The voice and the echo

"It would feel so weird if my ex dated my other ex. I would feel just… odd."

"You know what was weird, my ex dating my enemy but that's different right." I know it's a low blow but it is warranted. This was totally new information that I didn't entirely know how to process. It felt like a lie to me. When was this? I feel like I would know when this was happening. "When was all this?" As far as I know the only people she dated were me, Christian and now Chantelle. When in the hell did she date that guy? I am kinda put off now by the idea of even being in the same space as him. My emotions were showing through I guess because Lorel shook me.

"The beginning of last year."

"Damn and I didn't notice. Didn't know you had it in you Daniela." Lorel said, interrupting my questions.

"You yourself Zayn said the only Loyalty you owe me is making sure I'm safe and don't owe you any other than to respect your space. We had nothing so the timeline not making sense just doesn't make sense to you because you think I should have been still attached by the hip and I kinda still was but I owe you no loyalty to our messed up relationship right?" I know it's wrong for me to feel inherently mad at this information but still I have feelings and there were things I believed at that time and this just blurs everything. I feel angry at myself because I'm the one who set up the situation and thought I was benefiting from it. I'm starting to believe I might be a bad person, just maybe. A spiteful part of me wants to see her squirm the same way I felt about her getting with Chantelle but that's just cruel.

"You know what, I don't mind it that much." That earns me a side eye from Lorel who looks me up and down as she laughs off to the side.

"What, For real? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Yes I am."

"Okay." I could tell by her answer she didn't buy anything but she was going along with it. I don't know why but I was incapable of looking Daniela in her eye. Usually I'm accommodating to her and would stop doing anything she said she was uncomfortable with but now I just couldn't do that with my mindset.

"I swear to god if you go back on this I'm never helping you." I absentmindedly nodded. My mind was blank but at the same time it wasn't. I was going into a daze of deep thought. I wasn't paying attention to a word she was speaking and could only nod as I chewed away at the side hand. I could snap back to reality. It was as if I was just sitting somewhere far off in my mind just watching but no audio.

"This Idiot! Are you listening to me?" Lorel asked, shoving me in the shoulder. "If you're not up to it just say so." She rolls her eyes and walks to the railing. "I'm not forcing you or anything but don't force yourself. I'm just helping cuz you asked." She shakes her head when she realized I still wasn't listening. "If you aren't up for it then just forget about it!"

"I'm coming."

I knew nothing about Macius other than surface level information. I've hardly been in spaces with him. Him and I don't mix. He seemed like a nice guy but he just seemed like too much at times he would switch between an enjoyable guy to be around welcoming you into his group or could switch to icing you out completely and ignoring your existence which would be seconded by his little Shadow Anthony who was his own personal yes man.

I feel like somehow our personality might clash but that is an assessment I would make if this actually goes past the vetting stage.

I have eyes and they do work well and from what I could clearly see over being an onlooker Macius and Lorel had a lot of chemistry which makes me worried.

"Lorel nice to see you." A guy who I originally thought had a lisp but it was his accent called out to Lorel. I kinda hate the way he called her name. It irks me and I should list him on my list of voices that annoys me. I kinda feel like he's only friends with Lorel because her dad is in the local government but I shouldn't judge. "Oh, hi Zayn." he said in passing which I could understand.

"Hi."

"Hey where Macius?"

"Over there with his shadow- I mean Anthony." He coughed as he tried to play it off like he wasn't insulting the guy. I get why he did. Anthony knew Macius his whole life as he was his appointed friend. Yes he was much like his shadow and much of a yes man and he was hostile to be around. He came off as if he wanted to be the only friend. Everyone was annoyed by the distance they had to keep with Macius because of his third wheel and he even pissed off his partners. Sometimes he would even answer for him and allegedly he does all his school work. Not confirmed though.

"Jesus." Lorel mumbled while staring in their direction. "I forgot about the problem." The problem alluding to Anthony. "Come on." She pulled me to their direction where they stood at the railing overlooking the sea.

"We don't need anyone else, he can come back when I'm dead." Anthony commented as Lorel pushed me to the railing. I glanced over at the boy who couldn't even spare me a glance. Am I receiving the latter if so I am no longer interested in seeing this through and I will return the same energy. "You know Lorel three is a crowd so…" I already hate this guy.

"I'm not here to talk to you Anthony. Shut up." She waved her hand in his face as she leaned over the railing next to Macius who eyes were trained on the sea. "You said you were looking for a special someone and they should check all your boxes right? Well here we are!" She cheered and he rolled his eyes at her.

"When I sent that I was referring to you." His eyes were focused on the sea rocking the boat.

"Well I'm currently unavailable so let me refer you to my understudy." They seemed to have a lot more chemistry than I thought. It was obvious he was here for Lorel and wasn't expected to be saddled with me. I feel more awkward now. "If you give him a chance you would see how much a better fit he is than me."

"Lorel, I can't tell if you're joking right now? Zayn Snipes, last time I checked, is straight. Why would you bring him here and he's not his type."

"Racially or Status related." She asked him as she placed her head in her palm.

"Status of course you dumbass. If Macius is to date anyone, they have check marks to check other than compatibility. STATUS IS A MUST. You should know that." I think she might give him an aneurysm or something.

"Yeah I know. Zayn isn't any other student though. He has his own status."

"From dating the elite."

"Yes and no. He's like basically a son to the Venices who are friends with the Whitfields so there is a connection."

"No Lorel it doesn't work that way and you know that. There is no way in hell they would date. He is no one."

"Alright." I shrug as I lean off the railing. "I am no one. Good to know."

"Oh my god Zayn don't take that idiot seriously. This isn't even his choice. Macius, what do you think?" Lorel grabbed onto my arm and tapped on his shoulder.

"I don't know. I have to think about my options." This piece of shit. "Give Anthony your number, I'll call back." I don't want to do that. I feel offended for some reason. He seems cold and a lifeless person when looking at me as a potential partner. I don't like this guy.

"His number is-"

"Don't bother because I wouldn't answer anyway. It's not like you were actually gonna call anyway right. I'm leaving."

"Zayn." Lorel called me as I walked back into the lower deck.

"Nope."

The next Monday hit and Lorel was already behind me in school to talk about what happened but I knew from the start it wasn't going to work out. I could tell that was going to happen once I stepped into their vicinity. It was cold and I was freezing.

"I know things started off bad but if you guys talked again maybe things might be different." She pleaded as she pulled on my arm. "I really thought you would like him and him the same. I could see it happening in the back of my head."

"Well I can't and I am no longer interested. I am nobody according to them."

"Says Anthony. Macius doesn't think that."

"Well he didn't say anything when that dick head said it. Lorel I don't want to feel like shit and I don't want to be around people who look down on me if that's how it is, leave me alone please." I shrugged her off and walked to class. There as I sank down into my seat I felt utter annoyance run over me. I wish I had said or done more because all I feel towards them is anger.