Another one yells at the same time.‘That you, Zayden?’
Zayden runs a hand through his hair before glancing at me.He straightens, masking whatever almost just happened between us with that easy, cocky grin he often wears around his teammates.
‘Boys,’ he says, lifting a hand in greeting.
One of them slaps him on the back while another gives me a not-so-subtle once-over.
‘Didn’t know you were out on adate,’ one of them says, raising an eyebrow.I can’t remember what his name is.
Zayden doesn’t even blink.He just slides his arm casually around my shoulders, drawing me in like we’ve done this a hundred times.‘Yeah, didn’t realise I needed to update the group chat.’
The two boys snicker at his comment.
‘Well, we’ll leave you to it, then,’ the guy says, still eyeing me with a bit of confusion, as if he’s shocked to see us together.
I’d like to think it might be because he doesn’t recognise me and not that I’m nothing like the type of girl he’d assume Zayden would go for.I suppose it’d be a natural assumption that he’ll end up with one of the gorgeous cheerleaders, since the team and the squad are around each other so much.They’re all talented, beautiful and well-known around campus.The celebrities of Stratton University, if you will.
‘See you at training?’the other says.
‘I’ll be there,’ Zayden replies.
When they’re finally gone, we’re left standing there in the echo of awkward silence.Neither of us was prepared for that.
He exhales, then looks at me.‘Sorry about that.’
‘For the interruption or the arm over the shoulder thing?’
‘Both,’ he says, but he’s smiling again – gentle this time, not the charismatic smile he puts on for others.‘You okay?’
I nod.‘Yeah, of course.’
‘Okay.’He pauses, glancing down at his watch.‘It’s getting late.I’ll walk you home.’
‘You’re more than welcome to stay out, I know all your friends are around here somewhere.’
He shrugs off my comment, reaching for my hand.I like that he holds my hand.It feels nice.‘I asked you out tonight.I don’t care to be at the bars, or whatever.’
I process his words.Being here, with Zayden … I feel like I’m in a fever dream.It’s taking my mind a hot minute to catch up to reality.I can’t deny the tension I feel with him and the way his eyes rake over me almost feverishly, like he’s struggling not to touch me, which is simply absurd.
‘What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?’Zayden asks, digging his other hand into his pocket as we stroll in the direction of the on-campus housing, neither of us in a hurry.
‘Not too much.Eat, sleep, study, write, repeat.’
‘How do you go about juggling studying and writing?That sounds like a lot of thinking and computer time,’ he pauses, ‘aka, my worst nightmare.’
I laugh.I certainly enjoy being cosy and warm inside.I’m someone who can never get bored.I can easily entertain myself.TV shows, reading, writing, scrolling.I rotate between all of these endlessly and could do so forever.Zayden seems like he might be the complete opposite.
‘It is.That’s why I walk a lot, to get myself up and moving.Fresh air clears my mind and makes me feel like I’m not cooped up in a cave all day.I try to do all my studying first, have a break and then dive into writing.Writing doesn’t feel like a chore or job to me, despite being on deadlines.I love it, so it doesn’t feel as difficult to sit down and do it, like studying does.’
‘That makes sense.I find it hard to sit still for very long.Sometimes I end up doing three runs in one day.Definitely feel a bit tender the next morning, that’s for sure.’
‘Certainly cannot relate to that,’ I side-eye him, shaking my head.‘If you ever see me running that much, you better start running too, because someone is chasing me with a knife.’
He releases a bark of laughter.‘I’ll be sure to remember that.’
The walk back to my room feels way too short.I dread seeing the stairs get closer, aware that this night is coming to an end.I’m not sure if we’ll hang out like this ever again – fake relationship or not.
‘Thank you for a fun evening,friend.’
