Chapter 20
20
I knocked on Saliha’s front door with a grin so wide I probably looked manic to anyone passing by. I couldn’t wait to tell her everything.
I would’ve texted her some details by now, but it was more exhilarating to gush over Karim in person, and there was so much to fill her in on because I’d spoken to him until about three in the morning.
My smile vanished the moment the door swung open.
Imran Sayyid.
How did I forget Sal had invited him to join us for this revision session?
‘Hey.’ He gave me a slow perusal.
I did the same back.
His fade was so fresh it made me wonder if he lived at his barber’s. I was used to seeing him in a T-shirt, but he’d changed it up today by pairing it with dark jeans instead of joggers.
‘Hey,’ I repeated.
He gave me a lopsided smile. ‘All right?’
Wait. This was the first time we’d spoken since he’d caught me checking him out in a half-naked state, after which I’d accidentally professed my love for him. I cringed.
He moved to one side and held the door open for me. As I walked past him, I realized he could’ve left me more room.
My shoulder was practically scraping his chest when I paused and raised my brows, signalling that his cheap flirty tricks wouldn’t work on me. The glint in his eyes told me that he wouldn’t stop anyway.
‘Great, we’re all here,’ Sal said, appearing in the hallway, completely oblivious to the weird energy between me and Imran. ‘I’ve put all the notes on the dining table. Shall we?’
‘I’m ready, fam,’ Imran replied, following her. ‘Dunno about Zara. She’s tryna distract me already.’
I was about to fire out a defensive response, but Saliha had already left.
Imran chuckled before saying, ‘Keep up, slowcoach.’
Sighing irritably, I shut the door and chased after them.
While I set up my books and stationery on the table, I was acutely aware of Imran’s presence opposite me, of how his eyes would occasionally try to catch mine or linger on my hands, lips, neck. Nerves fluttered around my stomach.
‘So,’ Saliha began, ‘school starts tomorrow.’
Imran leaned back in his chair, placing his well-built arms behind his head as a cushion. ‘It’s weird, innit? Summer’s flown by. I’m lookin’ forward to goin’ back though.’
‘Course you are,’ Saliha jeered. ‘Can’t wait to go back to chirpsing the galdem, right? The girls literally throw themselves at you.’
‘Why you talkin’ like the chirpsin’ stopped during summer?’
Saliha smacked his arm and giggled but I cast him the most disgusted look I could muster. I hated the way he always got who he wanted, that he didn’t think twice before breaking their heart. He was probably the guy who’d ruined Hania’s summer and moved on the very next day while she was a complete mess. I despised his attitude.
‘What’s up with you?’ Saliha nudged.
‘Oh nothing,’ I replied casually. ‘I’m just allergic to fuckboys.’
For a second there was pin-drop silence, and I thought that perhaps I’d really offended him. But then he rocked his head back and laughed. Saliha joined him and, shortly after, I did too.
‘Whoa, Zara,’ Imran said, face bright with humour. ‘Didn’t know you had it in you.’
‘Well,’ Saliha sighed, ‘she’s on to something. You’ve gotta admit you’re a bit of a wasteman.’
I secured my hair into the bun I liked to make when studying. ‘Someone had to say it to your face at some point.’
‘I appreciate the honesty,’ he said, his voice dropping to a lower register. ‘Tell me, am I the guy your parents warned you about?’
Imran leaned forward, muscles flexing as he placed his elbows on the table and planted his chin on his fists, coming even closer to me. Although there was a whole table between us, it felt like his face could’ve touched mine. My heart thudded wildly.
Saliha finally sensed the weird vibe between us because she cleared her throat noisily and said, ‘OK, let’s start recapping chemistry first.’
‘Saqib’s notes are sick for Year Twelve chem,’ Imran said casually, zapping out of the moment.
‘Great, let’s do it.’ Saliha turned in my direction and subtly widened her eyes, making it clear we’d discuss Imran later.
In between revising, Saliha and Imran cracked jokes and shared stories. I was quiet the entire time, trying to retain as much knowledge as possible.
‘I’m getting hungry,’ Saliha said around two hours in. ‘I’ll get us some snacks.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ I said quickly, not wanting to be left alone with Imran.
‘Nah, you guys carry on,’ Sal waved.
I felt Imran’s eyes focus on me, but I refused to look up from my notes. Perhaps if I looked busy, he wouldn’t attempt to strike up a conversation.
‘You’re a quiet one, ain’t you, darlin’?’
No such luck.
‘Don’t call me darling. And I only speak to people I feel like speaking to.’
‘Oh yeah, I forgot, you prefer lookin’ at me, innit?’
I avoided his gaze.
‘I ain’t complainin’. I like lookin’ at you too. But you’ve seen more of me than the other way round.’
‘And that’s exactly how it’s going to stay.’
He made a puppy face and looked like a child for a second before his devilish grin came back. ‘I’d argue that’s unfair.’
‘I would argue that we’ve come here to study, and you should focus on doing that rather than winding me up.’
‘Hmm, that ain’t entirely true. I came here to study and see you.’
My stomach somersaulted.
I remembered the time he’d passed me my library card: the kindness, the wink, the way I’d felt. A part of me was exhilarated that my childhood crush was saying this to me, but I stamped that part down. Imran Sayyid was a player, the most dangerous and experienced kind. I wasn’t going to buy into this.
‘Yes, I’m sure you were just as eager to see me as you are the –’ I put on a sarcastic tone – ‘ galdem you were busy chirpsing all summer.’
He snorted. ‘It’s bare funny hearin’ you talk like that.’
‘Like what? Like you? Now you know how you sound.’
‘Look,’ he said, his voice suddenly quieter, as though sharing a secret. ‘I gotta say it – if you were so allergic, you wouldn’t have been eyein’ me like that from your room.’
‘You really need to get over that, OK?’
‘And you need to get over yourself and admit you’re kinda into me.’
My mouth fell open. OK, if that’s how he wanted to play it. ‘Goodness, you’re cocky. You’ve gone through this entire routine with multiple girls before me, haven’t you? But I need to clarify to you that I’m not going to fall for your typical plan.’
‘What if I admit I ain’t got a plan with you?’
I looked at him suspiciously. ‘Oh, there’s always a plan with guys like you. You’re going to flirt with me for a while, then convince me to get it on with you, and right after I give in, you’ll drop me for another girl. And then you and everyone else at school will call me a slut.’
Imran looked surprised for a second, maybe even offended. And then a mask of careless humour crept on to his face. It seemed he was good at hiding his true thoughts and emotions.
‘So, you’re admittin’ I could convince you to get it on with me?’
I scoffed. ‘Thanks for admitting your intentions are purely physical.’
‘You haven’t really given me a chance to explain what my intentions are. Being purely physical with me came from your mouth, not mine. Did you just give me a glimpse of what goes on in your mind?’
I blushed. Heavily.
‘I’m not going to let anyone get in my way this year,’ I responded tightly. ‘I need to get into university so I can move far, far away from all of this. ’
His gaze fixed on me, as though he was trying to figure me out. ‘Far away from what exactly?’
I’d given too much away. Personal information. About how I was feeling, what I desperately craved, the kind of life I was currently trapped in at home …
‘Nothing,’ I said coldly. ‘At this rate, you .’
I put my earphones in and looked down at my notes.
Thankfully, he didn’t attempt to speak to me again. But the curiosity that had sparked in his eyes didn’t seem to leave me alone either.