Not that I want to be.
When we reach the table, Ares finally lets go of my hand. I don’t sit down. “I need to go and get something from my locker. Be right back.” I smile at the group now staring at me. “Don’t you dare follow me, Ares,” I whisper to him.
He glares at me intently before nodding his head and turning back to his friends. I don’t waste time rushing off. I don’t have anything in my locker. I just really need to get away from him for a moment.
Chapter Eight
Ileft Zara alone for the rest of the day, figuring she needed a break from me. Now, I’m doubting if that was the right thing to do. She left school right before the last period, and she hasn’t answered any of my messages since.
I’m tempted to go over to her house and check on her. Maybe someone needs to tell her parents that she’s not okay. She admitted to me today that she’s sad, and she has no idea why. I spent two classes Googling depression and I really don’t like what I saw. Zara needs professional help and it’s not as if her family can’t get her the best doctors money can buy.
Pacing around my bedroom, I try to call her. She doesn’t answer. Fuck it. I pick up my keys and open my door, almost running into my mother on the other side.
“In a rush?” she asks.
“I have to go do something.”
“It’s family dinner. You’re not going anywhere,” she says, her tone very nonnegotiable.
“It’s important,” I tell her.
“So is dinner. Also, your guest just arrived. She’s in the living room.”
“Guest?” I ask, confused.
“Zara,” Mum says.
“Zara’s here?”
“You invited her,” she reminds me.
“Yeah, I know. I just thought… Never mind.” I step out of my room and shut the door, heading for the living room, where the majority of my family is hanging out. My Uncle Santo stops me first.
“I was waiting for you to show your face,” he says.
“Really? I can give you a picture, Uncle San, if you miss my face that much.”
“Are you planning on going into a career in comedy?” he asks.
“Nope,” I say.
“Good, because you’re not funny. How’s school?” Out of all my uncles, Uncle Santo hovers the most. A fact my dad hates.But Uncle Santo has a soft spot for my mum. No one gets it but they have a close relationship.
“Good. Have you seen dad?” I look around, noticing that both my father and my Uncle Gio are missing from the room. That can only mean they’re talking business.
“Yeah, he’s out back with Uncle G,” Uncle Santo tells me.
“Great.” My eyes are on Zara. They haven’t left her for more than three seconds since I spotted her talking to my cousin Roman. He’s three years younger than us, one of my Uncle Santo’s kids. I glance around the room again. All of my cousins are in here and there’s a fucking lot of them.
Uncle Gio has Aurelio, Daniella, and Rosie. I like Rosie the best out of that bunch. Then Uncle Santo has Roman and Kirra. Uncle Gabe has Luciano, Christian, and Willow. And my Uncle Marcel and his wife chose not to have kids.
I love all of my cousins, but if I had to choose for Zara to be talking to any of them, it wouldn’t be fucking Roman. He’s a flirt and will try to get under any girl’s skirt. He might be younger but that won’t stop the idiot from trying to flirt his way into Zara’s bed.
“I need to give Zara something from school,” I say as I walk away from my uncle and over in her direction.
Zara looks at me with trepidation.
“Hey, I’ve got that work from English you missed. Follow me,” I tell her, turning around. I don’t wait to see if she listens. I know she will.
