Unbreak Me

Monday came slower than I expected it to. School was mostly empty like it always was at early hours of the morning. I gathered some stuff from my locker and headed to the conference room.

Anas and Zeeshan sat on the couch at the left and while Anas seemed to be fast asleep, Zeeshan was stuffing a hash brown into his mouth. Silently, I walked to the table and grabbed one of the many hash browns lying on the table.

Zeeshan's eyes lifted from his phone to glare at me. "That was mine,"

I shrugged, kicking Anas's leg once. His eyes lazily snapped open and he grinned when he saw two equally moody guys staring at him in disdain.

"Let's get this meeting done and over with," Zeesh piqued up, throwing his phone on the table in front.

I nodded, taking a seat.

...

I needed to up my game. Till now, all I'd done was be a jerk to Leia and threaten her like we were in kindergarten. Already four days were wasted. It might have something to do with the fact that I was chickening out...

n.o.body could blame me. I felt like a jacka.s.s, doing what I planned on doing.

I can do it, I told myself. I could most certainly become heartless and break someone's heart like they'd broken mine. Except, Leia wasn't just anyone. She was...

Different.

My friend.

I had a connection with her. Even amidst the events of the past week, I had felt that connection. It was blazing and alive.

But I would do this, nonetheless.

Wouldn't I?

"You wanted to see me?" Leia dragged out the words, standing in front of me with her school uniform crinkled and too big. It was also slightly see-through...

I willed myself to keep my eyes to her face and not wander. I wasn't a creep usually but something about Leia had always enchanted me. Except, we were older now and there was a very different kind of enchantment coursing through me.

She looks sick, I forced the thought. She's too thin. Too...

Okay. I had nothing more. She was simply... perfect.

And I was starting to sound like a lunatic.

Leia pointedly cleared her throat.

And I realised where my eyes were.

d.a.m.n. Me.

I regained my composure, motioning for her to take a seat. She raised her brows, eyeing the cla.s.sroom. It was break time and students weren't allowed inside. Except when the student body had a meeting or... you know, they had to call in on an important discussion.

Which was what this was. An important, professional discussion.

Who was I even kidding?

I wanted to talk to her. So I was going to.

Try to stop me.

"Please sit down," I said gently, shocked at my tone. It was like going through this all over again. Talking to a sweet girl like Leia. Going crazy for said sweet girl.

Except, she wasn't being so sweet anymore. "I think I'll stand, thank you. What did you want

It made my resolution stronger.

She wasn't being nice. I wasn't falling for her. Everything was great. So why did I feel p.i.s.sed off?

"When I say take a seat,"¬—I pushed the chair toward her with my foot—"I mean it."

She kicked the chair farther with her own foot. "And I don't like being told what to do."

I felt a smile tug up my lips but I managed to rein it in. So much had changed but Leia was still the sa.s.sy girl I knew her to be.

"Please," I whispered.

There was a moment of hesitation in her eyes and I took full advantage of it.

"I really do have something to say to you. If you would listen to me?"

She sighed, finally relenting. She tugged her hijab around, making sure her front was completely safe from my wandering eyes.

I swear I wasn't a creep.

But she was making me feel like one.

"Speak," She demanded, opening her lunchbox and taking out... plain bread?

"Why are you eating that?" I suddenly felt angry. "The canteen has everything."

Her hand halted mid-air. I caught the movement of her adam's apple as she swallowed. "I like bread with oil. What's wrong with that?"

Bread with oil? What was this? The 10th century?

"Leia. Tell me the real reason."

"What is wrong with you?" She threw her slice back into her lunchbox. "I could like eating just oil for all you care. Can you get to the real topic now? My break is getting wasted."

I didn't point out the fact that you drank oil, not eat it.

"My problem is your welfare," I responded, trying to keep calm. "Look at yourself, Leia. You're so thin. Is that all you eat?"

Her nostrils flared. I couldn't believe I was just about to see Leia lose her temper. "Not everybody has a helper at home. I have to make mine and Labeeb's lunch. Do you know how much time that takes? No! Of course not!"

I drew back, a little wounded. Not that I was going to show it. "I make my own lunch. You know that better than anyone."

She huffed out a laugh. "Oh, yes. How can I forget? The famous Zayn who doesn't trust anyone to even make his food. He is so suspicious, even his father isn't al—"

"Please," I put a hand up. "Don't try to hurt me. You aren't like this." I take a deep breath. "Now, getting to the point: I'm sick and tired of this, Leia. I'm done holding the past against you. I just want my best friend back."

For a second there was only silence in the room. A whirlwind of emotions swirled in her eyes. I caught her swallow and I could've sworn I heard the thudding of her heart.

"We can't..." She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, we can't be friends."

"Why?" It's only a game, Zayn. Remember the rules. Don't get your feelings involved.

I was pretty certain my feelings were already invested. And that scared me. So, I was in denial. No big deal.

"Why?" She repeated, as if it was a stupid question. "You've pretty much treated me like trash ever since I came here and now you suddenly want to be friends. Seriously? How foolish do you think I am?"

Her chair sc.r.a.ped against the tiled floor as she got up. I shot up from mine too, standing in front of her, blocking her path. She fired me an annoyed look, side-stepping me. I again blocked her way.

"What?" She practically shouted.

I flicked up an eyebrow. "Look in my eyes and tell me I'm lying. Tell me you don't see the hurt. Hurt you caused. Tell me, Leia."

She averted her gaze, stubbornly resting her jaw on her shoulder.

s.h.i.+t.

This girl...

"This isn't about that," She said. "We're older, now. There are no friends.h.i.+ps between members of the opposite gender."

"Oh, come on," I heaved out a frustrated breath. "It's just friends.h.i.+p. Like old times."

Yeah, and I have all sorts of friendly intentions.

She rolled her eyes. "You know how guys hate clingy girls? Well, I hate persistent guys. So, I suggest you let me go now. You've ruined enough of my time."

Just when she said that the bell rang, indicating the end of break. s.h.i.+t, I didn't let her finish her lunch. And she couldn't finish it now because—

A horrible screeching noise filled the entire cla.s.sroom—the whole school, in fact. Leia startled, letting out a little scream. Just as students rushed into the cla.s.s, I grabbed Leia's arm and shoved her under the teacher's desk. She was visibly shaking with shock and fear but I didn't have time to explain.

I sprinted to the door and slammed it shut, locking the bolts before sliding myself under the desk with Leia.