ZAYN
She thought she was smart—thinking we didn't know she was listening to our conversation. She thought she could use it against us.
She was wrong.
Because we were smarter.
And whatever we wanted, we got.
Anas and Zeeshan had already made a bet with me. Sure, it wasn't sealed as yet since I had no idea what I was getting in return but I was going to do it no matter what.
"No," I smoothly, drily replied to Anas. The game hadn't even started and already I was tired. "I'm not interested in your stupidities."
Anas tutted, looking in the direction of the rusty gate, to where Leia and Hoor sat outside on the left. I turned my own gaze to the screen in front, seeing both of them sitting on the bench, eavesdropping on us.
It was ridiculous.
This whole plan. Mostly because it made a quiver of thrill run through me.
Pretty sure I wasn't supposed to feel that way about a stupid bet.
We had—Anas and Zeeshan, actually—come up with a plan right after we saw Leia sitting outside. The whole school knew this was our private spot, which is why nobody dared step foot in our premises. I'm assuming I had Zeeshan to thank since he was the one who introduced Hoor, his frenemy/step sister/unrequited love, who in turn must've brought her new friend here.
"Come on, Z," Anas rolled his eyes, shooting me a knowing grin. "We all know you live for this shit. I bet you can't make Leia fall in love with you."
And there it was. The little game plan.
Except, it wasn't really the true thing.
This was for Leia to hear—just the look of shock on her face was worth it—and digest. Because the real bet? That wasn't for her innocent ears.
I felt a twinge of something. It was like an angry monstrous voice in my head that deafened me for a second. I knew what it was. Possessiveness. But I'd rather die than admit that to myself or anyone else.
I also knew why I felt that way. Anas had said 'fall in love', when in fact he meant something very different. He was talking about our real bet. The one that wasn't exactly sealed yet.
If either of these two pricks knew the amount of guilt that rested on my chest, they'd question my manliness. It wasn't my fault that I felt emotions. No matter how much I tried to bury them, I'd never been able to do it with Leia.
And I more than despised that, trust me.
Okay. Maybe don't trust me. Since I was . . . you know, betting on some crap like money and deceiving a person. Also known as my . . . Whoever the hell she was to me.
Nothing, I tried to convince myself. She meant nothing to me.
Which is why I had to agree to this bet. Also, the fact that she left me when I needed her most. How she didn't even try to contact me. Ever. She had said yesterday that she had her reasons but I knew better.
I was just stupid enough to let untrustworthy people into my heart and soul and when they were done with me, they moved on.
That's what my parents had done. And the worst part was, she knew what my mother had done to me. I'd opened up my heart to her. Which is what pissed me off the most.
It wasn't seeing my mother—the woman who abandoned me when I was three—on her deathbed that saddened me. It was the fact that Leia wasn't by my side when I needed her to tell me everything would be alright.
Because I might not have been sad, but I sure as hell was scared. Scared for her since she was going to die and who knew what she'd have to face after death. Scared for Dad because he was turning to alcohol and drugs like an addict—funny, because he had long since moved on after his divorce with my mother.
Mostly, I was scared for myself. Leia was the one person in my life that made me laugh. She was the light to my darkness. I was with her every second of the day, not only because I enjoyed her company but also because life didn't make sense without her.
And I'd lost it when she was gone.
Hell, I was still lost. Another broken male in this school full of jerks and prissy princesses.
"Zayn has gone in a daze," Zeesh pulled me out of the dark places I'd got tangled up in. "Tell us if you can't do it, bro. I, for one, can most definitely give it a try."
Without thinking, I drew back my fist and launched it on his pretty face. I snagged him by the collar of his crinkled uniform and pushed him into the bushes. "What in the ever-living heck did you just say?"
"Woah. Chill, dude." Anas tried to break us apart but it was of no use.
He smirked. "Aw. Someone is possessive. Not to mention, still in love."
I gritted my teeth, digging my thumb into the base of his neck. "Do you want to repeat that?"
He only raised his brow, totally at ease, and lit up a cigarette. Throwing him one last filthy look, I removed my hands from his collar and stepped back before he could smoke in my face.
Anas sighed, muttering obscenities under his breath. "Gosh, you're like a bunch of kittens—"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," I warned him darkly.
He chuckled. "Any-hoo. Let's get back to the bet, shall we, boys?"
I remained silent, eyes on the screen. Leia sat with one leg over the other and ate something from her pink lunchbox. It made me smile in amusement.
It. Freaking. Made. Me. Smile.
I immediately schooled my features into indifference and pulled my gaze from her to Anas. It was hard to focus on what he was saying when the only thought running in my head was, 'damn, she has grown up'.
I was well aware that she had grown up. Too much for my liking, actually.
I wondered what she would look like without that blue hijab and uniform. I wondered whether her skin was as soft as it looked—as it was when she was younger. And mostly I wondered how an innocent-looking, pretty girl like her could be so ugly from the inside.
It disgusted me.
"Dude, are you even listening to me?"
I shrugged. "Sorry, I zoned out. What nonsense were you barking?"
"Don't translate from Urdu to English," He reprimanded, apparently delusional I was doing anything like that.
Before I could tell him just that, Zeeshan butted in, waving a cigarette-laden hand in the air. "Get back to barking before the bell rings."
Anas closed his eyes and drew a breath. "I just said don't translate. And it's not like you care whether the bell rings or not. You don't even attend a single class."
"No wonder you flanked Bio last year," I muttered wryly.
Zeesh shot me a very unpleasant look. He usually didn't care whether he passed or not but it was because of a certain girl sitting outside listening to us that he was pissed.
Revenge successfully taken.
"Anas," He made it clear that he wasn't addressing me. Fine by me. "Get to the point."
"Right. So, Zayn, you in?"
I took my time to consider. "What do I get when she falls in love with me?"
"When?" Zeeshan laughed humourlessly. "You sure are confident that you'll get someone like Leia to fall for you."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Just because your crush isn't interested in you, doesn't mean people aren't falling at my feet for attention."
He huffed angrily, ready to lunge for me. Sadly, Anas prevented our little fight from happening. It was long since due. I wouldn't mind covering him up in his pool of blood. And from the murderous look in his eyes, neither would he.
I couldn't wait.
"Can we please focus?" Anas's voice got louder. "As for your question, Z, I'll answer it after I've made one little thing clear. We all know you can make Leia fall in love with you sooner or later. But here's the challenge: it has to be within this month."
This month!?
If he was actually talking about making her 'fall in love with me', it would've easily been done within a week. But he was talking about that. The real bet.
And that really was a challenge.
Because there was a small thing I'd kept hidden from everyone. Even from them. And I wasn't sure if I wanted that within this month. For her and me.
"Well, that's a little unfair, don't you think?" I inquired, thrusting my fingers through my hair.
Zeeshan snorted out an annoying laugh. It grated on my nerves. "Unfair? Told you he couldn't do it."
"If I remember correctly," I began, "you're the one who lost the last bet we made."
He bristled. It was a sore spot for him and I immediately felt a little bad. Sue me and my emotions. Well, a conscience was more like it.
But if I agreed to this bet, it would prove that I didn't have one.
"Anas, continue. Tell me what I'll get and I might consider taking up on it."
"Don't command me," He said and I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Tell me your price."
I didn't even have to think about it. "Your Bugatti,"
There was a pause and then Anas fell into fits of laughter. "Bro . . . that was so . . . funny."
I gave him a bland look.
His face immediately straightened. "Wait. You weren't kidding?"
I pointed to myself. "Does it look like it?"
"Bro, you can't be serious. I might be pumped to see how it turns out between the two of you but that doesn't mean I'm willing to sell my baby. Be a bit more reasonable."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "It's either the Bugatti or the bet's off."
Anas cursed, turning to Zeeshan. "Can you reason with him?"
I was awarded with a long, contemplative look from Zeeshan. "You already have the AM, why do you need his car?"
"Exactly why some people have more than one wife," I smirked at the idea.
So did Anas. A dreamy look passed in his eyes. "I'm telling you now, I'll have exactly four wives and maybe . . . forty children? Ten from each, definitely."
Zeeshan mockingly snapped his fingers in front of Anas's face. "Snap out of it, dude. I'll be surprised if a single woman was willing to marry you."
Anas looked pissed. It was a rare look for someone lively like him but Zeeshan brought out the worst in people.
"Can we focus?" I stared hard at the two of them and they sighed, relenting.
"Is there another option? Something else you want?"
I shook my head and tapped my wrist as though I was wearing a watch. "Time's running out."
"Wait, wait. Can there be, like, two things? My baby is out of question but in turn, you can have two choices. How does that sound?" Anas looked hopeful.
I thought about it. Then grunted in agreement. "Great. So here's what I want: number one, you're getting me into that fighting club you're always talking about and number two—"
"Hell no," Anas howled.
I gave him a 'what the hell' look. Whatever that meant.
He widened his eyes as if telling me something.
"What? Don't you have a mouth to speak with?"
He sighed, pointing to the bushes on our left. Where Leia and Hoor sat. Right. He was reminding me that they were still there.
"It's illegal," He whispered.
I shot him a pseudo innocent look. "Exactly why I'm asking you to get me in."
"What would you do with that? Z, it's dangerous. I'm not letting you fight with those men. It's going to get bloody."
"Can you do it or not?" I barked impatiently.
"No," He said. "Something else. Ask for anything else but this or the Bugatti."
I slapped him on the shoulder in farewell. "Then, I'm not interested."
He groaned, blocking my way. "Fine. God, I hate you so much right now, Z."
I raised a single eyebrow. "So? Should I name my other wish?"
His shoulders slumped. "No, bro. I'm giving you the Bugatti."
I grinned in triumph. Nothing I loved more than sportscars. Or winning bets.
"That is, if you win."
That 'if' was pointless. I always won. And this time would be no different.