One week later

Zana POV

Ok...Now I have three friends. They are nice and wonderful. They bring joy in every second, but why...only...now? I haven't been loved...or even liked by anyone since the age of 5. So much has happened and they know somethings up. They know I have a past that concerns me the most...but how do I tell them? My past is beyond a successful childhood.

I have been stressing the whole morning. I stayed up the entire night which is not a problem for me. Today is Lafayette and Zara first day at my school and I don't know how to be the friend thing...friendship is it called? I don't know.

I check my clock. 3:00 am. I usually leave at 4:30 am, so I decide to get everyone up, but before I reached the door, someone knocks. I open the door after a few seconds to see...Master...I'm frightened by him standing in my doorway but he was smiling. It was genuine, so...I held my breath and he looks...tired as well.

"Good to see you early in the morning," Master said with a yawn. I nod," Here I have something special for you." He held out a box with a purple ribbon tied into a small bow. I take from him and he smiles. "This is important. If anything happens call me okay. You also can add anything on there, just let me know," he said. He left back to his room and I close my door. I quickly went to my desk and push everything away. I slowly undid the ribbon to open the box. It was an iPhone. He gave me the 6 with a nice case for it; dark purple and leather. I opened a small pocket behind the phone to reveal emails, numbers, or accounts from Master.

I'm amazed and thought he changed. Was he caring for me? Or was he trying to? Again stressing I checked my time. 3:20 am. I opened the phone to see the exact same time as my alarm clock. Amazed still, I looked at the first paper in the pocket. My birthday was the password...He...remembered or how did he find out!? I thought again if I told him once or found some other way...I closed the phone right after when I found out my birthday was the password. I push those thoughts in the back of my head and headed straight downstairs. I was already ready, so I made breakfast; pancakes, bacon, and eggs. I placed it on the side and check the time. 3:55 am. I had time to make me a small plate. I made half of what Lafayette and Zara had since I don't eat much.

Once I finished, I walked to Lafayette's room first. I grab the small light candle before I went into there room. Lafayette was sound asleep, so I walked quietly to him. I shake him a bit.

"Lafayette, il est temps de se réveiller (Lafayette, time to wake up)," I said quietly. He groans and moves his face out of the pillows to see me. He nods and sits up. He then yawns and faces me.

"Matin, Zana (Morning, Zana)," he said sleepily, rubbing his eyes. I smile and I walked to Zara's room. She was snoring and tangled in the blankets. I was about to walk in until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Lafayette, leaning on the door.

"Je vais l'avoir, mon ami (I'll get her, my friend)," Lafayette said. I nod and left. I went to Lafayette's room and grab both of their backpacks. I put it in the Dining room and I went up to the basement to grab mine and then walked back to the Dining Room. I saw Lafayette and Zara eating the food I made. I smiled and poured them cups of milk. I sat with them and ate. I checked the time. 4:05 am.

Once we finished, we got ready for the school day. I already dressed and wore the same things, my lucky hair tie, pants, a tank top, shoes, and my eyepatch. Lafayette wore button shirt with a vest over it, pants, shoes, and glasses. Zara wore ripped knee-length shorts, droopy t-shirt with a jacket over it, shoes, and ring earrings.

We walk out of the house and onto the sidewalk. While walking, I was thinking. I realize that Daven house is not far from mine.

"Mon ami, Pourquoi devons-nous partir si tôt? (My friend, why do we need to leave so early?) " Lafayette asked behind me, putting his chin on my shoulder. I blush at the reason and he catches on. I had no idea why I did that and I touch my cheek slightly with my fingers. He smirks at me and I kept looking away. He then gives up and starts begging. I resist, but it then got to a point where I knew that we were almost to Daven's house. Lafayette notices and keeps smirking. He knew it and kept begging. I gulp knowing I going to give up. I look away prepared for his reaction.

"La raison pour laquelle nous sommes partis si tôt est à cause de cette personne dont nous avons parlé hier soir. Rappelles toi? (The reason why we left so early is that person we talked about last night. Remember?) " I ask him. He looks up for a moment and his eyes brighten. He then looks at me and smiles. I smile back and remember that Zara is here. I turn around to see her putting on makeup.

"Alors, où est ta Maison de béguin?(So, where's your crush's house?)" he sang. Crush? I...what...? I asked him what that was. He put his hand over heart and gasp. Still confused, he explains it to me. The more I realized what it meant I grew red. After the explanation, he asks again.

"Shhh!" I scream at him. He giggles and asks again. I give up, again, and point at the mansion around the corner. We see a figure standing there closing the door and seeing us, Daven. She ran over and said "Hi" to me and looked at Lafayette and Zara.

" Are these your friends?" she asks me, slightly confused. I'm unsure, though, we never...officaly say we were friends.

"I think so," I said unsurely. Lafayette and Zara stared at us dumbfounded, not knowing what we are saying.

"Bonjour (Hello)," Lafayette calls out. Daven eyes lit up as she stares at them. After a minute, her eyes lit up with stars in them and smiles widely.

"They are French?!" she asks as she turns to me. Before I answer, she screams," That's so cool!" Daven went over to Zara trying to say words to her. Zara just smiles as well as Lafayette. He then nudges me.

"Je peux le voir maintenant. Vous allez faire un bon couple. Vous avez tous les deux l'air si mignon! (I can see it now. You guys will make a great couple. Both of you guys look so cute!)" He says as I glare at him. He put his hands up in defense and shrugs.

We continue to walk to the school and talk about various things like my phone or having to translate between Daven, Lafayette, and Zara.

I have that feeling, again, where happiness isn't wording to explain how I feel. Me talking more to real people, people I like, or is comfortable with makes me feel whole again. I blanked out again and didn't notice them staring at me.

Once we made it, we found out that the twins have their place in our homeroom. Two people had to move because of their absent or lates in school. So, they sat in the back with us. I then decide to write to Daven.

So Lafayette and Zara are in need of training to understand English. Do you want to help?

She read it and see her expression change. She looks back up at me and gives a confused look.

"Yeah, I can...but you were just talking a minute ago. Why did you stop?" she asks.

I give a worried glare at Daven. I didn't think it would be that obvious, but... how did she know? I made no eye contact to think...Should I tell them?

Lafayette POV

Why is Zana wring and not talking? She was just talking a minute ago. Before I could think anything else, Zana wrote. Her hand trembles against the words written on the page.

I watch as she carefully chose her words on the page as she wrote. She stares at it like her life was on the line. She then stops and reread the words. She was hesitant but hand over to me. Daven didn't speak my language, so Zana wrote English and French.

Quand j'étais jeune, j'étais toujours victime d'intimidation. J'étais d'accord avec ça. Il y avait toujours les professeurs et je mangeais avec eux au déjeuner. J'ai promis de ne jamais blesser les intimidateurs parce qu'ils les connaissaient déjà et qu'ils me faisaient confiance. Les enseignants les ont ensuite bien reçus et n'ont pas pu aider, mais pour dire "Merci". Je leur ai ensuite parlé souvent et j'ai apprécié. Ils m'ont même donné de la nourriture et de l'argent après l'école. J'étais tellement reconnaissant jusqu'à ce que je tourne le coin pour voir les hommes. Ils m'ont battu et on m'a retrouvé plus tard. Les enseignants ont découvert que les étudiants payaient des hommes pour venir après moi pour ma voix. Ils détestaient ça et détestaient les professeurs pour ça aussi. Je n'avais pas le droit de venir à l'école pour des raisons de sécurité. J'avais un bras désolé, des coupures, des ecchymoses, et plus encore ... Après cela, je ne parlais à personne ou à travers l'écriture, si j'étais autour des gens.

When I was young, I was always bullied. I was okay with it. There was always the teachers and I ate with them at lunch. I made a promise to never hurt the bullies because they knew about them already and trusted me. The teachers then got them good and couldn't help, but to say "Thank You". I then talked to them often and enjoyed it. They even gave me food and money for after school. I was so thankful until I turn the corner to see men. They....beat me up and I was found later on. The teachers found out the students paid men to come after me because of my voice. They hated it and hated the teachers for it, too. I was not allowed to come to the school for safety reasons. I had a desolated arm, cuts, bruises, and more...After that, I either spoke to no one or through writing, if I was around people.

Wow...She writes fast. We look at her at the same time. She gives a sad face and look like she was going to cry, but didn't. We all went to hug her and comfort her. She rubs her cheek and smiles at us.

"Thank you," she says softly.

"Whatever we can do we will help you," Daven said. She smiles at her and stood there for a moment, locking eyes. After a minute, they shook their heads and looks away.

...

The ship has sailed and it is NOT coming back! I smile at the thought and sat back down.

*Time skip*

The whole day was good. I and Zara had a hard time speaking to others, but doing the teacher's work was good, fun, and easy. Zara had a lot of trouble with work, but not with the boys. She seemed to be friends with some already. Zana had to be with us at all times, so we were able to talk with almost everyone. It came down to our last period as we walk out to be greeted, by Daven.

"Hey, guys! I thought since I met you guys that you guys would like to meet my friends!" she says excitedly. Zana translates and gave us a look. We nod and Daven smiles at us. Zana talks to Daven and she smiles with stars in her eyes. She grabs Zana's wrist and runs out of the school. We follow behind them. After a while of running, we were led to the basketball courts.

We stop to see boys our age playing, but Daven ran on. She said "Hi" to all of them and starts talking. She said something that made them look at us. She smiles and brings them to us. I quickly hide behind Zana as Zara stood there amazed at them. I poked my head behind Zana's shoulder to see she is fine with it. I push up my glasses to see the group of boys. The first thing that caught my eyes was the most beautiful person I have ever seen. I saw one boy who was taller than me and muscular. He had dark brown eyes and a dark chocolate skin tone. He then caught me staring and starts to stare back.

Daven POV

I was so excited. I look at Mulligan to see him staring at Lafayette, who was bright pink.

...Oh...My... Gosh!! They totally like each other. I went up to them and greet them to my friends.

"Ok Guys, this is Zana," I said as I pointed to her. "Zara," I said. "And Lafayette," I said as I pulled him out of hiding. Mulligan was also bright and tried to hide it by looking away. I smirk and led Lafayette to Mulligan. They stood there staring at each other, so I left them only and told everyone else to greet themselves.

"Bonjour, je suis Zara ( Hello, I am Zara)," Zara said. Everyone stood there and amazed. I explain that she and her brother are exchanged students and they are French. I continue to explain to them as Zana spoke for Zara. It went one for an hour.

...I feel, though, that I am forgetting something... But I didn't question it.

Lafayette's POV

Oh...um...he's cute...Wait...What... Oh. My. God. I feel like Zana. She has a hard time expressing emotions even though I don't have...her...how do you say...mind?...personality?...We stand there in an awkward silence. I was taller than me, so he looked down at me. I look up at him and feel like he is looming over me. I decided to speak up and remove the tensity between us.

"B-B-Bonjour, J-Je suis Lafayette ( H-H-Hello I-I am Lafayette)," I said stuttering a bit. I push up my glasses to just see him stare in amazement. He mumbles something which I didn't understand. "Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites ( I don't understand what you are saying)," I said. He kept staring and I got more scared, so I ran to Zana. He notices and ran after me. He's fast and seem to grab me by the waist. I felt like I was about to be suplex.

"Zana! Zana! Aidez-moi! Aidez-moi! Aidez-moi! (Zana! Zana! Help! Help! Help!)," I scream. I felt his arms go around my waist and hugs me...tightly. I wave my arms around until I caught Zana and Zara's attention. Zana ran to me pushing Mulligan down and catching me in her arms. I quickly scramble off and ran behind Zana. Everyone else came over.

"What happened and why was Lafayette calling Zana?" Daven yells.

Awww, she's jealous. Wait! Not the topic. Why did Mulligan do that? He was mumbling and...I realize that if I don't understand him, he wouldn't understand me. I mentally facepalm myself. I look over Zana to see talking between Hercules and his friends. He sat there, amaze. He didn't take his eyes off of Zana but continues to talk with his friends around him.

He then stood up and walks over to me and Zana stared straight into his eyes. I amazed at him being terrified of Zana, but tried to explain to Zana was happen.

After a while, Zana's shoulders slumped down. She was calm and her eyes change. I stare back up and he saw me. He kept explaining something. I didn't understand.

"Zana, que dit-il?( Zana, what is he saying?) I ask her. She looks at me and told me to wait. She continues to talk while the others seem surprised. They give the flustered Mulligan cheers and hugs. I still didn't understand.

Zana spoke one more time. This time Mulligan nods and she smiles. She walks me to the side, so I wasn't hiding behind her. Mulligan gave a nervous look as he hid his head into the crowd. He lent against Martin and tried to avoid eye contact. Martin tried to comfort him. I was surprised. Was he his boyfriend? I felt disappointed and forgot Zana was speaking to me.

She snaps in front of my face. I turn to her to see her giving me a warm smile which made me feel better.

"Lafayette, Il ne voulait pas te blesser. Les câlins sont comme ils disent "Salut"( Lafayette, they didn't mean to hurt you. Hugs are the way they say "Hi"), she says. I kind of understand, but at least he didn't want too hurt me. I smile at Zana and stare back at Mulligan. He was so flustered that he hid his face in hands. His friends kept wiggling their eyebrows up and down...I wonder that means...

Once I felt better, Me and Zana walk back to the whole crowd. Mulligan stares down at me and starts talking. It looks like he was rambling. I still didn't understand a word he was saying. Zana came by and start to talk to him. He was surprised then relived. He still looks embarrassed, so I decided to fix that.

I grab his shoulders and tippy-toed to reach his cheeks. I then kiss him on both cheeks.

"C'est ok mon ami. C'était juste ... soudain. Juste me prévenir la prochaine fois (It is ok my friend. It was just...sudden. Just warn me next time)," I said. He stares in confusion and... is very red. He fell to his knees and hid his face. I kept saying sorry, but he didn't understand. Zana then came by Mulligan and talks, again. He stares in confusion, but then had a face of surprise. I smile at him to make him feel better. He gave a warm smile as Zana kept explaining.

They all did the "Oh' face and Mulligan facepalmed himself. I and my sister were still confused but were alright with it. Zana then turns to us and explains everything. We nod and now understand what happened.

We all sat down on the bleachers. I sat next to...Mulligan. The rest, though, were standing or playing basketball. Still embarrassed, he didn't want to play. I wish I knew English or even writing. I only have Zana or my...oh...My phone. I quickly went on there and typed in my word in Google Translate. I then finished and showed it to him.

Sorry! I didn't understand what you were doing or saying. I only know that your name is Mulligan.

I showed it to him and he was hesitant, but read it. He then grabs his phone and types something in.

No... don't be sorry. It was my fault. I didn't mean to scare you it is just that-

He stopped typing and showed me it. I typed back.

Me: It is just what?

Mulligan: Can I tell you something?

Me: Anything. I won't judge.

He was hesitant but typed. I quickly read it before he erased it. I covered my mouth and scream with excitement. It read "I am gay". I was happy inside.

Mulligan: You know what never mind.

Me: You're gay?

Mulligan bushed limited shades of red. He tried to explain in words, but I still didn't understand. He facepalmed himself, again, and types.

Mulligan: How did you know?!

Me: I read fast my friend.

He sighs and seemed like he was waiting for something. He stares down and sighs sadly. I type back to him.

Me: My friend it is Okay. I am bisexual.

He was surprised but cheered in started to be all over the place. After half an hour, he jumps back in his seat and smiles. His face was now pink. He sighs, but types determined.

Mulligan: I thought I was the only one, so when I saw that you guys were friends with Daven thought you might be different than my friends...Of course, I never told them.

I smile at him and nod. This will be my best year ever. We continue to talk and seem to get better at English. It was way better than learning from a book.

Daven POV

We finished our last game. I checked the time on my phone. 7:55 pm.

Phew...What a game.

The people that played change their t-shirts and went to the bench.

"Yo, Who wants a sleepover at my place!" I yell. Everyone, but Zana, Zara, and Lafayette, brighten up and went on their phones to call their parents.

I look at Zana. She was staring off into space. She had a worry look in her eyes. She had her phone in her hand and it buzzed. She opened it up. He eyes look at it and then widen a little afterward. She stares at her phone worried. She stared at the same contact while Zara and Lafayette were trying to get her attention. I walk up to them worried. Zana was the first to notice and shot her head up. She gave a nervous glare and then she stares at the contact again. I tried to look at her phone, but her hard block it from me seeing it.

Lafayette got nervous and stares at her sister for help. She nods and took the phone away from Zana. Zana notices and tried to steal it back. They were fighting each other and me and Lafayette tried to pry them apart. They then got the floor and my friends noticed and came to help.

Zana got point where she pushed Zara backed and elbowed me in the nose. She was frightened at the sight as I held my nose. She drops to her knees and got tackled down by my friends

"Good lord! Are you ok?" Ted asks me. I nod slightly and started to stare at Zana. She had her hand on her back and she struggles to get out of my friend's grip. Four of them held Zana down. Zara took a breath and looks at Zana's phone. Her breath hitched as she shows the phone to us

It a contact that had "Master" written on the top. We've read all of them and saw threats. Most of them were "Where the h*l are you!"

Zana kept struggling and then start to scream.

"Let me go!" she screams.

I couldn't take it anymore. She is hiding something and I want to do something about it

"Let her go," I said to Martin, Carter, Liam, and Jacob. I was amazed on her strength but pushed it to the back of my head.

"What?!" they ask in a union," She is the strongest person I saw in my life and if I let her go she could do...God, who knows what." She stopped struggling and I was determined this time.

"I know, but please trust me," I say calmly. They stare at each other for a minute and nod. They slowly get off of her and backed off. She sat up, taking a breath and making no contact with anyone, but I saw her eyes. Her eyes were dark and dull.

She didn't move for spoke for an hour. We all remain the same, because of the slight problem it can cause. Lafayette and I were worried and gave glances at each other. He gave me a glance where I saw that he was going to do something. He took a step forward. She didn't move. I decide to walk to. Then Ted...Then Martin...Then Zara...Everyone was in this to help. Zana on flinched at the sudden movement at us, but still didn't speak. I walk up to her the closest as she gave me a worried glance. She stares up at me as I looked determined. I sat down to her as she immediately gave me a hug.

"I'm sorry...," she mumbles. We all felt relieved and everyone else walks up to us. We all gather around her unsure. I was thinking about the contact. Who is this person and why does Zana call them....? I shuddered at the thought and held Zana in my arms.

"Hey, it's okay...Let's call your...um...Guardians... and see what they think," I said to her. Zana trembles but nods. She took the phone from Zara and looks for there contact. She hesitantly presses the number and puts it up to her ear.

Ring

Ring

Boop

I heard talking through the phone. It was anger and Zana trembled.

"No...we are alright... We just...met friends and they want to have a sleepover...," Said Zana, choosing her words carefully.

There was an uncomfortable silence. Zana gulped at it and grew more scared. Then a voice came back. Her eyes suddenly lid up.

"Really Ma-Sir!?" she asked. Her face brightens up. She was dumbfounded and amazed," Thank you...Yes, I'll be seeing you soon...Okay...Bye." She ended the call and looks surprised.

"What did they say?" I ask. I'm happy that she is not scared, nervous, or any bad expression I do not like.

"They said yes... I just have to grab clothes from home," she smiles. Then came another silence.

"Yo...dude...If you have problems you need to...you know... lay of your chest, I am right here. If you need," Mulligan said.

"Yeah. If this person you call...you know what is bothering you, we'll beat them up," Martin grins. Zana smiles at them, slightly confused.

"You guys... I don't know what to say," Zana said, smiling at the floor," I never had friends. I... never been cared for so long in my life. I don't know how to Thank You with all my heart," she said in both French and English.

"Well then," I said," We are now "The Ultimate Friend Group"!" Everyone laugh.

"Daven, you ruined the moment," Liam yells at me. I just grinned proudly. I looked at Zana. She smiles and sighs. Lafayette kept saying "Thank You" to her. She stays quiet which didn't stop them.

I am happy that all of us are getting along. I still want to know more about her. Her scars and not hidden, but her identity is. She won't say a word, but...maybe tonight she might.

Word Count: 4350