Rebirth: Second Chance At Love, War

Chapter 3

PARTY TIME!

ZARA'S POV

My heels clicked real loud on the floors as I power walked through the halls. It felt like Mark was right on my tail no matter where I went. He just wouldn't quit with the begging and pleading. Enough was enough, I thought. Elena caught on quicker than him, giving me space with my anger. But Mark was dense as a brick, chasing after something that's long gone instead of seeing and understanding the person I had become.

Rounding a corner too fast, I crashed right into someone carrying an armful of papers. We both went down in a mess. Mark then shot me a worried look.

“Leave me alone” I cried out. It was only then that Mark decided to listen to me. I didn’t care about the shocked faces or pitying eyes around me. All that mattered was getting far from the bad stuff behind, with nothing holding me back any more.

I decided to go to the bathroom to clean myself up from the fall. As I was just leaving the bathroom, Susan called out from one of the stalls, sounding really bothered.

"Hey, whoever's out there. Think you can grab me a pad from the machine? Left mine in my bag at my desk like an idiot."

I couldn’t exactly say no, so I fed the metal box some change and took the pad that dropped. "Here you go," I said, passing it under the door.

Susan breathed easier when she took it. "Oh God, you're a lifesaver. Remind me to pay you back later, yeah?"

Flashing her a small smile, I waved it away. "You don’t have to. We have all been there." No matter what other messes I found myself in, the least I could do was help a colleague out with the normal ones.

After giving her space to fix up, I washed my hands and took a long look in the mirror. For a moment, the scared eyes looking back almost felt calm. Subsequently, it felt disgusted when a call from Elena came through.

“Zara, let’s go get lunch, it’s lunch break,” she said over the phone. Then I hung up after agreeing to her offer.

Elena and I held our food tray in our hands as we scoped for seats. A part of me was tensed up after recalling what went down last time in my previous life in this cafeteria. As we walked, I watched Elena out of the corner of my eye like a hawk. When I saw her start a fake trip, old muscle memory took over fastly.

I dodged neatly to the side, and - oh boy, was it a beautiful sight. Elena crashed right into Mark instead of me, dumping her whole tray on his body. I dropped my tray on a table next to me, wheezing, not from shock but pure joy of getting to flip the script.

Both of them just laid there sputtering while I pretended to care by snatching a napkin and handing it over to them. Then Elena gave me a questioning look mixed with anger and then she started whimpering out excuses at me, I just waved it away. Better to leave her sight before her crocodile tears really started flowing.

Girl couldn't take a hint though. She was now hot on Mark's heels next to blubber apologies. "I'm so sorry about your shirt, it was an accident I swear!"

His mother had spent good money on that crisp white tee, and it was ruined beyond repair for sure as it left huge stain of soup on it. But Mark, ever the diplomat, put on a smile. "Accidents happen, don't sweat it."

From the way his eyes were twitching, I could tell he was seething underneath that calm exterior. But boys will suffer any indignity to keep the peace, it seems.

“Yeah, accident happens” I added and with a secret wink for Mark, I left them to their lingering awkwardness. It was then Susan popped her head in to invite me out after work, I perked up immediately. But before I could reply, Elena leaned in and cut in sharply, "Sorry but Zara can't make it. We've got a school reunion tonight, remember?”

I knew fully well about the reunion, but I didn’t want to displease Elena just yet. I needed to be careful with her. Glancing apologetically at Susan, I chose my words carefully. "The reunion should be fun."

Elena smirked at Susan like the villain in an old cartoon while she stepped out with Mark.

Looking meaningfully at Susan after Elena flapped off in a tizzy, Susan gave me a curious look. I just chuckled. "I promised Elena I was going to go for our reunion, sorry about that”

As I joined Elena enroute the office, unhappy memories about my school’s reunion started creeping back in like a mist. How everyone had whispered and pointed at me that night, sneering at my "pathetic" outfit. I'd come home in tears, vowing never to attend again.

Well now fate had tossed me a second shot, and this time I aimed to stun. Turning to Elena, I said casually, "Remember that necklace you said would look perfect for me at the reunion?"

Her eyes lit up, whipping the piece from her purse with a flourish. "Make sure to look stunning!”

I smiled, admiring the glimmering gems. This would be just what I need to shine brightest of all. Let the haters choke on their jealousy while I bask beneath each compliment that was soon to be showered upon me.

Elena grinned, patting my arm. With playful chuckles, she said, "You're going to kill it with this neck piece! Just don’t overstep your boundaries. You don’t want to look more glamorous than me of course. I can already hear their gasps!" And gasp they would indeed, at how the girl they humiliated before had transformed into something they wouldn’t be able to get their eyes off of.

The night had finally arrived. I pulled up to the hall with nathan by my side, arm in arm, and tossed my head so my sleek new bob bounced just so. Stepping inside, I felt each and every pair of eyes lock onto me like spotlights. A hush fell as I sauntered up, glittering in smoky shadow and silk the color of sunset. At my throat, the necklace flashed its diamond teeth in a predatory grin.

I could practically taste their shock - so thick you could cut it with a knife! All those mocking smiles from years past now hung agape. Elena herself was too stunned to speak.

“Hello guys,” I smirked.