CHAPTER TWO

*FLASHBACK* 

We used to laugh together, party together, crack jokes together and be jerky together. Life was moving great, things were ethereal, life was going like a movie, because I had my best friends by my side, the Visionaries! What did we not do together, created jokes, slangs, fashion statements we were the IT girls and boys 

Until….. 

Junior year. Mason threw a party, it was lit, we had fun until we didn't. Junior year romance was going well until it wasn't, until I started looking for Mason, I searched, called, went to his room, visitors room and looked everywhere and then I walked into the masters bedroom, met my butt naked boyfriend all over Adrianna, a senior. She roared his name out loud with the bed bouncing so fast, I squeaked in shock, before they realized I was in there. I ran out of the room back to raging sound of music with a room full of teens with lust in their eyes. 

I ran to Brittany, my 2nd bestie at that time, with hot tears rolling down my cheek, I explained all I saw, her drunk self laughed and mentioned it wasn't a new thing she slurred, everyone asides Georgina and I knew about it 

I was DUMBFOUNDED! My stomach dropped.

What do you mean everyone knew about his secret affair with Adri and I don't know about it, she laughed and asked if I had more alcohol before she puked on the floor and fell down on her mess, I took her phone and unlocked it, opened her chat to see if there was any secret group, Lo and behold a notification came from a certain “A.B.B.A” a short form of Adrianna, Brittany, Becky and Alora. All my female friends, my sister hood were in a secret group with Adri?? as I read through every conversation and how Georgina and I were mocked, how Good my “boyfriend” felt and tasted in every link up and I didn't know shiii about it. 

With tears, disappointment, sadness, I was freezing in the heat of people's presence, i took my keys and headed to my car, as I got to my door, I felt a hand drag me, it was Mason. 

It's not what you think, he said. 

What I think, I saw you, Mason, I was there, you didn't even notice me until I squeaked. I could feel it but I wasn't in it. How could you, I dedicated ,3 years for you! How? How? How? I said as I hit his chest consistently  

I promise it was for a reason he said with a shaky voice. Are you mentally unstable? I shouted! Are you ill? Do you have Bipolar? You're trying to manipulate what I saw, what I heard, what I felt?? 

My knees touched the floor and the hot liquid ran down my cheeks, I took myself back up, pushed him away, entered my car, and drove off. 

I opened the door to our aesthetically structured house, no one was home. ‘As usual’ I whispered. 

Connected to our inbuilt speaker, opened my Spotify and let the lemonade album play through, as I opened a bottle of alcoholic wine, I took a chunk and sang each lyric with pain and tears in my eyes, laid down on the couch and dozed off. 

The rays of sun and the constant ding of the door bell made me frustrated, my phone vibrated, migraines, mascara stains, my bottle of alcohol laying on the floor empty, this time the door bell rang louder than before, I checked my phone, 100 missed calls from G!,notifications began to ding across social platforms. I struggled to walk to the door as Love drought from the album played, oh this album gave me a good night hangover, I wondered how many times this album has played on repeat, I said to myself. I opened the door, and Georgina stormed inside yelling,my migraines were too much for me to put her exact words together but the name Mason kept coming out of her mouth. 

Can you not say his name, I yelled. 

Why wouldn't I when you are circulating around the school platforms. I paused, my head made a 360 factory setting. What do you mean? 

She shoved her phone to my face, in the school’s blog headline it was typed out boldly 

“ZURI BANKS ACCUSED OF PHYSICALLY VIOLATING BOYFRIEND”: is she okay or does our Queen B needs rehab? 

I took her phone from her. What is this? I whispered, you tell me! She said immediately. Where were you last night Zuri, I searched for you, I asked and I came out, your car had zoomed off in the night, I asked Mason he said, you had migraines and you needed to rest and I shouldn't worry, only for me to see this when I woke up in the morning. 

What time is it, I asked 

It's we need a solution o clock, G answered sarcastically. Hahaha, how funny I responded, what do they mean by rehab? What is going on 

I took my phone and read the tons of messages, I went to my I*******m and #zuriphysicalviolence is trending on the school’s gossip page

As I read the comments, tears rolled down my cheeks a comment read ‘she probably needs help’ another read ‘mason obviously loves her, see how gentle he was with her even as she displayed physical violence, another read ‘she needs therapy, Mason isn't enough for her'. 

I didn't do anything!!! I screamed 

The school doesn't believe that G responded and I need you to tell me what exactly happened and I know it has to do with the ABBA group. 

You knew about that? I only figured that out last night when I met Brit on the floor and her phone on a random G said 

I met him sleeping with Adri! I said with a teary voice, G came to give me a hug, it's okay baby, she said softly, No it's not! How could he do this, He had no right and everyone thinks I'm a psychopath that needs help, why don't I ever beat this “mistake twin” allegations. 

Hey hey hey! G, shouted, you don't need to be like that rest of the Banks, you are a different banks and all you need right now is to shower, dress up, stay away from your phone and enjoy your weekend with me, I brought my stuffs, we're about to have the most fun this weekend. Plus, I have more collections drafts to show you.

As she spoke my eyes felt heavy again, the migraines, the thoughts, the images of the chat I saw keep lingering in my head, I missed a step climbing the stairs. It's okay baby G responded with a shaky voice. All you need is rest.

……..

My phone buzzed and buzzed, I grumbled in annoyance, checked my time clock it was exactly 10:30pm. It better not be Brit, Becks or Alora. I checked and saw an unknown number, in fear I stood up, turned over to see Georgina's snoring head beside me, I picked up. 

Hello am I on the line with Zuri Banks? 

Yes, I answered with a sleepy voice 

This is the school's disciplinary board, you are expected to be present tomorrow, 9am with the oboard of directors to discuss disciplinary actions concerning your outrageous act

My eyes widened, the sleep vanished ASAP! 

Disciplinary board? I responded 

Yes, there has been a video circulating around the school, which has now gone really viral, further information will be further discussed at the meeting. DO. NOT. BE.LATE! 

The call ended. My stomach dropped, G and I took today off socials and our phones to actively process our emotions and the way forward and ALOT has already happened. 

A video file dropped on my phone. It was a video of a girl hitting a 6’5 bastard, that girl was ME. I haven't watched the video, G refused to show me. I didn't want to see it yet, but watching it made me tremble in fear. 

The girl in the video was ME.