Unintended Side Effects

Chapter Three

Two weeks after Ayita arrived in Paris, Zola was waiting for Cristiano outside of school. Ayita had to stay behind for a project so it would just be the two of them walking home. As she waited, she saw Asahi and Adri walking together. Those two have been crushing on each other for a very long time and their obliviousness to the other have driven Zola and Cristiano up the wall.

Speaking of the later, he walked out of the building towards her. A smile was plastered across his face, a stupid smile that Zola couldn't help but laugh with him when he makes it. 

"What are you laughing at? Did Kieran fall down the stairs?" Cristiano, stupid smile still intact, shook his head.

"No, but that would be funny. Adri asked Asahi if she could come over to his house for their project and Asahi lost all speech capability. He was just standing there like an idiot, so I had to answer for him! That boy, I swear." Zola nodded, smiling at him. 

They began to walk, talking about how Ayita was settling into her new life in Paris.

"She's doing better than I thought she would", Cristiano explains, "but she scares me sometimes. I don't know if it's just an American thing or something more than that." Cristiano, for the first time in a long time, seemed concerned. Anytime he talked about Ayita or just to Zola, he was genuine and not sarcastic like he is about Kieran.

"What do you mean?" Zola's question was reasonable, she didn't know Ayita on a personal level like he did. 

"Well," he began, "she says things that are self-deprecating. I am self-deprecating too, but it feels different coming from her. Like the other day, we were talking about how two wrongs don't make a right, and she said that she was living proof of that. I nearly cried." 

"Oh, I think I know what you mean. Three days ago, Asahi and I asked her what superpower she may have, and she joked that it was depression. I don't think she was joking." As they talked, they didn't notice that two hooded figures were walking behind them, following them home.

...

After a tiring discussion with his teacher about his grades, Asahi exited the school building. Although he was in the dumps, he did remember one thing; Adri asked if she could come to his house for their project! So cool!

Speaking of which, there was a tap on his shoulder. As his usual self, he nearly jumped three feet in the air as a reaction, calming down when he saw it was Adri. 

"You ready?" She asked, almost in an excited tone. Just being near her made him happy.

"Sure. Let's go." As they walked, they shared funny stories about school and their personal lives. It wasn't until they were near his house that their conversation deepened. 

"So, how's life as a model?" Asahi asked, not realizing his mistake. Adri slowed down as she thought of a good answer, but soon thought of a reply.

"I mean, it's fine. It's just not my favorite thing in the world. In fact," her voice got quieter as she continued, "I never really get to see my mother anymore, you know, because of the travel she has to do." She paused for a minute, the air getting thick between them, "I'm starting to think that she likes being away from home, away from me. She called me the other day saying that the shoot was taking longer than normal and that she would be in Spain for another week. She's been gone for almost a week and a half now." She paused after sharing that bit of detail. Asahi's eyes were wide with surprise. Sure, he knew it must be stressful being a famous model's daughter, but he never thought that she would have to stay in her mansion alone for long amounts of time.

"I'm sorry, I just made this more awkward than necessary-" Asahi began to ramble but Adri cut him off. 

"It's okay. It's just nice to talk about it to someone my age. Let's go inside." She gestured to the house, which he didn't realize until she said so. As he neared the door, he sensed something was off.