7 Chemistry

The sun was shining on the bedroom window, yet Zara was snoring heavily. She was an early bird and seldom got up late, even on Sundays. Her phone rang, disturbing her sleep, and she lazily hit the receive button. Her head throbbed painfully, and she had trouble focusing on things. She managed walking to the bathroom, washed her face, and looked around for a painkiller. She gulped it down with half a bottle of water and sat again on her bed with her head in her hands.

Her phone blared, and she picked up the call. "Hangover over, birthday girl?" asked Veronica.

"No, V, my head hurts. How…how do you know?" "Your mother had called me up to check if I knew about your date. I covered up for you, and you owe me the complete story. Get ready; I am coming to pick you up."

At the mention of last night, Zara's memories of Ryan came flooding back. She recalled how he had held her, caressed her, of how she had asked him to kiss her. Even the memory of him was enough to make her blush. She realized with horror that she had to face him in school. She was beyond mortified. What must he think of her? Just another girl who was after him? She wanted the earth to swallow her whole. She hit her head on the pillows and went inside the covers.

After twenty minutes, Veronica barged inside her house. Before Zara could ask, she replied, "Your mother has appointed me as your personal bodyguard. She has given me a duplicate key to your house. She wants me to keep her daughter in check, especially when Mr. Hotness is roaming around you. She is also going to talk to you tonight when you are…ahem… sober."

"Shut up, V. My head hurts. I am not coming to school today."

"Oh my god! Look at the effect of one night, Ms. studious is turning into Ms. Rebel. She talks of bunking classes. Lord, help me." Veronica prayed dramatically.

"It's already noon, so half the classes are nearly over. But we have Mrs. Norris' class in an hour, and you do recall your last impression on her. So, hurry up."

Zara groaned and got ready in haste. She applied loads of conditioner to manage her frizzy hair. She wore a light pink sweater, jeans, and left her hair open. As she emerged on the front porch, Veronica let out a low whistle, "Someone's going mad over Mr. Hotness."

"I grabbed what I laid my hands on. Don't be such a fuss. Hurry up!" Zara lied to her best friend. If she were going to face Ryan, she could at least look better than a zombie. She also apologized for her earlier behavior, but Veronica brushed it off, stating her absence had been the perfect catalyst for Zara's first date. Zara wondered, Had she been on a date?

They went to the class and sat down at their desks. She waited anxiously for Ryan to show up, but he didn't attend school that day. She checked and rechecked the parking lot for his car the entire day but couldn't find him. The next day too came and went in a blur with no sign of him. After three days, she heard his voice drift across the school corridor. Her heart did a wild dance, and she hurried to the spot and saw him talking to a group of boys and girls from school. The meanest and hottest girl of the school, Rebecca, had cracked a joke, and Ryan was laughing. Rebecca was eyeing him as if one would eye a delicious treat.

Rebecca wore short clothes that most people would consider revealing. She spoke to Ryan with confidence, and her elbow was resting loosely on Ryan's shoulder. Zara was only confident when answering a teacher's question or talking to Veronica. A hot wave of jealously coursed through Zara. She wasn't sure why she felt that way, only that she wanted Rebecca a good fifty feet away from him. She stood a few feet away from the group and cleared her throat. Ryan had seen her out of the corner of his eye but stayed put. He wanted to see if she would approach them. He started speaking animatedly so that the whole group laughed, and her voice was drowned. Rebecca slid next to him and sat close to him, uncomfortably close. Zara couldn't stand it anymore; something clicked inside her. She stormed and stood in front of the group.

Progress thought Ryan.

As everyone directed their gazes towards Zara, her knees turned to jelly. Suddenly, she wasn't so sure of herself. She meant to put on her most intimidating voice, but no sound came out. Rebecca asked sweetly, "What is it, dear? Wanna practice your next speech in front of a live audience?"

Zara adjusted her glasses on her nose, a thing she did when she was nervous and stammered, "I...Ryan-"

Ryan got up and greeted her, "Hi Zara, what's up?"

She wildly invented, "I have to help you in chemistry."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Okay then, lead the way."

He turned back to others, "See you later." Rebecca blew a kiss at him, and he made an act of catching it in the air and winked at her.

Zara started walking away while Ryan followed her. "Hey, wait. Don't get in the habit of making me run behind you."

Zara turned around and adjusted her glasses. Ryan bumped into her intentionally but took a step back and raised his hands in mock surrender when she glared at him.

"So, what were you talking about?"