Zora

Chapter Five

Stares were nothing out of the ordinary for Zora. All of her peers in Georgia always stared at her in disgust. But no one at her new school did. In a strange sense, she found it to be uncomfortable, almost alarming. The fear of someone jumping on her, ripping her apart when she least expected it hung in the air. It was the main cause of her always being on edge, remaining attentive to her surroundings.

As she walked past her new peers through the parking lot, people did begin to stare at the new girl with blue hair. The lack of response was unnerving to her. A few people did stare at her in disgust, which she expected everyone to, and a few people gawked at her beauty. But the majority of the student body glanced at her before turning back to their friends and continuing with their conversations.

As refreshing as it was to feel the beady eyes of her peers stare into her back, she couldn't control her rapidly shaking hands. Their blanks eyes sparked the fear of being targeted and assaulted when she least expected it. People always tended to judge her before getting the chance to know her; she had no reason to believe it would be different in New York.

It was a bummer to believe everyone would be the same as her old classmates. She hated to believe her new peers would treat her as poorly as they had. It was her first day, so she attempted to look on the bright side. She was at a new school with new classmates in a new environment. A fresh start. She wanted to make a good, long-lasting impression. This was her chance to finally be a normal teenager like everyone else.

Terrance could easily see how nerve-wracking it was for Zora to be there. Bullying took a toll on many people, prompting them to do whatever they could to avoid going to school. Usually people had friends to fall back on for help, but Zora had no one. It was going to be hard for her to find someone to rely on and trust enough to catch her when she fell. He was going to be that person for her, and he was going to make sure his closest friends would do the same. They would also be her friends, and he would be damned if any one of them allowed her to get hurt.

"If anyone gives you a hard time, and I don't care if it is something as petty as someone saying that they don't like your shoes, you come and find me. I promise I will kick their ass for you," Terrance stated as he led Zora up to the building.

With a small smile, she nodded. "Thank you."

Pushing the doors open to the school, Terrance led Zora into the main office to receive her schedule. The two inspected her classes as they left the office, and he was happy to know he shared a few classes with her. It would be easier to keep an eye on her that way.

"I don't have first period with you, but my friend Spencer does." When he spotted his friend down the hall, he waved him over.

"Spencer?" she questioned.

"You met him the other day when you moved in. He was the tall blond guy with the glasses."

Zora blushed as Spencer walked up to them both. "Good morning, Zora. How has Terrance been treating you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at his best friend.

"We had a rocky start, but we are figuring things out," she replied as she shared a smile with Terrance

"That's good." Leaning in close to her ear, Zora tensed up. "If he ever causes you any trouble, you be sure to let me know. I'll whoop his ass for you."

"You know I'm right here, and I can hear you," Terrance sassed.

"I know."

Rolling his eyes, Terrance took Zora's schedule from her hands and handed it to Spencer. "She's in your first period. Would you mind keeping an eye on her?"

"It would be my honor," Spencer said.

"Good. I'll meet up with you both at lunch," Terrance said before waving goodbye.

Spencer turned to face Zora, his face softening when he noticed her smiling at him. His heart released a small flutter as he felt butterflies swarm in his stomach. A tint of a blush coated his cheeks as he looked down at her schedule, afraid to make eye contact with her.

Helen's words about love at first sight popped into his mind, causing him to feel even more nervous than before. Glancing up at Zora and finding her staring at him, nibbling on her lower lip, he couldn't say a word. Snapping himself awake from his daze, he cleared his throat. "Looks like we share half of our classes together. I'm sure Denise will have some with you as well."

"Who's Denise?"

"My twin sister. You'll love her. I'm telling you, she already fell in love with you the moment she saw you. She thought you were quite cute," he smirked.

"Oh," Zora said, shifting a piece of hair behind her ear uncomfortably. "How sweet." It wasn't the fact that a girl was interested in her. The idea of someone liking her at all was slightly unsettling. She wasn't used to the idea of someone potentially liking her, leading into falling for her. The thought itself seemed almost improbable to her, but she would never dare tell a living soul that. It seemed almost cruel to.

"Are you into girls?" Spencer asked as the two walked down the hall together. Without meaning to be, he knew the question was a bit intrusive. But he hung onto the words exiting her mouth. He had to know. If Zora didn't like men, as supportive as he would be towards her, he would still be crushed.

"No. I'm straight." Folding her hands behind her back, she tilted her head softly. "I don't have anything against girls. I guess I could potentially see myself dating one. But I know that if I get married, it will be to a boy."

His mood instantly perked up. There may have been a chance for him to be with Zora after all. The thought caused his smile to stretch. But he was confused. All he knew about Zora was how she was a beautiful woman who went through hell. There was plenty more to learn about her. There was no guarantee that her soul was beautiful as well. Yet as he talked with her on their way to class, he couldn't help but believe that she was beautiful inside. Everything about her screamed beauty. He just had to make sure he wasn't being blindly led around.