Prologue:
Michael's POV (point of view):-
It has been a while since I last stepped on to the sacred grounds that always called to me. Those sacred grounds being the city of Lahore. It wasn't the city in specific calling to me, it was a certain school.
I never liked being there. In that school. I felt like I was going through torture back than. I remember being so happy leaving Lahore but at the same time, I felt depressed for leaving my closest friends behind. It was indeed, Bittersweet.
None of that matters anymore. My family is shifting back to Lahore now due to the circumstances that surrounds my father's job. He is a Military veteran, now working as an officer in an E.U facility.
I wasn't perticularly happy to hear that we would be going back to that city, but a part of me was glad. I hadn't spoken to my friends in person for years, and I was ecstatic to meet them again. And plus, maybe the school isn't as bad as I thought for all these years. I did hear there was a reunion party going on at Scarsdale, and I think going there could reintroduce me to the life I left behind. In the end, I can only hope that everything goes smoothly.
I have been well aware of the fact that I'm no longer the same person I was back than. And if I'm being honest, I'm glad. I know if I saw the old me, I would have kicked his ass. And maybe he would have done the same.
Chapter 1:
Michael's POV:
As I stepped outside my car, I saw a relatively medium sized and open garden. Followed by a few steps, was a door. The door to our new house. I had been rather impatient about seeing my new place.
I stepped inside the house and looked around. It wasn't anything special, but I was quite impressed with the modern look it had. It was double story, and my room just so happen to be on the 2nd floor.
I slowly walked up the stairs, to my room. I opened the door and saw a room that was already furnished with furniture. The whole house was already furnished so it wasn't a surprise.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. "This is going to be your new room. Like it?". Ah, It was my father. "Yes, it is quite spacious and I like the furniture already."I replied to his question.
He smiled at me "Well that's good. Your mom is calling you downstairs. She needs some help with unpacking clothes". I replied "Alright than, I'll get on that."
After unpacking everything there was to unpack, I finally settled down in my room. It was 7pm and it had started to get dark. The reunion party is about a week away, after which I will join the school.
I had already told my friends about being in Lahore and rejoining Scarsdale. They seemed more enthusiastic then even me.
I opened up our group chat
GC (group chat):
Michael: I'm finally done. So what's up?
Ryyan: Nothing much. We are all pretty
excited for the reunion party.
Mary: yep! can't wait.
Dua: At least this year, it's gonna be an actual
reunion and not just a half-assed party.
Hamza: Sup niggas! Y'all doin good?
Michael: I suppose so, not alot of us are online
it seems. I'm kinda feeling tired. Im gonna rest a little. see you at the party. and good night.
Dua: well that ended quickly.
Ryyan: It did. I guess he's just tired. It is getting
late though.
Hamza: I guess. see u guys later.
In truth, I wasn't tired. I just didn't feel like communicating with anyone. And besides, it's not like everyone was online or anything.
I just couldn't stop thinking about how being in Scarsdale again would be like. Will it be as negative as before. Or had things improved. I guess I'll only know once I'm there.
With that, I fell asleep.
Main POV:
The next day wasn't anything special to Michael. However, it had been specially awful for a certain individual, Sarah Khurram. The girl already had a ton of problems on her plate, and the the group of girls surrounding her weren't making it any better.
"Hey I already told you. you ain't passing this corridor without giving us the fee!" the girl that seemed to be the head of the group shouted at Sarah.
"b-but there is n-no such rule.." she timidly countered.
"Listen here you bitch. I make the rules around here, got it" it was clear from the tone in her voice that she was enjoying this.
When Sarah didn't say anything, the girl slapped her across the face "it's rude to not reply. Didn't anyone teach you manners?"
Even than, Sarah stayed quite. She didn't know what to say.
"How dare you give me the silent treatment you little shit" the girl grabbed her by the collar.
Just as this happened, the girl's ally noticed a teacher coming there way. she quickly whispered it into the ear of her friend.
"tsk. I guess I'll take care of you some other time. Don't forget to pay up later!" she shoved Sarah on the ground and walked away with her group.
Tears were already coming down her pale face. 'How humiliating!' she thought as she ran away from the scene.
Things like this were starting to become normal to Sarah.
She had been bullied alot. And it didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon. Her parents didn't know, obviously. And she always preferred keeping it that way. She didn't have any friends, anyone to to turn to in her time of need.
She has always been shy, and the bullying had crushed her confidence and self esteem.
She would always tell herself that it's normal to experience this torment.
It really wasn't normal.
She found herself sitting on a bench at the park after school. She was completely absorbed into the book she was reading.
It was one of the things that she found comfort in.
She always had the hobby of reading books. She would always get lost inside a novel, forgetting all her problems.
This time around, she was reading a book about a boy that life didn't treat kindly.
She could easily relate to someone like that.
That's why she has been a fan of such tragic stories.
It wasn't just the bullies, most other things in her life were negative. She lost her sister at a young age, but that wound still hadn't healed.
The only thing in her life that never disappointed her was her parents. But the problem was, she couldn't share any of her problems with them.
Besides, she always did prefer to keep things to herself.
She went back home after the sun started to set. She was greeted by her father "Ah, Sarah. welcome back! How was school, dear?
Sarah forced a smile "It went well dad. I even got a A in Chemistry!"
All the enthusiasm in her voice was fake. She has used that fake tone god knows how many times, just so her parents don't worry about her.
"that's great! Go change and come downstairs for dinner. Your mother made your favorite pasta today!"
That did put a genuine smile on her face. Her parents have always tried to make her life better, and she couldn't be more thankful.
"Alright. I'll go change.."
She came back downstairs in more comfortable clothes and sat at the dinner table. "I heard you had a good day, and also aced a test. Good job!" her mother congratulated her.
"Thanks mom. The dinner smells amazing, by the way." She always did love her mother's cooking. She even learned a few recipes from her.
"I hope you like it, I made your favorite!"
She did like it, she always liked it.
She was enjoying her dinner, until her father noticed something "Sarah honey, why is your cheek swelled up?"
She was caught off guard with that question and found herself struggling a little to make an excuse. "Oh it's n-nothing at all! I just fell off uh some stairs..."
"Oh dear..please be more careful, okey?" her mother also noticed it.
"I will mom...I promise" she told both of them.
She quickly changed the topic after that.
That day, after dinner, she went to the bathroom to inspect her cheek.
It was a little swelled up, but nothing too bad considering he's was slapped really hard. It should be back to normal by tomorrow.
She did her homework, brushed her teeth, and finally played her head down on her pillow for some well deserved rest.
'Today was difficult..than again, which day isn't difficult' she thought to herself.
Even with being tired, she still had trouble falling asleep. Like always.
Main POV:
It was ten in the morning, when Hamza and Ahmad started working on their group project that had to be submitted right after school starts.
Both of them were not enthusiastic about the project, and just thought of it as a nuisance.
"Duuude! Why does this damn school expect us to to write a 20 page essay on somethin thats as boring as Overpopulation!" Hamza complained.
"It is what it is man. Lets just get this shit done before the deadline." At the very least, Ahmad was willing to complete the essay.
"There are only 3 days left tho!" Hamza complained again. "We'll have to bust our asses off to finish this till than!"
"Would you rather have an F on the project than?" Ahmad questioned.
Hamza just groaned in response.
"Look, I don't wanna do this either. But the party is in 3 days. And we can't miss this one. You know, cuz of Michael returning and all that." He said as he tried to reason with Hamza.
"Yeah yeah, I get it. Let's just get this over with man."
At 4pm, They finally decided to take a break.
"We'll do the rest tomorrow. My hands are so done.." Ahmad stated. "We have to go to the mall at 6 too."
"Fuckk I almost forgot. Remind me why we gotta go there?"
"Dua and ryyan invited us out to get clothes for the party, remember?" He reminded.
"I don't wanna go, I'm so tired..." Hamza whined. "I didn't wanna go in the first place man."
"She's gonna be really pissed." Ahmad warned. "And trust me, you don't wanna piss her off dude."
Hamza lets out an exaggerated sigh "Why she gotta abuse us man."
"Stop whining and get ready."
At 6:20
"Why the fuck are you guys so late?" Dua was, expected, pissed off. "We had to wait 20 whole minutes for you jackasses!"
"Sorry sorry! Please spare us lord Dua!" Hamza places his hands together dramatically.
"Oh don't be so dramatic. Just don't be late next time, okey?" Ryyan has always been very forgiving. And probably the only one that can easily put up with everyone's bullshit.
"Sorry man, We just ran into some technical difficulties.." Ahmad trailed off, making a quick excuse for their tardiness.
"tsk. Just like Ryyan said, don't be late next time. You guys are starting to make this a habit." Dua said, clearly annoyed.
It was no secret that both Ahmad and Hamza weren't the best when it came to being on time and not being late.
"Alright than, let's get going. We don't have all day, you know" Ryyan told them.
"Okey okey, Les go."
They went through several shops, looking for the right outfit. Well, only Dua was having trouble with finding the perfect outfit for herself, The rest already picked theirs a while ago.
"Please hurry Dua, my legs are killing me" Hamza said while stretching his legs slightly.
"Oh shut up and quit being a baby. I'm almost done." Dua stated.
She finally chose her outfit. It was a light green, fancy culotte dress.
Hamza's jaw dropped a little when he was that dress "You be wearin that!? Who you trynna impress girl?"
"Shut up! I'm not trying to impress anyone." Dua quickly dismissed it.
"You sure about that? I'm sure Michael would appreciate looking at you in that" Ahmad didn't know for sure, but he teased anyway.
Dua's face slightly turned pink. "How dare you accuse me of that Ahmad!"
"I didn't accuse you of anything though." Ahmad smirked at her.
He still wasn't sure if Dua had feelings for Michael, no one knew what she thought of him.
Michael and Dua were childhood friends,
so there was obviously speculation.
But she always denied so, no one thought much of it.
"Alright, calm down you too." Ryyan tried to ease the situation. "Lets head home now, it's getting late."
"Aight, imma see ya guys at the party than!" Hamza said while waving his hand.
"See you guys later and good night!" Ryyan waved back at them.
Hamza and Ahmad were neighbors, so headed towards their home together.
While walking back, Ahmad said "We still got that essay to complete man."
"Why did ya remind me nigga!"
Meanwhile:
"I heard he's coming back to Scarsdale. Not confirmed by concrete evidence, but there are rumors."
The Sheikh smiled "Make sure to give him a proper welcome than."