From the moment the last year of school started, up until the Christmas holidays, it felt like I had been climbing up a steep mountain. Trying to get to the end point.

When the Christmas holidays finished I had reached to the top, but I wasn't at the end. I had a path to run down, to get what I desired.

This wobbly path I had been running on, was ongoing, there was no end point. My destination was no where to be seen. Many hurdles were thrown towards me, I tried my hardest to dodge them.

At this moment in time, it was like I was presented with another hurdle. The nail-biting moment of selecting which university to go to.

Applying was the easy part, the waiting and not knowing if I had been accepted was mind bending. A hurdle that was hardest to manoeuvre around.

"Have you done it? Have you submitted your applications yet?" Ruby asked, as her eyes were concentrated on the laptop in front of her.

My eyes flickered back and forth towards the submit button, to Ruby and to my surroundings. The large and open study room had students scattered around on circular tables. But, as there was a slight murmurs of chatter, it led me to believe we were the only ones that still had to submit.

"Nearly," I sighed, moving the mouse to hover over the completion button.

"What are you waiting for? I've done mine." Ruby shifted her eyes towards me, with a look of concern highlighting her face.

"Shit," I mumbled under my breath.

Nerves were piling up on me, my legs started to bob up and down. My shaky hands lay upon the mouse, with my body not urging me to click it.

"What's your final three decision?" Ruby enquired in the attempt to get me talking and calm down.

"Business studies at the University of Manchester, Information Management for Business at University College London and Business Studies at New York University." My words trailed off as I stated my last option.

"What?" Ruby's attention was caught within a snap. "New York? Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes," I chuckled. "It's something different, its my last option anyway, and I doubt I'll even get it."

Just as Ruby opened her mouth to reply, it was shut tight as her eyes wandered behind me. I tilted my head to the side and stretched my neck to see what pulled the words from her.

I jerked my head back and winced, from afar Zac looked like he was striding in our direction. Before I could even say anything, he was already to side of me. I inched my head up slightly, with my heart beating like a drum, waiting for him to announce the reason of his arrival at our table.

"Business revision is killing me," he finally let out. "Hannah, please help me revise."

I snorted under my breath, I always had a feeling he would come crawling back for help. I let out a sigh of disapproval, shaking my head in a sarcastic manner. Ruby was suppressing the urge to rupture with laughter.

"Please," he pleaded and then suddenly got on his knees, close to me. My mouth was gaped open and my eyes had widened.

"What are you doing? Get up." I demanded in a low tone, whilst gritting my teeth.

"Hannah, please I am begging you." Zac held his hands together, inching closer and closer to me. "I'll do any thing, please help me."

My brows lifted which peaked my interest. "You'll do anything?"

"Anything," he repeated.

After a few seconds of deliberation, an idea popped into my brain, like a light bulb instantly being pinged.

"Fine, give me some of your photographs for my art exam and I'll help you revise." I folded my arms mischievously and relaxed within my seat, waiting for Zac to accept.

I could sense some doubt and hesitation as he started to stutter, but eventually he gave in.

"Fine," he let out in a defeated tone. "My place, tonight."

"It's a deal." I sent him a wide sarcastic smile.

He lifted his hand, in the bid to get me to shake on it. Without thinking I accepted his shake. As my hands moulded on to his, his warm embrace masked me, and filtered around my body. The touch was soft and sensual which made me feel like I was melting within his touch. For a moment our eyes connected, we were deep in trance like we were the only ones in the room.

I then realised where we were, and jerked my hand back.

"See you tonight," I mumbled, trying to compose myself.

"Erm, yeah see you tonight." Zac got himself up, walking away.

When I turned back to Ruby, her brows were lifted and a slight smirk was pinched on her lips. She had the look of someone witnessing something scandalous.

"What?" I gulped, wriggling in my seat.

"Nothing." She shrugged her shoulders and tried to suppress her laughter.

I rolled my eyes and ignored her. I shot a quick breath out and clicked on the submit button.

It was done.

Now the anticipation of waiting to be accepted, was clouded by the fact that I had accepted to go to Zac's house and help him revise.

Part of me wondered if I had made the right decision.

***

Hesitantly I knocked on the door to the Carters' home. I bit the bottom of my lip, waiting for the door to open. My brain felt like it was zooming back and forth with many thoughts, whether I had made the right decision to help Zac.

The door was then swung open and I was welcomed by the bright and bubbly, Mary.

"Hannah!" She chimed, bringing me into a hug. "I'm guessing you're here to help Zac with his revision, he's up in his room, make your self home."

She lifted the corner of her lips, into a wide and stretched smile and then left me in hallway to their house. I took it upon myself to make my way up to Zac's bedroom.

After darting my eyes towards the various rooms, I made the assumption that his room was the one right behind the banister of the stairs. Once again, I came to a halt and hesitantly knocked.

Within a second Zac called out. "Come in."

I pushed open the door and made myself accustomed to his room. I was in awe, Zac's room was nothing like I imagined. I always had idea that he would be messy like most boys, but it was quite the opposite.

His large poster bed was placed on the opposite wall, with a bedside table on each side. The walls had various floating shelves with different trinkets of items that showcased his love for photography. In various sections on each wall, pictures were hung in a dark brown frame that matched the finish to his bed and bedside table. I knew that the photos were his beautiful creations, the technique and effortless finish of the photos were somewhat familiar.

Just to the right side, Zac sat at his wide corner desk, which was neat and tidy, where a speck of mess was not evident.

"I thought you wouldn't come," Zac chuckled.

"We had a deal remember?" I pointed out, ensuring that he would hold his side of the bargain.

I took note of the empty seat beside him, and placed myself. I failed to realise how close we were sitting. I could feel the heat ejecting from his body. I wriggled my feet, in an attempt to push away the feelings I always had whenever I was in close proximity to him.

"Alright, let's get started," I quickly said, trying to ignore the warm glow inside me.

***

Three hours later and we were at the end of a revision session. Surprisingly, revising together was a breeze. Once we got stuck in, we were rolling out with various cards and tests and it felt like we had competed a mission.

"You are a life saver," Zac happily exclaimed, slumping himself on his bed. "I feel like I'm prepared for the exam. Thank you so much."

"It's okay," I let out in a low tone, subtly blushing at his gratitude. "So... your pictures."

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. Before you came, I selected a few that I thought you'd like. I didn't know how much you wanted, so I picked out ten." Zac pushed himself up from the bed and retrieved a selection of photographs, he made his way back to the desk were I was still seated.

"Ten? That's too much I only wanted two or three." I looked at the selection and then back to Zac, trying to reject his generous act.

"Don't worry about it, use what you like and then keep the rest of them." He inched his hands towards me, getting me to take them off him.

After accepting his generosity, I retrieved them from his grasp, our fingers suddenly connect. It was like a magnetised pull, bringing our touch together. Shivers were jolted down my spine. The warm glow within me, was expanding at the mere slight connection of our fingers.

We were then snapped out of our angelic touch, as Zac's door was swung wide open.

"What the hell is going on here?" A vicious voice interrupted us.

I arched my head over to notice Melissa standing, with her hands on her hips as if she caught us in a crime. I quickly snatched the photographs and shoved them into my bag, stumbling out of my seat.

"Hannah came to help me revise, what's up?" Zac responded, in the hope she wouldn't question further.

"We were supposed to go out," Melissa grunted.

"Shit," Zac muttered under his breath. "Let me get ready, just go downstairs and wait for me."

I took this moment as my time to leave. Without looking back, I hurriedly left the room, with Melissa deathly stare burning into me as I walked passed her.

Before I could get to the stairs, an icy cold touch stung me, I was brought to a stop and forced to turn around.

"I know what you're trying to do," Melissa hissed in a low tone.

I yanked my arm from her stabbing grasp. "And what's that?"

"Stop trying to worm your way in," she said in a low thunderous voice. "I suggest you keep your feelings to yourself and stay away."

"How do you know I have feelings for him?" I questioned.

Melissa's stance changed as she backed up, she clenched down her jaw knowing that she had been caught out.

"I've always known it was you who heard me in the bathroom, but I told you before. You've got nothing to worry about," I responded bravely.

"Keep. Your. Distance." She uttered the word one by one as if she was threatening me.

I narrowed my eyes, forcing a fake smile, and then turning on my heels, walking away from her. I was wordless with rage, I didn't get the opportunity to bid goodbye to Mary, I had just stormed out slamming the door behind me.

I was mere seconds away from exploding like a volcano, but I knew I had to keep myself in check. I couldn't make a scene, especially when it wasn't my own home.

Zac made me feel conflicted. Moments when he was calm and generous to me, he was like a warm glow embedded into my brain. It made me forgot the times we had spiteful spats with each other. Part of me wished we could be close friends, but with Melissa, I couldn't be the wedge between their blossoming relationship.

No matter how much in pained me...

A/N

So Hannah gave in and helped Zac, which led to another moment, which was then cut short because of Melissa...

What are your thoughts on Melissa telling Hannah to back away?

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Love _xxAMxx