Dérive

Chapter 3 (a)

[ Present ]

Zane 's P.O.V

"You said that she always seemed distant. I mean Juliet. Did she ever not have fun? No offence meant Mr. Griffin." Cara spoke up after nearly 4 hours of non-stop narrating from me, making me lose focus on the current memory I was on.

I shook my head, chuckling at her judgement. "She was not meant to be fun. Her fun included in the happiness of others and her own self. Her own selfish needs. I guess no one expected her to be fun and she didn't expect people to see her as someone who is fun. Flow." I paused, looking up at the still vulnerable Juliet. I carried on saying, "'Flow in the river of life and let it guide you to its own destination'".

"Juliet said that?" Cara gushed at the spoken quote by me, holding her pen loosely in her hand. "Yes. She intended to imprint her words on those who unknowingly cared about her." I sighed, sipping on my black coffee that a few years ago I disliked.

"She seemed like a fan of Shakespeare." Cara said, pushing forward the memories of our school play in my head.

"You know, sometimes a name reflects a part of you that's unseen. Juliet; in other words, youthful. Young and seeming young. Everyday in her life alone was spent like that. Everyday she made herself feel young however, only for herself and only by herself. Somehow she made her life goal to be only about her - unintentionally, not knowing how many hearts she broke, crushed and hurt. Including her own " I spoke up.

Cara said, "Selfish? Selfishness is not something to be proud of though, right?" I fidgeted in my seat before swiping the unknown sweat on my hands onto my jeans. "It's not really, but I'm sure Mrs. Griffin-" I stiffened in my seat at the uncertain voice of Briana as she carried on saying, "Ms. Rivera or Juliet. I'm sure she had a reason behind it." Briana and Cara both focused their attention for me to carry on.

"Sometimes selfishness doesn't consume you, instead it makes you stronger." I said, only to leave Cara and Briana to frown and think about my words.

"D-Did miss Juliet say that?" Cara questioned, almost in an uncertain whisper. "No, but she made me say so." I replied. "She was like time to us. Never wanting to stop in her life."

"You were right six years ago Zan- I mean Mr. Griffin. She is fascinating in her own ways." Cara smiled at me proudly. "Call me Zane. Just Zane." I smiled weakly due to my fatigue state.

"Well Zane the question is, why was Juliet like that?" Cara quirted her eyebrow upwards, making Briana interrupt my figuring words, "More like, who was Juliet Rivera?" Leaving me speechless and twisted in my mind.

"I think it's about time you carry on with your story nearly six years ago..."

Malaika x