The punishment-2

Jake's eyes flicked to Rebecca as his mind raced through a whirlwind of thoughts. Zara leapt up to the cupboard and the two girls followed a minute later. Zara was eyeing the books as if she had been opened the doors to a candy store.

Her eyes fell on an old and battered book titled 'Angels and Demons-Myths and facts of the folklore' and somehow felt drawn to it. Jake picked a book on calculus and Veronica pleaded the two to help her. Zara took a book on 18th century poets and smiled as she slipped the book to her.

She saw Rebecca standing uncertainly, too proud to ask for help. Zara picked a book titled 'Evolution of Homo sapiens' and signalled Rebecca to take it. Rebecca grudgingly took it as Mr. Wood turned around.

He addressed the group, "Very well. You have two weeks to submit your analysis to me. Failure to do so will result in detention and then suspension for 3 months. Now, off you go"

A week had passed since the slushy incident, yet talks of it weren't dying down. Zara had initially felt that it would be awkward to be around Jake but he too behaved as if nothing silent had passed between their eyes. As usual, Zara got back to her studies and announced her need to follow a rigorous study schedule that made Veronica groan.

The three formed a habit of sitting in the library, but Veronica always got hungry after poking her head in a book for ten minutes, so they shifted to the cafeteria.

Zara began answering more questions, solving more doubts, and even began preparing mock questions that made Veronica's head go dizzy. One such day as the trio sat together, Veronica fell asleep on her book that made Zara giggle. Veronica announced she couldn't take it anymore and decided to leave for home.

Zara bid her goodbye and sat with Jake as they continued to study. In the three months that she had known him, they had never been alone; Veronica had always accompanied them, she had ensured her presence. But today, even Zara was yawning.

Jake checked his watch, "Could we go out for a walk? We have been at Mr. Wood's assignment for 3 hours, and I would fall asleep right here if I study one more minute."

Zara smiled, "Sure, we deserve a break."

The two walked out of the cafeteria in the open premises and smiled at each other occasionally. Jake tried to fill in the awkward silence, "So Z, what are your plans after graduating from high school?"

Zara had a faraway look in her eyes, "Promise me, you won't laugh if I tell you."

Jake assured, "I won't."

Zara said, "I wish to study at Harvard. I know I have to work on my grades and be eligible for the elite school by earning scholarships as I can't afford the tuition fees."

Jake was impressed, "That's some serious ambition; why would I laugh, Z?"

Zara was happy to have spoken out loud of her ambition to someone who understood her dreams. She walked forward while Jake bent down to tie his shoelaces. He saw a shadow loom behind the bushes as two red dots quickly disappeared. He saw a sharp wire that had been left on the ground and tried to warn her. "Z, watch out."

But she hadn't seen it and tripped on it, falling on the ground. Jake rushed to her and helped her get up. He dusted her clothes and removed dried leaves and twigs from her hair. As Zara looked up, she saw his soft brown eyes smiling at her, and she tried to step back, but her legs faltered.

Jake put a hand on her shoulder, "Easy there. Looks like you have a sprain. Come sit and let me see."

He helped her sit on a bench and sat on the ground, placing her feet on his knee. The wire had cut through her socks and scratched at her ankle. "You've got a nasty cut too. Wait here, I'll get the school's first aid kit."

Zara tried protesting, but Jake had run and arrived back in a minute. Surprised, she asked, "How did you come so fast?"

Jake shrugged, "I play football," and gently removed her shoe and sock. He then cleaned the wound with an antiseptic and carefully put on a Band-Aid. He had his head bent down so he moved his head left and right under the pretence of tending to her while scanning the surroundings. The shadow must have disappeared sensing his presence.

But, he had to be cautious. He didn't speak of it to Zara and continued nursing her leg, knowing that it wasn't a simple cut from a loose wire, but a cut by a deathly weapon put in front of Zara to seriously maim her. Lucky, he had the antidote with him that he put on her cut while she was looking elsewhere.

Jake looked up to see her staring at him, "Can you walk?"

Zara tried getting up, but she buckled under her weight. "That's a no," he muttered and then began massaging her feet. Zara hadn't been touched by any guy like this, and she shivered. "Am I doing it too fast? I'll slow down" He smiled and began moving his fingers in slow circles around her ankle and heel.

Zara couldn't stop herself, "Why are you doing this, Jake?"

Jake looked up in her eyes, "Well, if I don't, how will you reach home. Besides, that wound may turn septic."

Zara continued to look at him, "You know what I mean, Jake."

For a moment, he thought that somehow she had seen the shadow. He tried to keep himself calm as he lightly tapped in her thoughts. He had never peeked in her mind, however curious he had been, a vow he had made to himself years ago.

But, he could not risk blowing his cover right now with monsters lurking around her. Instead he said, "Can you think of nothing as the answer?"

Zara struggled to say it out loud, "Don't."