Chapter 5- Left hook, right hook...jab

Zain had me pinned to a wall near our lockers. We had gotten into an argument about who was stronger and I got a little carried away and began flexing my non-existing muscles while boasting about my height. So to silence my yapping he had me pinned to a locker and my tie stuffed into my mouth. After poking my forehead he placed his hands into his pockets and walked away. I cursed fixing myself up…I really have been facing constant humiliation since this boy arrived. Zayd walked by pulling Zain by the arm. Zain turned toward him angered, and I never thought I`d see the day Zain blew up. He swung his fist punching Zayd in the face...A fight broke out between the 2, spiking much controversy in the hallway. I rushed in between the two pulling Zain out and pushing him against the locker, as I called for Zayds` friends to scoot him away. Zain pushed me away. I grabbed him pinning him again.

"Don't even think about it," I said punching the locker, "You're not leaving until your calm."

"This isn't a good time for you to be telling me what to do…" he said sighing, "Can I go now I`m calm…besides there are a lot of people around us, this probably doesn't look appropriate."

I stepped back allowing for him to pass. Zayd approached me a while after he left with an ice pack on his placed onto his cheek. Didn't know that zain had it in him to smash the daylights out of this attractive artistic hunk.

"Are you okay?" I asked

"Yeah," he replied giving me the icepack, "Maybe I should stay away from you, he is quite protective of you," he said placing his hand onto my shoulder

"I wouldn't say that he is..."

"I reckon he is, but do me a favour. When I ask you out don't bring him with…"

"That's if he isn't with me. We do everything together because of our parents…and I'm sorry for earlier, I had already provoked him and he must've taken it out on you."

"No big deal. We all still growing children," he said with a soft chuckle. His dimples shone even through the purple bruise on his cheek. He bid me farewell walking off.

I walked to class with Zain`s favourite snack and when I arrived I pushed Layla away from him placing a drink on his table along with the snack.

"You have a race later, your mother called to remind you."

"I know," he said taking the drink

As Layla stood there wide-eyed and speechless I sat beside him showing him the work he had missed last night during the tutoring session.

She pulled me up, pulling my collar.

"And, what happened to you now, "I asked pushing her back

As she fell away Zain pulled me down and I fell onto his lap, he then placed a piece of gum into my mouth and he pointed to the work asking questions.

Layla left the scene furious and upon watching her exit I jolted upward rushing away. shaken by the occasion.

"Funny bumping into you two spans in a day, I must be lucky."

"You must be stalking me."

He smiled showing me his keys, "Wanna go for a ride…I'm sure you're free now, they cancelled all the afternoon classes."

"Sure, "I replied following him to the art side of campus. Things were much more laid back, with pimped-up uniforms, music in the hallways, colourful graffiti on the walls and a classroom filled with smiles.

"Why isn't anyone else in the class?"

"We learn at our own pace, it's not about marks here it's about expression and other real-life experiences…"

"What about university?"

"50 out of 300 of us may be interested, but 20 actually do it. The rest go abroad to join family businesses," he said showing off his beautiful motorbike

He called her cherry. The cherry-coloured BMW sports mobile was one made for sore eyes. When he started the engine he turned to me and said, "You shouldn't underestimate us… we still above science."

"Only because they have you."

He placed his hand atop my head smiling at me innocently,

"That too… but we aren't each other's competition …"

"Thank goodness, Zain is enough. The guy never gives me a break," I said rolling my eyes

"For the both of us, I believe…"

He was free-spirited, sweet and charming. How could Zain hate such a charming soul?

As I climbed onto the bike trying not to get too comfortable we rode off into the city passing robots, cars, bridges and many other motorbikes. Though it felt like we were the only ones on the road as the wind hit me, I realized that much like every speeding car we passed everyone was in a hurry, constantly on the go. With Zayd riding and speaking to me, I felt the pleasure of slowing down and enjoying a moment for what it was. We stopped for a quick snack at a convince store and as he stretched above me grabbing a few snacks from the rack, I felt his warmth reach me. Zain would usually slap me on the head and let me suffer to get stuff from the top shelf. I didn't realize that small gestures like these were powerful enough to stop all thoughts and feelings.

We paid and we were on the road again. He dropped me off leaving. Now that's what I call being cool.

"Who was that?" my mother asked poking my forehead, "Why are you daydreaming like that…"

"A friend from school.... is my tutor here?" I asked trying to change the topic.

"On his way, go get changed," checking her watch she made her way to the car.

I was taken away from my dreadful boring life for a moment and something tells me that I may be experiencing more of that. I rushed inside excitedly. This Zayd boy was an entire high school musical moment.