~Rafe~

Where is Zoe?

That's the only thought that kept going on in his head like a loop. He didn't understand why he was so bothered by her absence.

Maybe it was her aloofness in the dean's room, or maybe it was a complete disregard for his title or maybe something else.

He got the distinct feeling that nothing much impressed her and he was rarely wrong about stuff like that. Also the way she disappeared right after leaving the office, gave him the feeling that she didn't like him.

Well, she is not the only one, he thought dryly, as he looked towards Max who was walking ahead, a little away from the group.

Max had made his displeasure at Rafe's presence very much clear in the first 10 minutes of their conversation.

Max had been very quiet during the entire time they showed him around campus. But he had seen the looks Max sent his way. They were a mix between confusion and wariness.

Rafe didn't know what to make of it so he let it go.

If he has a problem with me, well, that is to bad, thought Rafe.

He was broken out of trance when the group stopped just outside the main building.

Julia Sanchez turned towards Rafe and said, "Ok, now you have seen the campus. Any questions?"

Rafe shook his head.

"Good. I have seen your schedule and the last 4 lectures are same as ours so you can stay with us for today. Tomorrow for the first 4 lectures you are going to have to ask somebody to show you about."

Rafe just nodded, knowing too well that he is not going to be shown around like some lost puppy. He will manage himself.

All of them were just standing outside the main building talking and goofing around.

Rafe was just observing them. He deduced that Sam Quinto was a goof, Lily Gates was like an indulgent mother hen, Xander Gates was a germophobe, Julia Sanchez was serene, Kaiden Sanchez was quiet and more of a bodyguard type and lastly Kiara Quinto was completely eccentric.

Rafe couldn't deduce anything about Maximus Petrakis as he was a closed book or maybe, Rafe didn't bother about him that much.

Even though, this group seemed dysfunctional at first sight, Rafe hadn't seen a group of people this closely linked before.

Suddenly they heard a loud bang from inside. Immediately Max took off. Others not far behind.

Rafe also ran inside, behind the group. They all ended up in the hallway for lockers, where a group of students were already gathered.

When the students saw them, they moved to the side to let them pass. When they reached the front they saw what the commotion was about.

A brunette girl was holding a blonde, nerdy girl by the throat and screeching at her.

Sam whistled. "Amelia messed with the wrong girl."

Rafe guessed that Amelia was the nerdy girl. Rafe agreed with Sam a little as he saw the brunette girl shake Amelia like a rag doll and Amelia's books fell off her hands.

Rafe could see that the girls were getting angry and Max and Kaiden were about to intervene.

But before anybody could do anything, the brunette girl slammed Amelia against the lockers.

Amelia slid down against the lockers, her eyes were unfocused and a little trail of blood could be seen on the lockers behind Amelia.

The brunette girl spit at Amelia and hissed, "This will teach you not to mess up my homework in future, nerd!"

Lily, Kiara and Julia were already moving towards the girl, the guys not far behind but the girl didn't notice anybody as she picked up her purse and started walking down another hallway, her pose not far behind.

Suddenly a loud crunch could be heard and the brunette girl came tumbling out of the hallway and landed on her butt, near Amelia.

Amelia was still out of it.

The group stopped in their pursuit and everybody stopped.

Zoe came out of the hallway with her hands in her pockets.

She wasn't outright glaring at the brunette girl but her eyes were cold enough to freeze anyone.

"Why don't you pick on somebody your own size Giselle?" said Zoe.

Giselle, the brunette girl, was sporting a nice broken nose, which was spurting out blood. She looked afraid when she looked up at Zoe.

Rafe couldn't take his eyes off Zoe. She looked like somebody he knew a long time ago but couldn't clear the haze on his memory. Even then, all he could think about was how warrior-like she looked.

Zoe kept on walking towards Giselle, who was still on the ground, too afraid to get up.

"Damn. I wish I had popcorn," said Kaiden.

Everybody were of the same opinion. All around, people were filming this confrontation.

Zoe kept on walking towards Giselle, ignoring everyone around her.

She stopped near Giselle's foot and knelt down in front of her. Giselle was too afraid to move or make any sound.

Zoe picked up Giselle's purse and took some notes out of it and quickly studies them.

"Is this the homework done by Amelia, Giselle?" she asked her.

Giselle didn't reply. She was sitting tight-lipped.

"I am not going to repeat myself Giselle," Zoe drawled.

Giselle slowly nodded.

"Hmm. It seems fine to me. But too bad."

Suddenly, Zoe tore the papers in half and threw it in Giselle's lap.

Giselle looked so furious in that moment that she looked up and spit at Zoe.

She missed, of course.

"Oooo. Bad move Giselle. Bad move." Rate heard Max say.

Rafe was positive that Max sounded a little bit smug and happy about Giselle's move.

Zoe didn't even blink.

"And just for that, little girl, you are going to loose your lunch money."

With that, Zoe took out Giselle's wallet and emptied it in her hand. Zoe took all the cash in there except a $10 note.

There was a lot of cash.

Giselle was looking wide-eyed at her, not believing her eyes.

Zoe looked up at Giselle and said calmly, "Oh, don't worry. It's not for me. This money is for Amelia's treatment that you so kindly donated."

Zoe smirked at her.

Zoe stood up and looked towards Lily and said, "Will it cover her medical charges?", referring to Amelia.

Lily smirked and started walking towards Zoe and said, "More than cover it."

She took the money from Zoe's out-stretched hands and knelt towards Amelia, who was slowly coming to.

Lily helped her stand up and started taking her towards reception to call her parents, knowing that the nurse wouldn't be able to help her injury.

Zoe looked at Giselle one last time and started to walk away.

Giselle finally stood up and yelled, "Bitch!"

Zoe stopped in her tracks. Everyone was silent. Lily who was slowly walking towards the gang with Amelia in tow, stopped too and turned to look at Zoe.

Everyone was waiting for her reaction. Some people couldn't believe that Amelia had the guts to say that to her.

Zoe looked back towards Giselle and said, "And don't you ever forget that."

Zoe turned and started walking away.

Everybody dispersed after that. Giselle and her pose walked away as well.

Rafe was looking at Zoe who was walking away. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about her.

Everybody was fussing over Amelia but Max was going after Zoe. Both of them disappeared round the corner.

Rafe was intrigued by their dynamics. He wondered if Zoe and Max were dating.

Not that I care. He thought.

When all the girls had left with Amelia, Rafe turned towards the guys and asked, "Is this what a normal day looks like in this school?"

"Believe it or not, there were worst days," said Sam, Xander nodding in agreement.

Kaiden just looked at Rafe and said, " Welcome to Richmond High."

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Those who have still stuck by this story, a big THANK YOU to you and a big SORRY too.

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