Unapproachable Horizon

Chapter 8: Whispers and Resolution

Arabella’s absence from school was met with an avalanche of rumors. It didn’t take long for the truth to surface: the men chasing her that day were loan sharks. Whispers spread that Arabella had borrowed money to maintain her “wealthy” image. Her attempts to reclaim her spotlight had spiraled out of control, leaving her family to deal with the fallout.

A week later, the class learned Arabella had been withdrawn from school. “Her mom can’t even afford the tuition anymore,” someone whispered. The room buzzed with speculation, ranging from pity to ridicule.

“She deserves it,” a voice muttered. “Lying to everyone like that. What did she think would happen?”

Zavierra sat silently, her pen hovering over her notebook. She could feel the weight of the words hanging in the air but chose not to intervene. Arabella’s actions had caused trouble for everyone. Maybe this was just karma catching up to her.

Kael leaned over during a break, his sharp yet friendly tone breaking Zavierra’s thoughts. “You’re really just going to let that slide?”

She looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Letting them bad-mouth her like that. It’s not like you to stay quiet.”

Zavierra’s gaze shifted to the desk. “She brought this on herself, Kael. You saw what happened. She lied to everyone, caused trouble for the class. Actions have consequences.”

Kael crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe. But letting them tear her down isn’t helping anyone. You’re the class president, Zavierra. People follow your lead.”

His words lingered even after he walked away, leaving Zavierra with a nagging sense of guilt.

During the next period, Aiden noticed the tension in the room. While he wasn’t one to jump into drama, he disliked the negativity hanging over the class.

“So, did anyone see the new posters for English Day?” he asked, his tone light. “I heard they’re doing a photojournalism competition again. Pretty exciting, right?”

The class shifted focus, some students immediately diving into a debate about their entries. The atmosphere lightened, and Zavierra found herself glancing at Aiden. His knack for diffusing situations without confrontation was something she hadn’t noticed before.

After school, Zavierra was packing up her things when Kael approached her, his usual confident demeanor replaced with a hint of unease.

“Hey,” he started, scratching the back of his neck. “I just wanted to say sorry. I think I might’ve been too harsh earlier. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

Zavierra looked up at him, her expression softening. “No, Kael. You were right. I wasn’t acting like myself. Letting them say those things wasn’t okay, no matter what Arabella did. I’m sorry for shutting you down earlier.”

Kael smiled faintly, the tension between them easing. “Guess we both had a moment, huh?”

Zavierra chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I guess we did.”

Without thinking, they pulled each other into a brief but heartfelt hug, the kind shared between close friends who understood each other deeply.

From a distance, Aiden stood by the school gate, watching them. He had been about to wave Zavierra goodbye but stopped when he saw the hug. A strange pang of jealousy stirred in his chest, though he couldn’t quite place why it bothered him so much.

He turned away, gripping the straps of his bag tightly, and muttered to himself, “Get it together, Anderson.”

As he walked toward his parents’ car, his mind was filled with thoughts of Zavierra and Kael. The image of their hug replayed over and over, leaving Aiden feeling both confused and strangely disappointed.

Later that evening, Zavierra sat at her desk, reviewing notes for the Gazette. A notification lit up her phone: a reminder from Kael about an article deadline. As she typed out her tasks, her thoughts drifted to Aiden. She hadn’t spoken to him much since the English Day event, but something about his quiet determination stuck in her mind.

Impulsively, she opened her messaging app and typed out a quick message to Aiden:

Zavierra: Hi. Are you free to discuss the layout for next week’s issue? I think we need more visuals for the front page.

Aiden’s reply came almost immediately:

Aiden: Hey! Yeah, I’m free. What do you need help with?

The speed of his response made Aiden wince as he stared at his screen. Too eager, he thought. Way too eager. He groaned and dropped his phone onto his bed, running a hand through his hair. "She’s going to think I’m desperate," he muttered to himself.

Zavierra, oblivious to Aiden’s internal panic, continued typing.

Zavierra: Just wanted your opinion on the images. Do you have time to take a few new ones tomorrow?

Aiden: Sure, I can do that. Any specific theme in mind?

Their conversation continued, professional and efficient, but as it wound down, Aiden hesitated before sending one last message.

Aiden: By the way, about earlier…

Zavierra blinked at her phone, puzzled.

Zavierra: What about earlier?

Aiden groaned, realizing he had to explain now. He quickly typed back:

Aiden: I mean, I saw you and Kael hugging after school. Are you two… dating?

Zavierra stared at the message, her eyes widening in surprise. It took her a moment to process before she burst out laughing, much to Aiden’s confusion.

Zavierra: No, Aiden, we’re not dating. Kael’s like a brother to me. That’s all.

Aiden felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he quickly typed back:

Aiden: Oh! Got it. Just wanted to clear that up.

He set his phone down, his cheeks burning. Zavierra shook her head with a small smile as she returned to her notes, unaware of the storm of emotions her response had stirred in Aiden’s chest.

Meanwhile, Zavierra leaned back in her chair, her overthinking kicking into high gear. She replayed her words to Aiden, wondering if she’d come across too formal, too detached. It’s just work, she told herself. Nothing more. But a tiny part of her wondered why Aiden’s name lingered in her thoughts longer than she cared to admit.

The next day at school, the atmosphere remained tense. Whispers about Arabella’s absence continued to circulate, but Zavierra was determined to refocus the class’s energy on their responsibilities. She addressed her classmates during homeroom, outlining their plans for the upcoming month and encouraging them to stay on track. Her composed demeanor earned nods of respect, but beneath her calm exterior, she couldn’t ignore the lingering tension.

Kael, as always, stood by her side, his sharp eyes scanning the room for any signs of unrest. Aiden watched from his seat, his camera resting on his desk. He couldn’t help but admire Zavierra’s poise, even as he grappled with his growing feelings for her.

As the day unfolded, Zavierra’s leadership continued to shine, but so did her inner doubts. She resolved to push through, one step at a time, knowing that her actions—however small—had the power to shape the future of their class and the Gazette.