"Are you crying?" My best friend, Rhea, asked me the moment I sat beside her in the school bus.

"No. Something got into my eye." I wiped my eyes, trying so hard to stifle a snort.

Rhea frowned. "He didn't show up again."

I couldn't hide what I felt anymore. Rhea knew me so well. I was so hurt, and the tears that I'd been holding since I left the theatre started to fall like raindrops.

"He's a jerk. I thought he's a nice charming guy. I don't like him for you anymore—my rating for him totally dropped to 90%! You shouldn't have waited for him today. He stood you up three times already... I told you, Claire, but you wouldn't listen. That heart of yours is stupid. You shouldn't listen to it." Rhea was rattling now, never stopping until we arrived at the bus station to get out. "You know what? Izzy is a nice guy. I don't understand why you don't like him."

"I don't understand either." I stood up hugging my heavy backpack.

"Maybe you need to give him a chance." Rhea suggested.

That made me stop in my tracks and think about it. She could be right. It would be the only way to get Zion out of my system. I needed to open my heart and pull that handsome dewy-eyed boy out.

I thought of Izzy. He was a very handsome, caring, and romantic type of guy. I remembered the love letters and poems he gave me that I read in a haste. Maybe I should read those again when I get home. But when I thought of Izzy's pick up lines again, it made me cringe. He had the corniest pick up lines and no originality. Like last week when I was in the canteen waiting in a queue, he appeared behind me and asked.

"Are you from Tennessee?"

"No. Why?" I asked him back.

"Because you're the only teen-I-wanna-see." He said with a wink.

I didn't know how to react. I felt the heat stealing my face. I was the one who got so embarrassed.

Israel Yasin or Izzy was my schoolmate in grade school and still was in Riverview High School. Along with Zion, Harry, and the other kids in the zone area.

Izzy courted me since we were in seventh grade. I didn't encourage him. I told him honestly that we were still too young to engage in a relationship. Besides, I saw him as a friend only. He stopped pursuing me every time he had a girlfriend. But as soon as he became single, he came back to courting me again. It became a routine.

I arrived home and went directly to the basement. Since Ashley took my bedroom, I transferred to the basement, bringing my stuff and my mom's. It became my haven.

I had all the things I wanted here. Aside from my clothes, shoes, and school stuff, I had a cabinet full of romantic novels— my mom's collection. I also had a jigsaw puzzle, Bluetooth speaker, laptop, headphones, and my old Canon camera. All of these kept me occupied whenever I didn't have anything to do in the house.

I went directly to my bedroom, located at the corner of the basement. I put my maroon backpack on top of my study table and sprung myself to bed tiredly.

I felt so emotionally drained. I was not the type who cries easily. I learned to toughen myself up when my mom died. But today, I couldn't help it. I was so upset and disappointed... heartbroken. What Zion did, ditching me three times, made me feel so small, like I was a nobody. It really hurt... because it was true.

I stared at the dreamcatcher dangling from the ceiling just above my head. My mom gave it to me. She said it would protect me from bad dreams and nightmares. But why does reality feels like a bad dream that won't allow me to wake up? I lost my mom. I lost my dad. And now, I'm all alone.

I'm lonely. I'm so lonely right now. I wish my mom is here to comfort me. I remember it's her birthday next week, and I'm going to visit her grave. Oh... I miss her so badly. I long for her comforting words, telling me that everything will be fine... her hugs, kisses, and soft caresses until I fall asleep. It's sad that no one's here for me now.

"What's the problem, Zion? You still can't memorize your line. You didn't show up in your rehearsals with Claire." Miss Robinson's facial expression was clouded with anger. I looked at Claire who was sitting across me. Her whole face was totally covered by the script. I couldn't see her expression from my angle.

"But, Miss..." I tried to butt in.

"I'm trying to help you improve your grades, but you're not helping yourself. Your mom even talked to me about it."

"She did?"

"Yeah. She came here the other day. We talked about your grade and how you'll recover it. She was thankful that you'll be joining the play." She shook her head disappointedly. "Just tell your mom that we can't take you anymore."

"What?" What the hell is she talking about? Just because I haven't memorized the lines, I'm out already? It was not a proper rehearsal yet with Claire, for God's sake. Miss Robinson was an impossible woman. I wanted to tell her that I planned on memorizing my lines during the holiday break. My Aunt Sapphire could help me with that.

"You leave me no choice but to replace you. You are not exerting much effort for the play."

"No, Miss... Please. I'll do it."

"Sorry, Zion. You wasted too much of our time already." She put the script inside her folder and continued. "You have to study very hard though and aim for excellence in your English exams to cope up with your failing grade. If you don't do well, then I can't help you anymore. You have to repeat the subject."

No way! My dad would have me grounded. It would be the end of my teenage life! This is not happening. It will be embarrassing if I don't graduate this year.

"Oh no... I'm so sorry, miss." I said apologetically. Begging for another chance. But she ignored me.

"Claire, we have to move the date for a week or two. We have to wait for Cameron to recover." Miss Robinson focused her attention to Claire again.

Cameron? There was no other Cameron in school but the son of our principal. Cameron Talbot. The douchebag who flirted with Maddie. The thought of them kissing in the men's toilet lingered in my mind.

"Please give me one last chance." I begged again. "I promise to put my heart and soul into it."

"Enough, Zion. We're done with this." Miss Robinson stood up holding her folder. "That's my final decision."

"I'll do anything, Miss Robinson. I'll practice every day. I promise... I'll make it so good. I'll do the best that I can." I followed her to the door.

"It's over." She said and opened the door.

"No, miss. It's not over. I'll prove it to you."

She heaved a long sigh. "It's up to you, Zion. But right now I'm considering Cameron. He'll be back after the holiday break, just in time for the stage rehearsal."

"I'll be ready, miss. I'll impress you."

She shrugged her shoulders. "We'll see."

I was relieved and shouted "Yes" when Miss Robinson left. At least there was still hope of playing the role of Romeo. I would do my best to impress her.

I saw Claire stand up and sling her backpack on her shoulders.

"Where are you going?" I asked her.

Her eyes widened with pretentious innocence. Like she had no idea of what I was asking her about. "Home." She answered.

"You can't go home yet. We have to practice."

"We? Or you mean YOU have to practice." Her eyebrows rose a fraction.

She was upset with me. She was playing hard to get now.

"I need your help. I can't do it alone." I lowered my voice, trying to imitate Flynn Rider by putting on a pout to charm her. It worked on girls, I was sure it would work on Claire, too.

One of her eyebrows rose then she lifted her chin up. "Sorry, I cant. It's my mom's birthday."

"What about tomorrow? I'll see you at the theatre, same time?" I managed to ask before she opened the door to leave.

"I'm not sure... " She replied.

I opened the door wide and went out before she could. "Okay. I'll see you then."

***

The following day, Claire did not show up. She ditched me.