Secret Vampire

secret vampire - chapter eight

Chapter Eight

Zyla walked down the corridor, her back pack loosely slung over her shoulder, heading to the canteen for lunch. Walking in, the noise evaded her senses all of a sudden making her head hurt. She shook her head slightly and heading to the lunch line which was gathering in quantity. Standing in line she looked around searching for her group. She noticed Pearl and Anora sitting at a bench besides the high windows. Zyla shuffled forward and picked up a tray and slid it along. She selected a cheese and tomato pizza with a plate of chips and juice. She paid and headed towards her friends. Aimee had now joined them and they were all eating silently. Silence was usually common when the girls were hungry. Zyla slid in beside Pearl, greeted her friends and began to eat.

‘Look who I can see?’ Pearl whispered to Zyla. The girls turned towards the direction Pearl was looking at. Zya didn’t turn as she could see just fine. Alex had just sat down at a table a few benches away. He looked up and met Zyla’s gaze, piercing deep into her soul. Anora and Aimee quickly turned away embarrassed at being caught watching him. Zyla could not take her eyes away from him and quickly made up her mind to speak to Alex and sort her problems out. Zyla continued watching Alex even when he had looked away from her and began eating. Anora gently jolted her knee trying to distract her from staring at Alex. Zyla looked at her friends who were all staring at her and flushed. Before they had a chance to speak she quickly said ‘I’m thinking of speaking to him and sorting this out. I want to know why he keeps ignoring me and refusing to look at me. I want to know what I have done to him.’ Zyla nods her head at her friends who nod back at her and give her small smiles. She pushes her empty tray away and begins to stand up, picking up her bag from the floor. Zyla takes a few steps towards Alex’s table and stops dead. Catherine saunters up to Alex, her hip placed elegantly against the edge of the corner, her back to Zyla, who is unable to move, watching silently. Her friends turn to face Alex. ‘Oh no, what is she up to now?’ Aimee hissed. Zyla could not hear what Catherine was saying but she seemed to be persuading Alex who was shaking his head with pursed lips. Catherine leaned forward slightly no doubt flashing him in the process. Once again she witnessed Alex shake his head then after a few seconds he gave her a resigned nod. Catherine nodding her head and turned towards Zyla who was staring at her with annoyance. Catherine flashed Zyla a grin and strolled past humming to herself. Zyla gritted her teeth, her eyes not leaving Catherines back. She turned towards where Alex was sitting but stopped short not believing her eyes. Alex was nowhere in sight. He had clearly done a disappearing act. Zyla felt tears form in her eyes, threatening to slide down her cheeks. Pearl leaned forward and gently pulled Zyla’s arm forcing her to take a few steps back and sit on the bench next to her. ‘Don’t worry about it.’ Pearl slung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed them gently in an attempt to reassure her friend. Zyla could not stop her tears from falling.

‘Don’t cry Zy. He’s not worth it; totally not worth it. Forget about him, you don’t need him anyway. You have us, you’re lovely friends.’ Anora comforted her, coming around to sit next to her.

‘Don’t leave me out.’ Aimee said also getting up to stand behind the seated girls to give them all an awkward hug. The friends stayed like this, trying to cheer Zyla up until the bell rang.

                                                                      Xxx

Zyla sits beside the windows in her form class, surrounded by her friends. The students are required to attend form class twice a day. The first which lasts for half an hour and the second for ten minutes. The teachers take attendance and make announcements. The rest of the time is dedicated to studying, almost like a free period. Mrs Atkinson has completed the register and sits behind her desk doing paperwork. Aimee and Anora are talking quietly while Pearl is trying to distract Zyla from staring at Alex who is sitting beside Catherine at the other side of the room. It seems as if Catherine is initiating the conversation as Alex only nods or shakes his head staring at the display board opposite him.