14 The deal

Zara couldn't face Jake for the next few days and avoided stepping in the cafeteria whenever possible. She diligently went around attending all classes and even some extra classes. She managed to skip one or two when she had a common class with Jake. Veronica noticed her odd behavior but couldn't keep it to herself and spoke up after a week.

Veronica got an idea and decided that she would sort things out between them. She didn't want her best friend ignoring yet another boy when they had suddenly started noticing her. She typed on her phone furiously while Zara was busy copying notes from the blackboard. She nudged her to pay attention but she was too busy in her phone.

Zara looked at her frustrated, "Hey, whom are you texting?"

Veronica replied, "My boyfriend"

Zara exclaimed, "What?" and was met with the angry glare of their history teacher. Veronica had her full attention now. Zara elbowed her, "When did you get a boyfriend?"

Veronica did her best acting and said, "Well, the relationship is quite new so I didn't want to tell you yet, but then, I need someone to talk about him."

Zara looked at her with disbelieving eyes, "Wow, you have spent all your time with me, when did this happen?"

Veronica grinned at her plan's success, "Well, I could tell you everything, but, I think it would be better if you met him."

Zara giggled, "Wow, V. You are quite fast. Now, I'm dying to meet him. Atleast tell me his name."

Veronica put up her hand to silence her, "Wait for the sweet surprise, dear. Can we meet him today after school?"

Zara hurried to the school washroom dragging Veronica with her. She washed her face and combed her hair. She wanted to look presentable to the boy who would be dating her best friend. She borrowed Veronica's lip gloss and urged her to put on light make-up that made her giggle.

"Wow, I didn't know you would be so happy to meet my boyfriend."

Zara ignored her and then they both walked out in the open ground. She then turned around and asked, "Is he driving here?"

Veronica shook her head and a thought made Zara jump, "Don't tell me you are dating someone from our school?

Veronica didn't answer but took out her phone and dialled a number, "Where are you?" A reply from the other side seemed to satisfy her and she cut the call. She then pointed at the far end of the ground. "He got into some urgent work, but he said he would be coming in 10 minutes."

"Ok, what do we do now?"

Veronica pulled out a scarf and before Zara could protest she tied it around her eyes and spun her around. "Find me"

Zara grumbled, "Seriously?"

Veronica continued, "Yes. Now follow my voice"

Zara started walking and groaned, "You know what, I'm starting to lose my interest in your boyfriend."

Her feet got caught against a rock and she stumbled, "V…I'm taking this stupid blindfold away."

The sun rays were directly on her face and she began falling down when she was caught mid-air by a pair of strong muscular arms that went around her waist. She started hesitantly, "Oh, I'm so sorry…"

A familiar voice replied, "You don't need to be."

Zara put her hand above her eyes to block the sunlight and then realised who was holding her. "Jake?" He didn't make an attempt to leave her and Zara felt a warm and tingling sensation where his hands touched her body, making her want to stay suspended in the air with Jake an inch away from her. Up close, she could see that his eyes weren't cold and aloof but inviting and friendly. He kept gazing at her as if she was his dream come true.

Zara cleared her head and said, "Seriously, V?"

Jake helped her gain footing and she turned around but Veronica had disappeared from sight. She stood in front of Jake awkwardly who waited for her to say something. She couldn't think of anything sensible and blurted out, "So this is what you do behind my back?"

Jake shot her an amusing look, "What am I doing?"

Zara replied, "V has told me everything. I didn't know you were interested in V. You have just met her."

Jake smiled, "And why does that concern you?"

Zara fumbled, "Because, she is my best friend. And, I don't want you to break her heart."

Jake found her anger too amusing, "What makes you think, I'm a heartbreaker?"

Zara didn't have an answer to that. When Jake couldn't keep himself together, he began howling with laughter. Zara was confused after his sudden outburst and only kept looking at him. His brown eyes were now mischievous and his shirt rode up his stomach when he raised his hands to close his eyes, trying to control his laughter.

Up close, Zara saw how his muscles rippled in the sun, his hair falling in front of his eyes. She wondered what it felt to touch his hair. She shook her head and looked elsewhere.

Jake said between bouts of laughter, "You…think…Veronica and I…are dating?" She only kept looking at him as his laughter rang into her ears like a pleasant melody. What was happening to her?

Zara searched again for Veronica, she was going to strangle her then and there. Jake composed himself after seeing the look on her face and said, "I don't know what V said to get you here, but I asked her to help me talk to you."

Zara assumed the worst, "Oh, I know. You must be expecting an apology, I guess. I'm sorry for that incident in the admin office." She then lied, "V had given me a dare and I was merely acting it out."

Jake came up close to her, "You are a terrible liar, Z"

His breath tickled her cheek and she was having trouble coming up with more lies as his soft brown eyes seemed to penetrate her soul, making her lose track of time. She finally gave away as she struggled to speak, "Ya, I'm sorry. I was only worried that you would mess my chances at being the topper."

Jake grinned, "That's what you have been worried about?"

Zara looked hurt, "Ya…I mean, I have always been a first rank holder and I need a full scholarship."

Jake whispered as if revealing a big secret, "You know what? I'm terrible in keeping myself awake in the history class. So, I don't think you need to worry about me."

Despite herself she giggled, "And I am terrible at maths, particularly those crazy equations."

Jake smiled, "Well, how about we help each other. May the best man/woman win. Deal?"

Zara shook his hand and Jake's excited talk made her earlier hesitation go away. She began chatting with him as she saw Veronica hiding behind a tree. "You can come out, V. I have postponed my plans of killing you."

Veronica walked out and high-fived Jake, "Told you she wouldn't be offended."

Zara made a fake angry face, "I said postponed, not cancelled" and ran behind V as Jake followed them saying, "Hey, wait for me."