ZOEY AKILA bennet !
sugarhill, ddot's crib
featuring; @itszoeyb .

ZOEY SAT DOWN, her backpack slung over her shoulder—concealing not just her school materials, but also her flute. she had planned to practice the flute later with ddot because she was scheduled to perform the next day.

"yo zo, send our playlist to me," ddot muttered while pulling out his phone.

zoey nodded silently, her gaze fixed on her hands as she reached into the pocket of her cozy pink sweater. retrieving her phone she felt the weight of the stolen chain pressing against her fingertips since it was also in her pocket.

zoey had planned on just getting everything over with and to come clean, telling ddot that she she had the chain. but she wasn't gonna tell him she stole it.

no, why would she do that? she was gonna say she found it on the floor outside of the gym, it would save her less stress and guilt anyway.

but something in the back of her mind was telling her that she was not gonna go thought with the plan. zoey was good at lying but with ddot it felt like she couldn't lie—he always sees right through her.

zoey's fingers hovered hesitantly over the screen as she contemplated the timing of her confession. should she bare her soul now, risking their friendship or wait for the perfect moment?

zoey was now just thinking about how everything might come out—at this point every one of ddot's friends liked her. well that's what she liked to believe, dd was always sweet to her along with notti.

she started to think back on why she even planned on telling him—she really didn't even think it through. zoey really wanted to tell him before dd's brithday—which was the day of her performance.

it felt like it was something that was waiting to happen. she was gonna slip and ruin everything.

panic gripped at zoey's heart, constricting her chest with an iron grip. the weight of guilt bore down upon her shoulders, threatening to consume her with its burden.

every fiber of zoey's being quivered with apprehension. thoughts raced through her mind, forming a tempest of anxiety. she had schemed to confess the truth to Ddot, to lay bare her transgression and seek redemption in honesty. but now, faced with the unexpected unveiling of her secret, the ground beneath her seemed to crumble, leaving her teetering on the edge of a precipice.

the air grew suffocatingly heavy around her, as though the walls of the room were closing in, amplifying her unease. beads of sweat formed on her forehead, betraying the intensity of her inner turmoil. her hands trembled uncontrollably, a visual manifestation of her inner chaos.

she felt like she was gonna have a full blown panic attack—she could cry right now.

zoey's mind became a whirlwind of self-doubt and anxiety. what if ddot hates her forever and never talks to her again? just the thought of disappointing and losing someone so important to her sent waves of nausea crashing through her stomach.

zoey was consumed by regret, realizing the gravity of her actions and the consequences that loomed before her. she could see, ddot's reaction—his hurt and disappointment, or cursing her out.

guilt gnawed at her conscience relentlessly, its grip unyielding. the weight of her secret magnified exponentially, casting a long and daunting shadow over her spirit.

zoey's heart trembled with fear—not just the fear of losing ddot, but the fear of losing a piece of herself, of forever breaking their bond. she knew that confessing her misdeed would not absolve her of guilt, but it held the sliver of hope for forgiveness and the possibility to rebuild what had been shattered.

meanwhile, ddot's gaze occasionally flickered toward zoey, sensing nervousness from her.
the subtle shift in her demeanor did not escape his notice, and a faint crease formed on his brow as he puzzled over the cause.

it wasn't really hard for ddot to read zoey like a book, out of everybody he knows nothing compares to how easily he can tell when something's wrong with zoey. she gets super quiet, biting on her nails or biting her lip.

reading zoey came naturally to ddot; among all the people he knew, he possessed an ability to see when something bothered her. her silence, nail-biting, and lip-biting were telltale signs that something occupied her mind.

but for once ddot chose to dismiss his observations, avoiding the risk of making zoey feel more uncomfortable than she already seemed. but with each passing second turning into a stretched-out minute, the weight of zoey's internal struggle grew exponentially.

the need to confess overwhelmed zoey, but she feared that unveiling the truth would shatter everything. she had invested considerable effort in making their friendship, cherishing the small moments they would have.

deep down, she knew that ddot valued their bond—atleast a little bit. she even recalled him eating it out-loud and she could remember joe much she was cheesing that day.

the thought of jeopardizing what they had worked so hard to build swirled like a storm within her, intensifying her internal struggle.

continuing their conversation with a soft tone, she addressed ddot while grappling with her own turmoil. "isn't x equal to 0, ma?" ddot chuckled gently when Zoey made an error on the paper.

"eight, right. sorry," zoey cleared her throat, releasing an awkward laugh, trying to mask the tidal wave of emotions threatening to consume her.

overwhelmed by a sudden warmth, zoey swiftly removed her sweater, hoping to alleviate some of the discomfort she felt. not knowing how much that would even make it worse.

ddot could tell that the laugh was fake but he doesn't point it out, maybe she was just nervous because her performance was tomorrow—that's when he made the perfect idea.

"zo, you don't have to tutor me," ddot's words carried a hint of playfulness as he looked at zoey. "you wanna practice ya flute for me? since you gone be on the big stage tomorrow." his warm smile elicited a response from zoey causing a glimmer of relief to shine through her worried expression.

she managed a smile of her own and nodded in agreement, pushing the textbook and binder aside.

zoey as she turned around, her gaze fixed on the small box nestled among her zoey reached for the box, almost as if hesitant to disturb the delicate balance that had settled between them.

zoey retrieved the flute box from her backpack, cradling it in her hands. the weight of the flute, both physical and symbolic, reassured her. it was a reminder of her dedication, the countless hours she had spent practicing, and the upcoming performance that fate had intertwined with her confession.

with a deep breath, zoey steadied herself, her resolve growing stronger as she prepared not only to showcase her musical prowess but also to bare her soul. she really needed her moment to gather her thoughts and reveal the truth.

"uhm. i have to go to use the bathroom, i'll be right back." zoey tells the boy who furrows his eyebrows but nods anyway.

as zoey left the room, the silence between them grew palpable. ddot stared at her departing figure, a mix of curiosity and concern furrowing his brow. what did she need so much that she needed to be alone?

ddot's gaze never left the bathroom door, the seconds ticking by like an eternity. it felt like something was wrong—even he felt it.

in the confined space of the bathroom, zoey's hands trembled as she reached for her phone.
it's sudden ringing startled her, echoing through the small room. her heart skipped a beat as she realized the sound was emanating from the pocket where she had hidden the stolen chain.

she didn't have her phone. it was in her sweater.

oanic surged through zoey's veins as she tried to calm herself down, she patted down her brwids—trying to suppress the tears that were making its way through her eyelids.

back in the living room, ddot's ears pricked up at the sound of the ringing phone. his annoyance grew with each passing second. he kept looking down at the pink sweater that had the phone stuffed in it, he knows the password so why downer he just turn it off?

after a couple of seconds he decided to take matters into his own hands. he reached for the hee sweater, the ringing intensifying. he fumbled in the pocket, fingers closing around the phone, but something else tangled amidst the wires.

a gasp escaped ddot's lips as his fingers brushed against a foreign object amidst the wires. the metallic sensation of a necklace-like material sent a shiver down his spine.

"the fuck?" he muttered to himself. his hand trembled slightly as he grasped the unexpected item tightly, its presence growing more potent in his grip.

pulling out his phone and slowly lifting it into his line of sight, ddot found his attention inexplicably drawn to the object entwined within the wires.

time seemed to decelerate, the world around him fading into the background, as his eyes fixated on the shocking revelation that materialized alongside the device he held.

his chain.

ddot's fingers trembled as he held the chain in his hand, the very chain that had been lost for almost two agonizing months. it dangled before his eyes, appearing almost surreal, and he couldn't fathom how it had ended up there in zoey's sweater.

in disbelief, he twisted the chain around his fingers, searching for any sign that this was a figment of his imagination. to his astonishment, there was no doubt—it was undeniably his chain, the precious chain passed down by his grandmother.

an array of emotions flooded through he boy, overwhelming him in an instant. anger and confusion mingled, entangling his thoughts in a web of surrealism.

it felt as though he had stumbled into a fever dream, unable to comprehend the reality of the situation unfolding in front him.

ddot couldn't deny the significance of what he held in his hands. this was the very chain that had brought him countless nights of tearful bed covers, the same chain that he told zoey how much it met to him—why he missed it so much—that it wasn't just a chain.

with tears welling up in his eyes, ddot found himself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings—betrayal, disbelief, and a sliver of desperation for an explanation.

ddot's hands clenched tightly around the chain, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip. anger now surged through his veins like a raging storm, intensifying the array of emotions he experienced.

why would zoey out of everyone do this?

it just didn't make sense. none of it did. zoey was the last person that he could see doing this, i fact he never even had the thought she had anything to do with his chain going missing.

and just to think about all the times naomi had screamed in his face—telling him that zoey was 'crazy.' now he could see where she was coming from, she was way more than crazy at this point.

from naomi's perspective, her motivations became clearer. having been involved with ddot in the past, she recognized the importance of reestablishing a connection with him. the chain represented not only a physical object but also a symbolic bridge that could potentially mend the cracks in their fractured relationship.

knowing ddot's love for the chain, naomi saw an opportunity to restore herself to his good graces by revealing zoey's transgressions.

ddot felt a heavy weight settle on his chest as he realized the extent that zoey went for whatever shit she did this for. he didn't even want to start to understand why she did this for.

he twisted the chain around his fingers once more, hoping that perhaps this was all an elaborate illusion. but the touch, the weight, and the familiarity confirmed the undeniable truth—it was his lost chain. the evidence rested in his hands.

ddot's chest tightened with the weight of unspoken questions and suppressed rage. anger simmered within him like a dormant volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.

at this point everything he had learned while being friends with zoey—or whatever they are at the moment flew out the window.

he especially remember her telling him to always control his anger but now he felt like he was gonna fucking kill someone.

zoey finally emerged from the bathroom, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes met his. a gasp escaped her lips, a jolt of realization surging through her. this is when she knew everything was done.

"zoey you ain't bein deadass." ddot muttered, shaking his head.

regret etched lines of vulnerability on zoey's face, as she desperately sought forgiveness in ddot's gaze. she understood the implications of her choices, the impact it had on their budding relationship. the fear of losing him had driven her to silence, a misguided attempt to preserve the connection they shared.

zoey's breath's itched as she tried to muster up a response but she felt like she might cry. she bit her lip so it stops her from acting stupid.

zoey swallowed hard, her voice barely audible. "i...i was going to to tell you. i just—i didn't know how. i didn't want to lose you."

"so you lied? you acted like you didn't have no fucking idea that the chain i told you about all those fucking days, and lie to my face?" ddot's voice quivered with a blend of disbelief and astonishment as he uttered in hushed disbelief.

a pang of guilt pierced through zoey's facade, her expression softening as tears welled up in her eyes. she lowered her gaze, feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment in herself for the choices she had made.

"i...it was because i knew you didn't like me. i thought if i did something like that, if i helped you, maybe you would—you would see me as a friend. i don't know...i was just doing at anything." her voice wavered as she attempted to explain.

ddot scoffed, he rose from his seat—his grip on the chain firm. "zoey. do you realize how fucking stupid you sound? like you deadass sound like you need to get help."

the harsh reality of zoey's actions had hit ddot with a forceful blow. he finally grasped at what she did—she lied each day. their whole friendship just sounded like a whole joke to him now.

and to think he was gonna ask her out tomorrow.

what zoey had seen as an opportunity to bridge the gap between them now stood as a stark reminder of the unraveling trust and the need for of help.

"i'm sorry." zoey mumbled, she didn't bother to wipe away her tears that came at full force. she was just embarrassed at what extent she went this time. she felt like a whole ass weirdo.

"you ain't say sorry when you was all up in my face, 'ddot it's okay, ddot i'm here for you,' was you lyin then? zoey do i look fucking stupid do you?" he mocked her voice—titling his head at her.

zoey didn't even bother responding because she couldn't choke out a answer even if she wanted to.

"you is the most craziest bitch i ever fucking meant. and then you—oh you motherfuckin." ddot stopped his own sentence when he realized that naomi wasn't lying and neither was the people at school telling him the last person they saw with the chain was zoey.

ddot heard zoey's silent cries which he thought sounded funny. it was funny that all the times he cried to her she comforted him through it all, but now he know why he even let her get next to him.

he felt used as fuck.

zoey could just stand there and look stupid. she never thought it would come out to this, honestly she didn't even think what she did was that bad—but it obviously was.

"everything? us? allat shit is done. word to my deads, i never wanna see you again. you lied to me-about everything. you comforted me, knowing you caused my pain. you're sick. its like you enjoyed that shit or sumn." ddot's words hit zoey like a train, each word carrying a weight of anger and disappointment.

zoey stood there speechless and caught off guard. she never anticipated it would come to this, a moment where the consequences of her actions would hit her with such force.

in her mind, she had justified her behavior, believing it wasn't that bad. now she realized the magnitude of the hurt she had inflicted, and it was hurting her more than it hurt ddot.

the weight of ddot's accusations and his harsh judgment bore down on zoey. and the worst thing was that they weren't false accusations.

she felt small and insignificant, understanding that her actions had deeply wounded someone she cared about. the realization of her own ignorance and insensitivity flooded her with a profound sense of regret.

in that moment, zoey could only stand there, her guilt etched on her face. she had been blind to the consequences, oblivious to the pain she had caused.

"ion want anything to do wit you. crazy ass bitch. you was so lonely that you stole my chain to get attention. the one thing i had of my grandma, my grandmother zoey." he shook his head at her, rubbing his face.

the weight of their unspoken truths grew heavy, transforming the atmosphere into a tense and suffocating stillness. the ordinary tutoring session they once shared now felt like an unbearable burden, the weight of the revelation casting an ominous shadow over their interaction.

zoey's heart ached with remorse as tears welled up in her eyes. ehe could feel the stare radiating from ddot, his indifference piercing through her like a thousand knives.

the realization of how deeply she had wounded him settled in her chest, tightening its grip with each passing moment.

"i didn't meant to hurt you." zoey's voice trembled as she choked back tears.

ddot's gaze met hers, cold and distant, devoid of the warmth and compassion she had once held onto. his silence spoke volumes, a testament to the shattered trust, the pain that had taken root within him, penetrating the very core of their connection.

ddot sucked in his teeth, "but you did."

the room felt heavy with unspoken emotions, their secrets hanging in the air like an invisible fog. it was a stark reminder of the irreversible damage caused, the fractured trust that seemed insurmountable. the once-familiar space they occupied now felt foreign, a testament to the irreparable consequences of their actions.

whenever ddot spoke, the severity of her actions became painfully clear—painting her in a light she never wanted to be seen in.

zoey felt so helpless now. with all the things he had put into their relationship—every thing she had done to make him like her, just a little bit. it all came falling down.

zoey mustered the courage to meet ddot's gaze, and the sight shattered her heart into a million pieces. his eyes, the same eyes she had helped have some type of color and happiness, now appeared cold and vacant

it was as if the person she had come to know and care for had gone, leaving behind an empty shell of indifference.

she actually had fixed that though, she had built their relationship up to the point that morning could break it down. but she just had to ruin it like always.

the realization hit zoey with an overwhelming force, threatening to knock her off her feet. she had worked so hard to build their relationship, to mend the cracks that they had both carried. but now everything she had painstakingly constructed had crumbled into ruins.

she really couldn't blame anybody else but her for that.

sadness engulfed her, as her heart ached with a profound sense of hurt and guilt. she had been the cause of their downfall, the one who had sabotaged the bond they had forged.

in that moment, zoey's legs felt weak, as if they could no longer support her. the realization that she had ruined something beautiful, something she had believed to be unbreakable was an unbearable burden to bear. she wished she could turn back time, rewrite her choices, and salvage the connection that now lay shattered at her feet.

ddot turned around, stuffing her pink binder in her backpack along with her phone and sweater—grabbing the flute to stuff it in as well.

he threw the backpack in front of her feet before he let out a sigh.

"ion want anything to do wit you. crazy ass bitch. you was so lonely that you stole my chain to get attention. the one thing i had of my grandmother. you can keep your fucking scrapbook. this whole relationship built on lies."

as tears streamed down zoey's face, she nodded.  she hastily wiped her tears their salty trail mixing with the rain droplets that poured relentlessly from the darkened sky. sniffling, she bent down to retrieve her backpack, her trembling hands struggling to maintain composure.

hathering her belongings, zoey mustered the courage to look at ddot one final time, hoping against hope for at least any form of empathy.

her heart sank as she realized he wasn't even looking in her direction anymore. his gaze was fixed elsewhere, and his head shook with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief.

his words cut through the heavy downpour, sharp. "ion care what happens to you—you need to get the fuck away from me. stay the fuck away."

time seemed to stand still as zoey absorbed the weight of his words. it was a final blow, an unequivocal rejection that reverberated through her entire being. the raindrops mingled with her tears, cascading down her face in a haunting hymn of despair.

zoey took her final steps away from him, oblivious to the fact that it would be the last time they would ever lay eyes upon each other.

as she walked through the threshold of the front door, a deep sigh escaped her lips, mingling with the dampness of the rain-soaked air. it was a sigh teetering on the edge of despair a fleeting respite before the floodgates of her emotions threatened to open once again.

but but respite was short-lived. the dam holding back her tears crumbled, and anguish engulfed her. tears flowed unabated, blurring the world around her. every sob was an echo of the shattered of everything she had ruined for herself.

in that moment, zoey stood outside, drenched in both rain and regret. the realization that their paths had diverged forever washed over her leaving her feeling lost.

as she stumbled away from his house, each step heavier than the last, zoey felt as though her very essence was unraveling. the lashes that had once framed her expressive eyes fell, everything was falling now.

in the midst of the storm, she was left to confront the shattered remnants of their relationship, her spirit bruised and broken.

zoey frowned, not even bothering to bend down to pick it up. she knew that she'll look crazy with one on and one off.

in the midst of the tempestuous storm, the rain beat against zoey's fragile frame, mirroring the turmoil raging within her. her spirit remained battered and shattered, the remnants of their once-cherished bond strewn across the landscape of her heart.

every step she took felt heavier than the last as if the weight of her emotions threatened to engulf her entirely.

a deep frown etched itself onto zoey's face, her furrowed brows reflecting the depth of her pain. she cast a brief glance at the fallen umbrella, its vibrant colors subdued by the rain-soaked pavement.

in that moment, the simple act of bending down to retrieve it seemed futile, insignificant compared to the overwhelming despair that clouded her mind.

knowing that one umbrella standing, while the other lay abandoned, would only accentuate the chaos that consumed her, zoey chose to leave it behind.

after what felt like an eternity of contemplation, zoey made a decision that offered a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. she began her eay towards marie's apartment, guided by the certainty that it was a place where she would be welcomed unconditionally.

at least that's what she thought.

as she walked through the streets raindrops hitting her hard as ever, zoey replayed the events that led her to this moment. the words exchanged, the missteps taken each haunting her thoughts like a relentless refrain.

she remembered the look of disgust on ddot's face, something in her said that he was never gonna forgive her.

but she still had hope for some reason, she was holding on to it like it was her last breath.

as zoey her footsteps faltered momentarily as her trembling hand reached out to pull open the heavy front doors. with a deep breath, she stepped inside, the comforting shelter of the building that didn't hit her with rain.

ascending the stairs, each step resonated with a faint echo mirroring the rhythm of her racing heart. the she walked along the well-known path, passing the doors until she made it to marie's.

zoey let out a shaky breath before picking her hand up to knock, waiting til someone comes to the door.

the sight of jahzara standing at the door interrupted zoey's internal reverie. jahzara's eyes widened with genuine concern and empathy as they focused on zoey's tear-streaked face. i'm that instant, the weight of zoey's struggles became palpable, her vulnerability laid bare before her friend's compassionate gaze.

"my babyyy. what happened my love?" jahzara instantly wrapped her arms around zoey. this was a rare sight for anyone who knew zoey. she was never the type to cry in public or even show any emotions besides love and happiness.

everybody knew that zoey always had a happy soul, she was always smiling that you wouldn't even know what she was going through.

jahzara opened the door wider, her expression a soft invitation to a place of solace and refuge. it was a haven where zoey could unravel without judgment, where her tears would be met with understanding instead of condemnation. without uttering a word, zoey stepped forward, embracing the warmth that jahzara held her in.

jahzara cradled zoey's head as she heard her cries—it became louder by the second. she didn't care that her top got stained with tears, in that moment vengeance brewed within her an unyielding desire to bring justice to whomever had inflicted such pain upon the girl she cherished above all else.

in that silent embrace, jahzara's concern was palpable. her eyes searched zoey's tear-streaked face, pleading silently for answers to the unspoken question of what had happened. but the weight of zoey's pain was too heavy to be voiced, causing her lips to remain sealed.

she was to embarrassed to tell them what really happened, even though she knew she was gonna say it out of guilt anyway.

marie, witnessing this poignant scene, understood the depth of zoey's anguish. with a steadfast resolve, she approached the duo and cradled zoey's head in her gentle embrace, offering a tender refuge for her shattered emotions.

the echoes of zoey's cries reverberated through the room, growing louder with each passing second.

"mama what happened? tell me." marie placed a soft kiss on zoey's forehead before letting her go.

with each passing second, zoey's apprehension grew. she instinctively backed away, a heavy sigh escaping her lips, admitting to herself that she could no longer keep this secret from them anymore.

at this point forgotten all the words that marie had said that she could fight the bitch that stole ddot's chain.

zoey cleared her throat, the sound cutting through the tense silence. "you know the chain—the chain ddot lost?" her voice quivered as she gathered the strength to speak the words that had weighed heavily on her conscience.

"uhm. i was the one that stole it."

zoey found herself standing just beyond the threshold of the apartment door, her gaze fixed on marie. the air grew taut with anticipation, as if time itself held its breath in anticipation of what was about to unfold.

it was in that moment, as silence enveloped the room, that marie's piercing gaze bore into zoey's soul. her yes, filled with a mixture of concern and determination seemed to penetrate the depths of Zoey's being, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed.

the intense silence stretched on, unbearable and palpable as marie assessed zoey's posture, her eyes flickering with a hint of disbelief.

"zo.. you joking right?" jahzara let out a soft chuckle but stopped when she realized zoey was being deadass.

suddenly, as if overcome by a surge of raw emotion, marie lunged forward, attempting to close the distance between them. her intention was palpable—a mixture of protectiveness and frustration fueling her actions. jahzara, sensing the explosive energy in the air, swiftly intervened, her outstretched arms halting marie's advancement.

waterworks. that's what happened in that exact moment. she just started crying because their was nothing better to do—her own best friend tried to fight her.

zoey stood frozen, caught between the weight of her confession and the intensity of marie's unexpected reaction. the brief moment of mutual understanding shattered, replaced by an air of uncertainty and tension.

jahzara pushed marie to the side who didn't even have the same soft look she had on her face, the only thing that stood on there was the pure look of revenge.

"zoey i think you should leave," jahzara pursed her lips at her. zoey nods, feeling her heart shatter more then it already was.

"i'm sorry." zoey's voice quivered as she cleared her throat once more, a feeble attempt to regain composure. her words hung in the air, their meaning reverberating with unspoken emotions.

jahzara didn't even bother look up to her in the eyes, she just shuts the door. making zoey look like a fool, which she was.

F SPEAKS 🥹

NOTE— ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS. guys i've cried 3 times while writing this shit i can't do this ☹️. i'm gonna pass out wtf 😭😭😭😭😭😭. thoughtssssssssss? did zoey deserve it or no? YALL DONT BLOW UP MY HOUSE, IK HOW FHESE THREATS BE. uhm .. fia loves you 🫶🏾