The Story of us

Chapter Sixteen: Truth Unveiled

 Sorry for the long chapter!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it, I've included Zayn's POV so tell me what you think of it!

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It was as if I'd received the red card all over again.

The ogling and staring, the whispering and pointing, the missing possessions that came back by the end of the day decorated with new slogans - all this returned without hesitation. People didn't wave anymore, but eyed me spitefully from the other side of the hallway. And if there was anything I'd learnt this year, it was how unbelievably two-faced and backstabbing Kensington College students were.

"I don't believe this," Danielle echoed my sentiments in a deadpan voice.

"Neither do I," I returned, just as emotionlessly.

We exhaled at the same time; woeful, morose sighs that expressed the sorrow of an age. Sitting in the Kensington courtyard after school should have been a peaceful affair. The fountain was playing rhythmically and the rose bushes surrounding us were wafting their subtle and sweet scent. But neither of us paid this any heed.

"Just who would do this to you?" Danielle demanded suddenly, wringing her tiny hands, "And who was that guy?"

"I don't know," I said bleakly, staring into space.

"Well, we have to find out!" she vowed with dangerous determination. I glanced at her.

"We do?"

"Of course we do! Don't you want to know who did this to you, and why?" she exclaimed, stricken, and I felt like smiling for a brief second. Danielle's indignation on my behalf was always so genuine and sweet. I counted myself extremely lucky that I had a friend like her. Honestly, sometimes I had no idea what to do without Danielle Peazer.

"But would it even be worth the trouble?" I asked doubtfully, fidgeting with the sleeve of my blazer. "And what would it accomplish? Okay, someone really hates me - but there's an entire school here that fits that category, Dani. They're capable of doing anything so long as they take a whim to the head."

Horrible, exploitive Kensington kids.

Sighing deeply, I looked at the fountain - and sat up at once, alert and wary. There was a figure approaching us. Danielle also looked up, squinting, "Is that... Jade!" she blurted out in relief, "Jade, you're finally back!"

It was indeed Jade hurrying over to us, a worried look on her face. Gladness filled me to see her back in her uniform and back at school at last, and despite my current troubles I smiled when she reached us.

"Hey Jade," I greeted, "When did you come back?"

"Don't worry about me," the brunette said anxiously, "Are you alright, Layla? I heard what happened." Before I could answer, Jade dropped down onto the bench beside me and moaned, "I thought you'd left early that night so I didn't follow up on you. Layla, I'm so sorry. I should have made sure you were okay."

I'd almost forgotten Jade had been with me that night, but I guess it didn't make a difference. She hadn't seen or noticed anything either.

"That's okay," I replied, resignation in my voice, "It doesn't really matter."

"Layls, I think you should go and explain things to Zayn," Jade said seriously and unexpectedly.

I was taken-aback, "What?"

"I know he's angry at you at the moment, but once you go and talk to him, I'm sure he'll understand that you're not the type of girl to do those kind of things," she elaborated earnestly, "You have to at least try to make up with him, don't you?"