Secret Vampire

secret vampire - chapter nine

Chapter nine

The school week whizzed past. The same people, the same subjects and the same teachers continued on with their lives as if nothing was going on, as if Zyla and her sadness did not matter. Class mates laughed and joked, the teachers handed out more homework and subjects seemed to be getting harder. Anora, Pearl and Aimee had attempted numerous times to involve Zyla into their chatter but she had resisted, often sitting quietly watching Alex begin to slowly involve himself with others except Zyla. During English class, sitting next to him had been awfully hard, trying to stop her knee from bumping his and her arm from brushing his. Once this had happened and Alex had stiffened, moving his seat further away from hers as if she was filled with germs and he was afraid they might leap out to him. This motion had caused tears to prickle her eyes. Slowly, over the week Zyla attempted to begin conversations with Alex but he had studiously ignored her as if he could not hear a word she was saying, as if she was a ghost and he could not hear or see her sitting next to him.

The weekend finally arrived bringing sunshine and a warm breeze. Zyla reached the shopping complex in black leggings and a deep blue dress with a short black cardigan and her gold handbag slung over her arms. She searched for her friends and noticed them standing outside the first shop near the entrance. She reached them and casually slung her arm around Anora’s slim waist. The girls greeted her and they headed off beginning their shop expenditure. Zyla’s heart was not in it as she slowly followed her friends from one shop to another, not bothering to browse through the different assortments of clothing, jewellery and footwear. Despite her brave words at the beginning of the week, Zyla was almost afraid of bumping into Alex and Caroline.

After constant persuasion from her friends, Zyla managed to find a few things which pickled her interest. She was finally being able to enjoy herself, laughing and joking with her friends, delighting in their company, the memory of Alex becoming almost distant as she strutted through the complex, attracting attention from all types.

The friends decided to finally stop for lunch, after a hard day of shopping. Many people would agree with this notion. All the walking around, in and out of different shops, browsing through different arrays of clothing and essentials, attempting to manoeuver around groups of people, mothers with buggies, old people, hand tightly clasped onto their grand children’s arms in the fear that they might loose sight of them like small children afraid of becoming los t in the sea of bobbing heads. Anora managed to find an empty table in the busy McDonald, where the girls slumped, tired. They sat for a few minutes before sending Aimee and Pearl with their orders. Zyla sat quietly, drawing in the different sights and smells, the noise almost overwhelming. Single people sat dotted around silently eating their meals, a few people sat, elbows resting on table tops, expectantly staring at the door, which often opened with a gust of warm air bringing in different assortments of individuals, stomachs rumbling with hunger, waiting for friends and loved one’s.

Trays thumped onto the table causing Zyla to jump in surprise. Aimee and Pearl were back with their food and they silently dug in with much gusto, not long before the tray was filled with empty packets and containers.

‘It’s my sisters birthday party next Saturday and you’re all definitely coming right?’ Aimee asked, looking from one girl to the next.

‘Why didn’t you tell us earlier. I could’ve picked something up for her?’ Pearl asked, twisting her straw in her hands.

‘I forgot.’ Aimee answered simply. ‘ Anyways I have to get her present as well.’

‘She’s going to be four right?’ Zyla asked, already thinking of what to get that will interest a four year old.

‘Yeah, and she’s been going on about it. She’s soo excited that there will be a party with lots of balloons and cake and friends. Friends as in everyone in her pre-school class.’

‘Well in that case, we should go look for something then.’ Anora said. Standing up she carried a tray and dumped the contents in the bin. The girls followed suit and they exited in search of gifts.

Xxx

It was time to go separate ways and the girls departed at the entrance of the mall, each going their own way. Zyla made her way to the bus stop. A couple were sitting on the red bench and Zyla recognised the unruly mop of wavy brown hair and the platinum blond hair. She came to an abrupt stop contemplating what to do. To carry on and sit beside them, ignoring their presence or to turn around and call one of her parents to come pick her up. She huffed out a breath, pulled up her sleeves revealing her pale arms and marched to the bus stop her head held high. This was her time to show Alex that she did not care about him at all. He was free to do what ever he wanted. This was a free country after all. Zyla walked past the couple sitting together, holding hands, Catherine’s slender finger entwined with Alex’s strong hand, chatting away. Zyla felt a pang go through her. She wondered how Alex’s strong hands felt and if she would ever get the chance to find out. She slumped on the bench and stared ahead. Catherine’s mindless chatter suddenly ceased and she could sense two pairs of eyes trained on her. Zyla refused to turn and meet their stares and instead she stubbornly gazed ahead. There was a post office with a fairly large queue waiting no doubt to pay off their numerous bills. She could see this through the shop windows. Next to the post office there was a news agent. Zyla could hardly make out what was happening inside through the poster laden windows.

‘What are you doing here?’ a spiteful voice said from beside her. Zyla glanced at the watch on her arm and noted the time. It was coming up to four pm. It seemed awfully early to be ending a date. She felt a spark of joy ignite in her chest. Maybe Alex didn’t like Catherine at all. Ha now that’s a thought.

‘Waiting for the bus.’ She answered back, keeping her expression neutral. She literally felt Catherine bristle.

‘Ha ha. You’re not following us are you?’ She asked.

Zyla smirked at this. ‘As if. I’ve got better things to do then follow you around.’

‘Just stay away from us.’ Catherine shot back. Alex stayed quiet through out their exchange. Maybe he can’t talk she thought, or maybe he doesn’t like to speak. She turned her head slightly and her eyes met Alex’s intense gaze. He was staring right at her as if trying to read her mind. Zyla stared back trying to avoid being sucked into his gorgeous green eyes. She abruptly turned away from his gaze and noticed the huge red double decker bus pull up in front of them. She quickly jumped to her feet and dug into her bag for her bus pass. She pressed it against the slot and quickly moved to the back of the bus. Spying an empty seat she collapsed against it, grateful to be away from Alex and his intense gaze. She looked around the bus at the other passengers but did not spot Alex or his date anywhere. They had probably made their way upstairs to the upper deck. I wonder what there doing she thought. I hope their not kissing. This thought made her catch her breath and her heart to hammer wildly in her chest. No she thought. She made as if to stand and check that they were not but thought better of it. She slumped back on the seat. The elderly lady sat opposite, watched her with keen eyes. Zyla ignored her and looked out of the window, watching the scenery go by. She noticed Catherine’s stop approaching and she quickly swung her eyes around towards the front just in time to spot her standing amongst the throng of people ready to leave the bus. She stepped out elegantly, swung her hair back, looked up towards the upper deck and waved. She walked off her hips swaying temptingly. Zyla tore her eyes away from Catherine as the bus jolted off.

When her stop arrived she hurriedly jumped off the bus and sped along the street, chancing a look behind her she spied Alex step off the bus and make his way towards her direction. Zyla walked even faster just shy from sprinting home. 5 minutes later she reached her front door, hands shaking she jammed her key into the door and pushed it open. Slamming the door she ran to the front room and stood by the window, her breath coming out in gasps and her heart hammering in her chest. She waited for Alex to walk past her house. A few minutes later she saw him saunter slowly on the opposite side. Zyla watched until he reached his house. She strained her neck, leaning forward until her face was pressed against the window. She saw him enter his house. Zyla let out a breath she did not realise she was holding and turned away from the window.