The Witch's Ichor

Splintering [30]

The bizarre thing about having friends for a long time is how they grow to become a part of your environment. After they show up in your life repeatedly over the course of a few years, they're ingrained in your world. Sometimes you'll forget they're not just a part of your reality. You can take their presence for granted. And then they're gone.

Usually Zoe can walk down a specific street in the morning to find Jamison. His route to school hardly ever changed over the years. Sadly Zoe can't find him today. He's either taken a different route, or he's ridden a car to school.

Stupid Jamison...

Zoe stomps her way toward the school with her dark hair swishing behind her. The walk to the school is uneventful. Zoe glances down at her phone, checking the group chat. There's a few messages. Nothing from Jamison.

Derek: Yo

Theo: Yes?

Derek: Wanna mess around in the woods after school?

Theo: I think I should work on my homework.

Derek: Wbu Zoe?

Derek: Plzzz

Zoe: Fineee!

Derek: :)

The sound of a car passing by catches Zoe's attention. She looks up to see an expensive car with blacked out windows. The vehicle slows to a stop out front of the school. Out steps a tall boy. He's wearing a white polo, blue jeans, and some very nice looking sneakers. Zoe squints at the boy for a moment. He looks familiar.

Jamison?

Zoe goes to approach him. The bell ringing gives her pause, but she presses forward regardless. Jamison's tall self looks more standoffish than usual. His clothes look way pricier. Zoe goes to grab his wrist, but he pulls his hand up to avoid it. She looks up to see him staring down at her icily. There's none of the usual warmth in his eyes.

"I would prefer if you didn't touch me." Jamison says in an unfamiliar tone.

Jamison's cold shoulder shocks Zoe. She's known Jamison for years, yet he's never acted this way. Zoe has never met his father, either. He's likely the one behind this. Jamison walks off with the flow of students into the school. Zoe feels a hand on her shoulder.

Zoe looks up to see Derek's familiar face. Derek is scowling at Jamison as he keeps a firm yet not too tight grip on Zoe's shoulder. Tracy is standing beside Derek with her arms crossed over her chest.

"He's really done it now." Derek mutters darkly.

Zoe's face scrunches up as she struggles to hold back her emotions. Frustration and betrayal flash across her small face as she stares at Jamison's back.

"Why is he acting like that?" Zoe asks softly.

Tracy gently places her hand on Zoe's back, rubbing her comfortingly. Derek pulls his hand from Zoe and starts to walk toward the school.

"He's just behaving how his daddy wants him to." Tracy sighs.

Zoe manages to bottle up her emotions as Tracy pulls her toward the school. The taller girl gently takes Zoe's hand, guiding her. Zoe's heart hurts.

~

The ticking of the clock serves as a reminder of the passage of time. Zoe's eyes follow the second hand as it moves in jerky motions. The hands of the clock rotate based on predefined rules, therefore they can be predicted. Zoe sighs.

If only people were predictable...

Zoe's eyes move from the clock to the book in her hands. She once liked this book. It really isn't keeping her interest anymore. The story started out as engaging, but stagnated around chapter thirty. Zoe's eyes flit to her worksheet.