When We Meet Again

Chapter 35| What have we done

Tasha's POV

I've have successfully implemented my devious plan of ignoring my devastatingly beautiful-ugh I can't even call him my boyfriend.

Oh how I wish that my heart didn't want that security.

The security of being his girlfriend and not one of his-his playthings.

Was it wrong that I wasn't strong enough to handle anyone calling me a slut or a whore?

Even if I and my friends knew I wasn't?

I hoped against everything that Hailey was right and I wasn't currently making a big mistake.

Simon picked me up at sharp 7:45 in his red Maserati. I almost purred as I slid into the tea coloured leather seats. I could literally fall asleep in his car.

He duly wished me a good morning with a peck on my cheek and I gave him a small smile while returning his greeting.

Usually, I would talk non stop until we reached school, but today I decided to just enjoy the scenic view of the well manicured lawns and villa like houses that surrounded my neighborhood.

"So, how are you?" Simon started, looking a little quizzical.

I almost smirked in satisfaction.

"Great. You?" I murmured without looking away from my window.

"Amazing now that you're in my life," he quipped.

I blush.

Then why am I not your girlfriend yet Simon?

Ugh, he was making it so hard to ignore him.

I had to work harder.

I gave him a very lightly dry laugh.

***
"Sharon, when will you talk to her?" I asked, walking down the hallway, her by my side.

Suddenly, my eyes were bombarded with the sight of Zara pushing- or more like slamming Max up against a locker. And not, in the good way.

"What the hell did you do to her Stevens?" Zara thundered.

What was she doing?

More importantly, why was she so angry with him?

I knew what Zara had done to Hailey. How she had shattered her life into fragments more tiny than they had already been. With Max's sudden upheaval from the country and her mother's sudden business boom, Hailey had already been at an all time low. And then Zara, her best friend had butchered her already breaking heart.

"Leave me alone, Zara." Max brushed her off and walked past her, a confusing and unreadable mask perfectly dancing across his ivory skinned visage.

"You," I hadn't realized Zara had stalked her way up to us until she was almost breathing into our faces. "Where's Hailey?"

I almost reeled back in shock. Why was Zara, the one who despised Lee the most concerned about her whereabouts?

"Probably at home, Why?" Sharon shot back. "Not that it's any of your concern,"

"Max did something to her didn't he?" Zara asked, causing two pairs of eyebrows to raise up in confusion.

"I maybe horrible to her, but unfortunately-I know her. I know her better than the two of you combined." her gaze darkened. "And when Max left last time-let's just say she didn't take it well. She will deny it as much as she can, but she was already halfway in love with him when he left. He was the one for her. He was her first and last love. Why do you think she's never even paid interest to anyone else?"

Shock broke through my bones, almost shattering them with it's intensity.

"Text her, right now. Ask her why she didn't show up today," she ordered.

My phone was in my hand at lightening speed. I did as Zara asked.

At the sound of the ping, Zara grabbed the phone out of my fingers. But I still managed to read the upside down text.

Down with fever, I'm so sorry. Was actually planning to come today.

"Still a people pleaser I see." she murmured. "Here. Here's the proof that she's not okay,"

"She's having a fever, of course she's not okay." Sharon quirked a brow.

"No, you don't understand. Two days after Max left, she cranked up the air condition in her room and didn't bother to wear anything more than a fleece blanket. Sound familiar?"

Shock iced my veins. She continued, taking the look on our faces as affirmation to her unasked question. "I was having dinner at her place, to comfort her. God, it was pathetic. She was punishing herself over something not even in her control. But just before I left she somehow pulled herself together and said that she was better, that she'd come to school the next day. But when I got to school the next day she wasn't there-you can probably guess why, now. Anyway, I was beyond angry that she could be so weak-so utterly weak-"

"She isn't weak." Sharon stated, her voice deadly. "If any one's weak it's you. After Max left, she was still kind and loving to people. She didn't let the darkness that she probably felt take over her. While you, by the way who is still completely in love with Max-" Zara's eyes froze. Mine probably did to. "Lashed out at everyone for it. Especially her, since you were so jealous seeing the same feelings you had for Max, blossoming in Lee's eyes. Except she couldn't understand them yet. So don't you dare accuse Lee of being weak!"

Zara was stoic. Sharon gave her a feral smile. "You think I didn't notice? The way Hailey described you looked at Max that day at the movie theater? When you were still trying to dress Hailey in a wolf's skin? It will never fit."

Zara looked like she wanted to punch someone. "I don't even know why I decided to help." she snarled.

"Guilt maybe?" I ventured, still reeling from the shock.

"I'm not-oh why bother denying it. Yes, what you said was right, but I'm never apologizing for it. Anyway; just go to her. Help her figure it out, she may not say it but she needs you right now." she said, placing my phone back in my hands.

With that she turned around to make her grand exit. She took two steps ahead but then whirled around to face us. "Don't you dare tell her I helped. Because I know if you do she'll come back and try talking to me and I would tell her the same thing I told her all those years ago." she paused a second before continuing. "That I don't need people like her messing up my life any more."

And then I did what I've always wanted to do to her since the day Hailey had told us about her.

Something I was too scared to do before this.

But now I wasn't.

Now I was empowered.

I was strong.

I smiled.

And then I punched her. In the nose.

***

A/N:

No one is purely evil in my opinion. Some people just have really strong grudges. Hence the scene with Zara.

Hope you like it!

Have a great day!

LoVe,

HR