And Then There Was Zeba

The famed new student of Saint Victor’s was an elusive one indeed. And rather infamous already on his first day. Apparently, he had a criminal record, his father was an alcoholic who had succumbed to liver cancer and his mother had ran away when he was very young. When he was six. “It always happens to the six year olds, doesn’t it?” Aaron sighed, as he sat with Zeba Farooqi, the daughter of the infamous AP Physics 2 teacher, Mrs. Farooqi, in ninth period English.

Troy turned to where the duo sat and watched them. It was another class that the trio had together, and a popular one. People who often had free periods or study halls came to just be able to say that they were classmates with celebrities. Wonderful Genevieve and Aaron’s only other best friend, away from Talia and himself, wicked Zeba also were part of this class.

Sometimes, Aaron wondered if the group of friends he had, when he had gotten stuck in the game, if they all had stayed, would they be the best of friends? Whenever Troy asked about a possible future, Aaron would always say the same thing. “Well, for certain, I, Mei, and you guys, the Minora siblings wouldn’t be anything like we are now. We’d be simple townsfolk from sometown in the middle of nowhere.”

The name had been outlawed in the household Mei run and Aaron had forgotten his birthplace. Mei had run away and took Aaron with her. She didn’t want to look back. And with Aaron not wanting to go back, nothing made her go back.

“I know, right? But anyway, I’ve heard that blondie is actually gonna be present in class today. Coming in during the last period of school, who does he think he is?” From hearing her talk, you’d think that she was some psycho who thought she was something special. In truth, she was. In the entire grade, the only people with an ego to match the size of Genevieve or Talia was Zeba. She was enough of a threat to the two of them that they often teamed up against Zeba to bring her down a level, which, between Aaron and Troy, never seemed to work.

But Zeba wasn’t necessarily involved with any sort of school drama. She wasn’t in the in-crowd, which surrounded the trio, didn’t have a group of friends, and took part in no club activities, though there are rumors that someone signed her up for student body president. Apparently, she won, without her being aware of it. But those are rumors, false ones to be honest. Nothing goes on in the celebrity town of Mirror Cove, where all of the world came to see famous celebrities in their daily lives, without Zeba Farooqi knowing.

Zeba was pretty much off the radar, unless if someone wanted information, for a price, or if Genevieve and Talia pulled her into it. Today, Genevieve let her off the hook, or the closest to it. “Losers! Lemme guess what you’re doing right now; Calculating the size of the know universe?” She cackled, as she walked past to where Troy sat.

Zeba rolled her eyes, and turned back to discussing the new and elusive student. “I’m not the one who’s dating for the popularity, Genevieve~” Aaron would have retorted, at least Troy seemed to think so. The words were caught in his ever smiling face, but Zeba shut him up, poking his spine.

“Aaron, ignore her” Zeba said, glaring at Troy, who blushed in embarrassment as Genevieve sat next to him.

It was hard to ignore the duo, as Troy was sitting only a table away. Genevieve touched his cheek lovingly and smiled “Don’t pay attention to those weirdos. You’re much better off here with me. And with Talia gone, you don’t have to worry about her being a third wheel” Troy gulped. Class hadn’t started yet, who knew what Genevieve could do. Everyone would just quietly file out of the room, to give them unwanted ‘privacy’. But then, Aaron would be there still, watching, probably with popcorn, and so would Zeba, enjoying his misery, as he tried to escape Genevieve’s love.

He looked over to plead with his eyes for help, but the traitors were laughing, rolling on the ground, clutching their stomachs. “Troy~!” Genevieve whined. To be honest, Troy loved Genevieve. But she scared him at times, as the most popular girl in school, after Talia. “Ignore them, let them be their oh-so-smart selves and figure out the approximate size of the visible universe. If you’re so great tell me the size of the universe, within ten seconds. Or has the broker lost her touch?”

That had got to struck a nerve. Zeba was a woman of knowledge and wisdom. And, as said before, an information broker. Most of all, she held her pride over everything else in this world, well maybe after her parents. But there was no way she could calculate the entire size of the universe within ten seconds, no matter how smart she was.

The dark skinned girl continued her chatter with Aaron, as Genevieve provoked her. “Come on! Give me an answer!”

“Neive! That’s-!” Troy was cut off, as a simple number rang through the room.

“96 sextillion light years”

“What?” Genevieve asked, turning her head.

Zeba stood up and faced the couple, giving them a monotone look, but speaking in a matter-of-fact way. “The size of the observable universe is 96 sextillion lights years by diameter.” Genevieve blinked as Troy hid his face in shame. “You asked me for the size of the observable universe, without asking for anything specific, within ten seconds. I believe I answered that in 5.74520 seconds”

Genevieve hissed in embarrassment. “Anyone could’ve figured that out” Troy pulled his beloved down into the seat next to him, before Zeba could say anything else that could embarrass his Neive any further. It really ruffled his feathers to see someone disrespect her so much.

Genevieve started to boast about her new handbag as Troy trained his eyes and ears over the duo talking. It annoyed him, that Talia's best friend was this chummy with someone else as well, but he didn't know what had happened in the three years before Aaron had been reunited with them. As far as he knew, Zeba had been there with the Carpenter siblings for those years and has been with them since.

Black hair, like coal, and sharp features on dark skin, like those edible barks, compared to the doe-like features, cream-colored skin, and chocolate colored hair of Genevieve. Ugh, so many food comparisons. Well, it was to be expected, he'd been living off of instant noodles and pizza for a good week now.

“Blondie used to be a model, until scandals about him getting into fights ruined him.”

“Zeba, why are you so dead set that the guy'll be blonde?” Aaron asked.

“Are you doubting me? Ms. Malafount is late today, isn't she?” Zeba asked, before continuing with a long list of questions, completely unrelated to any and everything their conversation had previously been about, including; Why do we always see monsters eat, but never see them drink any water?

The handle to the door rattled as the students all quieted down, even Genevieve. Ms. Malafount stepped in with all her fun-sized glory, kind and young smile, engagement ring glinting proudly on her ring finger. She was only a couple of years older than Kristen, but was much more successful, in love, he meant. She cleared her throat and even Zeba shut up.

“Okay, class, as you all know, we have a new student. After all day of interviews and conferences, finally, he has graced us with his presence and will attend his class. Our very own celebrity, Felix Ross!” With her tone, it was impossible to not clap, as no one entered the room. He could see Zeba scoff as she pinched Aaron's cheeks. Aaron's eyes had widened as gears turned in his head. Troy could see them. “An angel fallen from heaven, that one. Nothing shines from a fallen star” She said. She mumbled something else as well, but Troy was too far to hear it.

The woman waited for a moment, until she walked out and dragged a blonde by the ear. Unsurprisingly, Zeba was right. A tall blonde young man was dragged in by Malafount's inhuman strength. Of course, like Aaron, he was taller than Troy, who was shorter than the average male height, reaching about 5 feet and 7 inches with Talia, barely.

“Don't worry, Troy. One guy taller than you isn't going to turn your title as the best looking guy at the academy” Genevieve consoled. It was a stupid reason to feel self conscious. She noticed things no one else could, after, of course, Talia and Aaron. But this was why he loved her, or at least he thinks he does.

“Oi! Sister Complex! Shut up with your internal monologue!” Zeba’s voice came from the pair of desks next to him. He blushed. Did he really blurt out everything he just thought out loud? He whipped his head to where Genevieve sat next to him, but nothing seemed out of place. Then again, Genevieve was oblivious to many things, and was probably looking for ways on how to ruin the new guy’s life.

Aaron cackled, a lot like Mei, as Troy glared at the young woman. She stuck her tongue out, but nothing was out of place, as Malafount whipped her head over to the bickering pair. “Mr. Minora, if you have so much time as to ogle at Miss Zeba, then you can show Mr. Felix around the school after school, no?” Troy nodded as Felix took a seat next to where Talia would sit, if she wasn’t cutting again. “Miss Minora isn’t here again?” The woman sighed, before starting class.

~~~~

Troy left the teacher’s lounge, blinking as the harsh afternoon rays hit his eyes. Harsh, only because of the rainstorm about to hit. Felix followed in suit. They turned to each other. Might as well make a proper introduction before Genevieve and Talia ruin this kid’s life. The new kid smiled and introduced himself. “My name is Felix Ross. You’ve probably heard rumors about me” He looked down sheepishly. What exactly had this kid gone through?

“I’m Troy Minora. Despite my looks, I’m a guy. If you see a female around the school, that’s my twin sister” He gave a charming smile, in attempts to seem nice. Felix Ross. The name was familiar, like resting on the tip of his tongue.

“Oi! Sister Complex! Stop smiling. You’re creeping the poor kid out!” A high pitched voice snapped and Troy felt his high spirits drop. “Come on~! Introduce me~!”

He sighed and gestured to the female that stood beside him “And this is Zeba.”

She turned her head towards the male and looked at him with the deadest eyes he had ever seen. “I feel offended.” Zeba straightened herself out, and walked closer to the male, keeping a respectable distance away. “My name is Zeba Farooqi. Not ZII-ba. Zey-ba.” She pulled out a card from her breast pocket and handed it to the male. “Here’s my business card. Give me a call if you need anything” She gave a smile and Troy felt his heart skip a beat. It was truly frightening how she could conduct such shady business on school grounds without getting caught.

But much enforcement couldn’t be put on her, seeing how even the superintendent had paid the price for information. Zeba was the true, evil, force ruling the school system of Mirror Cove.

She was like the final boss in a game that no one ever managed to beat because the boss knew everything about the hero that was coming to defeat it. The Demon King! Well, Queen, but the point was clear. The only catch was that no hero, no matter how corrupt, ever managed to beat this Demon Queen. People barely acknowledged her existence. He looked at her and sighed. “Zeba, why are you here?”

“Miss Malafount told me to keep an eye on you~ Who knows what such a Lover’s Boy and Sister Complex would do to this poor newbie at the orders of his beloveds?” She answered as Felix took the card. His eyes flashed back and forth between Troy and Zeba as they continued their banter.

“Don’t you have some library or archives to haunt? Or some poor princess to curse?”

“For starters, I’m muslim. I don’t dabble in that sort of thing.” The religion excuse. The reason she never got within six inches of a guy, never held a relationship, didn’t dabble in any sort of western fashion trends, wearing nothing shorter than sleeves that went past her elbows. She stayed out of inappropriate jokes, vulgar conversations, and the like. Always leaving class to pray. Troy wondered what it says in the Quran about her broker activities. He doubted that they were allowed “Second, my ancient manuscripts have not been mailed into my private library yet”

Felix’s eyes popped wide open “You have a private library?”

“Of course! There are two libraries in town. The larger and grander one belongs to me.” She replied smugly, whipping her hip-length hair behind her back. It whipped him square in the face, and in no way did she seem sorry for it.

Now, that library was a work of art in itself. It was the largest structure in the town, even bigger than Town Hall or Saint Vic’s Academy, with seven above-ground levels, three below ground levels, all sharing one ceiling which was a planetarium, spiraling staircases, red velvet carpets, and plush chairs and desks, fully equipped with quills and ink pots. It’s top floor was an observatory with an intergalactic telescope. It was something completely out of this century, out of this world.

They started walking, Zeba in the lead, humming away and spinning like some sort of princess. Ah, the perks of not being in the spotlight. Felix took in the sights of the school, awestruck face ready for anything that was out of the norm or exclusive to Saint Vic’s.

Zeba stumbled and fell. Felix blinked and started to make his way towards her, but she stood and continued on like nothing had happened. “Why didn’t you move to help her?” He questioned as Troy caught up.

“It’s better to not get involved with her” He said, shrugging, eyes trained on the wolf in sheep’s clothing. “If something doesn’t go her way or for the right price, she’ll ruin your entire life within the blink of an eye!”

Felix’s face scrunched up in an emotion. Troy couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Was it disgust? Fear? Nostalgia? Troy remembered that same expression from ten years ago. A kid that held the same exact expression as Felix. What was his name? “How can you say that?” He asked.

“What?”

“How can you say not to get involved with someone who spent a year, in a videogame of all things, with us?” With us? Gears turned. Memories played back, matching expressions with people. From the corner of his eye, he felt Zeba give a devilish smirk. So. This was the Felix Ross. The child who was stuck in a virtual reality game for a year, along with Talia, Aaron, Zeba, Mei, and Kristen.

“So it is you~!” Zeba gushed and clapped, prancing to and fro. Troy deadpanned at her feigned surprised attitude.

“Stop acting like you didn’t know who he was. You knew the hair color of the new guy before we even knew we were having a new student!” He snapped. Oh, if anyone found out he knew the infamous new student, his social life would be over.x3 If rumors that he knew a criminal spread out to the media, his career would be over and he’d be an outcast of even the outcast society for falling from stardom!

Felix and Zeba chatted as if ten hadn’t passed from the last time they had seen each other and were the same little six-year-olds. But things had definitely changed, and Zeba’s attitude was especially glaring at that fact. From an outsider’s point of view, Troy had never noticed how Zeba treated them. She liked Felix but there was a respectable distance. A noticeable distance. From her sentences to her tone of voice.

Was that how she treated him, a male who she didn’t like? She was only ever touchy with Aaron, but that had something to do with Aaron being nursed by her mother once, so in Islamic terms, that made him her brother or rada brother. Troy didn’t get it. But it was odd to see it in person. He also noticed how Felix would keep a respectable distance as well. Oh, people were so well versed in religions and customs of even others. And then there was him.

As they talked, Troy was surprised to see that Felix had yet not fallen victim to the fear and tyranny of Zeba Farooqi. Maybe it was just him, then. Most people ignored her, and never got involved, but no matter how much he chose to avoid her, Zeba had a way of making her way into his life and burning everything from the ground up.

They passed a duo of boys, one of them had almost had a too-intimate encounter with a broom. They laughed at the possibilities of broom-rape. It was hilarious to hear them. Felix had even gotten in some chuckles out, like a good-natured sport and the duo laughed with him. He noticed Zeba quickened her pace, frowning a bit. She never took part in these sort of conversations. Never, unless if she was talking directly to Troy.

“Oh! We need to get you to meet Brother Complex and Aaron! Mei baji and Kristen appi too! Ooooh! And Sister Complex’s girlfriend Genevieve! She’s a real piece of work!” She cried as the tour ended an hour later. Troy couldn’t help but think about what she thought of herself. Troy did most of the explaining as Felix and Zeba caught up. It was almost dark now, despite it being early afternoon, due to the rain storm about to hit. “Now, off you go!” What was she thinking?! Getting Felix reintroduced to Talia and Genevieve. Was she planning an early funeral for the young man?

“Uh, sure” He smiled once again. He was trying to be polite, trying to escape her wrath. Troy was sure of it. No one could actually want to be polite to that demon spawn, right? “My aunt’s here now, so I guess I’ll get going” He said, before jogging away from the gates of the school. The duo waved until he was out of sight until Troy had enough of Zeba’s blabbering. Not exactly the best idea.

“What the hell was that?!? Are you trying to give him an early death?!” He exploded to the female who just smiled and placed her finger over her chapped lips. She was planning something. He could never say she knew something, she always did. But she was planning something.

She headed out too, paying no mind to the clouds as they thundered. And then they poured. He watched as she made her way back, hair so drenched, it seemed to be weighing her down. She placed a key in his hand and said; “Drive me home. I’m wet”

“What?! After that stunt you pulled?!” He cried, pushing his hair behind his ears. Maybe she'd get the hint and push her forest of hair out of her face too. “And you'll get my car wet!”

“Huh?!” She questioned. Her voice, that of a delinquent, didn't match her appearance, that of a ghost. He worried for his life.

“And I also promised to take Neive out on a date…” He whispered, dejectedly, but regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth. Zeba laughed as if it’s the funniest thing in the world, her guffaws could be heard from Pluto, he was sure of it. She wiped tears from her eyes as she calmed down a bit.

“Sorry to rain on your parade, but it’s raining cats and dogs outside” He could see her trying to hold the laughter in. He was almost tempted to slap her. He would’ve if she wasn’t female or Aaron’s only actual friend that didn’t call him their sister (She called him her brother). Or maybe, if she wasn’t Zeba Farooqi.

“What are you guys gonna do in this weather? Cuddle up under blankets? Sorry to burst your bubble, but are you sure that’s safe for you?” She cackled once more. Troy blushed deep red at her suggestion. Was he the only person she ruined like this on a daily basis? Was he the only person who she thought had the time of day to deal with her?

“Yes, yes I do” She said in a matter of fact voice. He looked at her confused until she said. “You were monologuing again. It’s a bad habit, you know? I’m pretty sure Talia and Aaron have said that it doesn’t fit your character.”

“And what exactly is my character?” He knew the answer to that. They start walking to the parking lot, or at least Troy walked. Zeba pranced around despite not being given a proper answer. She never asked.

She seemed to give it some thought. “You’re the pretty-boy villain who doesn’t look like he amounts to much, is classified as a sadist, and turns out to be the love interest.” His head drooped. This was even worse than Talia and Aaron’s response to him.

“Well, you aren’t exactly the protagonist either” He blurted out. Being with this woman made him say things that he wouldn’t say, out loud at least. She was dangerous for his very presence in this universe. All she had to do was record a conversation and- BOOM!!! He’s destroyed.

He hoped she hadn’t heard. Really had. “Oh? Really~?” She smiled at him, a powerful way of getting what she wanted. Nobody could refuse when she used that devious smile, or their most recent scandal would be all over the internet.

“You’re the type of character who gets all buddy-buddy with the MC and get all their information and turns out to be a double agent between the dark and light sides. Only to find out that you’re the real orchestrator of all that happened. Then you proceed to give an entire lecture about how there are no true ‘dark’ or ‘light’ side, and how human morals are very gray” He wanted to shut up. Needed to shut up. No one at the Academy knew about the closet nerd he was.

It was expected of Aaron, his sister was a professional gamer, or at least most people in Mirror Cove Knew. But Troy Minora was the epitome of the charming playboy persona, not closet nerd. He wasn’t supposed to give people characters like this.

“You know, that sounds pretty accurate” She hummed. She didn’t flinch in the slightest as thunder cracked above head. She didn’t jump in the slightest. Troy, on the other hand, may have jumped on top of Zeba, if she hadn’t stuck out her arm to maintain distance. “Sorry, pretty-boy, but you’re not mahram. Didn’t know you were so afraid of thunder~”

He blushed and glared. “Get in the car.” He grumped as she happily obliged. He didn’t even bother retorting. It would take too much mental strength to do so. Now all he could hope to do was keep Felix away from his sister and girlfriend for as long as he could.