by S. J. Black
Zara shook her head quickly, a bright smile beaming onto her face. “No, not at all! Please join us.” She ushered her hands towards the space near her bed.
Heidi had a hard look on her face, tilting her eyebrow quizzically at Annie as she invaded their territory. Annie didn’t notice, however, instead making her way to sit.
Heidi sat up suddenly, a disgruntled expression rested on her face. “I’ll leave you both to it.” She haughtily strode away, her head lifting in the air, almost as though she wanted to show to Annie how unwelcome she was.
“Heidi, wait!” Zara exclaimed, but it was too late. She had already left. Zara sighed, rubbing her forehead. “I don’t know what to make of that one.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get in the way,” Annie said nervously.
Zara waved dismissively, shaking her head softly. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
A short silence passed. Zara tentatively glanced at Annie. She noted that her hair had grown longer, and she still looked the same when she first saw her, only now she appeared subdued.
“Is everything okay?” Zara murmured.
Annie’s head piped up, her mouth agape. “Oh! Um, sure! I just...I just…” She trailed uncomfortably. Sighing, she closed her eyes before opening them again, revealing a forlorn expression. “I just wanted to apologise for everything. Everything that’s happening to you.”
“That’s happening…?”
“With Jasper. And James and the whole lot,” Annie grumbled.
“Oh,” Zara said dumbly.
What was there to say? She couldn’t exactly say ‘hey, no problem! I expected you to have a bit more of a backbone but it’s okay! You’re boning the leader of the Barons, so it’s understandable if your priorities are conflicted!’
“Yeah, that,” Annie winced. “I just...I’m sorry. I should have done something earlier, and I didn’t know that it would go that far. They’ve never really gone back to that behaviour.”
“You mean the spiteful, violent and entirely sociopathic way of dealing with people? Sorry, did I say ‘people’? I meant to say underlings,” Zara said without missing a beat.
Annie shifted awkwardly. Of course, Zara thought. She was now part of their crew; any slight or insult towards them was an indirect insult to her by association.
“They’re not bad people,” Annie said.
“Are you being serious?” Zara gave out a confused chuckle.
“Look -”
“After everything they’ve done to the kids at this school? To you not too long ago!”
“I’m not here to defend them.”
“Then what are you here for?” Zara retorted.
“To see how you’re doing,” Annie said irritably.
“Could have fooled me. When’s the last time you and I even had a conversation since Christmas?”
“I’ve just been a bit busy -”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Zara scoffed. “Busy snogging the face off of James, you mean. Didn’t really leave you much room to talk to anyone else, I’m guessing?”
Annie stood up in a huff, her body taut with tension. Clenching her jaw, she raised her head up, giving herself a defiant, defensive posture to Zara’s eyes. “I didn’t come here to be insulted.”
“Well, the truth isn’t always rainbows and cookies.”
“I’m here as your friend, Zara. Not your enemy.”
“Then act like it!” Zara exclaimed.
“What are you talking about?” Annie jumped. The discomfort was written all over her face.
“You’ve barely even acknowledged my existence and now, when I’m bandaged up in the hospital - thanks to your new friends, might I add - now, you want to send me your well wishes? Do you think I was born yesterday? I know why you’re really here, just drop the ruse already.”
“Hey, that’s unfair!”
“Admit it! You’re here as a messenger to save their backsides, aren’t you? Word probably got round that I’ll open my mouth to Defoe and you’re here to negotiate the deal. Pretty fast work, Annie, I’ll admit I’m impressed,” she crossed her arms.
“You know what?” Annie shook her head in disbelief. “You should just rest, you’re not yourself.” She moved towards the exit before reaching for something in her pocket, quickly placing a white envelope on a coffee table near the window. “I got you a card. Not that it matters,” she mumbled.
Annie gave Zara a last dejected look before exiting out the door, just as Heidi approached. They both gave each other a hard stare before Annie sighed, moving further down the office.
Heidi raised her eyebrows. “Do I want to know?”
“Nope,” Zara exhaled.
“Looked pretty tense to me,” Heidi muttered, glancing down at the letter on the table. “She left you a card.”
“I’m aware, Heidi.”
“Hmm,” she noted. “By the way, I thought I should let you know your dad called earlier. I overheard the receptionist talking,” Heidi said.
“Fabulous, just what I needed.”
“Oof, that bad of a relationship, huh?” Heidi sat down on the bed. She observed Zara’s tense face, studying every strong feature as it tried to settle into an emotionless mask.
“It’s not like that. I love Baba, but he worries a lot,” Zara sighed.
“Aw, that’s cute. You call him ‘Baba’,” Heidi smiled endearingly. “I try to give my Dad a nickname and he gives me a look that questions whether I’m a blood relation.”
Zara chuckled softly.
She scratched her arm absentmindedly, wondering how her father was doing. She missed him dearly and their long phone chats, but ever since she had started Barcourt, she found it harder to speak on the phone. If it wasn’t a long assignment due or the exhaustion of classes, she lost an ounce of energy every week. She had Jasper Rashford to thank partly for that, that much she was sure.
“I should call him tomorrow,” Zara yawned, stretching her arms.
“I’d better let you rest,” Heidi moved up, brushing her shirt for invisible dirt. “Listen, I know we’re not exactly...close and all, but if you need anything, don’t be a stranger.”
“Thanks...I think?” Zara smiled.
“Don’t mention it,” Heidi moved to the exit before turning back, giving Zara a warning look. “Seriously, do not mention it.” Her face broke into a small, cheeky smile before nodding, heading out of the office, echoed by the shut of the oak doors.
Rubbing her tired face, she realised it was just after one o’clock. Everyone was probably in class by now, writing away, chatting with their friends while Zara was stuck alone in the medical room.
Loneliness was a horrid thing.
“Knock, knock,” an amused, baritone voice sang.
She had spoken too soon.
Theo walked into the room, smiling as though he knew a naughty secret that nobody else did. He looked as handsome as ever; those cheeky, dark eyes that were decorated in a sea of thick lashes, as his mouth twitched in a mischievous, boyish smirk, a contrast to his strong, chiseled features. Zara had to push down the flurry of butterflies that were beating down at her stomach.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Zara rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the small smile away.
He moved to sit on the bed, although his position was closer to her than Heidi had been. Zara forced herself not to blush at the proximity. Jasper’s taunting words rang in her ears from last night.
‘Are you blushing?’ ‘I have that effect on women…’
His haughty, smug face was the last image she wanted to remember right now.
“Are you alright?” Theo noted, observing her.
Zara composed herself, smiling tightly. “I’m fine.”
“You’re a wonderful liar when you want to be,” he smirked, leaning forward towards Zara, watching as she blushed at his proximity. “But now is not one of those times.”
Everything felt hot. Was it normally this hot? Zara felt her cheeks flame, betraying
her emotions. Theo mused at the sight, his gaze dropping to her round cheeks.
“So, how’s Econ going? And Music?” Zara cleared her throat. “Wait, don’t you have class right now?”
Please stop blushing, please stop blushing, please stop blushing
Zara repeated the mantra in her head until her body complied. This was too mortifying.
He leaned back on his arms, brushing the side of her leg, whilst still holding onto his cheeky grin. “Skipped it. Same, boring classes. Not so fun without you.”
“Liar.”
Theo arched his eyebrow. “I am not.”
“You’re a charmer, Theo, I’ll give you that,” Zara met his stare head-on. “But it won’t work on me. Can’t you swoon another girl around here? Preferably one that isn’t wrapped up in bandages.”
“Swoon?” Theo smirked, his dangerous eyes taking a intrigued glint. “You think I’m flirting with you?”
“I will not be so arrogant to say yes but if you could drop the act -”
“What act?” Theo arched his brow.
“The ‘I care about you’ act and acting like we’re friends,” Zara inhaled deeply. “You’re still his friend and you’re responsible for what happened. You knew and you could have stopped it. That’s what a friend does.”
Theo sighed, averting her gaze. He clenched his jaw, his mind working at a hundred miles per hour. He didn’t know what to say; it seemed. Theo Hamlish, lost for words?
Ludicrous.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
He released a frustrated breath, running his hands through his shaggy black hair. “I’m not a good man, Zara. I know that already.”
Her mouth opened with wordless confusion. Where had that come from?
“N-no, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s true, though,” Theo chuckled emptily. The action didn’t reach his eyes, missing the previous light. She missed seeing it. A lifeless laugh from him was unsettling, wrong even.
She was desperate to bring life back to that face.
“Theo -”
“Don’t make me feel better, please. You don’t need to pity me.”
“I’m not trying -”
“Yes, you are.”
“Will you listen to me!”
“No,” he mused, watching her exhale in frustration. “I won’t.”
She felt the corners of her mouth lift in an unwanted smile. “You’re stubborn.”
“And you’re no different,” he grinned.
Both of them stared at each other for a few moments longer than necessary, watching the mixture of emotions pass on their expressions. Zara felt her face flush crimson, and she quickly bowed her head, avoiding his clever gaze. Theo chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head.
“I want you to know,” Theo trailed. “I’m sorry for not...for not doing more for you.” He lifted his gaze, finding Zara still hadn’t looked him in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Zara.”
“It’s okay,” she murmured.
“Can you look at me while saying that?”
“Nope,” Zara popped.
“Am I making you -”
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” a cold voice drawled from the door.
Zara’s head shot up, her eyes flashing to meet a stoic, hard pair of silver eyes watching her intently.
Theo sat up, moving closer to where Jasper was standing, but his gaze never faltered; he was studying her with such an intensity that she knew there was a message in there somewhere.
Directly for her.
Chapter Seven
“Hey mate,” Theo said quickly. “Surprised to see you here.”
“Likewise,” he quipped.
Zara shifted awkwardly, confused by the weird tension in the room. Theo lingered near the doorway by Jasper, unsure of what to do or say; something that was unlike him.
“What are you doing here?” Zara said blankly.
Jasper didn’t flinch. “Am I supposed to answer that or your new friend here?”
“No, it’s for you. You’re the one that’s not welcome here,” Zara challenged.
Theo winced slightly. He knew that was a sharp blow.
Jasper didn’t seem perturbed, but Theo knew better; the twitch of his hand was a nervous habit, a sign that the environment affected him, he was sensitive to harsh words. He exhaled deeply, lifting a ghost of a smirk on his lips, as he walked closer to Zara’s bed, taking a seat on the same spot Theo was in.
“Listen, we better leave you to rest,” Theo said, giving Zara a pointed look.
‘Don’t push it, Zara'
She breathed carefully, keeping her irritability at bay. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
“I’ll catch up with you later, Theo. I’ve got some unfinished business with this one,” Jasper said. He tilted his head, anticipating her next retort.
“Don’t think that’s a good idea,” Theo murmured cautiously.
“I’m not asking, Theo,” Jasper retorted. “Do you think we could have a private conversation alone, Zara, or do you need backup this time?”
She gritted her teeth. The taunt and arrogance was there. It was always fucking there.
“If you keep it quick, sure,” Zara tilted her head in response. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Theo.”
She nodded towards him, a softer expression taking hold over her features. Rubbing his face, Theo nodded, getting the message loud and clear.
“Best behaviour, Jas,” Theo warned as he approached the exit. “We’re already on thin ice with Defoe.”
After a few moments, the medical doors made a quiet thud as Theo left, leaving Zara alone with Jasper in the room. She waited patiently. He was going to get the first word in, but she’d have the last.
He watched her intently, searching for something. That expression was here again. That haunted, determined look.
Please don’t blush, she thought. Her face was becoming her greatest enemy.
A moment passed. Not one word.
Oh God, she was going to break.
“What is it!” She huffed.
He broke into a triumphant grin, his smile crinkling the corner of his eyes. “Gotcha. I wanted to see how long you’d go without biting my head off.”
“Can you blame me? You’re like a toddler.”
“I am not,” he scoffed, raising his eyebrows in an affronted manner.
“Are too.”
“Am not.”
“Are too!”
“Am not!”
“Oh my god,” she breathed.
“You started it,” Jasper shrugged, leaning back on his arms.
“Don’t you have class or something?”
“I do,” he shrugged. “And what’s that look for?”
“I’m just thinking about what I did in my past life for you to be bothering me like a bad smell.”
“Do you talk to Theo like this?” He scowled, his tone biting on his friend’s name.
“Theo doesn’t harrass me - wait, that’s not true,” she trailed awkwardly, furrowing her brows. “Well, one thing is that he isn’t a psychopath. An annoying pain in the arse, he may be, but at least I’m not worried if there’s a dagger floating behind his back.”
“A dagger! Really!” He scoffed, leaning closer to her. “You really think I’d kill you in your sleep!”
“Hey, hey, I said nothing about sleep,” she raised her arms, giving him a pointed look.
He scowled again, almost pursing his lips in a pout that looked so odd with his aristocratic face. She stifled a giggle that threatened to leap out of her throat. It was useless though; he caught her expression like a hawk.
"And just what are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” she pursed her lips. “Is there something you wanted? It must be pretty urgent if you’re skipping class.”
He scoffed. “I miss class regardless. Don’t feel too special.”
“I’ll try my best,” she gave him a dirty look.
“See! There! You’re doing it again,”
he pointed. “You give me that look that makes me feel like I’m five.”
“Can you blame me? You hardly ever act your age.”
“Yes, Mum(!)"
“What do you -”
“I came to see you,” he interrupted curtly. He anticipated her question perfectly.
Zara paused, feeling dislodged emotionally. There it was again. That spanner in the works. The bump on the road. The distraction that threw her off course.
“Okay,” she said blankly. Her eyes watched him with a sharp precision, being cautious not to miss a single flash or sliver of emotion.
He met her inquisitive stare. “You’re not going to derail the conversation like last time? You’ll actually listen this time?”
She grit her teeth together. “Yes.”
“Well, in that case,” he murmured dangerously, leaning closer to her, watching the tiny sparks of indignation beneath her large, liquid golden brown eyes as they fought to stay in control. Desperate to hold the power. Determined to have the upper hand.
He smirked. A pretty girl with that kind of spirit was a dangerous mix.
He was getting closer and closer, pushing her buttons even more than before. Zara’s whole body became taut with tension.
“I should choose my next words carefully.”
Her mouth felt dry as sand, struggling to make out any words. Clearing her throat, she set her face straight. “Spit it out. I haven’t got all day.”
He smirked slowly before the corners of his lips simmered down, as his silver, elusive eyes travelled down her face, reaching the expanse of her lips. They quivered at his persistent stare. She didn’t miss the way his pupils dilated into a hard, dark shade.
Fuck. What did he want?
Why was he studying her with such precision? With such...longing?
Looking up, he reached forward to touch the warmth of skin, ever so slightly, with the pads of his fingers. Instantly, she felt a sharp twitch of electricity bolt in her skin, alighting her senses, waking her up to the man in front of her.
Zara slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Zara,” he rasped roughly, his eyes unrelenting.
“No, no, no,” she shook her head fervently. “This is not happening.”
“What’s not happening?” He said angrily, standing up as she scuffled away from him.