❀HIS❀BRIDE❀

☆SEVENTEEN☆

Author’s point of view

Royal sits down beside Zenníah and drops his packed lunch on the table. Even though he didn't like taking lunch packs to school, he still had to so his Mom's efforts would not be a waste.

"Hi," Zen says to him.

"Hey."

To be honest, Zen was not expecting him to sit with her because she just did not want to force herself to match up to his standard.

"What's up? Why you sitting here?" she asks, eating her pasta.

"No'n, just want to sit with ya today."

"Oh...ok. Not bad." They keep eating together until Zenníah breaks the silence. "Can I stay with you until the weekend? Ion wanna stay home anymore."

"Why? What's going on?"

"I'm jus' tired of listening to my parents argue all the time.."

"All the time? What's going on, Zen?"

Zen fights back her tears in. "Can we save it for some other time?"

"What if your mom comes looking for you?"

"Momma said she ain't care 'bout me no more and I can come home myself cause I ain't kid anymore."

Royal pulls her into a hug. "You'll be fine ok? I gotchya." He pecks her forehead.

"Thanks bruh."

"It's okay."

Later, after school Karen comes to pick Royal up from school and sees him and Zen walking down the stairs together.

"Hey lil dude. How was school?"

"Good ma."

"Hi Zenníah, how was school?"

"The usual. Too boring.."

"Don't worry baby. You still gonna get outta school okay?"

Zen nods and adjusts her backpack.

"Mom.." Royal begins. "Zenníah's gon' spend the week with us."

"Why? What happened? Did your parents travel?"

Zen sighs and bows her head, almost about to cry. "I need to get away from home."

"Baby girl, what exactly is the problem?"

"Mom says I should come home myself cause I ain't kid."

Karen just thought why a mom would say that to her four-year-old daughter.

"Want me to drop you off at yo house?" Karen asks.

"Nah." That reply was immediate, and the little girl fidgeted a lil bit. "It's hell in that house, won't wanna be in that kinda environment. Trust me."

Karen could somehow match it up to why Zenníah's mom had bruises and scars on her body.

"Okay fine. We gonna get your clothes first."