Catching My Queen

||HELL||

Zara PoV

The familiar bell rang again, and I sighed contentedly. I carefully picked up my stuff and dragged myself towards the lunchroom. It was barely half of my day, and I was typically done with everyone. Not only the students were giving me stinky eyes, but they also have been whispering.

They have been typically talking about the pictures, saying disgusting stuff about me. Well, if this wasn't the terrible part then I don't know what was because even the familiar students, that I have been friends with, weren't even looking at me. o had no idea what the pictures were about. This made me feel guilty even though I was not the one who has done anything wrong but they sure made me feel like it.

The door to the lunchroom was already wide open and Aliya was nowhere to be seen.

Great just great!

The lunchroom was the same, very loud. I always enjoy loud places but not anymore. Everyone was laughing and moving around without barely noticing anyone. My eyes travelled around to spot any familiar face but to my luck, I caught something else. An extremely intimidating gaze. I inwardly gulp the moment my fierce eyes met with Ryan.

"Come on Zara, don't act like a stranger." I heard a familiar voice behind me and spun around with a huge smile on my face. Sarah was Nick's friend and soon she instantly became one of us. She was gorgeous with her long platinum hair, pale skin and big black eyes. She was tall but not more than me. She was 5'8 and I was 5'9 and the fact that we both despise heels just because if we wear them we would look like horses.

"Shit! Sara, I missed you." I exclaimed eagerly. She laughed softly and hugged me back. "I missed you too but where the hell was you?"

Almost everyone's attention was on us. I smiled sheepishly and looked around feeling uncomfortable. She laughed it off and dragged me towards the table which I was dreading to go. Chase, Nick, Aaliyah were already seated around the table while Ryan was sitting at the corner of the table, glaring me.

"So Zara, how have you been?" Sara inquired me and I shrugged.

"I was in States. I worked." I responded and started munching my food. I was truly famished. I haven't devoured anything since yesterday.

"Why did you shift in the first place, Zara? I mean it was just a few days when Scarlett passed away and the next thing we know you and your family shifted to States." Nick asked curiously and I froze. At this point, all the attention of my friends was on me. I hung my head low to conceal my expressions. I couldn't even look in their eyes. I was horribly ashamed.

"Actually" I tried coming off with something when Ryan cut me off rudely.

"She always has the nerve to run away from anything. Even if she is guilty or not."

My blood boiled furiously and I glared at him. Yes, I was not a strong person back then. I was extremely sensitive, but I never ran away from my problems. I would never run away when it concerned the people I loved.

"You are now accusing Ryan, for the crime I never committed but then again, it is not the first time you are falsely accusing me of something I never did." I retorted angrily.

His expressions changed and his nails dug in the table. I ignored him and looked anywhere but at him. The tension was thick and everyone was feeling uncomfortable.

"You weren't there Zara. When we all desperately needed you, you were busy enjoying a vacation with your parents away from the country. It never occurred to you that maybe cutting all the ties and running away will not only affect you but also the people who needed you." He spat with so much disgust that for a moment my heart twisted in pain. My eyes gathered with tears but I blinked them away.

My head throbbed in pain due to the amount of anger I was feeling. My nails were digging in my palm and I felt something wet trailing down my palms. My eyes flashed with anger and I could feel heat consuming my cheeks and neck. He has no right to accuse me of leaving him alone. I was done with him walking over me. I know how he feels but he has absolutely no right to insult me in front of my friends.

"You know what Ryan? You need to take your head out from your ass because it's very unhealthy. You are no one to judge me and my decisions and if I remember correctly you were the one who advised me to go away in the first place. You weren't there for me, Ryan. So you don't get to accuse me."

Pushing the tray away I stormed out of the lunchroom before someone could stop me.

*******************

Laying in bed, my mind started wandering towards today's event. I was tired of everyone accusing me of something that I have never done. Yes, I was the major part but that didn't give anyone right to blame. me I hated when I couldn't stand up for myself in front of Cassandra and it makes me wonder why would I endure the one to suffer?

I was tired of running away, running away from the terrible truth which I have been hiding from my friends. The truth that haunts me every night. I was tired of this feeling. I knew I was alone, but experiencing it was much worst then I thought. Sometimes I really feel I was never worthy of anything.

Flashback

"Let's go and play outside please Scarlett," Sixteen years old, I begged Scarlett and she mocked glared me.

"No Zara, we are not moving from here until you tell me what happened back in school. Why were you crying?" She asked. I looked everywhere but in her eyes. I knew the moment I will look in her eyes, she will know how painful this all abuse is for me.

"Nothing Scarlett, I just fell down. Nothing happened. Please now let's go." I whined and she huffed the crossing her arms and sitting back on his bed.

"I won't move from this bed until you tell me what happened today."

"Ok fine," I shouted furiously. "Cassandra struck me and locked me in the storeroom. You know how much I get frightened of the darkness. I was crying when someone opened the door after an hour or so and it was Ryan. He laughed at me and made fun of me. He called me a baby." I exclaimed and tears rolled down from my cheeks. She stood up and hugged me tightly. I sobbed in her shoulder while she kept consoling me. When I stopped crying, she snatched my hand and walked towards the room across her.

"No Scarlett, please," I begged, but she didn't listen to me. Kicking the door, she entered the room and glared down at the figure laying down on the bed. He jumped out of the bed and exclaimed.

"What the hell Scarlett, where are your manners?"

"Apologies to Zara fuckin right now otherwise I will cut down your dick and make sure you choke on it." She threatened and punched his face. "When I come back, you two better make up." She said while walking out of the door.

Ryan looked at me and glared me down while I was standing there with my head down. I waited for the scolding to come but instead, I felt a gentle touch on my cheeks. I flinched and looked at him. His thumb rubbed on my cheek and he sighed.

"Who did this?" He asked gently and I nibble my lip. I didn't want to answer him. I was mad at him.

"Zara." He uttered warning underlying in his tone, but I didn't give him the satisfaction of my answer. He smirked and his hands slipped around my waist and he pulled me towards him with a jerk. I gasped audibly.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed and he smirked. "Apologising?" He answered innocently. I blushed and mocked glared him. "Leave me," I ordered. "Never."

I pushed him back but he trapped my wrist. "I am sorry Zara. I was just joking with you." He said, and I looked away from him.

"You made fun of me," I whispered, my voice cracking slightly.

"Yeah, because it was a joke." He whispered back.

"I hate you." He chuckled and his lips graze on my forehead. "I will kill Cassandra." With that, he left the room without looking back.

Flashback ends

A sob escaped me and I hide my face in the pillow. I didn't want to wake Aliyah. I miss my parents. I miss Scarlett so much. I can't cope with the pain anymore. I was losing my faith and soul in this darkness and there was no one to come for my aid.