Until I Find My Star

Chapter 20

Author's Pov:

Anu's eyes locked onto Kenzie's, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kenzie, what ar- are you.." she sucked a breath, "What are you saying?"

Kenzie's gaze faltered as she winced when her friend called her by her full name, her eyes darting away before returning to Anu's. "Anu, it's... it's a bit complicated... I didn't- "

Anu's heart raced as Kenzie hesitated, her words hanging in the air like a challenge "You're scaring me"

Kenzie's voice was barely audible "Vikram... he's..." closing her eyes, "Yes, he's my brother or more like an adopted brother" the next second her eyes opened widely, "No, no fuck... Shit! this is harder than I thought" slapping her head, "I meant his family adopted me"

When Anu didn't utter any single word she knew she had to come clean to her or else her new friend wouldn't even talk to her anymore, let alone stay in the same place as her and that will be a mess, "I've known all along that he's been stalking you and... and I kinda or might have helped him" she said while biting her lower lips in agitation.

Anu's breath knocked out, as her world came crashing down around her, when she heard her words, "What?! You knew?! I... I? How? And you didn't?!" her eyes filled with tears as she couldn't grasp what she just heard.

Kenzie's eyes were also filled with tears, but Anu was beyond consolation, "Why, Kenzie?! Why..? How could you?" Her eyes search for an answer in her eyes making her look away with guilt, "Why would you keep this from me?"

Kenzie's voice cracked. "I was trying to protect you, Anu. Vikram...he's not all bad. He likes you. He's just... You just misunderstood his-"

Anu's anger peeked to the next level with hurt boiled over, "Not all bad?! Are you kidding me?! He's been stalking me, Kenzie! And you knew!"

Before Kenzie could say Anu turned away while chuckling through her tears, "You helped him! No wonder I find his gifts inside my bag and locker"

Kenzie reached out, her hand on Anu's arm. "Anu, listen to me. Vikram's not a-"

Anu shook off Kenzie's hand not letting her complete her sentence, her eyes blazing with anger, "You're seriously defending him?! After everything he's done?! Or you guys have done?! No wonder you're-..!" She stopped scoffing not knowing what to say, shaking her head in disbelief she turned around and kept her things in her locker hastily all the while ignoring Kenzie who tried to explain.

"Anu, please stop. Listen-" her voice faded away as she made her way out of the hallway.

The truth hit like a ton of bricks. She realized that Kenzie had been playing both sides all along, pretending to be her friend while keeping Vikram's secrets or more likely keeping tabs on her to inform Vikram about her routines or whereabouts. As crazy as it sounds, this is creepy.

That thug is literally stalking her. Out of everyone she didn't think Zi- Kenzie would do that to her.

She felt horrible clearing her tears harshly she made her way out of the school as she wasn't able to stay here any longer, her first friend at the new school was already breaking her heart in a span of a few months here.

How's she gonna spend the next one and half years here? How will she handle it?

The betrayal was too much to bear for her fragile heart.

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A few weeks later:

The sun beat down on the soccer field as Anu and her classmates warmed up for their physical training session. They were all chatting and laughing, stretching their legs and arms, after that incident Anu stopped talking with Kenzie and her gang.