CHAPTER FOURTEEN
point of view | zayne ali
...
"no, no," yasmine said shaking her head, "i would never! are you kidding? me? in a fight?" i smiled a little as she continued and wiggled her arms, "look at these noodle arms! they look like the lead to a pencil! a mechanical one! that skinny .7 lead!"
i chuckled quietly. disagreeing mentally, "hush. you're lovely."
"nah i bet you got hands." i told her and she shook her head smiling, giggling.
"nahhhh," she said waving her hand, "respectfully. no."
"nahhhh yes." i countered again, because i liked to see her smile slowly get bigger, "i bet you could pull a jason bourne under pressure."
her laugh crackled, "i LOVE jason bourne! yes!" i felt my a smile tug harder against my lips. i used my hand to cover my face and looked at her, "i watched all the movies! we should watch them together!" the offer made my stomach queasy and she sent me a lovely smile.
...
"do you play any sports?" i questioned yasmine.
she shook her head no. her warm delicate hand finding its way into mine as her and i walked down the hallway. her soft fingers intertwined with mine leaving a burning sensation in my chest. i felt the coldness of my hand vanish. it was nice.
"they only thing i do after school i sleep!" she said laughing at her own words. i sent her a small smile that made her pupils dilate a fraction on an inch, "nah i do my homework then i write."
"so ... um you're mostly free?" i asked carefully. her expression changed for a millisecond, before i could read it, it quickly changed back to her warm smile.
"yes, zayne. i am always free." she confirmed, her voice wavered in emotions, one i couldnt correctly read.
"um ...," my voice trailed off and she looked at me patiently not caring or seeming to notice the internal freak out i was having, "did you get a new ring?"
she gasped quietly pulling her hand away from mine showing me her new ring. she wiggled her fingers smiling widely at me, "i diddddd!"
i felt a smile at the corner of my mouth, "it looks nice."
"thank you," she said smiled and grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers again, "i cant believe you noticed! really. thank you so much." she looked at me for a long moment, her tiny millisecond dimple flashed and i felt myself fully smile at her.
"of course i noticed," i thought to myself, "you're the only one worth noticing."
"how much?" i questioned and she gave me a injured expression and i laughed quietly, "a lot?"
"80," she answered and i widened my eyes impressed, "BUT i always wear my rings so i think its worth it, ya know?"
"no, i understand," i told her and she leaned into my shoulder more, "everyone likes what they like."
"yeah," she agreed. her lovely scented head filling my nose the longer she rested her head near me, "what about you? what do you buy thats jus for you?"
"i dont know," i answered honestly, "i um ... i am interested in buying more shoes though."
"see! thats good," she said more students began to fill that halls making my nerves spike up, "its always good to buy things for yourself. especially you. you deserve it."
her and i turned the corner and the girl from last week, valeria sent yasmine a smile glancing at our intertwined hands. my face began to burn up and i pulled my hand away from yasmines.
"thats your proof, zayne. its not real," my insecurities said internally, "its a joke."
"are you embarrassed by me?" yasmines voice asked, jokingly. she snapped me from my thoughts. i tilted my head to look down at her and held eye contact. her eyes seemed to honest.
"no," i answered plainly. my brow lifting a little before i questioned her, seriously, "are you embarrassed by me?"
her brows furrowed in confusion. her hand clasped mine and she paused my steps. she yanked down on my arm, my body tilting down with her. she lifted her arms quickly and wrapped them gently around my neck.
"stop doubting me, zayne." her whispered words trickled down my spine.
her body warmth over took the coldness of mine instantly. her dainty body holding onto me with such gentleness it touched me, touched my heart.
"i-i cant." i barely managed to whisper back. my mind whirling with doubts and confusion.
"ill prove myself to you." she said pulling her face to where we were eye to eye as i was still hunched over.
the coffee hues boring into me, with honesty. no response was spoken as i silently stood up looking at her. her arms fell to my chest and back to her sides. her large eyes watched me carefully. she gave me a small smile and reached for my hand again.
"why were my hands so cold? " i sneered internally. her hand held mine carefully, i watched her with the same gentleness. she was trailing an inch in front of me, my eyes glued to her now. "regardless if this was real or not she won. i liked her. a lot." a small voice in the back of my head admitted. i didnt retort back to myself settling with the truth.
...
the bus jerked and we drove down the street. mind of melvin playing in my air pods, yasmines playlist of course. i settled deeper into my seat, the smile on her face not leaving my mind. the delicate touch of her hand. the warmth of her body pressed against mine once she gave me a hug. my fingers drummed along my jeans. my eyes watching the road and trees fly by.
"could she actually POTENTIALLY want to be friends with me? " i asked myself, "LIKE ACTUALlY ENJOY ME? ... dont get too attached, zayne. she will leave, but enjoy her while you have her attention." i sighed to myself pushing up the volume button to my phone.
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authors note: this chapter gives me anxiety. cant tell if i hate it or not.
