We set out on our journey to find a forest or green area near the village for the project. I packed everything I might need in a suitcase. As I stepped out of the dorm entrance, I bumped into Irene, Zayn's clingy girl, who always seemed to hover around him. She gave me a once-over, her expression smug and curious.
"Oops, I'm sorry," she said, although her tone didn't sound very apologetic.
"It's fine," I replied, trying to brush past her, but she blocked my path slightly.
"Where are you going?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as if trying to figure out what I was up to with Zayn.
"To the nearest village ," I answered vaguely, hoping she'd just leave it at that.
She paused for a moment, then leaned in as if sharing a secret. "Be careful," she said with a little smirk, "Zayn's really crazy, you know. He's unpredictable. Keep that in mind." Her tone was laced with something that made me uneasy, but I just stared at her, puzzled by her cryptic warning.
I gave her a curt nod and walked toward Zayn's car, eager to escape the conversation. I slid into the passenger seat, and before long, we were on the road, heading toward the village where we hoped to find a forest suitable for our project.
As we set off on the journey in Zayn's car, the atmosphere between us was tense yet charged with an odd sense of anticipation. The open road stretched out before us, leading away from the busy dorms and city streets into more rural, quieter surroundings. I tried to focus on the passing scenery, but Zayn's constant attempts at conversation—or rather, flirtation—made it difficult to relax.
"Alright, sweet pie, ready for a fun adventure?" Zayn teased as he glanced over at me from the driver's seat, flashing that signature smirk.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "First of all, stop calling me that. Second, this is a school project, not some 'fun adventure.' I'm here to win, not to entertain you."
He chuckled, clearly not taking my irritation seriously. "You wound me. But hey, teamwork makes the dream work, right? You do your thing, and I'll be right beside you, offering my full support. You'll be amazed by how useful I can be."
I snorted. "Useful? You? I'll believe it when I see it."
He turned to face me briefly, raising an eyebrow in mock offense. "Ouch. Have some faith in your partner."
Silence settled for a while as the car sped along the highway, the noise of the tires on the asphalt the only sound between us. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the fields and forests that passed by outside the window. It was peaceful, but the underlying tension of Zayn's presence kept me on edge.
"So," Zayn broke the silence again, "if you're not going to chat with me, maybe you'd like to drive?"
I blinked, taken aback. "Drive? Me? In *your* car?"
"Why not?" He shrugged, a playful glint in his eye. "It'll be fun. Come on, live a little. I promise I won't laugh if you crash."
I scoffed, but there was a tiny part of me that liked the idea of proving him wrong. I wasn't the world's greatest driver, but I could handle myself. Besides, if I kept sitting here, I'd have to endure more of Zayn's endless attempts to irritate me. Maybe driving would distract me.
"Fine," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. "Pull over."
He grinned, clearly surprised that I was actually going along with it, and he smoothly steered the car to the side of the road. After switching seats, I settled into the driver's side, adjusting the seat and mirrors while Zayn lounged casually beside me, arms crossed, watching my every move.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," he said, his tone teasing but not as overbearing as before.
I took a deep breath and pressed down on the gas, easing the car back onto the road. The engine hummed beneath my feet, and for a moment, the power of being in control of the vehicle gave me a strange sense of freedom.
"You're doing great," Zayn commented, and for once, he wasn't sarcastic. "See? I knew you had it in you."
I kept my eyes on the road, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied smoothly, leaning back in his seat. "Though I've got to say, you look pretty good behind the wheel."
"Focus on the road, Zayn," I warned, though I could feel a small, traitorous smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. His relentless charm was irritating, but sometimes it was hard not to be amused by it.
After a while, the initial tension of driving faded, and I began to feel more confident. The road was mostly empty now, winding through rolling hills and past small farms. The village where we were headed wasn't far off, and I knew soon we'd have to switch back, but for now, I enjoyed the feeling of control.
I pulled over and switched seats with Zayn, letting him take the wheel for the rest of the way.
"Nice driving," he said with a grin as we settled back into our original seats. "I might make a racer out of you yet."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't count on it."
———————
Finally, we arrived at a small village with a forest nearby. A few of our classmates had already staked out their project areas, but I wasn't too concerned. I was focused on finding the perfect spot, and after dragging Zayn with me, we found a nice patch of forest near a pond. It was quiet, lush, and teeming with life—ideal for our project.
"I found the perfect spot!" I announced, relieved that we had something to work with. "Mark the territory."
Zayn gave me a devilish grin. "What, like a dog? Should I pee on it?"
I glared at him, irritated by his constant jokes. "No, with these," I snapped, handing him a land-marking stick. "Put it down over there."
He took the stick with a smirk and placed it on one side of our project space, while I placed mine on the opposite side. The area was big enough for us to work, and I smiled to myself, relieved that at least this part of the plan was going smoothly.
As the sun began to set, we realized we needed a place to stay for the night. We headed back to the village and found a small motel, but there was only one room available.
"I'll pass," I said quickly, stepping back. The last thing I wanted was to share a room with Zayn. The situation was awkward enough without adding that to the mix.
Zayn raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "What's wrong?" he asked, leaning in slightly. "Afraid you'll be tempted by my presence?"
I shot him a look, determined not to let him win this round. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth, "but don't expect me to put up with your nonsense."
He grinned, knowing he'd gotten under my skin again. "That's more like it, sweet pie."
Ignoring him, I went to the front desk to finalize the booking. Zayn paid for the room in advance, covering the fees for an entire week, much to my annoyance.
"I'll pay you back once we win the prize," I said firmly, already making a mental note to save up the money.
As we made our way to the room, I tried to lift my suitcase, but before I could protest, Zayn took it from my hand and carried it up the stairs without a word. I wanted to argue, but I was too tired from the long day to bother. Instead, I followed him to the room, determined to keep my distance.
The room itself was small but cozy. A single bed, a desk, and a tiny bathroom were all it had to offer. I glanced at the bed, then at Zayn. He was already sprawled out on it, looking far too comfortable.
"I'm taking the floor," I declared, grabbing a spare blanket from the closet.
Zayn shrugged. "Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, you know where I'll be."
I rolled my eyes and set up a makeshift bed on the floor, laying out the blanket and using my suitcase as a pillow. It wasn't the most comfortable setup, but it would do. I just needed to get through the night without any incidents.
As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think about Irene's warning.
The room was silent, save for the sound of Zayn shifting slightly on the bed. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look at him.
"You're awfully quiet," he said after a while, his voice soft. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.
"Liar."
I sighed, turning over to face the wall. "Just go to sleep, Zayn."
He didn't push any further, much to my relief. Eventually, his breathing evened out, and I knew he had fallen asleep. But I stayed awake for a long time, my mind racing with thoughts of the project. I am so determined to win it.