34 The warning

It was only a matter of days before Zara settled down in her quiet life once again. The corner of her heart that had worried at her sudden and unexpected shutdown thought of it as a singular case and she didn't give it another thought in the days to follow later. The three got back to hanging together at the cafeteria.

Veronica sat slurping her shake while Zara was drumming her fingers on the table when Jake slid in a chair beside her. "Hey, stop studying so much. You are not even giving me a chance to grab the 2nd rank this way."

Zara giggled and punched him lightly in the arm. Jake cocked an eye at Veronica and offered her a smile that she didn't give him back. Her beady eyes were focussed on the way he spoke, his body language. He looked at her pointedly, "Why are you staring at me, V?"

Veronica narrowed her eyes but chose to remain silent. Her silence made Zara look up, "What's going up, V? Are you giving him your famous death stare?"

Veronica looked at her and replied sweetly, "I was going for a don't-mess-with-me look."

Zara pulled her books together and slapped them shut. "Okay, what is going on between you two? Why are you acting so weird, V?"

Veronica looked around, "Me?"

Zara made a face, "Yes you. From the last few days, I see that you are avoiding Jake. Care to explain?"

As they were having this conversation, Jake shot them an amused look. He loved both of them dearly and V was more like a little sister to him that he could annoy and get away with.

His eyes moved casually through the cafeteria seeing everyone busy with their friends. Rebecca had been seated on the farther end of the cafeteria, huddled together with her usual gang of friends. When their eyes met, she signalled him to come outside.

Jake only gave a brief nod before diverting his attention back to the two girls. He ruffled Veronica's hair as he got up earning a scowl from her. "I'll be back in a few. Don't kill each other please."

He got up lazily stretching his hands and his shirt rode up a few inches, revealing his tanned stomach. Zara gaped at it and hurriedly tried to look away but he had caught her checking him out. A blush crept up her cheeks and Jake gave a slow smile before walking away.

Rebecca had been waiting for him beside one of the large trees surrounding the campus. She gave him an uncertain smile, and he didn't smile back. He looked around, ensuring neither Zara or Veronica could see them. He then turned to her, "What is it?"

Rebecca had a hint of concern in her eyes and she looked a little stressed. "I think it is high time you should tell her."

Jake chose to speak his next words carefully, "What do you mean?"

Rebecca gave a shrill laugh, "Come on, you don't have to act in front of me. Your girlfriend has some serious issues."

Jake continued looking at the cafeteria window, where Zara was seated in a pile of books. "Don't know what you are talking about girl."

Rebecca blew on her painted nails and appeared to be casual though she was tensing inside, "It will happen again, you better be prepared."

Jake chuckled, not giving in to her tactics, "Yes, she may be the first rank holder, I don't think I could beat her to it."

Rebeccca raised her eyebrows and placed her hand lightly on his arm, "You should stay away from her, you are only inviting more trouble."

Jake looked down at her hand and gently pried his arm out of her grasp, "You better do your job, I will do mine, okay?"

Rebecca's lips were a thin line when she uttered, "Don't think later, that you weren't warned."

Jake stood at the same spot not acknowledging her words nor paying any heed to her walking away from him. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

Could what Rebecca had said mean anything?