a bitter chill

Zac felt as if the whole day was more like a week. When Fish dropped the massive chocolate covered sweet roll in its own container in front of Zac at lunch, Zac knew something wasn't right.

"Where were you?" Zac winced. When Syreeta and Zac came out of Fish's house this morning, Fish wasn't there.

"I just needed to be alone. Besides, didn't you and Syreeze need some time..alone." Fish's frown was small yet so sad.

"No." Zac squinted harder. What did Fish think was going on with him and Syreeta? "Since when have you been calling her Syreeze?" Something was going on. Fish looked as if he were half asleep. Perhaps exhausted.

"I'm fine. Just let it go." Fish gave Zac a disgruntled look.

"That's a really big sweet roll." He'd never seen one like it. At least, it took his mind off Sunny for a split second. He felt like a cruel fool now. Hating her so much as if all the hating had somehow caused this tragedy.

"Yeah, ungodly so." Fish almost laughed. "I ditched this morning and treated myself to one. Thought the least I could do was..you know, bring you one."

"You sure, you're OK?" Zac watched him sit there without a tray, a bit spaced out.

Fish nodded.

"I don't think she knew me." He said under his breath. Tears filled up Fish's eyes.

"Hey, you're not invisible." Zac didn't know how to cheer him up. He wanted to turn this thing around, about Sunny. But he didn't know how.