After class ended, I waited, watching her from across the room. Eva was talking to her, laughing at something, but Amira's expression was distant, like her mind was somewhere else. She hadn't spoken to me since that moment in class when I answered the physics question, and it was driving me crazy. I needed her attention. I needed her to look at me the way she had when we were alone in my room.
When the crowd thinned, and Eva finally left, I made my move. Walking up to her, I leaned casually against the desk next to hers, crossing my arms. She didn't look up at first, pretending not to notice me, but I could see the way her fingers hesitated over her notebook.
"You busy?" I asked, my voice low, deliberate.
She didn't answer immediately, just kept scribbling in her notes as if I wasn't standing there. That only made me want her more. Amira was stubborn, I'd give her that, but I wasn't the type to back down easily.
"I'm free later," she finally said, her voice flat, as if she was doing me a favor. But I saw through it. She was trying to keep her cool, to act unaffected.
"That's not what I asked," I murmured, moving closer, my hand brushing against her notebook. "I asked if you're busy now."
Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, those dark eyes burning with irritation—or something more, something she was trying hard to bury. "What do you want, Zayn?"
The sound of my name on her lips did something to me, something primal that I was fighting hard to control. Every part of me wanted to grab her, to push her up against the wall and kiss her until she stopped pretending like she didn't feel this too. But I couldn't. Not yet.
"I need more help with physics," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The way I said it wasn't innocent, and we both knew it. "Tonight."
She swallowed hard, her eyes darting away from mine. "Fine. Same time as before?"
I nodded, unable to stop the smirk that tugged at the corner of my lips. "Yeah. But this time, don't act so scared of me."
"I'm not scared of you," she snapped, finally looking back at me with fire in her eyes. Good. I liked that.
I leaned in closer, our faces just inches apart. I could see her breath hitch, the way her chest rose and fell just a little faster than before. "We'll see about that."
That evening, when she showed up at my place, I could tell she was on edge. She walked into my room like she was preparing for a battle, her posture stiff, her eyes flickering around the space as if making sure nothing had changed.
I was leaning against the door, watching her, arms crossed over my chest. The sight of her in her school uniform, all prim and proper, only made me want to tear it off her even more. But I forced myself to stay cool, to keep the hunger in check, even though every muscle in my body screamed for release.
"Let's start with a new chapter ," she muttered, pulling out her books and sitting at the desk, as if she could just ignore the way I was looking at her.
I pushed myself off the wall and walked over, my footsteps slow, deliberate. She didn't look up, but I saw the way her fingers trembled slightly as she flipped through the pages of her textbook. She was pretending to be unaffected, but I knew better.
I sat down next to her, close enough that our knees brushed. She stiffened, trying to focus on the words in front of her.
"Well,I am impressed today ," she said, glancing at me from the corner of her eye as she was flipping pages in her books. "I didn't think you were paying attention."
I flashed her a grin, leaning on the desk with one hand supporting my head. "I always pay attention when it's you, Amira."
She rolled her eyes, though I caught the small smile she tried to hide. "You're impossible."
"And you love it," I shot back with a wink.
Amira brushed off my flirtation, and started teaching me . I started admiring her.
Later, after an hour,she grabbing her bag and heading for the door. But just as she was about to step out, she hesitated, turning back and closing the door behind her like she is hiding to save her life. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Do you miss me already?" I teased, my voice low as I watched her press her back against the door, her expression tense.
"Shh!" she whispered urgently, her eyes flicking to the door.