“Hello? Lover girl?” Anna waves a hand in front of my face and I realise with a blush she’s been talking to me. I slip the note into my pocket.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
Anna rolls her eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile playing on her bow lips. “Isaid, Shakespeare over here,” she nods at the pocket that carries my note from Zayn, “has already booked you for lunch so I’ll have to give you your present at my house tonight.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything!” I say, my blush deepening at the mention of Shakespeare. I never told Anna what happened between Zayn and I in the library that day, but his sweet words will be branded into my brain until the day I die.
“Of course I did, you’re my best friend.”
“The very best.” I slip my hand into hers and we head to chemistry, discussing the night Anna has planned. It’s just a small gathering with us, Zayn and Weasley, but I’ve never been more excited to spend my birthday with my favourite people. When we walk into the chemistry lab, I’m cut off by a large body that steps out in front of me, blocking my path.
“Heard it’s your birthday today, gorgeous.”
Daniel Sanders smiles down at me, and I give him a small smile back. He’s been weirdly nice lately, going out of his way to speak to me or send small compliments my way. Idon’t know what to think of it, especially as he knows that Zayn and I are together.
“Happy birthday,” he says a moment later when I don’t respond.
“Thanks.” I go to move around him, but he side-steps with me.
“Any special plans tonight?”
I eye him curiously, but his ice-blue eyes seem genuine as they reflect back at me.
“Just going round to Anna’s,” I reply, looking round his shoulder to where Anna has taken our usual seats at the back.
“Right,” he nods, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Your boyfriend get you something nice, then?”
I look back at him, a frown playing around my brows. Daniel knows Zayn’s living situation, knows that Zayn can’t afford to spend much money on birthday gifts. Why would he ask me that?
“I’m not sure,” I respond, not wanting to discuss this with Daniel. I’m not expecting anything from Zayn, and spending time with him is the best gift I could receive anyway. “I haven’t seen him yet. I better take my seat before class starts.”
“Have a nice day,” he says as I walk around him, still confused by his unusually pleasant behaviour.
Anna is already unpacking her stuff when I drop my bag beside her.
“What did that asshole want?” she asks, glaring daggers over my shoulder toward where I assume Daniel has taken his seat.
“To wish me a happy birthday,” I reply, removing my pencil case from my bag and setting it on the desk.
“I don’t trust him.”
I turn to face her, a frown still marring my brow. “He apologised to me for what he said about Zayn that day,” I say, reaching down for my books while remembering the time Daniel, a few days after I met Zayn, cornered me after this very class and said he was sorry for being such an asshole. “I haven’t heard him say anything negative about Zayn since.”
Anna isn’t convinced. “Yes, but he didn’t apologise to Zayn.”
Why did that not occur to me before now?
“You’re right.” I glance back over at Daniel, who’s speaking quietly to his friend beside him. His friend laughs at whatever he said, and Daniel relaxes back into his seat with a grin on his face. The scene makes me feel uneasy, like maybe they’re talking about me.
“I think he’s playing a long game,” Anna says skeptically, interrupting my thoughts. “There’s just something about him that gives me the ick. Which is annoying.” She sighs, like an opportunity has been wasted. “Because he’s irrationally good looking.”
Danielisexceptionally handsome in a wholesome kind of way, with dirty blonde hair, sky-blue eyes and the body you’d expect the school’s football captain to have. He could never compare to Zayn though, who’s dark, edgy attractiveness leaves me weak at the knees.
“Zayn doesn’t like him,” I say, just as our teacher, Mrs Delaware, enters the room and the chatter around us dies off.
Anna throws me a curious look. “Obviously,” she whispers slowly, her eyes flicking from mine to the spot beyond my shoulder. “He knows he has something that Daniel clearly wants.”
There’sa skip in my step at lunch-time as I hurry along the outside perimeter of the school gymnasium. It’s a sunny, crisp spring day and the cobbled footpath is like a sea of violet beneath my feet as the fallen jacaranda leaves soften my steps. Sunshine tickles my face and is responsible for the light sheen of sweat that coats the back of my neck. I take a moment to appreciate the beautiful day. However, there is no sight more beautiful than the one that awaits me as I round the corner that leads to our gazebo.
