"I think . .this is you going way too far now."

He glanced at Rad, his blue eyes flickering with  amusement.

"Chickening out? Are we?" His lips pulled up into a taunting little smile.

Rad shook his head.

"No. It's — it's too much. I can recognize when things are getting too much. And besides the girl is decent—"

Zack straightened up so fast as if electrocuted.

A dark cloud descending on his face.

"A decent human? Looks like you have been catching up with her . Behind my back. " His voice was cut throat. Not forgiving at all.

Zack caught himself right at the last second because what the fuck? Why did it feel wrong to hear Rad talking about her?! Why did he , the Zachary Smith, flied off the handle?!

Rad seems unfazed by his open hostility.

It wasn't the first time he was seeing his best friend fall headfirst into the ego trap. He had seen it all.

Rad was leaning against the Porsche while Zack's eyes flashed dangerously as if he was on the verge of losing his patience.

"I met her." His voice was quiet.

Zack seemed startled. Disbelief coloring his clear eyes.

"You. .you have been fucking with that fat ass—"

Rad stood up straight.

The both of them standing eye to eye.

Zack looking betrayed.

Rad had pity all over his face.

"Watch your words. Watch it. Look at yourself , man! She's taking over you! You can't seem to differentiate between right and wrong!! " Rad snapped and he rarely did that.

Zack raised his index finger in warning.

"You're no one to talk crap to me! You're no one to talk about Mia—," he trailed off , his face contorted in rage .

Rage at himself.

For taking her name. .as if he liked the sound of it!

Rad didn't flinch when Zack punched the windshield.

He didn't bat an eye when Zack's knuckles turned raw and the windshield had a visible crack on it . .like a zig zag.

Zack was breathing hard. His eyes wild and his nostrils flared. .  .

Rad sighed.

"You're playing with a human's life. Let that sink in. "

Zack felt his heart tugging at the comment . .something akin to guilt seeping in his heart . .but he would rather die than accept it.

His ego had blinded him.

It had faded everything around him but the target.

"The second I get what I want, I'll drop her like nothing. I didn't play the whole my father is dead shit just so I can blow everything up later. "

Rad seemed incredulous at his shameless admission.

"What ? What the actual fuck Zack? Are you—fucking shit. ." He whispered not believing his ears.

What had one stupid bet turned his best friend into?

The rage had seeped out of him as fast as it had arrived. And he leaned back against the car. . exhausted.

"I told her my father's dead. Well it isn't a lie since he's for me. " He shrugged carelessly.

"He isn't dead , Zack. He isn't. That's just sick. You shouldn't have done this.  " Rad's inside crawled up with disgust at his friend.

"And you shouldn't have placed a bet on her." Zack said simply.

Rad had no answer for that.

××××××××××××××××

| Mia |

Every time I visited Mrs Kehr , she would call me a sheherzadi.

I never got it.

But than I got curious and googled it.

It meant princess / someone from a Royal lineage.

Ha!

If only.

Really , it was strange how I felt home with them around. Iqra kept cracking inappropriate jokes and her mother would shook her head with a warm smile .

Or give her the mom eye saying " Iqra."

And she would shut up.

"I'll invite them tomorrow. " Mom said while flipping the omelette . .the oil sizzled up.

"I was dying to invite them over! I'll order pizza and some burgers for Iqra." I exclaimed excited at the prospect of them finally visiting us.

I had begged and begged Mrs Kehr to come visit us but she would always decline politely and tell me when the owner of the home invites then she would definitely come.

She said it brings good luck when the owner invites.

Mom smiled seeing me smiling like crazy.

I had no immediate family alright. So people visiting us always got me happy .

××××××××××××××××××

I looked like a starfish.

Spread on the lawn of my school with my hands and legs stretched out and the sunlight hitting my face . .it was a starfish moment.

I knew people were staring but ehh who cared when the sun loved me at all the right places.

With my eyes shut, I let my mind wander. .let it go loose. .let it go and then my stupid pea brain decided to flash a hot face !

I would like to think of my brain as a pimp. It was pimping Zack at me while waggling the eyebrows.

You wans it! I know you do!

I think it's never always about wanting . .it's all about getting. Crushing didn't lead up to anywhere except a dead alley . Me crushing over a guy wouldn't get me anywhere so I was happy being in the gray area.

And. .

Whatever we shared yesterday. .it should remain in yesterday and not follow me around but how come it pulled at my heartstrings? Feeling his hand on mine. .

If his entire existence didn't matter than how the heck did I spill my colorful beans to him?

I didn't even say those things to Gloria and—

"Why do I always find you at odd angels?"

That deep voice didn't even make me change  my position because I was used to him catching me like this.

So I didn't sit up.

"It's you again." Unlike his amused voice , mine was dry.

Slowly I opened my eyes. .one by one. . squinting first at the bright light and then him— the sun was behind him so he looked like a dark shadow over me.

I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my palms and this time when I looked. .I could see him as clear as clear could get.

White T-shirt on and washed off jeans. .a small smile on his face. .he looked like a dream.

A teenage dream.

I was sure my stomach looked bloated . .the meat piling over me. And I dared him to look at the flab.

The smile turned into a slight shake of his head and then he dropped down! Right by my side! Occupying the space right by me!

Heads turned at him choosing to sit by me!

It was too public! I was getting self conscious and I rarely got like that. I guess when a nearly perfect human being is sitting by your side you do get conscious.

His posture was lazy.

His palms flat on the grass, his weight leaning on his arms as he watched me with a roguish smile.

"I'm not going on a date with you." I blurted out to hide my uneasiness.

I was blatantly ignored.

"I thought about what you said that day," he raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck slightly," and I'm sorry if I ever made you feel . . uncomfortable or something. Everyone is perfect the way they are. And yesterday when I saw you —"

I sat up.

And he stopped.

"I don't wanna talk about it." I said in a clipped voice while staring at the fat crow pecking on a leftover bread.

"I do." He said softly.

I glanced at him, frowning . .frowning at his eyes that had an ocean fixed in them.

I was sure my double chin had popped up.

"Who asked for your opinion? And if you so wanna talk about it then I would like to ask why?" My voice was hard. Demanding.

He  looked away from me. .staring ahead at nothing.

"I want to know how you do it? Losing your father and being . .strong at the same time? I know I wasn't. . strong. I still am not." He admitted.

Unfortunately what he said did make my heart flutter.

Which kinda made me pissed off.

"You have no right to ask me anything. " I said it all in a rushed manner because I was afraid.

Afraid I would tell him everything.

His neck turned at me .

A curious look on his face.

"Why are you always so. . defensive? Ready to fight? "

"That's the way I'm . Deal with it." I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled.

"Mia, can I ask you something?"

"You already did."

"Be my date for a party."

I whipped my neck at him so hard it cracked.

"Are you a psycho? Because only psychos tend to ignore whatever they are told! I told you I'm not—"

"It's not a date date. It's a party. Nothing much. Besides I'm the one who is throwing it." He said softly. .his eyes being so open and earnest.

My eyebrows knotted.

"Give me one reason I should say yes?"

I watched his face carefully and I was so not ready for what happened next.

He leaned in close. .so close that I couldn't— didn't want to pull back at any cost. Zack had the bluest eyes I had ever seen! The most perfect narrow nose and lips—

His eyes moved from my eyes to my lips. .all over my face. .

"Because . .no one is like you. "

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