“Hey,” Emily said as she entered the classroom.“Back here again?”She approached me.I hadn't spoken to her since the party, and I had figured she'd echo Marco’s sentiments, warning me that Zane was trouble.“Are you going to ignore me forever?”she pressed as she took a seat beside me.
“I have nothing to say,” I replied, avoiding her gaze.
“I've got some juicy gossip you might be interested in,” Emily said, a hint of mischief in her voice.“I know you're not talking to Zane, but I heard the guy he beat didn't file charges.Apparently, Zane’s dad paid the guy off for the 'trouble,'” she whispered, her smile suggesting this news was meant to lift my spirits.I remained silent.“I'm positive you two can sort things out.I saw you at the party—the way he looked at you was like he'd catch a bullet or something for you,” she added, placing her hand over mine in an attempt to comfort me.
“It doesn't matter anymore.I don't care,” I said, brushing her off.
“You're just fooling yourself.Just talk to him.I'm sure…”
“Talk?What would I say over the phone?”I snapped, my frustration bubbling over.“He's in another country.What's the point?”I added, not wanting to continue this discussion.
“What are you talking about?”Emily asked, clearly confused.
“His dad sent him away to stay with his mom.I thought everyone knew that by now,” I explained, trying to keep my composure.
“No,” Emily countered.
“What do you mean, no?That's the truth,” I replied, bewildered.
“No, you're mistaken.He's here at school.I just saw him,” she insisted.
Silence enveloped us, punctuated only by my heart thundering in my chest.I felt chained in place, as if my entire body was immobilized.Was this a nightmare, and I had just woken up?
“That can't be true.I watched him leave.We said our goodbyes.I saw the car driving away,” I whispered, my voice trembling in disbelief.
“Luna, I'm not imagining things.He's been here every day; I just didn't see him at the start of the week,” Emily replied, her eyes wide with disbelief.
My instinct was my guide.Without a second thought, I sprinted through the hallways, taking two or three steps at a time.I found myself in a crowded area, scanning desperately for him.I gasped.There he was, surrounded by theVipers, laughing as if nothing had changed, as if it were just another ordinary day.
I envisioned countless ways to approach him—running to him and kissing him, confronting him with anger, or causing a scene demanding to know why he hadn't told me he was still here.
But I did none of those things.
Zane turned his head in my direction, and for a brief moment, our eyes met.Yet, I felt nothing—just an empty shell where the person I knew used to be.His defenses were up once again.Maybe I had misinterpreted everything.Perhaps it wasn't love but just an obsession?
I walked away, not because I was afraid to face him, but because I simply didn't have the strength.Any attempt to speak would have turned into tears, leaving me speechless with a lump in my throat.
I came to realize that I possessed a sense of pride.If he didn't want me, I wasn't about to humiliate myself by throwing myself at him only to face rejection.It was all a facade, a way to mask my true emotions.I was unsure of how to act.
It had been two weeks—just two uneventful weeks.We had been avoiding each other, pretending the other didn't exist.I maintained an air of indifference around him, but inside I was struggling.I found myself alone, without friends, with parents who looked down on me, and no Zane to turn to.It was just me, accompanied by my own tormenting thoughts.
I had another nightmare last night, one from my childhood.I stood behind a massive glass wall, surrounded by a crowd of people.I banged on the glass with my small fists, crying and shouting, but no one could hear me or even notice I was there.It felt as if I were invisible.That was how I felt—completely unseen.
Chapter 34
As spring progressed, the temperatures soared each day, signaling that the long-awaited school trip to Florence had finally arrived.I had braced myself for a potential argument with my parents about my participation, but to my surprise, they didn't protest at all.
My dad drove Emily and me to the bus, which was set to depart from the school parking lot at 6 AM The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the sky in shades of red and orange.The air felt crisp, with trees fully adorned with blooming flowers, while the mountains wore a vibrant green cloak.
We boarded the bus with bleary eyes, arriving just in time.I didn't spot Zane and wondered if he was already inside.I settled into my seat with Emily, and as the bus pulled away, many of our classmates succumbed to sleep.I intended to stay awake, but before I knew it, I had dozed off.
I woke up when the bus came to a halt at a gas station, allowing us a break for restroom visits.I opted to stretch my legs instead.Emily stood quietly beside me, as I wasn't in the mood for conversation.A few girls from another class approached and began chatting with Em, seemingly oblivious to my presence.
I noticed V making her way toward us, but instead of anger, she wore almost a friendly expression.It was puzzling, yet I didn't dwell on it as she passed by.
When we boarded the bus again, I instinctively searched for Zane, but he was nowhere to be found; most of our classmates were still asleep.
By around 11 AM, we reached Florence.The trip was planned for three days, filled with walking and a lot of learning.With nearly 50 students, the atmosphere was chaotic; we laughed, pushed each other, and chatted loudly while teachers made sure we didn't lose anyone in the crowd.
