I lay awake in bed after 5am. My heart hurts as I think about how my mom would be calling me anytime from now. Now I will never get those wake-up calls again. My child will never know her.

I sniffle and sit up. I open the desk drawer and take one of the letters she left me, and I read them. It's the one she wrote on the day she died. She must have been struggling a lot because her handwriting isn't the best.

Betha told me she wouldn't stop, telling them she needed to write it to me, that I'll need it, and indeed, in times like these I do need it.

My beautiful girl,

Time is no more for me, but I want you to know my love for you will never leave you. It sucks I will never meet the little peanut you are carrying, but tell them every day I loved them even as soon as you told me about them. I know you are worried about everything, but you will make it. You are so strong, my shining star. I know you will be the best mother in the world, and I am already so proud of you. I will never leave you. I will always love you. And I see you, always.

All my love.

Marcy (Mommy)

It reminds me she is still with me. That she still loves me. I rub my belly as tears slide on their own.

"I can't wait to meet you, little one. There is so much of the world for you to see. So much we all want to teach you. You are loved."

I shower and I get dressed after that crying session.

I am ready for school at 06:22 and I wait for them. I honestly wish they break the rules. I don't know what the punishment will be, but I want to punish.

I look at the watch and I am a bit happy I don't hear any doors open or footsteps. At 06:30 I open my door.

I want to punch them in the face when I find them standing there. I growl and I want to shatter the door. But they are of course very happy with themselves, grinning like the idiots they are. I narrow my eyes at them.

"Good morning, babe." Bas says with a smile

I huff. "You will no longer call me, babe, Zar, or whatever name you've called me before. From now on I will be called master."

They all chuckle. Obviously thinking I'm kidding.

I fold my arms, hiding my trembling hand that wants to connect with a face.

"Zara..."

"It's master to you, number 3."

He quips his eyebrow and the noise dies down.

"Number 3?"

"Yeah, you are no longer....you know, your birthnames. You are now Slave 1, Slave 2, Slave 3 and Slave 4. You only answer to that."

"Hoshi, you are joking, right?"

"Babe, we are in school."

I sigh. "I guess you aren't that serious about this are you? I mean, I knew you weren't." I shake my head and I move to close my door.

"Zara... no. Don't..." he keeps my door from closing.

"Are you saying something, Slave number 3?"

"This is ridiculous, Zara."

I blink at him, so he knows I don't recognize that name anymore from him.

"Come on, we will....shine your shoes, give you foot massages...carry you to school, just...don't do that." Bas says

"Oh, Slave number 2, who said you won't be doing any of that anyway?"

"Wait, who is slave 1 and who is 4, and why those numbers?"

I point at Jose, "he's number 1."

Jose folds his lips in amusement, and quite honestly, a lot of pride.

"If that means I'm your favorite, then I'll take it." He grins

I don't return it. "If only that's what it meant."

They look at me with curiosity.

"So, is this over, you are breaking your word to me...again?"

That makes all their faces fall. Their faces now house trepidation.

"Fuck, Zahara! This... you... we..." Mason stammers over himself in utmost frustration. He looks at me like I am the one doing something wrong. Like I am hurting them. Me.

He looks helpless, defeated and angry before he turns on his heel and he leaves. The act breaks my heart. Like he's walking away from me. He's giving up.

There others are stuck there like they don't know what to do. I close my door on their stupid faces.

I guess that's that. Dark rage boils in my insides. He isn't even trying. Well, fuck him. I walk out after 7am to go to breakfast. Me and Simba walk, and I don't see them anywhere. I get a little worried, but I stump that down. Why should I care? They clearly don't. They were clearly lying to me again.

Me and the girls sit for breakfast. The idiots come in as I fork my food. I look down when I see Leo looking my way. I don't want to see their stupid faces.

The table goes quiet, and I know and can feel them. The table clears and I lift my face. Where are they going?

"Where are you guys going?"

"We are giving you guys space." Jasmine says. Simba comes then with his food, and he sits next to me. I am happy I have someone on my side.

"Cele, we have to talk to Zar." Bas says in a cool tone.

"Can't you see she's upset? I'm not leaving her with you lot."

I could kiss this boy. Tell them Simba!

I see Leo's demeanor darkening and he zeroes in on Simba, but Simba doesn't move. I see little sweat beads forming but he stands his ground, and I am so proud.

"I don't want to talk. I think we said everything we were supposed to. I'm done." I say and I get up and take Simba's hand. I lead him out and they don't follow. Everything squeezes my heart as me and my friend walk to the bleachers. We share his sandwich and luckily, he doesn't ask me anything. If there's anything about Simba, he knows when to shut up.

The rest of the school day goes fucking awfully. It was just me going on opposite directions to them as they tried to get me to talk about this or that or reinstate the deal. And I was fucking done.

After school, me and Simba go to town. I just needed fresh air.

"Chicken and avo ciabatta, please and give me a cappuccino with it." He smiles to the waiter who is smiling eagerly back at him. I smile at both of them. Even though I shouldn't, he still is in a situationship with Cindy.

I clear my throat and I fold my lips at their flirtation.

"I will have a chocolate cake with a green tea and a cinnamon donut."

She quips her eyebrows.

"No judgments, girl." I smile

She smiles and she turns on her heel. As I watch her go, a familiar figure enters the coffee shop. I want to hide under this table, but he spots me quickly and he walks straight to me.

I remember our last encounter and I want to cringe. I was so cold. I had no choice; I was with those assholes.

Simba turns his head to see Darrell almost at our table. His tall form really does fill any space he's in.

"Willow, long time." He gives me a polite greeting, but he looks at Simba then me, and I see the questions. The boys. Where are they.

"Hey Darrell, this is my friend Simba."

He nods. "Well, at least you are keeping better company this time."

"Darrell, no." I mutter. I don't like them, but he has no right to be shady towards them, even if they are assholes and they have stupid faces.

He sighs. "I apologize, I know they are your bo-"

"They are not." I answer quickly

"Oh." He looks genuinely surprised...and happy.

"You could pretend you are sad for her." Simba says. I had forgotten he was here.

"Yeah, can I sit?" he says with a confident smile.

"No.", "Yes." Simba and I say in unison. Darrell ignores Simba's answer, and he sits down.

The waiter gets his order, and we eat over light conversation filled with shades of flirting.

The whole time Simba wasn't in it at all. Though I couldn't understand why he was acting like this. I thought he of all people would like to see me with someone else who hasn't been awful to me.

He kept glancing at the door. I guess he knew shit would hit the fan if the assholes showed up. But I didn't care. In fact, this may be a great opportunity to get even, I think to myself.

A few coffee dates with Darrell are sure to send a message.

When we finish, Darrell's friends get him, and he hugs me goodbye with a lingering hug. When me and Simba finally leave, we find Leo waiting outside with a car.

We find him mad, and he gave me an attitude and after an exchange of some words, and Simba taking his side, I finally get in and I am mad as fuck. I decide Simba just made my shit list too. He sided with my enemies. Fuck him too.

I guess Darrell is my replacement friend now.