#Chapter17Monique and Antony were both immersed in their work. Monique was baking pies while Antony was coating frostings on the pastries. They looked damn good. The pastries, I mean.Monique looked up and gave me a warm smile. "Hello Zara. How was your first week at school?""Tiring. And full of drama." She laughed. "That's senior year for you."I moved closer to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then, I moved closer to Antony and gave him a kiss. He had his earphones plugged in and so didn't even see me coming.Antony was a really nice guy and a really great friend of mine. If only he wasn't gay. He gave me a peck in return and went back to frosting without taking out his headphones. He wasn't a man of many words and I learned it a lot early in our relationship. I went back to the front of the shop and took up the job of the waitress.Hours passed by waiting tables and taking orders, when I noticed it was 6 in the evening. One more hour to go and I would
#Chapter18'"Why do you hate Harper so much, Zara?"'******I took my bag and changed out of my uniform as Stephanie took charge behind the counter. I sent a quick goodbye to Monique and Antony. I thought I would be at Natalie's house for the sleepover by 8 but I was running a little late.I wasn't worried about the fact that I didn't have clothes with me, I would just borrow Natalie's. I got in my car and started driving towards Natalie's house. I had to give my details to the security man posted on the gate of the colony Natalie lived in. The same colony where Harper lives in.Why does this colony even need security guards?! It was not as if Arada was full of cutthroats and criminals.I parked in Natalie's driveway.Her house held a modern yet conservative touch to it. With light cream walls and two huge pillars supporting the patio, the house was simply magnificent. The wide garden wrapped around the house and gave it a soothing aura. The house consisted of tw
#Chapter19We looked at each other, silently communicating and moved closer to each other."No. Do you know about any gossip? Anything to take my mind off The Notebook?!" She looked at me expectantly.I chuckled. Typical Nat.Samantha shushed us, yet again.We both rolled our eyes at her behavior.I just nodded my head at Natalie's question. I did have something to talk to her about. The visit by Harper, Aiden and the boys was still fresh on my mind. The way he looked at me, how he guessed my favorite item in the menu and how later, he claimed that it wasn't just a "guess".So in a hushed voice, I told her everything that happened at Monique's. She listened attentively and then released a breath.Nat looked like she was deep in thought."Why do you hate Harper so much, Zara?"I flinched at her loud volume. I looked at Sam to find her snoring softly and the credits of the movie rolling in. Great, now she can't shush us. That bossy woman!"I hate him be
#Chapter20'Or was she talking about Harper leaving hickeys on each and every girl?'******I was floating and falling.Ugh! Not again. I had been having the same dream every other night now and it was becoming a nuisance, because in the end, I always woke up in the middle of the night after experiencing a terrible headache and then, I would have trouble going back to sleep again.It was the same every time.Falling and floating.Not being able to feel anything at all.Being surrounded by darkness. No, not darkness. Blackness. Utter and complete blackness.Then, being thrusted in a direction.The thrusting ceased and my body lay still.Then came the falling and the fear of crashing down and never waking up again.And then came the soft touch of grass on my bare skin.As I lay on the grass, I waited for the headache to come and split up my skull.But, it never came. That's how far the dreams had progressed every time.I gently peeled my eyes op
#Chapter21'"I thought I would tell you when the right time comes, but I guess now, you will never know."'******It has been five days and I have had the exact same dream, about the woman in white, asking me to stop Harper from 'making the mistake of his life by marking another female'. I felt like I was watching a video play, again and again.It was Thursday today and the dream had plagued all my waking thoughts, the image of the white woman practically begging me to stop Harper.At first, I simply thought that it was just a dream but as the days passed and I saw the same dream every night, my gut told me that I had to follow the white lady's instructions. Something in my being wanted to follow her directions. I didn't have a reasonable explanation for this feeling but it has created a dominating presence in my life these days.Ironically, it seemed Harper was too close and yet too far.He had gone back to making out with girls in full force. Whenever I saw him, he
#Chapter22The crowd at Monique's Bakery was slow too. I was left with my own thoughts which was not a good thing these days. Earlier, I had no problem in being alone. I loved to think about trivial things, but that was just one more thing Harper had an impact on.Stephanie sneered at me as soon as I came in and I expected that. We maintained a distance of a few feet between us, which was way better than us trying to gouge each other's eyes out all the time.The bell rang, signalling the arrival of a customer. The sound of the bell chime shook me out of my thoughts and I turned my head to look at the customer who had entered. And it was Harper. Thank God, he was alone. This could be my chance to talk to him.He walked in like he owned the place. Not sparing me a glance, he went to sit in one of the booths in the corner of the bakery. Where I didn't serve.I sighed in disappointment. I thought this would be my chance. Wow, I never thought I would see the day when I wo
#Chapter23'"Zara, did something happen between you and Harper?" Nat asked tentatively.'******I hadn't even taken three steps towards the cash register when a hand latched around my elbow, preventing me from taking another step.I didn't need to know who the hand belonged to, I knew it was Harper. Though, how did he digest whatever I told him so soon, was beyond me. How did he even reacted so soon and even got up to grab my arm? Stupid football players and their reflexes."What did you just say?" Harper hissed in my ear, too low for anyone else to hear. There was nobody in the bakery. The teen couple who had been sitting had long gone after leaving a generous tip, Stephanie still hadn't come out from the back and Monique and Antony rarely came out in the front. I was at his mercy now. Great! Just my luck!"I know you heard me, Harper." My voice was so small and quiet, I didn't even recognise it. Something in Harper right now, terrified me and I simply didn't want
#Chapter24'"And I will never, ever, cross your path again."'******I hate Harper because he always brought out a weak side of me, a side I have never been fond of. I have always been proud of the fact that I had the ability to school my emotions and stand tall whenever a problem came my way.But with him, all this control somehow goes down the drain. I never considered myself a control freak and I never wanted people to bow down to me, or listen to every word I say. The only thing I really wanted was to never appear weak in front of anyone. I never wanted anyone to emotionally exploit me or know what was going on in my head.In short, I never wanted to be vulnerable in front of anyone. People take advantage of you if they come to know about the chinks in your armor and I didn't want that. I wasn't a superhero, I knew I had weaknesses but that doesn't mean I was keen on showing them to anyone. I would much rather prefer to don a carefree and strong mask like everyone else