The bully's redemption

Meanwhile, the Red Devils were in full celebration mode at Damon's lounge. The place buzzed with energy, and the air was thick with the scent of victory. "Everyone, enjoy yourselves!" Damon shouted, raising his glass high. His voice carried over the loud music, drawing cheers from the team.

"You were flashier than a brand-new gun out there!" Damon praised, pointing at Xavier, who just gave a small smile, leaning back on the couch with his legs casually spread out. His relaxed posture screamed confidence, like a king surveying his court. The admiration in the room was palpable.

"Our Xavi here is the MAN!" someone called out, their voice brimming with admiration. Damon responded with a playful punch to the guy's arm, the camaraderie between them clear.

"Believe it, man... but where are all the ladies, Damon?" Gilbert asked, raising an eyebrow, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.

"Food and handshakes, I thought you were bringing a bunch of them!" Damon shot back, smirking as he did.

"And when did I say that, Damon?" Gilbert teased, the banter flowing easily between them."I saw you talking to Patricia and few of the cheerleaders, I thought you were inviting them,"

Gilbert let out a sarcastic laugh. "Well, clearly, I wasn't," he replied, shaking his head.

Damon sucked his teeth, feigning disappointment. "Tsk... where's the fun without them!"

"Pfft, you're just too much, Xavier!" Gilbert chuckled, glancing at Xavier, who remained cool and composed, his small smile never fading.

Later that night, Zendaya carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake Kamsi, who was fast asleep beside her. She reached under her pillow and pulled out her vape, the small device feeling heavy with the burden of secrecy. As she took a deep drag, her eyes fluttered closed, savoring the momentary relief the smoke brought. After a few moments, she dashed to rinse her mouth, her movements quick and quiet before she slid back into bed, hoping no one would be the wiser.

The next morning, Kamsi was already up and dressed, her uniform crisp and neat. She smiled down at Zendaya, who was still sprawled across the bed. "Good morning, sleepyhead," Kamsi teased, her voice cheerful.

"Ugh... don't tell me it's morning already," Zendaya groaned, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Well, 7:20 am counts as morning, doesn't it?" Kamsi replied with a grin, but Zendaya's eyes snapped open in shock.

"7:50 am?! What the...?" Zendaya exclaimed, sitting up so fast she nearly fell off the bed. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stretched.

Kamsi gave her a playful, mock-serious look. "You sleep like a log," she joked, her tone light.

"If I had known, I would have laughed," Zendaya replied, her annoyance quickly fading into a smile.

"Yeah, yeah, very funny," Zendaya said, rolling her eyes as she climbed out of bed. The mention of breakfast made her stomach rumble. She grabbed her towel and toothbrush, heading to the bathroom with a spring in her step.

Meanwhile, Kamsi went downstairs to help her mom set the table. The smell of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air, warm and comforting.

"Is she up?" Kamsi's mom asked, glancing over her shoulder.

"Yes, Mom, she'll be down in a minute," Kamsi replied, placing the last of the plates on the table.

A few minutes later, Zendaya appeared, already dressed in her school uniform, her thick, curly black hair styled in an upknot that framed her face beautifully.

"You look lovely, darling," Kamsi's mom said with a warm smile, her compliment sincere.

"Thanks," Zendaya responded, her own smile bright and genuine, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Kamsi pretended to be jealous, leaning in to her mom with a playful pout.

"And you too, darling," Kamsi's mom said, brushing a hand gently across Kamsi's cheek, her affection clear.

"Thank you, Kamsi's mom," Zendaya said softly, a blush creeping into her cheeks. For a moment, she felt a pang in her chest. When was the last time she'd had a proper meal with her own family? Or received such simple, warm praise from her mom? The realization stung, but it also filled her with a deep appreciation for this moment. She felt a warmth growing in her heart, and as she sat at the table with Kamsi and her mom, she suddenly felt the urge to speak, to open up, but the words caught in her throat.

Instead, she smiled back at Kamsi, grateful for the kindness and the fleeting sense of belonging.

"Bye, Mom!" Kamsi called out, waving as her mother drove off. "Bye, mio felicia!" Zendaya added with a playful grin, her voice full of warmth. Kamsi's mom gave them one last reminder before disappearing down the road, "Be good, and come home by 3."

As the car turned the corner, Zendaya let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Another day in this place," she muttered, her tone tinged with reluctance.

"Don't be like that," Kamsi nudged her gently, offering a smile to lift her friend's spirits. "It's not that bad." She linked her arm with Zendaya's, pulling her towards the school entrance. "Come on, let's go."

As they walked through the gates, Kamsi noticed the usual whispers and eye-rolls from some students. "Here come T3!" someone muttered from a nearby group, their tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Ugh, does this happen every time?" Zendaya sighed, her patience wearing thin.

"It sure does," Kamsi replied with a shrug, determined not to let it get to her. They continued walking, ignoring the stares, their steps synchronized in silent defiance.

Just then, Damon and Gilbert made their signature entrance, swaggering down the hallway as if they owned it. The buzz of the crowd shifted towards them, students either admiring or sneering at their confidence. But something was off today—someone was missing.

"Where's Xavier?" Patricia's voice pierced through the chatter, her eyes scanning the crowd for the familiar figure.

"Maybe he decided to skip school today," Tyler suggested with a casual shrug.

"You know he's a rule-breaker after all," Camella added, her tone laced with disdain.

Kamsi's expression tightened at the mention of Xavier's absence. Her brow furrowed as she glanced around the halls, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But he wasn't there. "I guess Xavier is skipping school today," Zendaya remarked, noticing Kamsi's concern.

A worried look settled on Kamsi's face, her thoughts spinning. "Does he always skip school?" she asked, her voice edged with curiosity and unease.

"Most of the time," Zendaya replied, her tone straightforward.

Kamsi's mind wandered, picturing Xavier somewhere far from the school—partying, causing trouble, or just being his usual reckless self. But reality was far from her imagination.

At that very moment, Xavier sat in a quiet hospital room, his face etched with worry and fear. He was seated beside a bed, his eyes fixed on Laura, who lay still against the stark white sheets. Then, slowly, her eyes fluttered open, a small, fragile movement that made his heart leap. He immediately reached out, his hand trembling as he took hers, trying to offer comfort in the midst of the storm of emotions swirling inside him.