Chapter 9- Second place

"You have been spending a lot of time with me…not that I mind but what happened to Zain?"

"You heard the rumours…he dumped me."

"They put it that way to save his public image, isn't it?

"They made you into a scapegoat."

"Drop it Zayd…"

"Qadira, I know the real story, I can tell that you're innocent."

"I'm just trying to read this novel right now so please…"

"Oh so you did want to kiss him?" he asked, closing my book

"Of course not!

"He told me to trust him and I did. Turns out I had trusted the wrong person. It doesn't matter though I need to restore my honour."

"How?"

"First place."

"You plan on doing that while you watch us art students lounge around?"

"Maybe…"

"LOOK, just talk to him…it`ll be okay."

"Coming from you that sounds even scarier…in all honesty, the fight aside and losing almost all my status, I need space. I have always been around him chasing after him.

"It's about time that we split up."

I hated having to say it but I would have never expected Zain of all people to inflict such betrayal upon me. I had always confined in him and even if we were constantly at odds I trusted him with everything…but here I was instead opening up to a complete stranger who knew nothing about our relationship, where it began or why it is the way it is right now.

Zain was no longer the boy who protected me from bullies on the playground but was the one pushing me towards the bullies. It even made me lose my head in the game, and both my modelling and academic scholarship were withdrawn along with my status as the class representative. Nothing could hurt more.

"The results are out," Layla said

I wish I could blame her, but she was at no fault at all.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked taking my headset off

"A lot has changed since his arrival.." she retorted walking off

I laughed a little while standing. I hope it wasn't any bad news. I arrived at the scenery, and the crowd opened up for me to view the chart they were all mumbling about. The smile on my face instantly wiped off along with the little hope I had left. My books hit the ground as I heard his footsteps stop an inch behind me. I sighed turning toward him.

"I told you that you`ll never come on top of me," he said

The crowd swallowed their laughter. It was a LITERAL 1% that had placed me behind him. How did he get such a perfect score? I didn't waiver from his statement, instead, I removed all the science, math, physics and literature books from my backpack. I placed it into his hands watching his eyebrows raise, "You`ll need them more than I will,"

With a smile on my face, I place the headset back into my ears diverting my focus away from the crowd that was now screaming. I had no place in science, I lost my scholarship, position and believe it or not my role model. Yes, I hated the idiot but I admired him with all of me. In another family meeting in the office as the principal expressed my waste of talent if I were to leave. I stood my ground though…I wanted nothing to do with Zain, his subjects, his sport… in fact if I could I would steal that damn biker prestige of his I would. My mother expressed her grief but stated that she will allow me to make my own choices. I however had to ensure that it was what I really wanted. I smiled winking at Zain before exiting the principles office.

The smartest female in the district was now going to be an art student, "Was it a fit of rebellion?" my new classmates asked surrounding my table

I nodded. Here I didn't have to deal with snobby looks and wanting to stay above all, here I could let loose and was admired for what everyone else saw as a big mistake.

"Have you come to steal my crown because you`ve lost yours?" Zayd asked with a smile

"Not even, it's more of a journey of self-discovery."

"Every math geek feared you even the one that took your place, whos to say that I`m safe?"

"I'm no expert, but it's almost finals. I may not make it onto your top ten even."

"You do realise that from next year we will be in a joint competition with the science students…so don't think that by coming here you`ve dodged a bullet. You're bound to meet him in future."

"Which I look forward to," I replied grabbing his notebook, "Teach me how to ride?"

"Ride what, you always finish those types of sentences here. We don't do the whole anticipation thing."

"Ride a motorcycle, I want to compete as well."

"Revenge 101?"

"Yes or no?"

"Yes…but there is no female category."

"I will compete under the domain of a man."

"What makes you think that I`ll allow for that t happen now?"

"You barely know me I get that, but please I'm only 16 and I lost everything…."

His eyes narrowed as he considered what I was saying. We shook on it and he even offered to help me with the course itself.

"Let me introduce you to the squad…"

"Devin is our technician…the future owner of a tech company,

"Yusra is the most talented artist…have to give it to her she draws better than DaVinci,

"Raees is our businessman. Only passes math and is always taking some sort of phone call and,

"Erica is a biker as well but we all believe that she belongs in science cause all she ever does is spit facts."

"Are you friends with Layla…" I asked avoiding eye contact

"An ex I`d like to forget…"

"Why do you and Zain have the same ex?"

"Another story for another day…" he said introducing me to more of his classmates

I never thought I`d fall this hard from the top. That is also not due to my own actions but the actions of another...life is working extra time to teach me a lesson.

Zain...you didn't even stand up for me.

Mother, you as well.