When love rises from ashes

The Ride with him

Mannie stood frozen, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag still wearing a confused look, but Zeke didn’t move and didn’t explain.

He just waited, like he knew she would give in eventually.

“Hop in,” he repeated, his tone calm, but almost bored.

Mannie frowned slightly. “Why?”

“To school,” he replied simply.

“I can take the bus.” Mannie retorted

“I know.” Zeke replied back.That answer threw her off and for a second, she just stared at him, trying to understand what he wasn’t saying. Something about this didn’t feel normal, of course Nothing about him ever did.

Still… the thought of the road, and the possibility of running into that man again....she opened the car door, and reluctantly got in.

---------------

The silence inside the car felt heavier than the one outside. Mannie sat stiffly, her hands resting on her lap, unsure of what to do with herself. The interior was too clean, too perfect and everything about it reminded her that she didn’t belong here.

Zeke's driver started the engine without a word, and they hit road. Minutes passed, and the quietness was beginning to make her uncomfortable.

Mannie kept stealing glances at him. He looked the same as always...calm, unreadable, and distant. One hand rested on the car window, the other relaxed, like nothing in the world could disturb him.

“Do you always do this?” she asked suddenly.

His eyes flicked to her briefly. “Do what?” he asked

“Offer people rides you barely know.”

“I don’t.” he replied

She blinked. “Then why me?”

Zeke didn’t answer immediately.

When he finally did, his voice was lower. “You needed it.”

Mannie frowned slightly. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.” he retorted and that made her turn fully toward him.

“What does that mean?”

He didn’t respond, Instead, he looked outside the window, his attention shifting back to the road and the conversation died there but the tension didn’t, leaving Mannie in her world of curiosity

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“You should be more careful.” His voice came out suddenly...Mannie looked at him, confused. “About what?”

“Where you sit and Who you trust.”

The words felt loaded and that made her chest tightened slightly.

“You saw that?” she asked quietly.

“I see more than you think.” he replied

Something about his reply made her uneasy.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said, trying to brush it off. “I’m used to it.”

Zeke clenched his fist slightly.

“That’s not something to be used to.” he replied and the way he said it didn’t sound like pity, It sounded more like… anger, for her.

Mannie looked at him, she really looked this time and there was something there, some sorts of expression he had but he wasn’t showing.

“You don’t like it,” she said softly.

“I don’t like unnecessary things.” he replied her

She almost smiled. “Getting bullied is unnecessary now?” she asked in between her smile

“It’s avoidable.” Zeke replied her without looking and that stung.

“So it’s my fault?” she asked, her tone sharper now but Zeke didn’t answer, but the silence said enough.

Mannie looked away, and her chest tightening again, of course people like him would never understand.

-----------

The car slowed down.

They had arrived in school, Mannie reached for the door quickly, not wanting the conversation to continue. But before she could step out.....

“Don’t sit there again.” His voice stopped her.

She paused, her hand still on the door handle. “And if I do?” she asked quietly.

Zeke turned slightly, his eyes locking onto hers now, “Then I’ll have to keep stepping in.” Her breath caught, the words weren’t loud, but they carried weight but Mannie didn’t respond because She couldn’t even spare him another glance not to talk of replying again. Instead, she opened the door and stepped out, her heart beating faster than it should.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said, not looking back and walked away.

--------------

All through the morning, she could feel his gaze on her, his presence, and His eyes, even when she wasn’t looking, and it made no sense, None of this did.

Later, during break, Mannie sat alone again...more careful this time, but not untouched, Whispers still followed her, glances still lingered, Nothing had really changed, except one thing. Now, every time someone looked at her...they also looked around like they were checking…and as if he was watching. Mannie noticed it and for the first time... She wasn’t completely invisible anymore.

Across the cafeteria, Zeke leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her, unblinking. Gabriel followed his line of sight and smirked. “Already starting?”

Zeke didn’t respond.

“Careful,” Michael added quietly, watching him. “It’s just a game.”

Zeke’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes darkened...... TBC