitting together, chatting. Luna was about to share something that Taryn had told them during lunch. "Taryn said something interesting yesterday," Luna began.

Just as she was about to continue, Taryn walked up. "Luna, did you tell Zara what I shared with you guys?" Taryn asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

I quickly jumped in, trying to cover for Luna. "No, it wasn't Luna. Someone else mentioned it to me," I lied smoothly.

Taryn seemed upset but didn't show it much. She looked at Luna and then back at me, her expression hard to read. "Alright," she said curtly before walking away.

As Taryn left, I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew what kind of person she was. Taryn wasn't one to let things go easily, and I had a feeling that there would be consequences. The calm before the storm was unsettling.

Sure enough, later that week, something happened that I had already anticipated. Taryn's behavior started to change subtly, and the atmosphere within our friend group grew tense. I couldn't shake the feeling that Taryn was planning something, and I had to be ready for whatever came next.

(To be continued🌸)

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