Song of the chapter is Jupiter Blues by Sleepsk8

-23-
-Zoya Afreen-
-Present-

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Delmore High
30 November, 2019
11:45 am

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes and rubbing them. I tried to focus on Chatterjee sir's words about the French revolution but my mind kept drifting away. It seemed like the nights of restlessness was finally catching up to me.

"Tired?" V asked looking up from her textbook. She was my seat partner and by the look on her face , I was assured that she was genuinely not interested in knowing the answer to that question.

"Can you tell?" I asked with a snap, too irritated to answer.

"Yeah you look like shit." She replied.

"Who looks like shit?" Himanshu asked as he popped up behind her.

"Me. Apparently." I replied. I sat up straighter and pinched my cheeks , hoping to God that Chatterjee sir wouldn't catch me nearly falling asleep.

"Yeah, you do." Himanshu said.

"God , you guys are so sweet and caring." I said sarcastically, glancing over to the side of the classroom to see Siya copying down the notes from the presentation. Maybe she wouldn't mind lending her book to me later.

"We are caring, we are just not sweet." Himanshu retorted, a sickly sweet grin plastered on his face.

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Uh-huh." A beige notebook landed on top of my own and I turned to look at Ahaan, sitting in the next row ( and apparently eavesdropping) who was now texting someone on his phone underneath the table. The notebook held neat, organized notes of the lecture with Ahaan's thin cursive handwriting almost taking up three pages.

"You're paying attention?" I asked him and immediately realised how idiotic the question must sound.

"No, I asked Chatterjee sir to send me the presentation earlier so I could review the material." He replied, not bothering to look up from his phone.

"And he actually sent it to you?"

He nodded.

" Teacher's pet." Himanshu said, stretching his neck to glimpse over Ahaan's shoulder and see who he was talking with.

"At least, I don't have a B+ in history." Ahaan remarked. The playfulness on Himanshu's face melted  off and he groaned at the mention of his recent academic performance.

"Fuck off. B+ isn't even that bad." Himanshu replied, sinking back in his seat and scribbled something on his notebook. V gave a short sighted laugh.

"Zoya, who became known for his radical journalism during the French revolution?" Chatterjee sir suddenly asked. I stood up and looked down at Ahaan's notes , struggling to understand his cursive.

"Marat." I said finally, although my answer sounded more like a question.

" Correct. Sit down." He took one last look at me before frowning and moving on with his lecture.

" You're welcome." Ahaan murmured. I put on the fakest smile I could manage.

"Thank you."

" My pleasure."

" I wouldn't mind if you let me borrow that later." V said. I passed it to her , trying to stay focused enough to write notes of my own.

The ear piercing school bell rung through the classroom before I could scribble one word of what Chatterjee sir was rattling on about. I let out a sigh of relief and laid down my head against my notebook as I rested my eyes.

" When did you even go to sleep?" V asked. When I opened my eyes, she was already standing, putting away her materials as Chatterjee sir wrote the homework assignment on the board.

" Hey, did you even hear me?" V asked. I looked at her for a blank moment and then nodded.

" 2 am." I replied.

" Why the fuck do you go to sleep so late if you have to wake up for school at 6?" Himanshu asked as he pulled his woollen sweater over his head, shivering slightly from the cold.

" Self destructive motives , I guess." I responded, standing up and putting my things away in my bag. Siya made her way over to us from her seat.

" Hi sweetheart, can I pretty please borrow your notes later?" I said to Siya as she leaned against my desk.

" Sure. Just return it before Saturday." She replied.

" Why? What's on Saturday?" I asked with genuine curiousity.

She hesitated a bit before replying, " Uh... I'm actually assigned the task of tutoring someone."

I quirked a brow. " Tutoring, wow! From our class?"

"Yeah."

"Who?"

She did her annoying habit of fidgeting with her fingers before saying, "Kartik."

When I say I was surprised, I mean it. Siya Natekar , the no opinion pushover and a fucking cinnamon bun, was tutoring Kartik Malhotra? Dang this was news!

"Kartik Malhotra?" Veronica chimed from behind.

Siya nodded.

"And why exactly did they chose you to tutor him?" Ahaan asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice. I guess he always imagined himself to be picked by the teachers for everything.

"Nerd Alert!" Himanshu coughed. Ahaan passed him a glare.

" Miss Avasthi asked me to help him. Due to the current situation, he is lagging behind with the syllabus. So... I volunteered." Siya replied.

A small knowing smile played on my lips as I stared at the cinnamon sweet girl in front of me. Turns out, she may not be that sweet actually.

"Good. Have fun tutoring him." I said.

" Yeah.... I suppose so?" She hesitated.

I scoffed. "Don't act like you're not rather excited , Siya-"

"We should get going . I'm not going to risk being late to Miss Maria's class." Ahaan interrupted as he moved towards the door of the classroom. Himanshu waved him off with irritation obvious in his actions. Ahaan left the classroom and I wondered why he was so eager to get to maths class.

" Let's get going. Or he'll start texting us soon." V remarked, as she jumped off the desk she was sitting on.

The rest of us followed her out into the crowded hallway. Delmore High students seemed to enjoy staying outside the classrooms for as long as they could. I had heard some of them daring each other to sneak into classes after the bell had rung without the teacher's noticing.

" Did you notice the police cars outside? Seems like they will be patrolling hard these days." Himanshu remarked.

" As they should. But not that it really matters. They'll not be able to catch this sicko anyway. He's far more smarter than the cops." I said.

" About that... I have something to discuss with you guys. Will it be possible for you guys to come to my house tonight at 9?" Veronica chimed from behind, trying to keep up with us in the sea of students milling around in the halls.

" Yeah, okay. But what is the meeting gonna be about?" I asked.

" I may have a plan as to where we can start looking for answers." Veronica said as we walked into the maths lab. Once I was inside I spotted Ahaan resting against his chair near the front right next to the new boy. His name was Daniel... something... I think.

So this why Ahaan was so eager to get to maths class.

A spark of enjoyment lit up my face and I put my hands up to form a heart.

Ahaan raised his middle finger in reply.

I chuckled and made my way to my usual seat at the back of the class. Veronica and Himanshu sat in the bench in front of me.

I opened my notebook and hoped that I could stay awake throughout this class. Right when Miss Maria started her lecture, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

My breath hitched in my throat as I slowly and steadily took it out and glanced at the newly added notification.

" Don't you worry , sleeping beauty. You'll get plenty of sleep.... once I slit that pretty throat of yours."

___________

I tugged on my checker plaid skirt and scrolled through my contacts as I tried to find my mom's contact number. Once I dialled the number, the low ringing of the phone filled the silent schoolyard.

" Ha Zoya?", the voice on the other end chirped , it's cheery tone sounding almost forced.

" Ammi, you were supposed to pick me up today." I said , kicking a rock on the ground as I watched the last remaining cars in the school's parking lot drive off.

" Zoya, I don't think I can make it. Can you walk?" She suggested.

" Yeah . See you later." I replied.

" You have your keys right? I don't think your dad's home yet." My mother's voice came rushing out  as she tried to make sure I would hear everything.

" I always have them. Bye." I replied and hung up. I checked my watch and noticed I didn't have enough time left  for my shift to begin.

I started walking through the empty schoolyard, watching every step of mine. Any normal day I wouldn't have mind going home alone, but after that nerve wrecking message, I wasn't sure how I could remain impassive anymore. This serial killer shit was getting too real for me.

It was at times like this that I wished Kartik would've been here. It was not that I needed him as a protecter. No , I needed him to distract me with his narcissistic bullshit.

He was probably with Siya now. Probably learning the basics of metaphors. Or probably falling deep for the girl with the supernova touch and that molten golden heart.

She was perfect for him. In all sense. I just hoped the demons trapped in the depths of Kartik's soul wouldn't overpower his mind and chase her away.

As my mind drifted off with this thought, a slow raspberry tender voice made it's way to my ears. I looked back and saw a police car approaching me.

The car stopped right beside me. The window was rolled down and for the first time, I glanced at the source of that voice.

The boy staring at me was hot as fuck. And also, probably older than me.

He tilted his head and with his lips lifting into a half grin, he asked , "Hey ,are you going home alone?"

Mon Dieu!

A sheepish smile graced my lips as translucent blossomed against my cheeks.

" Why officer? Am I going to be in trouble for that?" I joked. Well, attempted to flirt, but whatever.

His eyes , the softest of the brown, softened as the corner of his lips threatened to tug upwards.

" No...uh.. I was just asking because... I mean everyone's gone and you were the only one I noticed standing in the schoolyard for so long. Is no one gonna come to pick you up?"

I nodded negatively , trying my best to act cute.

" Well....will it be okay if I dropped you off?" He asked.

I chuckled softly, " My parents taught me not to get into a car with a stranger, officer. Sorry."

He smiled a little, probably getting what I was attempting to do, and said, " Well, I think your parents wouldn't mind a police officer dropping you off."

I smirked slightly, " How do I know that you're an actual officer? I mean.... you could've easily rented this car and designed it to look like a police car. And you can get that uniform in any shop in West Indie market. How do I know that you aren't a kidnapper?"

He sighed smilingly, accepting defeat. " Fair enough. How about I show you my id?"

I bit a lip and chuckled. " There's no need for that, officer. I was just messing with you. I do know that you're an actual officer."

He raised a brow," How exactly?"

" Well...the other day when we were taken to the station for interrogation.... I saw you. You were asking the students where they were at the time of the...murder." I replied.

His eyes flickered for a split second. " Oh... right."

There was a moment of silence before he asked, " So.... now can you come with me so I can drop you off safely and complete my duty for the day?"

I nodded , " Surely officer."

" Ravi......You can just call me Ravi." He said.

I bit my lip and smiled softly,
" Okay. And by the way, my name's Zoya. So you can call me that."

As I got into the front seat of the police car, a good chill went down my spine. This felt oddly badass for some reason.

I gave him directions to the Paper Lantern as he started the ignition. As we started driving, he suddenly turned towards me and asked, " Do you always go home alone?"

" Yeah... mostly. My parents are really busy people." I replied looking at various things and stickers in the car.

" Well...do they know about the murders?"

I nodded." They do."

" And still they insist that you walk home alone?" He asked with a confused voice.

I chuckled softly, " Yeah..well.. they're not exactly very pleasant people."

He smiled slightly.

" So how old are you?" I asked.

" Why do you exactly need that information?" He asked.

" Well,... you asked me a question and I answered. Now it's my turn, isn't it?" I tilted my head slightly looking at him.

" Okay fair enough." He said not looking at me. " Uh... I'm 24."

" And you're already an officer?"

" Yeah... I was kind of a prodigy. So I passed high school at 14. And immediately joined training." He replied.

" Wow , that's possible?" I asked with genuine wonderment.

" Yup...if you try hard enough and if you have enough connections." He replied. I nodded.

" So where you a friend of the deceased girl?" He asked. I chuckled.

" What ? Why are you laughing?" He asked with curiousity.

" If you knew Alishka, you would know that no one could ever be friends with her. She was the real Anti-christ ." I replied.

" Whoa, harsh words there. That's disrespectful to the dead." He said with genuine concern.

I smiled slightly but didn't say anything.

We reached Paper Lantern with a solid 15 minutes. I got out of the car and walked over to the driver's window.

" Thanks for the lift officer. Really appreciate it." I said.

" No problem. How are you going to get home though?" He asked.

" I have a friend who works here too. So I'll probably go home with her." I replied. He still looked unconvinced.

" She has a car, officer. Don't worry, I'll be fine." I reassured, lying.

He gave me a tight lipped smile and nodded. I turned to walk up the steps of the diner but something struck my mind and I turned around and asked, " Hey, Ravi?"

" Yeah?" He looked up at me.

" Do you have a girlfriend?"

Translucent blossomed against his cheeks as he chuckled softly,
" I'm 24  and you're 17, Zoya."

" Doesn't answer my question." I smiled sheepishly.

He laughed slightly at that and started the ignition. " Go to work, Zoya."

As he proceeded to drive off leaving a cloud of dust behind, I smiled slightly.

Worth a shot, I guess!

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