Unapproachable Horizon

Chapter 7: Greetings, Teasing, and Arabella's Misstep

Day by day, Aiden greeted Zavierra with a smile, wave, or a cheerful "Good morning." Zavierra always responded with a polite nod, her demeanor composed and unbothered. However, their growing interaction didn’t escape the notice of their classmates, who began teasing Aiden mercilessly.

“Ooooh, Aiden’s got a crush on Zavierra!” someone teased during lunch, sending ripples of laughter across the room.

Aiden chuckled nervously, his ears turning red, but his sheepish grin remained. Across the room, Arabella watched the scene unfold, her jaw tightening. She had once been the center of attention, basking in the admiration of her peers. But after Bryce, her ex-boyfriend, exposed her lies about her wealth, her social standing crumbled. Her classmates avoided her, their whispers cutting deeper than outright confrontation. The sting of their judgment fueled her bitterness.

That evening, Arabella hatched a desperate plan to reclaim the spotlight. She decided to take out a small loan to purchase designer items, convinced that flaunting her wealth would erase the damage to her reputation. She posted pictures of her new purchases on social media, tagging her classmates with captions like, "A little weekend splurge!" The next day, she arrived at school, carefully displaying her new items for everyone to see.

Her plan backfired spectacularly. By midday, rumors swirled that Arabella had once again dipped into the class funds to finance her luxuries. The accusations reached Zavierra and the other officers, prompting an emergency meeting after class.

Arabella entered the meeting room with her head held high, clutching the envelope containing the class funds. She placed it on the table with a defiant glare. “Count it,” she said curtly, her tone daring anyone to challenge her.

Zavierra and Kael exchanged a glance before carefully counting the money. The funds were intact. Zavierra announced the result, her voice steady but devoid of warmth. “This time, she’s telling the truth.”

Arabella smirked, but the atmosphere in the room remained cold. She left the meeting more determined than ever to prove herself, though the growing animosity from her classmates weighed heavily on her.

The next day, Arabella doubled down. She arrived at school with even more new items, ensuring they caught everyone’s attention. For a brief moment, it seemed her plan was working. Yet, by the following morning, Arabella walked into class looking pale and shaken. Her usual bravado was gone, replaced by visible distress. Her hands trembled as she clutched her bag tightly, and her gaze darted around the room as if she were afraid of something—or someone.

Zavierra noticed immediately. Though she didn’t particularly like Arabella, she couldn’t ignore her classmate’s state. During lunch, she approached Kael.

“Did you notice Arabella today?” Zavierra asked, her tone low but firm.

Kael nodded, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Yeah, she looks... scared. Not like her at all.”

“I think I should talk to her,” Zavierra said, though her tone carried a hint of hesitation.

Kael smirked. “Since when did you grow soft?”

“I’m not soft,” Zavierra shot back, glaring at him. “But something’s not right. If there’s trouble brewing, it could affect the whole class.”

Kael’s smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. “You’re right. I’ll back you up if you need it.”

Zavierra glanced back toward Arabella, who sat alone at her desk, staring blankly at her notebook. Something was clearly wrong, and Zavierra couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was more than just another attention-seeking stunt. Whatever it was, she intended to find out.

Later that evening, Zavierra and Kael walked together down a quiet street. They were on their way to a local café, their conversation light yet tinged with the camaraderie of long-time allies. The streetlights cast warm pools of light onto the pavement, creating a serene atmosphere—until they heard the sound of hurried footsteps and frantic shouting.

“Stop her!” a man’s voice yelled.

Zavierra and Kael turned toward the commotion, their eyes narrowing as they saw Arabella sprinting toward them, her face pale and panicked.

Behind her, five men gave chase, two of them wielding knives that glinted ominously under the streetlights.

“Arabella!” Zavierra called, stepping forward instinctively.

Arabella’s eyes widened in recognition, and she stumbled toward them, gasping. “Help me!”

Without hesitation, Zavierra and Kael moved into action. They stepped between Arabella and her pursuers, their stances firm and ready. Kael’s sharp gaze locked onto the men, his voice steady and commanding.

“Back off.”

One of the men sneered, brandishing his knife. “Stay out of this, kids. This doesn’t concern you.”

Kael smirked coldly. “Oh, but it does.”

The first attacker lunged, but Kael sidestepped smoothly, delivering a swift kick that sent the man sprawling. Zavierra, equally adept, disarmed another with a calculated twist of his wrist, sending his knife clattering to the ground. The remaining men hesitated, their confidence faltering in the face of their unexpected opponents.

“You’ve got one chance to leave,” Zavierra said, her voice low and sharp.

“Or we’ll make you regret staying.”

Despite their warning, the men regrouped, their persistence undeterred.

The fight resumed, with Zavierra and Kael moving in sync, their martial arts training evident in every calculated move. Arabella cowered behind them, her wide eyes filled with terror.

Just as the situation seemed poised to escalate further, the wail of police sirens cut through the night. The men froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. Moments later, a police car screeched to a halt nearby, and officers poured out, apprehending the attackers.

Zavierra and Kael stepped back, breathing heavily but unharmed. One of the officers approached them, his expression a mix of concern and admiration. “Are you kids okay?”

“We’re fine,” Zavierra said, her voice steady. “Arabella’s the one who needs help.”

Arabella nodded weakly, tears streaming down her face. She clutched her bag tightly as if it were her lifeline.

A familiar voice called out from the crowd that had begun to gather. “Zavierra! Kael!”

They turned to see Aiden running toward them, his face flushed. “Are you guys okay? I called the police when I saw what was happening.”

Zavierra gave him a small nod. “We’re fine. Thanks for calling.”

The four of them were taken to the police station to give their statements. Zavierra’s parents arrived shortly after, their concern evident as they spoke with the officers. Once the formalities were complete, they insisted on taking Zavierra and Kael home together, given their family connections.

As they prepared to leave, Aiden approached Zavierra. His usual puppy-like grin was replaced with a rare moment of earnestness. “You were incredible tonight,” he said, his voice soft. “Really cool.”

Zavierra blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. Before she could respond, Aiden turned on his heel, heading toward his parents’ car. He glanced back once, offering a small wave before disappearing into the night.

Zavierra stood still for a moment, her thoughts swirling. Tonight had been unexpected in more ways than one, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much larger.