Chapter Seven – Temazepam, pt. 2

By now Scott, Ellen, and Jeremy had guided Zariah into the break room. Usually during this "time", Zariah was able to be secluded inside the comfort of her room in the past…but now that she needed this job to afford her newly rented apartment (same building as Ellen), taking up to a week off wasn't an option. Setting her down at one of the flimsy chairs in the middle of the room, the taller male scratched at the red dial phone upon his head…eyebrows raised in concern.

"W-What is going on here? Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah…..I'm just…I'm fine."

"Y-y-you don't s-s-seem fine…"

Jeremy piped in quietly, as Zariah gave a meek smile closing her blue orbs. Ellen let out a quick huff as she crossed her arms over her small bust and tapped her foot impatiently, irritated by her best friend's nonchalant attitude towards the issue at hand. Nobody noticed a certain purple man slip into the break room and head towards the cabinet as the dark haired female spoke up….

"No. She's NOT fine. Every month she needs a week off due to this. …Ughhhh, no! Not because of her period you fucking idiots, I see those looks you're giving me! It's something more complicated than that."

Scott and Jeremy both rubbed the back of their necks and blushed slightly as the three of them continued to converse, Zariah letting out a defeated sigh. Looking down at the floor, she didn't notice Vincent walking up to her with a cup in hand until he lowered himself in front of her. The female's face remained emotionless…mainly because she was past the point of exhaustion, however the pink blush that dusted across her face was more apparent than other times to the individual in front of her due to the paleness of her skin.

Zariah saw the shocked look in Vincent's white orbs for a mere second (most likely at her disturbing appearance) before they softened, and his usual grin played on his lips as he brushed his thumb across her blushing cheek softly. Her heart began to beat faster at the contact, no male besides her father had touched Zariah in a manner such as this. But for some reason….it seemed all too familiar….

"Oi! Grape, what do you think you're doing!?"

Both Vincent and Zariah turned their gazes towards Ellen, who was coming over with a disgruntled look on her face, Scott following close behind as Jeremy gave the exhausted girl one last look/wave before returning out to the pizzeria floor to continue working.

"Well hello to you too~"

Vincent purred as he stood up to face the other male and female in the room. Ellen, whose hands found their way to her hips, raised an eyebrow and noted the tea cup in Vincent's hand. Pointing towards it, she spoke in a questioning tone.

"What is that?"

"Oh this? Well, in most countries, people recognize this as a tea cup."

"No shit Sherlock, what are you doing with it?!"

"Just offering the poor girl here a drink of tea…just something to help ease her mind. Is that a crime?"

Ellen huffed and started to retort, but the phone guy intervened and gave Vincent a thumbs up…much to the darker haired female's dislike.

"I-I think that's a splendid idea! What can it hurt, Ellie? It's not like he drugged it! Heh heh…."

Ellen shot Scott a death glare, which caused him to gasp slightly and back away from his female companion with hands up as if saying, 'Please don't kill me!'; a sweat drop forming on the back of Vincent and Zariah's head. Guess they know who is in charge in their "secret" relationship….. although it wasn't much of a secret anymore.

While the two lovers bickered, Vincent pulled a chair besides the blonde female and sat down, extending the tea cup out towards her. Taking it from his hands, Zariah examined it by instinct….it seemed to be fine. Glancing her blue eyes up into the male's own white ones, Vincent noted her apprehension and offered a soft grin while nodding towards it.

"Drink up, little finch. This'll help you feel better, I promise~. Just make sure to drink it all."

Blushing again at the male's nickname (which she assumed he used on most females) towards her, Zariah offered a meek "Thank you" before drinking the tea down completely. Mmm, Green Tea with honey…Zariah's favorite. Wait: how did he know that was her favorite tea? Setting the cup down on the table, she licked her bottom lip and offered Vincent another smile as he continued to stare at her. Ellen and Scott continued to squabble in the background.

"What….what are you doing here today…?"

Zariah shyly asked Vincent, who's grin stretched wider as he took the female's small hand in his larger one.

"Why, to see you my dear. You're all I ever think about lately, and-"

"Oh give me a fucking break Romeo wanna-be. You were here with your shitty ass girlfriend, don't even try to lie!"

Vincent's head snapped in Ellen's direction as he spat viciously.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Oh really?! Then why was she hanging all over you, hmm?"

Zariah blinked as the two glared daggers at each other (poor Scott in the background, just standing there unsure of what to do XD) and Vincent's gripe on the female's hand began to tighten slightly. Letting out a small whimper, he quickly focused back on Zariah and noticed what he was doing. Much to her surprise, Vincent gave an apologetic look as he mouthed "I'm sorry." before standing up to confront Ellen again.

"Scotty boy~! I suggest you get ahold of your girlfriend here before I decide to not be so friendly anymore…"

"Pffft. I don't need him to protect me from you, you purple nuisance. I'm not afraid of you!"

"Oh dear Ellen, you have no idea of what I'm capable of doing…... and you should be very afraid."

Hearing Vincent's dark tone of voice, and before giving the female a chance to fire back, Scott quickly pulled Ellen back towards him and let out a couple nervous laughs. Ellen clenched her teeth and balled her fist up as Vincent smirked at her in triumph. Oh if only she had the opportunity to knock that shit right off his face…

Suddenly a loud 'THUMP' made everyone (minus Vincent) jump at the sudden noise. Ellen's eyes slowly looked in the direction of her best friend, about to ask her if she too had heard the noise. When her eyes fell on Zariah, a look of horror came across her face as she advanced towards her friend…. hand outstretched as her eyes widened.

"Z-zariah…?"

Still sitting in the chair, Zariah's head was now face down on the table as her arms lay limp at her side and she appeared at first glance, to not be breathing. Feeling her throat tighten, Ellen turned her attention on Vincent, who seemed to not be phased whatsoever as Scott ran besides Zariah and began shaking her lightly.

"What….WHAT DID YOU PUT IN HER DRINK YOU BASTARD?!"

Ellen couldn't control herself as she rushed over towards the purple male and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, tears filling her eyes at the state her best friend was currently in. She knew, just knew he had done something to that drink, but she let Zariah drink it anyway. Angry tears threatened to spill as Ellen gritted her teeth and her grip tightened as Vincent just grinned at the distraught female.

"ANSWER ME!"

"I gave her Temazepam to help her sleep."

"….you what...?"

"I saidddd, I gave her Temazepam to help her sleep….it's a common medication for insomnia."

Silence filled the room as a few tears dropped out of Ellen's dark orbs that stared hatefully into Vincent's white ones, Scott in the background speaking up as he stood beside Zariah.

"She's alright Ellie…. she's just…. asleep."

Ellen slowly let go of Vincent's shirt as she backed up and turned towards Zariah…noticing now the gentle rise and fall of her back as she slept peacefully. She felt a hand reach out and wipe the tears that had escaped and flinched slightly realizing that it belonged to Vincent. Giving her a grin, the male pulled out a pill bottle from his pockets and placed them in the girl's hand.

"W-why….why are you helping her?"

Ellen felt herself ask gently as Vincent walked over towards the sleeping female and offered a shrug in response. Standing over Zariah, Vincent towered over her with his hands in his pockets before speaking darkly.

"I know how it feels….to be taunted by the demons of your past. No one, especially a woman like Zariah, should have to suffer."

Scott and Ellen were shocked at the sudden somber atmosphere Vincent created with his words, as he ran his fingers through his lilac locks. Then as quick as the seriousness came, his old demeanor returned as he grinned towards the two others.

"Now, I'll need to know her address so I can take the little cutie home to rest! Ohhhhh, maybe I'll be able to go through her underwear drawer, hehehe~!"

"H-hey, no way you pervert! You're not going to find out where she lives!"

'Back to his old self' Scott thought as Ellen shot daggers at the abnormal male who continued to grin. Scott placed a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder, causing her to whip her head in his direction with harsh eyes. Realizing who it was, her eyes softened as she looked at him with a 'back me up here' look.

"W-well…Ellen, I hate to say this, but Vincent kinda has a point. Zariah shouldn't be sleeping here, boss will have a cow. Besides….we have to get back to work, and he has the day off…..so it only makes sense for him to take her home. …..Minus the looking through her underwear part, that part is a big no-no."

"What?! Scott, you can't be serious right now?!"

Scott offered a sheepish laugh as he shrugged his shoulders, Vincent scooping the sleeping female in his arms. Ellen knew Scott was right, they were at work and she didn't want Zariah getting fired. Sighing in an irritable tone, Ellen gave Vincent the address & number to their apartment building…threatening harm if anything were to happen to Zariah while he was there.

"Oh, and while you're at it, might as well stay until I get off work. Someone needs to be there when Stella gets home from school."

Blinking a few times, Vincent tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow in curiosity towards Ellen as they walked out towards his car, gently laying Zariah down in the back and covering her with his security guard jacket that was left in there.

"Stella? Who's Stella?"

"Ughhh, her little sister! Just try not to freak the poor kid out okay?! And don't you dare lay a finger on Zariah or so help me God…."

Vincent rolled his white eyes and held his hands up, smirking and making his way towards the driver's side.

"Okay okay, I got it. You have nothing to worry about~"

Ellen rolled her own eyes as she gave Vincent her number, just in case something were to happen and watched as the purple man backed out of the parking lot and drove away with her best friend…..a deep frown on her lips.

'I really hope I didn't just make a huge mistake.'