13 Sweet competitor

Zara slowly got back to her life- the way it had been before she had met Ryan. She never spoke about her dreams or her nightmares to her mother as she knew how it used to get her mother worked up. She also knew that they weren't doing very well financially and if she told her mother about the nightmares, then she would leave the jobs and be with her all the time.

Zara was proud of how her mother used to look after everything single-handedly, never tiring and forever smiling, well, if you exclude her encounter with Ryan that possibly made her uncomfortable.

Zara often wondered why her mother had been cold to him when he had done nothing. She blamed it on his wealth and how it's often filthy rich bad boys who try to swoon small-town girls. She couldn't understand her connection to Ryan. She had never been a romantic but somehow Ryan had done what no one before had managed to do-tug at her heart.

She was broken out of her chain of thoughts when V tugged at her elbow, "Hey Z, come back to earth."

Zara blinked, "Huh"

Veronica replied, "Don't huh me. Now tell me, what should I write in the analysis of this stupid poetry? The girl is practically crying her eyes out for a guy whom she knew only for a week."

Zara got the point albeit lately, "I'm not crying my eyes out for anyone."

Veronica smirked, "Hell, yeah. You are. I saw the look you gave to Jake when he extended his hand to you yesterday. Are you going to mope all the time."

Zara felt hot, "Cut it, V. I am not thinking of anyone."

A voice floated towards her ears, "Glad to hear that."

Zara looked up to see Jake walking up to them with a tray full of food. Veronica's stomach grumbled at the sight of sandwiches and she dug in without even bothering to say hi.

Zara's eyes met with Jake's and she gave a forced smile. Jake's smile faded and he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, "Thought you guys must be hungry, see you later."

Veronica grabbed his hand and shoved him in a chair facing Zara. She asked as she chewed the food, "Where are you going? I need your help."

Jake turned to her, "What help?"

Veronica thrust her homework in front of him and said between munching, "These sandwiches are so good. Did your grandfather get a new cook?"

Jake added sheepishly, "Yup, me"

Veronica looked excited, "Wow, you can cook? You are a perfect husband material, good looks and good cooking skills, isn't it Zara?"

Zara who had been silent the entire time looked up again to see Jake watching her. He was waiting for her answer. Zara didn't know what to say and instead took the homework and began scribbling on the pages furiously.

Jake gave a wry smile and said, "If I'm bothering you, I'll make myself scarce."

Zara couldn't avoid him anymore and replied, "If you had been bothering me, I wouldn't be sitting here" that earned a grin from Jake. Seeing him smile, made Zara smile too. His smile reached his eyes and his brown eyes twinkled with joy. It was difficult to stay mad at him, when he had done nothing to receive such cold shoulder from her.

Jake extended his hand once more and asked, "So let me start again, friends?" This time, Zara reached out and shook it. He held her hand lightly a second more than necessary before letting it go. He then took the book from Zara and began writing without another word.

When he was done, he handed it back to the girls and got up. "I've gotta go. I have my music class in twenty." He tapped Veronica's shoulder affectionately and went away as Zara began scanning his essay. His handwriting was elegant, not sloppy like hers, and he had written a two page analysis in ten minutes- Zara had taken 30 minutes to write it.

Something struck Veronica as her voice came out garbled, "I don't think he studies literature."

Zara shot her a confused look, "Why do you think so?"

Veronica supplied, "Well, literature and music are electives and you could choose only one of them, if you are starting school this late."

Zara was reading the analysis, it was profound and well-researched. But, he had written it in front of her as if he knew it like the back of his hand. He was clearly a competition for Zara. Up until now, she had been the school's topper and teachers' favourite. It was the only thing she was good at. She wasn't going to let someone walk over her hard-earned spot. She had a goal to make it to the top of the honour roll to further strengthen her chances of scholarship.

She whispered to Veronica, "I think, we need to get more information on Jake."

Veronica got excited, "Oh, wow. I had hardly imagined you would be interested in him, the way you looked anywhere but at him."

Zara stomped her feet on V's, "Ouch"

"Listen to me. I'm not interested in him, I need to know my competition and his weaknesses. I'll sharpen my knowledge on the subjects he is worse at, to even our scores at the end of the year."

V looked at Zara as if she had gone insane, "Whoa, slow down. He just wrote two pages and he is suddenly Mr. Genius? I can't even keep track of these nicknames anymore."

Zara shot her a warning look and whispered, "We have to get to the administration office. I need to know his previous grades and scores."

Veronica added, "Previous girlfriends?"

Zara whisper yelled, "Mrs Smith has better things to do than note everybody's exes. Plus, the school doesn't pay her for that."

Veronica's face fell, she hadn't thought of it that way. As Veronica was busy munching chips, Zara sat on the table working out a plan to fight her opponent. She looked around and her eyes fell on Jake who was wiping his forehead by the hem of his shirt revealing a chiselled torso underneath.

She had to do something about that sweet looking boy.