I am pulled from my amazing dream by my phone buzzing. I groan as I try to get my bearings. Then I remember it's probably my mother.

Indeed, the screen flashes with our picture. It was taken on vacation in Italy a year ago in the summer, and we were going to lunch all dressed up and the Italian men kept calling us 'bella' and catcalling us in Italian they thought we didn't understand. It was amazing. We look so happy; she looks so healthy.

"Mommy." I answer

"Zazzy." Her voice comes weary on the other line and my heart sinks.

I blink back tears and I swallow. "How are you, mom?"

"I had a rough day yesterday, but I am better this morning."

She doesn't sound better.

"I am coming next week."

"No, my baby, stay in school, you will see me during winter break."

I don't want to argue with her, so I don't. But I make a note to book my ticket right after this call. School be damned, I have to see her. And lucky I will be 18 so I won't need my father to sign off on anything.

We talk about other things, and I tell her about the few people I'm meeting here, and I distract her with the celeb gossip. It has always been our thing. By the end of the call, I have heard her laugh a few times, albeit struggling but she did.

That propels me for the day, giving me the energy I need to keep the promise I made to her: to live life and be happy.

I book the flight and the hotel. When I finish, I shower, and I head down to the dining hall for breakfast.

Me and Simba walk together, and we stand in line to get our food as usual. Their table is empty, so I figure they aren't coming.

Me and Simba are talking about his new beau when darkness suddenly clouds me. Its Melisa and her minions. I had forgotten about them. And right then I remember, the guys are seeing them or used to. I'm not sure how official the relationships are but I used to see them flaunting each other around school.

"There she is. The whore." Frenchie speaks first with a too-tight ponytail that lifts her eyes making her looks exotic. But its Sunday morning and honestly there should be no need to torture one's skull on a Sunday. Her words don't even register to me as I roll my eyes and return my attention back to Simba.

"Look at us, you stupid bitch we are here to talk to you."

"I am ignoring you. Do you need me to spell that for you? Its I... G... N... O-"

I don't finish my sass when someone yanks me by my hair, and I tumble to the floor.

Fuck.

My reflexes snap into place when they throw a punch to my face, which I block. I kick Melisa who is in front of me as she attempts to straddle me. I yank Frenchie by her tight ponytail so she can let go of my hair and she screams in agony.

Serves you right, bitch.

"What the fuck are you doing?" a murderous voice break through the commotion as quick footsteps approach and in a split second, my attackers are sent flying and they land on their asses.

Strong hands lift me from the ground. My eyes are on Melisa as she struggles to breath when Leo grabs her throat. She tries to claw at him to no avail. Frenchie is also held down by Mason who is also pulling her tight ass ponytail and it looks painful. She also can't scream as she struggles to breath and has become red in the face.

I get snapped out of my trance when I realize they will fucking kill them if I don't intervene.

"Let them go." I say

"What the fuck do you bitches think you are doing?" Mason's voice comes out colder than I've ever heard it.

The other 2 girls are crying as they tremble looking at their friends, knowing they are next. Bas comes to my side to check my face, but I swat him.

"I said stop." I say a little louder this time. The air has gotten tense as everyone waits on bated breath. I move from Jose's arms, and I go to Mason first and I pry his hands from her. He lets go but his hands tremble. He is so angry, he is shaking. But I don't have time to soothe him just yet.

"Tatsu, please stop. You'll kill her."

Melisa's face is now purple, and her eyes are bugged out and tears are coming out. I pry his hands off her.

"If you ever even think of coming near her again, I will finish this." His voice is deadly before he lets her go. She gasps for air, and I pull them away.

We have to go.

Great, my breakfast is ruined.

We attracted so much attention, even the kitchen staff were watching. All of them are cowards for standing there and saying nothing. But I guess that speaks to the power the four have on this school. Not even the principal can touch them. But how could he. They are heirs to four of the strongest criminal organizations ruling half the country. That is a lot of power for anyone to have.

I take the keys from Jose, and I get in the driver's seat. They don't say anything as we get in the car. I drive out of the campus. The campus just feels too toxic for us right now. I hadn't realized how much I missed driving, but I do.

I had originally thought I'd drive to Charlotte, but I find myself joining the highway and just going. The air is still tense in the car. The radio is off.

Every now and then I chance a look at the ones in the back. Mason, Bas and Jose. Leo is just sitting calmly looking out the window, like there is something more interesting than the vast forest on either side.

I drive for 2 hours before I stop in St. Eden to fill up. I honestly don't know where I'm going but I know this isn't it. I pull in the gas station, and I park at a pump.

"Wait, we are still driving some more?" Jose asks with amusement

"Yeah. Fill up, I'll get snacks." I say as I open the door. They all open their doors, and we climb off.

I walk to the shop, and I pick snacks. Mason and Leo stay behind filling the car and Jose and Bas follow me. They follow me and not say anything. I notice the lady at the register eyes us weird. Then I realize why.

"You guys do realize that people think you kidnapped me, and you are guarding me so I don't run, right?" I pick bottles of water for us, and I throw them in the basket Jose is holding.

They grin. "If only they knew it's the other way around." Bas comments as he picks energy drinks

"So where are we going, Zaza?"

"I don't know, I just know we aren't there yet." I say with a shrug. They both grin.

"Well, lead us, my lady." Bas does a fake bow and I roll my eyes

We pay and we head to the car. I find Mason on the driver's seat when we come back. I school my face and come around.

I hear chuckling from the other and I see a smirk on Leo's face too as I round the car. I try to open the door but its locked. Mason rolls the window down.

"Mason, that's my chair."

"Not anymore, I'll drive, just tell me where we going."

"Mason." Is all I say, hoping he knows I'm not playing with his ass

He stares me down and I return my stare too. After minutes of no one backing down, Jose says. "Can you guys just finish romancing each other and let's get on this fucking road."

"Mason, just let her, man. Besides you don't even know where she's going."

"She'll direct."

I don't say anything. I unwrap the lollipop I had in my hand. He eyes it with suspicion but watches me.

"Mason, let's play for it." I say as I put the lolly in my mouth. His eyes flash with desire and I smirk.

"What game do you want to play?"

I pop the lolly in my mouth before I dart my tongue out to lick it.

"If you don't get turned on in 2 minutes, you can drive."

The whole car erupts in laughter.

"I think you just won that game, Zar." Bas says from the back

"Zara, that's not playing fair."

I tilt my head as I give him a devilish smile and I suck on the lollipop, challenge issued. I see the mood get intense in the car.

Mason grunts and opens the door. He adjusts his pants before he gives me a glare. I chuckle, victorious and I climb in.

I play some music before we start moving again. I pick up the highway and an hour later I know where we are going when I see the boards reading 'San Diego.'

I let Jose drive the rest of the way when I've decided. We are there in 2 more hours.

"Well, I didn't expect our day to end here." Bas breathes from the back

We all take in the beautiful city that is San Diego and Jose drives us to an eatery by the beach.

All of my direction goes out the window. We have no reservations, no clothes. This is going to be fun.

"So where to from here?" Mason asks when we exit the car.

"I don't know. I didn't plan this."

"You just drove us 5 hours from our school with no plan."

I turn with a glare. "You are the ones who almost killed those girls, we needed to be as far from that place as possible. I'm not in the mood for hallway snickering." His jaw ticks but I charge ahead of him, and I take Bas's hand.

We walk in a restaurant, and we get a table outside. It is now fully day, and we sit to have lunch.

The handsome waiter attends us with a big smile, and he gets nothing but glares when I smile at him back.

"I will have...um, lemon French toast with brioche, don't spare the berries or the cream. The syrup on the side, please." I smile at him, and he smiles nervously as he tries to seem unaffected by the glares. His face moves to Jose who isn't smiling at all. I want to roll my eyes. They are sons of dons, we get it, they don't have to be dicks.

"Give me the full American breakfast and make my bacon crispy." He places the menu down

"Give me the English breakfast but hold the cherry tomatoes." Bas says

"I'll have pancakes, bacon, eggs and a pickle." Leo says and I grimace. I hate pickles. Leo has always loved them, and I have always tried to get him to see the light. Once he lost a wager and I got him to stop eating them for a month. He was miserable.

"Are you thinking about that time you got him to stop eating them?" Bas chuckles

"Maybe I should do it again when I win against him." I smirk

They all chuckle.

"You really think you'll win? Against all four of us?"

"Yes." I smile

"I say let's get another deal on top of the original one." Leo says looking at me with a small smirk

I tilt my head. "I'm listening, Tatsu." I fold my arms

"A group deal. If you win all your games, you get to make us all do something together of your choosing. And if we all beat you, then we all get to decide what happens to you, in addition to whatever the individuals will make you do."

I see smirks all around. I know the smart thing to do will be to refuse but I can't help myself where they are concerned. Plus, we always have the best time when we take the challenges.