ZOEY AKILA bennet !
sugarhill, kennedy heights hs
featuring; @itszoeyb .

"YOU WANT ONE?" caleb asked, his voice filled with concern, as he stood next to zoey near the vending machine during passing period. he inserted a dollar and selected a snack, his eyes focused on her. zoey glanced up from her phone, a faint smile appearing on her face before quickly fading.

she shook her head, her gaze drifting away as she mumbled, "no, thanks."

caleb furrowed his eyebrows, observing her closely. "are you sure? you look like you haven't eaten much lately, zo."

her small smile disappeared completely, and a hint of sadness reflected in her eyes as she averted her gaze. all she had been wearing the past few days were oversized shirts and hoodies, intentionally concealing her body.

"i'm good," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. she bit her lip, anxiety creeping in at the thought that people might notice her lack of nourishment.

caleb's concern deepened, but he didn't press further. he knew zoey withdrew herself and lost her usual vibrant spark. it hurt him to see her like this, but he also understood she needed her space. he decided to change the subject, hoping to distract her from her internal struggles.

zoey shrugged, her eyes briefly meeting caleb's before drifting down to the floor. "i don't know. i have to go to the office anyway since my last teacher told me to, i guess," she replied in a low tone, her words lacking enthusiasm.

she didn't want to delve into the details or burden caleb with her problems. all she knew was that she was supposed to go to the main office during the last period, but her teacher had hindered her from doing so, leaving her with the task of going before her next class.

caleb nodded, sensing her reticence. "you want me to walk you there?" he offered.

zoey's gaze met his, a hint of gratitude shining within her eyes, but she quickly shook her head. "it's fine. thank you, though," she murmured softly, her voice betraying her exhaustion.

zoey walked off without saying anything else—walking away to the office.

after walking away, zoey made her way to the office, her thoughts swirling with what she was needed to go to the office for. as she arrived at the main entrance, she hesitantly cracked open the door, peeking inside. to her surprise, ms. jackson, the assistant principal, was there, engaged in conversation with another student.

zoey contemplated retreating and finding a spot in the waiting area, hoping to avoid any additional interactions. but before she could make her move, mrs. jackson caught sight of her.

"oh no, sweetie, you can come in," mrs. jackson said warmly, her smile extending a genuine kindness. zoey pursed her lips, mustering a thin smile of her own, and fully opened the door.

as she entered the office, a familiar feeling swept over her, followed by the sensation of being watched. from the corner of her eye, she saw darrian, sitting in one of the chairs with an unmistakably bored expression on his face

the tension between them remained unresolved, and it added an uncomfortable layer to the already daunting situation.

"i wanted to have y'all sit here together to go over the tutoring," mrs. jackson informed them, oblivious to the undercurrents of tension. zoey's heart sank at the mention of tutoring. it wasn't her fault that ddot had said he never wanted to see her again. she had no intention of going out of her way to seek him out.

feeling a surge of anxiety, zoey reluctantly took a seat in the leather chair, the material clinging to her skin with an uncomfortable stickiness. ehe shifted uneasily in her seat, her nails finding their way to her mouth, a nervous habit she couldn't seem to shake.

the silence in the room was suffocating, and zoey braced herself for the awkward talk she never asked for.

mrs jackson let out a heavy sigh, her nails flipping through ddot's  files, carefully analyzing the progress reports his teachers had submitted. rach failing grade documented on the pages and she couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment settle within her.

"darrian, how did you end up failing five of your classes?" mrs. jackson asked, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and frustration.

the lightskin boy glanced lazily in zoey's direction before his eyes momentarily met hers. zoey remained steadfast, refusing to meet his gaze.

with a subtle frown, mrs. jackson observed their interaction, her intuition catching on to the unspoken tension between the two students. she could sense that something deeper was happening beneath the surface, something beyond school,

turning her attention to zoey, mrs. jackson's expression softened, her features etched with genuine empathy as she examined the portfolio containing zoey's academic records. the sight was disheartening, a stark contrast to the honors student she had been just a short while ago.

"zoey, you also failing? what happened?" mrs. jackson inquired gently, she studied zoey's face, searching for answers within her guarded expression.

but zoey remained silent, her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. her refusal to meet mrs. jackson's eyes spoke volumes.

everything was far from normal.

zoey's life had been torn apart, her mom's sudden death from an overdose had sent shockwaves through her existence, leaving her shattered and numb. losing all of her friends, one by one, within a span of a month. the person she once knew so intimately—herself—had become a mere stranger.

zoey found herself at a loss for words. how could they expect her to carry on as if nothing had happened? the pain was still there, the wounds still bleeding, and the weight of her grief threatened to crush her every day.

the answers to the questions posed by mrs. jackson and others remained elusive, for zoey herself couldn't fathom the depths of what had happened.

even herself struggled to understand what was truly wrong with her. she had become a mere shell of her former self, unable to recognize the reflection in the mirror. the vibrane girl who had once graced the hallways had been replaced by someone unrecognizable, someone haunted by the indelible scars of sorrow and loss.

how could people expect her to articulate what was wrong when she herself remained lost, when her whole world turned upside down?

"i'm going to assign y'all some extra help classes soon. you're free to leave now," mrs. jackson sighed wearily, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. zoey suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, realizing that coming to the main office had granted her nothing more than a lecture.

ddot walked in front of zoey and held the door open, a gesture she would have appreciated in any other circumstance, zoey remained resolute in her decision to avoid eye contact and walked through without acknowledging him.

maybe she was being a little rude, or maybe she was simply tired of caring about what others thought of her. over time, she had gradually reached a point that she didn't care about what people thought of her anymore.

it would have been better if she learned this earlier though, it would've saved her a lot.

though the bell had rung, signaling the start of the next class, zoey felt an unmistakable resistance within her. the girls' bathroom called to her, a small voice whispering the temptation of a temporary escape.

against her better judgment, she proceeded towards the bathroom.

as the door swung open, revealing the dimly lit bathroom, zoey's eyes caught sight of a girl seated on the floor. her rich brown complexion contrasted with her curly hair, a fusion of brown and black.

the girl's attention was solely devoted to her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen with practiced precision. simultaneously, an ebbing plume of fragrant vapor rose, signifying each exhale from the vape nestled between the girl's fingers.m

zoey's gaze fixated on the vape, its presence an enigmatic symbol of solace and release. smoking, something that had never held any appeal for her personally, had become a refuge for some, a means to quiet the cacophony of anxiety and grief.

for a moment, zoey's gaze fixed on the vape in the girl's hand. smoking had never held any appeal for her; it had never been an interest. but she felt like she might wanna try it one day.

zoey had the urge to say something, but the words seemed lost to her. the isolation she had subjected herself to had eroded her ability to communicate effortlessly with others, leaving her uncertain and withdrawn.

zoey's eyes tracing its contours and the wisps of vapor that danced in the air. awareness washed over her as the girl sensed her gaze, cascading her deep, raspy voice into the silence, momentarily startling zoey. "you want a hit?" the girl offered, her voice tinged with a raw authenticity that spoke of shared experiences.

the girl's response was immediate, as she tossed the white vape to zoey with a flick of her wrist, displaying a degree of nonchalance. zoey's hand instinctively reached out, catching the vape with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

holding it delicately, she tentatively asked, "how do you use it?" the girl, her posture relaxed and demeanor assured, responded matter-of-factly with a single sentence that hung in the air like a secret waiting to be unraveled: "just inhale."

zoey's apprehensions momentarily subsided as she nodded, her heart pounding within her chest. she moved the device closer to her lips, the cool touch of it sending a shiver down her spine. as her lips made contact, she inhaled, welcoming the taste of cinnamon that upon her tongue. the flavor brought a fleeting moment of comfort, a temporary distraction from the overwhelming emotions that plagued her.

as she exhaled the wisps of smoke initially formed, a tickle lodged itself within her throat, triggering a brief bout of coughing. her eyes watered slightly, but she fought to suppress the reflex, determined not to reveal her discomfort.

the girl on the floor observed zoey's reaction with a smirk, her eyes alight with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "you good, lil mama? you look like you suffocating," she teased, the corner of her lips quirking up.

zoey mustered a nonchalant "mhm" in response, attempting to maintain a composed facade and prevent any signs of discomfort from surfacing.

despite her internal struggle, gratitude welled up within zoey, compelling her to offer a mumbled expression of thanks. she covered her mouth with her hand, both to stifle any lingering coughs and to hide the sour expression that threatened to emerge.

with a slight motion, she threw the vape back to the girl, the object now uneasily-burdened with their brief connection.

the girl with black and brown hair peered curiously at zoey, her eyes flickering with a mixture of inquiry. "you like it?" she asked, awaiting a response.

zoey, her voice barely audible, nodded in affirmation. "yeah," she mumbled, her words trailing off into the air.

"this your first time smoking? or tried one of these?" she questioned, her words laced with genuine curiosity. zoey nodded her head, the discomfort in her throat discouraging her from speaking. the burning sensation reminded her that her experience with smoking was limited, if nonexistent.

"well i just bought a new one a couple of days ago. you want it? it's strawberry flavor, i think," she offered, her voice trailing off as she reached into her backpack, searching for the promised item.

zoey's eyebrows furrowed, surprise coursing through her. the genuine act of kindness caught her off guard, reminding her of the fleeting sensations of warmth that had become all too scarce in her life.

kindness was an unfamiliar territory, one she had longed for amidst a sea of people she once thought loved her, but who now only screamed their anger and disappointment into her face.

the girl tossed the vape to zoey. zoey's reflexes kicked in, catching the pink vape in her hand. she looked down at the small device, her eyes tracing the delicate contours and observing the shade of pink that adorned

it. for a moment, the color brought a glimmer of solace amidst the chaos—a small reminder of the simple joys that still existed.

"thank you," zoey finally managed, a tentative smile beginning to curve her lips.

"zoey, where the fuck have you been?" caleb's voice rang out, his tone loud and urgent. but as the words reached zoey's ears, comprehension eluded her. she was no longer grounded in reality; she had soared away, lost in the ethereal embrace of the clouds.

"have you seen my glasses?" zoey trailed off, her words slurring together in a hazy, low tone. she knew all too well that she didn't wear glasses, yet the words slipped from her lips effortlessly. the drowsy disorientation in her voice hinted at a state akin to just waking up from a deep slumber, and caleb could detect the subtle signs.

"you don't wear glasses... but deadass, where you at? i haven't seen you since lunch, and you decide to answer my calls now?"

"'cause it's only now that i want to talk to you," zoey muttered, her tone laced with attitude and defiance.

caleb let out a sigh of exasperation. "seriously, where are you?"

"i want to be in heaven," zoey continued, her voice trailing off as she gazed upwards at the sky. her mind, consumed by the intoxicating haze, entertained thoughts of heavenly realms. "you think i would be pretty as an angel?" she pondered aloud, her words seemingly disconnected from the reality of the conversation.

"what the fuck are you talking about?" caleb retorted, his confusion palpable.

"do they even serve food in heaven?" zoey's thoughts meandered further, the giggles bubbling up within her as she revelled in the euphoric high. "mm, i want a good ass cheeseburger when i get there, with a side of fries," she declared to herself, nodding with a gleeful satisfaction.

"zoey, where the fuck are you?" caleb's voice broke through the haze, his concern evident. "i'm literally outside my house. i'm not on some towering building or anything," zoey replied, her eyes rolling in mild annoyance.

"you're not fucking funny," caleb shot back, frustration lacing his words.

"i make my self laugh all the time to be honest." zoey quipped, her laughter echoing in the air. in her heightened state of intoxication, she found solace in her own amusement, even if it seemed disconnected from the reality surrounding her.

"don't hang up, hollon," caleb's voice mumbled faintly. zoey, however, chose to ignore his plea, ending the call and placing her phone beside her.

zoey found herself captivated by the beauty of the moment. she sat on the grass, her eyes fixed at the sky above, where hues of orange, pink, and purple blended seamlessly. it was as if her mom had personally painted the sky e to bring her comfort.

the girl fought valiantly to hold back the tears, to maintain a facade of strength, but the dam within her was starting to crack and crumble. a singular tear escaped the corner of her eye, tracing a shimmering path down her cheek.

the floodgates opened, and the silent tears turned into a torrent, streaming relentlessly down her face. she hugged her knees tightly, feeling the weight of her despair pressing upon her soul.

she truly believed she wasn't such a terrible person, even if life seemed to relentlessly test her belief.

zoey's mind churned with a blend of confusion and desolation. was she that bad of a person?  she questioned the fairness of it all, doubting her own worth and whether she truly merited the trials life had thrown her way.

yet, it wasn't solely the torment within her mind that consumed her; her physical well-being had also suffered. unbeknownst to others, the toll on her health was tangible. she had shed countless pounds, her frame growing increasingly frail and fragile. but in the absence of everything, it was as if these changes went unnoticed, hidden beneath the surface.

amidst the tempest of emotions and physical weariness, a fleeting spark of remembrance ignited within her. the scrapbook she shared with ddot, a symbol of the bond they had, found a place in her thoughts. gathering what little strength remained within her, she slowly rose from the dew-kissed grass, steadying herself against the weight of her sorrow.

unlocking the backdoor of her home, zoey stepped inside, the echoes of emptiness reverberating through the corridors.

as she entered, she made sure to lock the door, sealing herself within the now empty house. her dad had left for work or wherever he spent his time now, leaving behind an abandoned space devoid of warmth and life. there was no music playing from her mom, no flickering TV screen, no sounds of cooking or the tangible presence of people. everything was eerily silent and still.

zoey stood there, her gaze sweeping across the lonely expanse of her home, her expression vacant and devoid of emotion. even her house seemed to reflect the desolation within her.

with measured steps, she ascended the staircase towards her bedroom, her hand hovering over the doorknob. the act of locking the door seemed trivial, a futile attempt to safeguard a space that held nothing but her solitary existence.

pushing open the door, she stepped into her room, greeted by the stillness that enveloped her. the faint scent of familiarity lingered in the air, reminders of moments shared and memories cherished. it was within these four walls that she felt safe now, she got used to being by herself.

her gaze wandered across the room, taking in the familiar sights and trinkets that adorned the shelves, the remnants of a life she struggled to recognize as her own.

closing the door behind her, zoey settled onto her bed, sinking into the softness of the mattress.

zoey clutched her pink binder tightly, her fingers trembling as she opened the scrapbook they had created together. flipping through the worn pages, memories came to life in the form of photographs.

smiling faces stared back at her, frozen in moments of joy and camaraderie. there they were, posing with the camera, zoey perched on ddot's lap. the sight of her own radiant smile in the picture brought a pang of bittersweet nostalgia. it had been so long since she had felt that much happiness coursing through her veins.

her eyes were drawn to the date written at the bottom of the picture,

9/22.

a sense of deja vu washed over her, as if the universe was toying with the threads of time and merging the past with the present.

before zoey could fully immerse herself in these thoughts, a sudden and frantic banging on her front door shattered the calm serenity of the moment. frustration and confusion welled up within her, knowing that caleb wasn't typically so desperate as to resort knock that hard.

dragging herself out of bed with reluctance, zoey made her way down the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the empty house. her hand turned the doorknob, and as she opened the door, her eyes widened in shock.

"what the fuck?" zoey's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight before her. there stood caleb, his face partially concealed by a ski mask, his body hunched over, his hands desperately clutching his stomach which was drenched in blood.

her mind reeled, struggling to process the gravity of the situation unfolding right in front of her. concern and fear mingled, momentarily overriding the muddled thoughts that had consumed her until now.

"zoey.." caleb managed to cough out between gasps for air. his bloodshot eyes bore into hers, a flicker of urgency etched upon his face.

"oh, shit." the words escaped zoey's lips, her voice a mere whisper.

zoey grabbed caleb's hand and hurriedly pulled him into her house, swiftly locking the door behind them.

as her panic intensified, zoey clutched her phone tightly, her trembling fingers fumbling to dial 911. her mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, struggling to comprehend the violence that had unfolded before her.

"shit, i'm sorry—omg." zoey stammered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and guilt. "who did this to you?" she managed to ask, her concern overshadowing her own overwhelming emotions.

"who the fuck you think, zoey?" caleb's strained voice retorted with bitter resignation, the answer hanging heavily in the air. it was a moment of terrifying clarity that shattered any illusions zoey had about the nature of their friendship.

With tears welling in her eyes, zoey shook her head, a desperate denial clinging to her thoughts. "no... he don't do shit like this," she murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.

but just as the darkness threatened to consume her, caleb's demeanor suddenly shifted. a smile emerged on his face, unsettling in its unexpectedness. "oh, no, i was just asking if icould take you out for homecoming," he revealed, his words laced with a feigned innocence that sent an icy chill down zoey's spine.

as the door unlocked, revealing the orchestrated setup of flowers and balloons, zoey's phone slipped from her trembling hand, clattering to the floor.

"y'all are sick, crazy, and need help," Zoey's voice quivered with a mix of anger and weariness as she let out a long, weary sigh. atleast nothing she thought happened actually happened.

"is it a yes?" caleb's voice held a glimmer of hope, his eyes searching for affirmation.

"hell the fuck no, nigga."

F SPEAKS 😂😂

NOTE — bro i don't even know bro. i don't even knowwww. caleb should go to jail and ddot and zoey needed to make up like last month. anyways fia loves u 💞💞.