That thing Called Love

Madison Pettis as Narcia Daniels.

Age: 17

Anya and Zhavia's best friend, Jayden Daniels sister.

Keith Powers as Jayden Daniels.

Age 26

Narcia's brother.

Chrissie Fit as Zara.

Age 36

Daniel's caretaker and Chloe's mom.

Little girl as Chloe.

Zara's daughter.

Sabrina Carpenter as Anya McClellan.

Age:18.

Narcia and Zhavia's best friend.

Zhavia Ward as Zhavia McDawson.

Age 17

Narcia and Anya's best friend.

Brighton Sharbino as Brittana Coleson.

Age:18.

Zoë's best friend.

Queen bitch.

Zazie Beetz as Zöe Odette.

Age:18

Brittana's best friend.

Ava Allan as Michaela Modest.

Age:17

Zoë and Brittana's minion.

Zayn Malik as Reign McClurkin.

Age:18

Badboy Zaid and Sean's best friend.

Rafael Miller as Zaid Peterson.

Age:18

Badboy Reign and Sean's best friend.

Jon Kortajarena as Sean McClure.

Age:18

Badboy Zaid and Reign's best friend.

Margot Robbie as Courtney McClellan.

Age:25

Jayden's best friend and Anya's sister.

Hailee Steinfield as Amy Miller.

Age: 24

Narcia emerged from the shower with her towel wrapped securely around her.

At 17, her height was 5'8ft tall. She dried her curly hair and then walked into her walk-in closet to pick clothes for school. It was the first day of her senior year, and for once she had slept peacefully after her parents had died.

She picked a black blouse and wore a denim short carwash jumpsuit over it. She paired it with black Nike sneakers and a black bag.

She picked up her phone, bag, and car keys and then headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Hey Zara, Hey Jay- Jay." She said as she sat at the table as Zara served her breakfast.

"Hey, Sweetie ...how was your night?" Zara asked.

"Surprisingly it was fine...I didn't have any nightmares." She said munching on her muffin and sipping her hot chocolate.

"That's good...pumpkin promises me you'd enjoy your senior year, you'd make new friends, go to parties, you'd have a boyfriend... just promise me."He said staring into his sister's eyes.

At 26, Jayden stood at 6'8. He had a well-built body that attracted a lot of the female species. Most males we're jealous of his body and success at that age, but he didn't seem to care. Being the eldest child of the Daniels, he was the heir of his parent's companies that we're scattered all over.

"I will...that's if you promise to stop sleeping with that hoe." She mumbled the last part as she dropped her mug and plate into the sink.

"See you later Zara, say hi to Chloe for me when she wakes up." She added hugging her caretaker.

"Bye Jay Jay." She said giving her brother a peck. " Its Jay, pumpkin, Jay."He added as his sister stuck out her tongue at him and picked her bag, keys, and phone and dashed out.

She went to the garage and picked her favourite car, the orange Lamborghini.

"Hi, baby." She said to the car as she sat inside and started it. She checked the time and it was 7:55 am. The school didn't start till 8:50 am. Today being the first day it might not start early.

She reached Kingston high at exactly 8:00 am since it was a five-minute drive from home. It was a private school but they were allowed to wear normal clothes and not a school uniform but a typical high school, there were the popular that included the barbie dolls and the queen bitch and the jocks, the nerds, the weird ones, the normal students, and then the typical bad boys except the ones in her school weren't in a gang nor did drugs.

Narcia got off her car and headed into the school looking for her best friends. Those girls have been her friends since diaper days and she couldn't love them any less. She spotted Anya by her locker talking to Zhavia. Probably about some hot gossip or her summer holidays. They were so engrossed in the conversation that they didn't see her coming.

"Excuse me, you're in front of my locker," Narcia said smirking. "Bitch this is our-" Anya said as she turned to see her friend laughing.

"You got me there you know I was about to beat the person's ass." She added as they hugged their friend.

"Damn girl you looking fine...I like this first impression of yours for senior year." Zhavia added. " You looking good as always Zhav, you too Anya....you looking smoking hot."

Narcia added as Anya turned 360° just as the bell rang signalling the beginning of the school year.

"Here we come bitchesss!" Anya added as they walked to their first class laughing off their asses.

"What subject do we have this morning?" Anya asked sipping from her bottle.

"We've got homeroom dummy," Zhavia added as Narcia chuckled.

"Typical Anya, always forgetting what subject we have... I wonder how you're going to get your high school diploma." Narcia teased.

Brittana and her best friend Zöe entered the class dressed in skimpy clothes and killer heels with their faces caked in make-up and their minion Micheala in tow as they headed for their seats chewing gum loudly and shooting daggers at Anya and her friends.

Zhavia stuck out her middle finger at them making them huff and sat down talking about who knows what.

"Poor, poor Michaela, they'd just dump her after she's done all their nasty work," Zhavia added.

"Who cares? She wanted it and now she's got it. Let her face the consequences later on." Anya replied.

"You're just one mean bitch aren't ya?" Narcia asked rhetorically.

"And Mr Grumpy is here." Someone said from the back making everyone chuckles.

The homeroom teacher just presented what they had to do for the term without any care in the world if the students were listening or not.

It seemed as if time wasn't moving at all. It had only been 15 minutes into the time as students groaned with displeasure.

After a while, the bell rang and everyone began gathering their stuff to exit the class. They had enough boredom to deal with within one day. The girls walked to their lockers to get their books for the next period as Brittana and her friends stopped in front of them.

"What the hell do you want now? Don't you have someone else to bother?" Narcia asked uninterestedly.

"Well, we just decided to say hello to the girl who just lost her best friend or let me say bodyguard," Brittana added laughing.

"Are you fucking serious right now, do you want to go down that lane?" Narcia added clenching her fists.

"I thought as much Brittana, don't go saying things that will put you in a tight corner cause karma is gonna hit and when it does it's gonna hurt real bad," Narcia added walking of as her friends followed suit leaving Brittana stunned.

Reign sat at his usual seat with his friends. He was staring at Narcia and her friends as they were engrossed in a conversation. She'd been one bubbly girl during freshman year until the middle of junior year when she changed.

She kept to herself and her two best friends hardly letting anyone into their circle. Since then its been the three of them and no one else.

He'd been wondering why the once bubbly girl changed all of a sudden. But she seemed to be better now. He sat thinking to himself. He was bored of having the guys as his friends and no other person. He loved his friends to bits, but he wanted other people to be part of their friendship circle. But most people just wanted them for fame or to have sex with them, especially Brittana and the devil of her best friend Zöe and then that other girl who runs errands for them. He thought.

"Earth to Reign," Zaid said waving his hand in front of his friend's face.

"What." Reign said unamused and slightly bored. "Someone pissed in your cereal this morning ?" Sean added as he burst into laughter with Zaid.

"Care to share what's damn funny ?" Reign said glaring at them. "Anywho, we wanted to know if you were up for bowling tonight ?" Zaid questioned.

"Sure, I'm in...same time right?" He asked.

"Yeah, same time," Sean said as the grumpy old math teacher entered the class.

The groans of his classmates filled the class. "Whether you groan or not I'm her you twats." Mr Goldwick added as the torture began.

The bell rang signalling the end of the lesson as everyone picked their books and bags and rushed out of the class before Mr Goldwick gave them homework.

Narcia and her friends hurried to the cafeteria to get food after a quick stop at their lockers. After they had ordered, they went outside to their table since they enjoyed there more than the cafeteria filled with drama every day.

"How's Chloe?" I miss that adorable child. Anya said sipping on her strawberry smoothie. "She's fine," Narcia added smiling as they continued with their chat, laughing and eating.

The doors to the Cafeteria opened as Reign and his friends entered. All eyes were on them as some girls sent them flirty winks, some adjusting their tops and skirts while some guys looked at them jealously and angrily. They decided to sit outside with Narcia and her friends instead of their usual table inside the cafeteria.

"Mind if we join you girls ?" Zaid asked as the girls looked up. "Of course we do m-."

"We don't mind, we don't mind at all," Anya added cutting her best friend off who was shooting daggers at her.

Anya had had a crush on Zaid since the junior year when they were paired up for a chemistry project. He was tall and had black curly hair and black eyes. He also had a killer smile.

Anya thought dreamingly. She was brought out of her thoughts by Narcia and Reign's bickering.

"...cocky and assholey much...I loathe it," Narcia added munching on a fry. Zhavia was talking to Sean and Anya to her long crush. Narcia was glad her friends were talking to other people besides her. She had been trying to get them to do so but to no avail.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Reign whispered. He had a smooth deep voice. He was staring at her with his brown eyes. He had tattoos on both his hands and wore a black ring on his right ring finger.

"I'd rather buy skittles with that penny." She said sticking her tongue out just as Brittana and her minions reached their table. "Rey -Rey...I missed you, why weren't you at our table today?" She said pulling her cropped top to reveal her cleavage.

"Oh come on, this is why we left the table and now she's here?" Sean said annoyed as Brittana ignored him.

"The name is Reign Brittany, Reign not whatever you just spat out and one more thing STOP FUCKING FOLLOWING ME AROUND LIKE A STRAY DOG," Reign added angrily.

"But- but...." "Oh come on Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the guy said to leave him alone so L-e-a-v-e," Anya added munching on a burger.

"Bitch...nobody was talking to your fat ass." Zöe spat at Anya.

"Woah, hold up...your bitchiness and your ugliness can you please leave our table in peace we trying to get good food in our system but we can't with you girls spitting everywhere so bounce, skedaddle get the fuck out of here ASAP!" Zhavia added as Brittana and her friends left their table stomping just as the bell rang.

"Way to ruin lunch," Narcia said as they all got up from the table and left for their next class.

"Hey wait up!" Zaid called. The girls stopped wondering why he was calling them.

" We have a class together". He added nervously as his friends chuckled behind him.

"What of them?" Narcia asked.

"They have a different class". He added as his friends walked passed him.

"Alright then let's go, we don't want to get late and face the wrath of Mr Boring," Narcia added as they laughed walking to class.

They got to know more about Zaid and his friends. They didn't seem bad as people portrayed them to be.

"Typical high school gossip," Narcia murmured to herself as they entered the class and headed for their seats. Most people were wondering why Zaid was with them, others shooting daggers at them especially the queen bitches.

Narcia smirked and sat beside Anya a few seconds before their history teacher entered the class.

A few minutes into the class, people were dozing off, others asleep, others were on their phones and the rest were chatting amongst themselves but the teacher didn't seem to care. He continued teaching until the bell rang signalling the end of the lesson.

"FINALLY!" One of the jocks shouted picking his bag and running out of the class making everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Jayden got out of his car and headed towards Amy's house. "I'd be back soon Courtney." He said winking at his best friend whom he practically dragged with him to come to visit his girlfriend. He was a big-time Playboy before he met Amy.

Courtney, Narcia and even Zara complained about Amy's fake and rude attitude towards others, but to him she was kind, caring and even loving.

Courtney sat in the car as she watched the love of his life enter his so-called girlfriend's house. She'd been in love with him since university days but he's turned a blind eye towards it.

"Babe, I've been calling you.." He trailed off as he saw his girlfriend having sex with another man on her couch.

"Amy?...how, how could you .... THEY ALL WERE RIGHT AFTER ALL , ALL YOU EVER CARED FOR WAS MY MONEY....YOU NEVER DID LOVE ME LIKE YOU CLAIMED NOR CARED FOR ME YOU PRETENDED TO...I LOVED YOU AMY, I DID BUT YOU'VE BROKEN THAT LOVE AND TRUST I HAD.....WE ARE OVER, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU...."

"Oh come on Jayden, I never loved you, never have and never will, I just wanted your money and fame...enjoy your miserable life with your miserable family." Amy cut him off as he stormed out of the house with tears in his eyes. Jayden entered his car heartbroken with teary eyes.

"Court, s-s-s-she cheated on me with some man, SHE FUCKING RIPPED MY HEART OUT." He added screaming as Courtney hugged him while he sobbed into her shirt.

"Shhhhh I got you, Jay, I got you, "Courtney said as she got out and helped him to the front seat while she sat at the driver's seat and then drove off.

Narcia knocked on the door of her brother's bedroom. He had been moody and cold towards everyone since he broke up with Amy. He had buried himself in work and he didn't join her, Zara and Chloe for breakfast anymore.

To make matters worse Courtney wasn't on talking terms with him since he didn't apologize for the hurtful words he said to her while she was only trying to help. She knocked on the door again this time harder than first.

"Jayden Cohen Daniels, I know you're not asleep and you can hear my knock...open up the fucking door before I break it down." She said.

"As if you can break down the doo," Jayden said as he opened the door.

"Good morning to you too and what the hell do you want from me ?" He spat at his sister.

He was in no mood for her whinnying and long speeches.

"Sorry...I-I-I missed you and decided to come to check on you." She said with her head down.

"WELL AS YOU CAN SEE I'M FUCKING GREAT, SO SKEDADDLE AND STOP ANNOYING ME ...GO AWAY AND STAY OUT." He yelled as his sister flinched with tears rolling down her face she turned and run to the room banging the door in the process.

He entered his room and shut the door behind him. He knew he'd gone too far by screaming on the two people he loved the most, his best friend Courtney and his little sister. He sighed as he entered his bathroom to shower.

Courtney sat in her office sipping her cappuccino. It's been two weeks since she saw her best friend and since they talked.

Even though he'd hurt her, she missed him dearly. She missed his smiles, his voice, the way he tilts his head when she says something unbelievable.

"I'll be a better person and talk to him." She said to herself as she continued with the workload on her table.

"Hey, Chloe you up for ice cream ?" Narcia crouched down to talk to the little girl.

She felt drained after those tears she shed and she needed fresh air. She had called Anya and Zhav to come to pick her up since she was in no mood to drive.

"Ice cwweeeam," Chloe said as she squealed hopping up and down.

"Mama can I go please." She said staring at her mom with her big brown eyes.

"Sure you can go and have fun baby." She said as Chloe went upstairs to wear her shoes.

"Are you alright? I heard all that went on between you two." Zara asked her.

"I'm fine I just need fresh air." Narcia said sighing." He'd come around give him sometime baby."

She added rubbing Narcia's shoulder as Chloe descended the stairs and Anya honked her car horn.

"Thanks, Zara." She said smiling. "Bye, mom," Chloe added.

"Bye babies," Zara said as they left the house. Narcia helped Chloe into the car as she sat and Anya drove off to the ice cream parlour.

"What flavour of ice cream do you want ?" The server asked as the girls sat at their table.

"We'd take cookie dough, mint, vanilla, and chocolate,e," Zhavia said as the server wrote down their orders.

"I'd be right back with your orders." She said and left for the counter. "Isn't that Zaid and his friends?"

Anya asked as they all turned to see the guys entering the ice cream parlour. Sean spotted them and alerted the guys as they walked to their table.

"And their coming," Zhavia added as their ice creams were brought to them as they all took their flavours.

"Hi." Zaid greeted. "Hello," Chloe said with ice cream all over her face. "Awwwww, she's cute... I'm Zaid and you are ?" He added as they had already taken their seats and ordered their ice cream.

"I'm Chloe...and I'm four." She said grinning. "I didn't know his highnesses were fans of ice cream," Narcia added wiping Chloe's face.

"But everyone loves, Ice cream". Reign said as a matter of fact.

"Even the big bad boy?" Anya teased in a baby voice as they all burst into laughter.

Narcia began to feel better than before. The girls and guys made her laugh so much that made her feel lively again.

"Hey, Zara is Jayden around ?" Courtney asked as she entered the house. She had closed from work and decided to check on her best friend to see how he was fairing.

"He's upstairs Aura, just be careful he's been harsh to Narcia this morning that she had to go out...so please be careful," Zara added taking the chicken out from the oven.

"I will... thanks, Zara," Courtney said as she climbed upstairs to Jayden's study. Her full name Courtney Aura McClellan. Zara was the only one who called her by her middle name Aura.

She took a deep breath as she knocked on the door to the study.

She opened the door as she headed inside as heard a muffled "come in". She stepped into the study and took in her surroundings.

The study hadn't changed since last she was here. She stared at her best friend who looked worn out and dark bags under his eyes. His head was down he didn't look at her.

"Hey, Jay". She said as he raised his head quickly almost snapping his neck in the process. The last time he heard that voice was two weeks ago. No matter how he denied it he had missed her badly.

"Courtney..." He said as he stared at her.

She had sleepless nights and the bags under her eyes could tell. She had tried to conceal them but he could still see them. She looked exhausted.

Courtney took a seat on the sofa. She had taken a soda from the fridge in the study. "How's life treating you apart from you being harsh to those who care." She spat.

Jayden got up from his chair and sat beside her. " Courtney, I know I fucked up big time and I was an ass not to come apologies but I'm doing that now. I'm so sorry Courtney, I am. I miss you, I miss your suggestions, I miss your laughter and I miss hanging out with you. I just hated how right you were from the beginning ...that's why I lashed out and I know I shouldn't have, so I'm sorry." He apologized.

Courtney set down her empty can of soda as she clapped."Woah...what an amazing speech Jayden." She added.

Jayden had noticed the harm that his words had caused. He'd hurt her badly and was ready to make up for it.

"Jayden, you hurt me... It is obvious that I'm in love with you no doubt but I was trying to console you as your best friend nothing more or less. But what did you do, you threw that back in my face. I've decided to let it go, cause believes or not I miss you, but the next time it happens I'm sorry this friendship will be done and dusted." She added wiping the tears from her eyes as Jayden hugged her.

"Thank you, Courtney." He added.

"You look like shit...you know that right". Courtney added chuckling.

"You look no better." He added. "At least I look better than you do...what are you working on ?" She asked as she joined him at his desk.

"Bye Courtney," Jayden said as he stood at the door as Courtney sat in her car. Just at the same time, Narcia came out of Anya's.

"Jay!" Chloe said as she runs towards him as he hugged her.

"I hope you enjoyed your day baby...I'd come to play with you later I need to talk to the pumpkin." She said as he set Chloe down as she runs into the house. As Narcia was about bypassing him he held her hand.

"Pumpkin I'm so so-" He was cut of Narcia hugging him while she sobbed into his shirt. It broke his heart to see her cry. "I'm sorry." He added wiping the tears off his baby sisters' face.

"It's fine I'm glad my Jay is back I missed you." She added as they entered the house.

"How was your night?" He asked.

"I did, it was fun with the guys and girls." She added as they walked up the staircase.

"I'm glad you're finally opening up, they would be proud of you." He said to her referring to their parents and Mason.

"Thanks, Jay, that meant a lot to me." She said as she stepped into her room, locking the door behind her. She entered the bathroom for a quick bath and then headed off to bed since she was exhausted.

"Get down on the floor!" One of the masked men said pointing the gun at her parent's heads. She was hiding under one of the big tables in her father's study so she wasn't seen.

"What do you want, how much do you want? We'd pay, please spare us." Her mom pleaded.

"Tsk tsk tsk, poor woman. We don't want your money, you've been a threat to our company for many years, so we need to eliminate you so we can be at the top." The man said.

"You'd never be at the top even if you kill us never!" Mr Daniels added as they shot him in the head.

His wife let out a piercing shriek attracting the attention of the police who were nearby. Narcia covered her mouth with her hand as she sobbed. The men heard the sirens of the police and then shot Mrs Daniels also on the head.

They tried escaping but it was too late. The police caught up with them and had them arrested. Narcia crawled out letting a cry as Zara and Jay came out to meet corpses.

"I saw them, Jay, I saw the men. They were t-t-there." Her 8-year-old self pointed at where the men stood.

"Shhhh, it's going to be fine." Jayden hugged her sobbing as well.

"Mama, Dad wake up." She said breaking free from Jay's grasp.

"Wake up!" She screamed.

"Wake up!!" Another voice said shaking her awake. Jay had a spare key to her room in case of moments like this.

She woke up shaking and sobbing as he hugged her right.

"Its gonna be fine." He kissed her temple giving her a glass of warm milk.

She lay down and tried to go to bed again when another nightmare happened.

"Mase, please don't leave me. Hold on help is on the way." She sobbed holding the head of her friend.

"Hey, it's not like I'm gonna die, stop crying Nar. I'm fine and here with you." He tried to crack a joke.

"No, you're not. You're bleeding. Promise not to leave as mom and dad did." She said as he was closing his eyes.

"Promise me, Mase, " She probed further.

"I promise." That was the last thing he said as he closed his eyes. The paramedics arrived just in time to take him away.

Narcia woke up with a start, waking Jay in the process. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked.

"I-I'm fine, over some sleep Jay." She scooted over as he climbed into her bed with her.

"You're gonna get through this Nar, you're a strong girl." He murmured to her as he fell asleep.