Summer Renaissance | Zoyet - Gossip Girl Reboot

Freaknik

After that night, Monet and Zoya stopped speaking to each other. A couple days later, while Zoya was in her room, the staff informed her that she had received a delivery. Curiosity piqued, Zoya went to check and found a large bouquet of flowers waiting for her. She leaned in, inhaling the sweet scent of the roses before opening the attached card.

Inside, the card read, "Now you have no excuses! - Terrell" and included his phone number. For a moment, Zoya felt a pang of disappointment, hoping that the flowers and note were an apology from Monet. Instead, it was Terrell reaching out. She texted and thanked him for the flowers, and they began texting each other.

Meanwhile, Monet began spending more time with Layla, but Zoya consumed her thoughts. Every moment spent with Layla felt hollow, a stark contrast to the warmth and connection she experienced with Zoya. When she was with Layla, the emptiness gnawed at her, a persistent reminder of what she was missing. To escape this void, Monet began seeking solace in lust and found herself turning to weed, vaping it as a temporary escape from the hollow feeling inside.

Now having the relationship she had longed for with Layla, Monet realized it felt more like a temporary distraction. Despite finally being together, the connection seemed superficial, a fleeting escape rather than the deep, meaningful connection she truly desired. Monet would get herself high, trying to drown out the emptiness. Still, even in those hazy moments, as she lay next to Layla, Zoya remained an inescapable presence in her mind, filling her thoughts with a longing that nothing else could satisfy.

Afterward, Monet would find some excuse to leave and not stay overnight. She would tell Layla she had early morning plans or needed to check on something at home, but the truth was, she just couldn't bear to stay. Monet would slip out into the night, seeking solace in her own company, preferring the solitude of her own thoughts to the shallow comfort of Layla's presence.

One morning, as Monet came downstairs, she overheard her sisters asking Theo about her recent behavior. "What happened to her while we were gone?" Nicole questioned, noting how different she seemed lately.

Theo shook his head. "I don't know, but I haven't seen Zoya since the party last weekend," he replied.

"The staff mentioned she asked the driver to drop her off at Layla Keating's house the past few nights but never stays overnight. So, are they hooking up again?" Celine asked, unsure.

As soon as they saw Monet entering the room to join them for breakfast, they fell silent, their eyes immediately noticing how unkempt she looked. Monet sat down with them and began grabbing various food from the table.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" she asked, piling a stack of bacon onto her plate.

"They had an early tee time at the golf course and then a work lunch," Nicole answered.

"You good, sis?" Theo asked, watching Monet as she continued to heap food onto her plate.

Monet just nodded, then turned to the staff. "Bring me a mimosa," she requested.

"Where's your girlfriend?" Celine asked cautiously.

"Actually, more like, who is your girlfriend?" Nicole added.

"I don't have a girlfriend anymore," Monet replied between bites of a biscuit, clearly showing signs of hunger from her recent cannabis use, savoring each mouthful.

"Did you cheat on her with Layla? Is that where you go at night?" Celine asked, making assumptions.

Nicole shook her head. "I was starting to get used to Zoya. She was annoying, but it felt like having a little sister. Still can't believe she is related to Julien. They are so different."