Wanted

chapter 23: the chase

   I turn against the cool of the sheets, scrawling on my delicate pages of homework. Zayn sits in the corner on the loveseat, cracking stupid jokes and "helping" me with my schoolwork while working on his own. Our bags are strung out everywhere, accompanied by green and red wrapping paper. We had already figured that we were total shit at wrapping things, especially Marcus' crazy shaped watch case. 

   "Polynomials." I grumble, erasing the string of problems I had just done. All wrong according to Zayn's academic prowess. 

    Zayn answers by rolling his eyes and passing his paper over to me. "Odd, since I got all mine right." He laughs as I reach for it, desperate to get my hands on the one thing that could save me from expulsion. Oh and eternal damnation from mom. 

    Refusing to beg, I turn away from him and look out my window at the empty street below. 

    "Aw, come on. I'm just teasing, I promise you can cheat all you want with my unlimited genius."

     It's my turn to roll my eyes as I wrench the sheet from his hands. "Unlimited genius..." I scoff at him as he walks back to the cozy loveseat.

    "Just sayin'." He puts his hands up in mock-surrender as his form sits amongst the pillows. 

    "You know what?"

     "What?"

    "Now I feel like I should get you a gift." I crinkle my nose while taking another spoonful of Rocky Road that lies half-melted between us.

    "Ya I'm thinking the same thing, maybe a giant candybar?" He says, laughing.

    "Seriously, though. What do you want?" 

    Zayn looks serious as he contemplates my question. "How about a date?" He answers quietly. 

   My heart immediately speads up, thinking of Harry and how Zayn already mentioned that we would be in friendship status. I glance away from Zayn's smoldering gaze. "I don't know, I just got out of..." What did I really have with Harry? Not a relationship, that's for sure. "I'm not feeling very stable-"

  Man, I cannot form one coherent sentence.  Zayn interrupts me by putting up a tentative, defensive hand. "It's alright, I understand I'll just-"

  No. I can't let Harry ruin my life like this. "No, I want to go on a date."

 Zayn's eyes light up and he smiles. "Really?"

 "Yeah, really."

  "I don't want it to ruin our friendship or anything I just-"

 Grinning, I shake my head. "It's fine, really. I'm excited about it."

     Zayn starts to gather up his bags, his cheeks flushed with giddiness. I laugh to myself about that. "Well I'll text you tomorrow about it." He turns to me, his warm brown eyes lit with a smile. "Bye, Jade."

   "Bye, Zayn."

  I throw myself back on to the bed, smiling and thinking to myself that if wind was like people Zayn would be a calm breeze while Harry a torrent. A dangerous torrent. A dangerous torrent that I was no longer a part of. 

______________

 The red leather caves against the flurry coming from my fists as I hit the bag again and again. Maura spots me, her own forehead beading with sweat as result of the swaying movements of the heavy punching bag. 

  Niall sits behind us, perched on a worn stool and shouting out instructions. Tonight is my date with Zayn and I can't help the tingly excitement building up in my gut as I hit the bag mercilessly. I've never been the type of girl to consider having a serious relationship, or even caring about one. With Zayn, I like how he's calm, tranquil. I had none of that with Harry. Ugh. I shake the uninvited thought out of my mind.