Chapter 4

I spun my head to meet a pair of familiar hazel orbs. I couldn't decipher what his expression meant since I wasn't good at reading people, but I could tell he was just as surprised to see me there. Who could have imagined we attended the same college, let alone studied the same major. I have never been attentive to anyone since all I did was sleep through lectures, so It made sense that I wouldn't have known.

Zack.

I finally got your name.

I thought as I felt the excitement bubble up in me. Zack must not have shared my sentiment as he scurries away. He was halfway to the door of the lecture hall when I caught up to him. We must have looked like Tom and Jerry with me chasing him down like that. And, that was the most exercise I have done in a while. I am a bit too clumsy for sports or working out at all. I never run, unless the situation calls for it which is a rare occurrence. It's already enough that I fall down by just walking. So why make it worse.

Blocking his way out with my arm might have seemed too aggressive as he eyes me warily.

'Well, you look like the definition of intimidated.', I commented as it took everything within me to not smirk at his expression. He looked like he would run away any moment, but he didn't. He didn't reply either, but instead looked me straight in the eye. I didn't know he had the wits in him for that. I almost faltered as my heart rate sped up. The tables had turned.

'Rachel, right?', he asked.

He already knew my name from the lecture. I nodded in response as I retracted my arm obstructing his way to the side of my body.

'I know we need to do the assignment,' , he said then paused for a slight moment.

'Look, I am sorry again about last time. What I did was wrong like I had just met you and you were drunk', he babbled.

I could tell from his words and his tone that he genuinely felt bad as if he made a grave mistake. That made me feel bad about myself because I didn't care like he did. I brushed that feeling off.

'It's okay I mean I was the one who flirted with you.', I said in a casual manner to which red rushes up Zack's neck and face. Was I too straightforward or does he blush that easily?

I chuckled, still amused by his numerous demeanors. He was a breath of fresh air. He wasn't like other guys putting on a tough act.

'Yeah, anyways, let's meet tomorrow after our lectures at the cafeteria.', he said, snapping me out of my trance.

'Cool.', I said in response.

We then exchanged numbers and ended it at that.

I was walking with jolly steps when I heard Sophie from a trivial distance.

'Hey girl. Looking good!', Sophie said, excitement lacing her voice. She was referring to my outfit which consisted of denim ripped jeans with a black close fitted top and matching boots. The outfit overall complimented my smoky eyes and dark velvet lips.



Sophie had faults like any normal human being, but one of the best things about her was how she hypes people up. At least that is until they mess with her or anyone she's close with. Sophie's sassy attitude shows then. People say it's being two faced; I say it's her pride and self love.

Jeremy followed in her steps towards the lockers where I was putting my things aside.

'Love ya.', I said, blowing a kiss back in her direction to which she acted like she caught it with her palm.

'Keep the cringe to a minimum, girls.', Jeremy scolded like an angry mother. He couldn't maintain the act as he then broke out into laughter with us following suit.

The next day came and I had just finished my lectures and practical sessions for the day. I had texted Zack during my last lecture, but no reply. I had assumed he wasn't done since our schedules were self made.

So, I hung out with Liam who shared my last lecture. I had known Liam ever since starting college. He was notorious for breaking girls' hearts of which I was too for leaving guys hanging after getting what I wanted. Liam and I were appalled at the thought of being tied down by relationships. So, we made a deal the first time we met. The deal was that whenever one of us is in the mood, we would be able to share intimacy without relationship drama, a friends with benefits sort of thing.

We got to talking, until there was a point where we stopped and gazed at each other. I recognized what he wanted. I wanted it as well, so we ended up in an empty lab. He then put his hands on either side of my waist, sitting me on the lab's bench. I wrapped my legs around his waist, closing the space left between us and intertwined my hands at the back of his neck, pulling his face close to mine. My heart raced, but not as much as when I was with Zack, neither did I feel the butterflies.

'Gosh, you're hot.', he whispered in my ear, kissing it softly and tracing kisses on his way to my lips.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, ruining the mood we had going on. We both looked towards it startled.

'Liam, are you ther-', Zack paused, his eyes widening as he realized our position.

Liam's hands were on my hips as my arms and legs were wrapped around him like a snake. Zack's eyes darted all over the room, not knowing where to look when Liam came to his rescue.

'Sorry, gotta go as you can tell.', Liam said, referring to Zack with his eyes, in amusement.

'It's okay. See you later.', I said as I reached on my tiptoes, giving him a peck. That was like hi and goodbye between us. Zack looked away, all color drained from his face for a reason I didn't know. Liam then went to Zack and wrapped his arm around his shoulders.

'Are you guys.. dating?', Zack asked cautiously.

'What? No!', we both said in sync.

'We just hang out together from time to time, Zack you know.', Liam answered him, elbowing him playfully.

'Oh, I will just go, you guys can continu-', Zack tried to say before being interrupted by Liam.

'Go where, my friend when I am right here', Liam said, holding Zack back from leaving.

'See ya.', Liam said then winking at me.

He's so cheesy, but a good kisser.

I could see the discomfort in Zack's face ease away as he walked off with Liam out of the lab. I could hear him laughing even. My face stretched into a smile since his laugh was too endearing not to.

Guess no assignment for today.

The following day, Zack and I shared the last session which was an organic chemistry practical. We could finally get to work on the assignment and maybe get to know each other better because why not.

But, Zack was back to avoiding me: we were back to square one. Whatever reason he had now, he was getting on my nerves and I was ready to tell him off the second this practical came to an end. I felt my hand, holding the test tube, shake with anger. I glanced at the clock to find that mere minutes were left.

'And you are dismissed.', the professor said in a monotonous voice, marking the start of a war between Zack and I.

This wasn't gonna be pretty.

I flounced up to him to which everyone stared but him. Even when I was in front of him, he never spared me a glance. Everyone else exited the hall. It was just us now.

'Why are you avoiding me now? I thought we sorted everything out yesterday.', I said, getting straight to the point. I was not in the mood for roundabouts.

He finally looked up, but the look in his eye was different from the other day. His eyes looked ice cold. My heart clenched.

'Because I don't think it's a good idea to get involved with you. Sorry.', he said coldly, which was even more maddening.

He was about to leave when I grabbed his hand. I wasn't letting him off with that.

'And would you care to explain freaking why?', I glared at him, crossing my arms.

'Well.. one moment we're kissing and the other you're kissing my best friend, Rachel!', he exclaimed.

'Oh so you're jealous. Real cute, Zack.', I said sarcastically.

'It's not that!', he said, raising his voice. He then sighed and continued more calm,

'I tried to ignore the signs, Rachel. I thought we could be good friends the other day.'

'So what changed?', I said with my eyes closed in an attempt to calm myself down.

'I realized we're too different.', he answered.

'Why does that even matter?!', I cried out. I had reached my limit.

'It does. Because I can't and won't be your plaything. What I saw yesterday with Liam just confirmed all my doubts. That you must be expecting that of me.', he said. His words hit way harder than I thought they would and I felt like he had froze me out with that icy stare. My heart sank.

'So that's how you thought of me.', I said, looking at the ground downheartedly, tears threatening to fall. He was not anyone special to me. So, why did his words hurt me like this? It didn't affect me when people talked behind my back in any way because I could always tell myself that they're jealous or their goal was to get to me and break me. But, this was different. He wouldn't gain anything from making me fall. He wasn't like that, I could tell that much. He genuinely assumed that about me. He assumed I would force him into something like that. He assumed that I wouldn't care about being just his friend. I admit, he made me feel some type of way, but I never thought of him as my "plaything".

I then plodded away from him to spare the rest of my feelings. I hesitated to look back, but did anyway and saw him walking away unaffected. That made me switch from disappointment to anger in a split second that I threw my purse at him. He didn't even flinch like he had expected it. A lone tear managed to escape my eye, which I quickly wiped away as I went to pick up my purse with heavy steps.

-----End Of Chapter 4------

Hope you guys liked this chapter!!