Chapter 91: A Real Pick Me Up (1/2)
The school bell hand rung as students raced from their seats for freedom. Most, but not all. Zinnia was one such student slumped down in her chair, unresponsive. Serval others looked at her uneasy as even the teacher wasn't willing to step in. She was left alone to her thoughts. She had been back at school for almost a month as October had snuck in. Team Rhapsody's streams had died down dramatically, and there had been talks of them quitting. Zinnia was well aware of the accusations as she was glued to the news day and night. Being back at school hadn't helped her one bit. Many students had kept their distance as an uneasy feeling had taken over the school since Percy's death. As the last of the students left, Zinnia found herself alone, staring at the whiteboard with little motivation to get up. Her attention was drawn as the doors to the classroom slid open. One of her peers stepped in, clearing their throat. ”Umm, Zinnia. Your boyfriend is waiting for you.”
Zinnia simply nodded as she sighed, standing up, throwing her bag over her shoulder, dragging herself out. She passed by hers and Percy's locker; it had been given to another student in the waiting line to no one surprise. The school had been very hush-hush about the situation, only mentioning him once during the first day back. Zinnia exited the front doors seeing Alton sitting on the wall watching the cars go by. As Zinnia walked over, she stood idly as Alton held out a cupcake. ”I wish your classmates stop referring to me as your boyfriend. That's the last thing I need is pointless rumours.”
Zinnia sat on the wall beside him, frowning. ”You don't have to see me out of school every day, you know….”
”Oh, I know. But I want to. Maybe I should go back to school? I never did finish my exams. What's school like these days.”
”Crap.”
”Nothing has changed then.”
”Although the school would be so much tolerable if you were there.”
”Yeah? Well, I'll keep that in mind. I am a bit shit at maths though, you will have to help me there.”
Zinnia gave a half-hearted laugh as she looked down at the cake blankly. ”No one talks to me at school anymore. They are all too scared to approach me over what happened with Percy. Everyone is just pretending it never happened.”
”Everyone has their own way of dealing with loss. Some use it to help grow. Others are consumed by it. While some ignore it, pretend it never happened to help cope with the pain.”
”What category do you come under?” Zinnia questioned.
Alton threw her question away, nudging her. ”You should eat that cake made it myself. I would be very disappointed if you don't eat my birthday cake.”
”Birthday? But you said your birthday was July 19th.”
”I did? Well, umm, I sorta lied. But I didn't intend to.”
”I am so confused.”
”Well, my father found me and took me in on July 19th. They used that as my Birthday. After my father tried killing my mother and me, we ran away to Sunset peak. My mother didn't want my Birthday to be a reminder of him, so we changed it to today, October 10th.”
”You never told me that….”
Alton jumped off the wall licking his fingers. ”Yeah, well, why would I? As it is my official unofficial Birthday, I command you to come to the karaoke bar and celebrate.”
Zinnia giggled, covering her mouth nodding. ”I did promise. Though I wish you told me sooner.”
”Ah, it's fine. So, you come to the bar?”
”You kidding?! Like I'm going to miss out on my best friend's Birthday. Although I like didn't get you anything.”
Alton chuckled, wrapping his arm around Zinnia, shaking her about. ”You kidding me, Zin? You're the only thing I need right now.”
****
Gale stepped out of the Karaoke booth seeing Alton and Zinnia wearing a party hat. Gale turned around, whispering into his phone. ”Foxtrot, this is Section, the target is secure, I repeat target is secure. Protocol Nightfall is a go.”
”You know the screen is turned off.” Zinnia pointed out.
Alton sighed, pushing Gale. ”Just get inside.” Everyone else was there, already drinking, readying the songs as Alton cleared his throat. ”I'm back.”
Scarlett stood up, bowing slightly. ”Miss Trost, a pleasure.”
”You don't have to be so formal with me, Scarlett. Besides, we are here for Alton.”
”We are?” Emil asked, lost.
”It's his birthday.”
”What? Alton, it's your Birthday? Nobody tells me anything!” Gale sulks.
”You didn't tell them?”
Alton places his hands together, looking away. ”Forgive me, Zin; this was the only way to convince you to come. I kind of lied. Again, not entirely. What I said about my parents was true, but we moved my Birthday to March 2nd.”
Zinnia sighed, shaking her head. ”Figures.”
”I still made cakes, though. And we rented the room out for the entire evening. We were about to order pizza. Please just enjoy yourself.”
Zinnia smiled softly, folding her arms. ”I know what you are trying to do. You're all doing this for me to cheer me up. But I'm fine. I don't need anyone's help.”
Alton turned around, nodding to himself. ”I hear ya. That's that. It's over.”
Gale slumped in his chair, sighing. ”Mission failed; we'll get them next time.”
”Can you like stop with the military talk?” Emil barked.
Alton turned around, smirking. ”Well, it's time. For Zinnia and Percy, we are officially shutting down Team Rhapsody.”
”You what?!” Zinnia screamed. ”You can't! Why?”