When thinking about peace, the first thing that comes to mind is calm and quiet. The first feeling that comes, is the sense of being stress free. Thats what I had.

Even though the project was looming over me and the deadline got closer, working towards completing it felt easy and stress free.

As each day went by, Zac and I slowly chipped away. We were getting one step closer to the finishing line. Day by day, we moulded our great business plan and started to set our presentation.

It felt like I wasn't working with the Zac I've known my whole school life. This was a new Zac, someone who didn't get on my nerves and made my blood boil.

In the midst of all this, I couldn't figure out why Zac had changed. We spent our whole school lives 'hating' each other. I for one, couldn't stand the sight of him, any chance he got he would taunt and tease me. Now, we were practically business partners who could peacefully endure hours of working together.

My distant thoughts were interrupted by Mrs Barker. After coming back from day dreaming, I realised that I was in my art lesson.

"As your art exam is soon approaching," Mrs Barker addressed the whole class. "You will need to start planning your final piece, which will contribute to sixty-five percent of your final grade. I'm giving you the opportunity this lesson, to start brainstorming ideas for your final piece. Discuss with your peers and feel free to ask me any questions."

Mrs Barker nodded her head at us, indicating for us to carry out our thinking. Ruby fast approached from behind and sat next to me.

"Any thoughts on what you're going to do?" She asked, flicking through her own sketchbook.

"I think I have an idea."

"What? What is it?" Ruby stopped flicking through her sketchbook and her beady eyes land on me, waiting for me to explain.

"Well I was thinking," I let out in a whisper, making sure nobody else heard and got the opportunity to steal my idea.

"Combining two different mediums, so like pictures and drawings. I want to have a collage of pictures, but there will be sections missing, which will be filled by my drawings."

Ruby narrowed her eyes, and tilted her head, as if she was taking in what I had said.

"Pictures?" She asked in an ominous tone.

I shook my head, waiting for her to elaborate.

"You're not inspired due to a certain someone?" She mischievously questioned.

At first I didn't comprehend what she was asking, but all of a sudden, it got to me. Just as I was about to remove any doubtful ideas in her head, we were interrupted.

"So, what's going on between you and Zac?" Melissa's shrilling voice sparked into my ear.

Annoyingly, I turned my head, to see her seated on the edge of my table. Her arm leaned onto the table, tapping with her long finger nails waiting for me to say something.

"What do you mean?" I bluntly replied.

"Lately, you two seem a little close-"

"We're partners in our business project, what do you expect?" I butted in, not allowing her to end her sentence.

She let out a condescending low chuckle, irking her lips upwards and looking at me in a menacing way.

"It's looking a little more than that," She replied with her slight smirk.

I felt a flash of annoyance and irritation spark inside me. Melissa's mere presence at the end of my table spiked my anger. I was beginning to lose my patience.

"What the hell are you talking about," Ruby replied for me, making sure she didn't raise her voice.

"I've seen the way you now look at Zac," Melissa said, confusing me even more. Her words were fumbling out like a riddle.

I let out an frustrated grunted and a quick sigh. "Look you're pissing me off now. You either tell me what mean or just get back to your desk."

Her stabbing blue eyes, continued to stare right at me, like she was reaching into my soul. Her brief chuckle and snickers were flooding my veins with anger.

"You like Zac," Is all she let out, which brought me to a shocked state, where I sat like a frozen sculpture.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I snorted.

"Girls, is everything okay?" Mrs Barker asked as she peered to us in our direction.

All I could do was nod, in order for her to focus elsewhere. When she did, my attention was drawn back to Melissa.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I don't like Zac," I defended myself as her idiotic claim.

"Sure if you say so," Melissa responded in the least convincing tone. With that said, she moved back to her own seat.

Once again, I was sat still like a frozen sculpture, pondering on Melissa's claim. I peered intently in front of me, thinking where she got the idea from.

I side eyed towards Ruby, who looked at me in bewilderment. No words left her mouth as she too, was pondering on what Melissa said.

The rest of my art class, I was stuck deep in thought. My concentration level were not on point. My mind couldn't understand why Melissa said those words. What made her say that. Was it the way I looked at Zac? Was it the way I spoke to him?

I felt as if my actions towards him were the same, the only thing different is that I was able to tolerate him. With that being pointed out, I felt like I had to concentrate on the way I was around him.

***

The rich deep aroma of coffee, captivated my senses. Simply by the smell, it felt like I was awoken from my drowsiness. The buzz and whirls of the coffee machines, mixed with the chatter of the barristers and customers, filled the cafe.

The baked goodies, ranging from muffins to brownies, shined brightly in the display at the front. I eyed them up, salivating at the look and smell of them.

Sitting at the brown rustic table, I waited for my coffee. A few minutes go by and Ruby finally arrived with a tray in her hands. She carefully set them down and plodded on her seat across from me.

The steam from the coffee looked as if it was dancing upwards. Disappearing into thin air. The scent of vanilla from my coffee, masked my nose which enabled me to lick my lips at the rich scent of coffee it was mixed with.

Ruby had her bottom lip caught between her teeth, her eyes moved from the side and then to me, as if she wanted to say something.

"Spit it out," I sighed.

"What?" She responded, shrugging her shoulders, like I couldn't see how she was acting.

"I know you want to say something, so spit it out."

Ruby cleared her throat, and leaned forward. "I kinda get what Melissa was saying-"

"What the hell you talking about?" I spat out my words, butting in. "What has Melissa said, that you're agreeing with."

Ruby opened her mouth, but she was hesitant in what she wanted to say. I raised my brows, leaning my head forward, waiting for her to say something.

"About you and Zac," Mumbled Ruby.

I felt a spark of irritation soar inside me, my eye twitched at what Ruby had said. And just as I was about to let a flurry of words escape me, Ruby beat me to it.

"Wait! Just hear me out first," She quickly said. "I'm not gonna lie, I've noticed a difference as well. It's like you can talk about him and say his name with out making a face or pretending to gag. I've not heard you say one bad thing about him recently."

I sat there, wide eyed, staring at Ruby. My brain was trying to compute and register her point.

"Well, we've been working together, he's not done anything to annoy me, so I can't complain," I shrugged, not adding anything else to my response.

"You would tell me if-"

"If I what? If I like him?" I interrupted Ruby once again. "We've had this conversation already. Trust me, I don't."

"Okay, I believe you," Replied Ruby, holding her hands up as if she was surrendering.

Something about the tone of her voice, seemed to me as if she wasn't convinced with what I was saying. It felt odd how Melissa and Ruby both had similar thoughts. Was I missing something?

Deep down I knew that something between Zac and I changed. From the moment we got trapped in the basement, it was like a switch had flipped between us.

Zac started to get tolerable. He wasn't constantly jabbing me with his spiteful words. I didn't feel infuriated by his presence. A sudden thought entered into my mind, this may be what Melissa and Ruby had noticed.

To me it wasn't a big issue, I didn't think it was out of the ordinary. But now, I'm doubting my actions around Zac.

Have I really changed?

A/N

Ruby and Melissa thinking the same thing? That's odd...

Is everyone noticing something besides Hannah...

Share your thoughts! Don't forget to vote and comment

Love _xxAMxx