That morning Zari woke up with a plaiting headache and everything felt sore. She went to breakfast like usual and talked to Emma and Angie briefly. They kept asking her how she got the bruise on her head but she kept avoiding the question. Soon it was time for her to go to math class, her least favorite subject. Her father always expected her to be good at and like math, maybe that's why she disliked it so much. She rubbed her temples and walked over to the math and science building which was pretty much just like the others except it had more whiteboards and depressed students. She took her seat next to this annoying scrawny boy Evan and one of the popular girls Julia. After an excruciatingly long class, she was finally able to get a few minutes of Peace and quiet on the roof.
"Zari!" Sophie clambered up onto the roof and cautiously sat down next to her.
"What do you want Sophie?"
"I uh I wanted to apologize. I know this is not when the note said to meet but I saw you and I just wanted to make sure you were ok" Zari glanced up at her softly.
"So um are you ok?" Sophie gently placed her hand on Zari's shoulder giving it a genial squeeze.
"I'm fine, head hurts a little but fine" She replied.
"I'm-" Zari cut her off
"Sorry, I know. I can't just let myself get bullied tho if my father found out." Sophie nodded in understanding.
"Look I get that you have every reason to not like me. I have been a total jerk. I wouldn't want to be near me either but, please give me another chance. I will lay off you around other people and try to be as nice as I can be without anyone staring for too long." Zari sighed, shaking Sophie's hand off her shoulder.
"I understand the family stuff, trust me I really do and I want to be your friend so don't worry about me doing something random and ditching you or whatever. We have theater in a few minutes, still wanna meet up later?"
"I would love to meet you later! And yes we do have theater, you go ahead I'll be behind you" Zari nodded standing up and grabbing her book bag. She carefully slid off the roof after making sure no one was nearby and entered the theater. Thankfully there were already a few students inside so she didn't have to deal with their strange teacher. She pulled out her computer and opened her email reviewing the songs. She was Auditioning for the blond and was pretty sure Sophie was auditioning for the brown-haired roommate. She scrolled through the sheet music memorizing the lyrics and waited for the rest of the class to settle down. They just went over the characters and songs that class period so there wasn't any homework except to prepare your Piece for the next class. Zari cracked her neck and walked back to the dorm setting her bag down next to her desk. She pulled out her math notebook and began her homework wanting to get it all done before she met with Sophie. She could barely focus but somehow managed to finish her math and English homework just in time for dinner. She made her way down the stone path fully aware of Sophie and her posy walking behind her although they didn't seem to get closer so that was a good sign. She sat down in her usual seat next to Emma and Angie giving them a slight smile before she began to eat.
"Yo, Emma and I are worried about you, I know we kinda just met and all but we care about you nonetheless" Zari looked up from her food and bit her lip contemplating what to say. She could tell her only friends what was going on with Sophie the only problem with that is she did not fully know.
"Uh nothing, just stressed about the theater auditions" She lied looking back down at her food. What was going on with her and Sophie? Emma and Angie looked skeptical but thankfully didn't push finishing their meals with light conversation. She smiled and walked back to dorm lost in her own thoughts promptly getting pulled from them by Sophie
"Hey! I know we have a while till we meet but um I Was wondering if you would be able to go now?" She spun around to look at Sophie, a bit shocked by her interruption.
"Sure I guess. I was going to work on my audition piece but I can do that later" She replied motioning for Sophie to follow her. They started towards the theater before Zari stopped abruptly hearing voices ahead.
"I'll walk ahead and follow me in a few minutes ok?" She had her hand tightly grasped around Sophie's arm who nodded quickly before looking down briefly looking at Zari's hand. She seemed to realize and retracted her arm curling her hand into a light fist before walking down the gravel pathway once more. She wanted to turn back and see if Sophie was coming but she knew she couldn't. A group of Sophomores walked by with a few juniors laughing lightheartedly as they headed back towards the dorms. One girl did look at her weird but she just smiled and kept going hoping she would just forget and move on. She did. She made it to the theater and clambered up onto the roof dangling her legs off the edge staring absentmindedly into the forest. She quickly turned upon hearing Sophie clamber onto the roof and patted the place next to her smiling when Sophie sat down next to her. They sat there in peaceful silence for a few minutes enjoying the quiet.
"Nervous for auditions?" Sophie asked, noticing the silence becoming a bit uncomfortable.
"Ya, a little you?" she replied quickly glancing at Sophie before turning her gaze back to the woods.
"A little" Sophie took a breath and turned to look straight at Zari taking a breath.
"I know I have already said this but I am really sorry that I have to treat you badly in public, I don't want to it's just-" Zari cut her off gently placing her hand on Sophie's knee causing a slight hitch in her breath.
"You don't want your family to hate you, I get it" She smiled warmly, removing her hand from Sophie's knee realizing it may have been a bit forward.
"Ya but it's not just that. I don't want my family to force me not to hang out with you because I know if they knew they would try and keep us apart" Sophie sighed her head drooping slightly.
"Don't worry about it Sophie, I understand really I do. My family is pretty well known, I came here just to getaway. I was done trying to be someone I was not trying to change to make them proud ya know?" She took a breath "I just really wanted a change, especially after" A single tear rolled down her cheek before she couldn't hold it in anymore. Zari started crying, burying her face in her hands just thinking about her sister and her mother. Sophie gently placed her hand on Zaris' back, rubbing it lightly, and scooted a bit closer allowing their legs to rest next to each other.
"Zari?" Sophie asked in a sweet whisper.
"What happened to your mom?" Something told Sophie she would be ok with her asking that she would like to tell someone. Zari brought her head back up her gaze falling on Sophie's concerned eyes.
"I'm a twin" Was all she could say wrapping her arms around Sophie and burying her head in the crook of her neck. Sophie was shocked at first but soon wrapped her arms around the crying girl, pulling her closer.
"It's cool that you're a twin" She whispered absentmindedly playing with Zari's hair Listening to her once harsh sobs become quieter and slower. Zari slowly sat up and looked at Sophie whose face was soft and caring.
"They were in a plane, My mother and sister. it crashed a few months before I got here" She confused wiping the tears from her eyes. Sophie reached out placing her hand on top of Zaris gently squeezing it.
"That sucks Z, I'm sorry" She sighed allowing herself to be pulled into yet another hug before pulling away for a second time.
"I should go" Zari whispered shakily standing up. Sophie looked at her concerned but let her go watching as she walked away hands shoved tightly into her pockets.