Chapter 9

Zach’s POV

“Brittany’s gonna be a problem.”

My thoughts have spun over every single second I spent in Ryder’s room, and it won’t stop no matter how hard I tried to distract myself. 

I could barely pay any attention in class and it had been so bad that Gigi noticed.

Immediately after third period, she dragged me to our favourite bobba place at the food cart and forced me to tell her what’s going on.

“What do you mean?” she asked, looking up from her straw at me.

 I blinked, not realising I had said that out loud. “Huh?”

“I asked you what’s got you worked up and you brought up Brittany, what did she do this time?”

“Oh?” I stumbled, mind racing. I definitely couldn’t tell her about how she interrupted what I shouldn’t have been doing with Ryder, cause that would mean telling her that I somehow ended up in Ryder’s room and I’m secretly hoping it happens again.

God, I need help.

“She’s being a bitch. She shows up during all our meetings and keeps trying to poke holes at me, at this rate I'm either never going to finish this project or we’d end up with a botched job.”

Gigi remained silent but I noticed her jaw clench. “And what’s Ryder saying?” 

I scoff, ignoring the rise in my chest at the mention of his name. “What can he say? He acts like he wants her to stop but I know he’s enjoying it.”

“Damn it, Zach. I told you this project wouldn’t be healthy for you.”

“What choice do I have? I tried reasoning with Saks but he was adamant, and now I’m stuck with a meatheaded oaf and his overbearing girlfriend.”

Gigi huffed and we remained silent for the next couple of minutes. 

“You know what? Focus on dealing with Ryder, I'll take care of Brittany.”

The seriousness in her voice made my neck snap so hard it nearly fell off. “Wait- what are you going to do?” 

Sucking up the rest of her tea, she tossed her cup into the bin and hopped off her chair. “Why don’t you leave that part to me?”

I gave her a look but she barely noticed, she’d already started gathering her things. “You’re leaving already?” 

She nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got to catch up with Miss Adam in the library. We’ve all got our demons to face, you know? And now Brittany is high on that list.”

“Hey, don’t go doing anything crazy,” I said, rising from my chair as she started heading out of the cafeteria, turning with a wild smile and wicked grin before disappearing into the crowd.

“Oh, lord. What have I done?”

“Nothing that’s going to get us all killed, I hope,” A cheeky voice responded from behind me that made my blood freeze. 

I turned sharply to find a tall boy with full short brown hair and a set of white teeth grinning at me, his big brown eyes taking me in like he was about to devour me. 

Slowly, my eyes moved to the item he held up to me before widening with recognition.

My phone, in this strange boy’s hand.

“You dropped this.”

“I did? I mean- thanks.” My hands felt like rubber as I reached to take it from him. 

“You’re welcome. I’m Damien by the way.” He stretched out the same hand as I still fumbled with what to do with mine.

“Zak- Zachary Jameson.”

Jesus christ Zach, calm down! It’s not a freaking interview.

I honestly didn’t know why I was being so weird. It could be because of the way he snuck up on me, or the fact that literally no one had approached me since school started.

Let alone someone so… yummy. 

“Sorry about intruding on you like that, I kinda guessed it would be a cool way to start this conversation. Now I’m thinking it was probably really creepy?” 

His hand swept over the back of his head awkwardly and all I could see was the way his toned bicep struggled to fit into his sleeve. 

Alright, get it together, Zach.

“Oh, not at all. It’s refreshing you made an effort to be creative, that’s hard to see nowadays,” I offered with a light chuckle.

He relaxed into a sweet smile and I felt my head swell. “I know right, the generic conversations these days are just so sad to participate in.”

“Ugh, don’t get me started. Sometimes I just want to shoot myself and let the person live with the consequences of their boring bullshit.” Before I had enough time to wonder if that joke was too much, he was bawling over laughing and I found myself doing the same.

It was weird but talking with him felt… freeing.

“Hey, do you wanna sit?” I blurted.

He shrugged. “I’m not in a hurry anywhere,” he said before pulling Gigi’s chair and pulling it right across the table to where mine was. A simple gesture, yet loud in the disneyland that was now my mind.

We sat there and talked for so long that I almost considered missing my next class. We talked about simple things; Gigi, my time in school so far.

Apart from the fact that he was filthy rich like most of the people around here, Damien and I actually had a lot in common. We liked the same type of music… Well that was it but I was pretty sure we had more in common and I couldn't wait to discover them.

“Shit, it’s almost time for my next class,” I groaned as I picked up my phone. 

“You said that ten minutes ago,” He pouted cutely and I chuckled. 

“Well this time it actually is, and I can't afford to miss this class.”

Just then, a textbook landed on the table with a loud thud, and we both looked up to find most of the cafeteria empty. Except for the person hovering over our table with his arms folded. 

My face has never changed so fast.

“You’re right about that last part,” Ryder said with a scowl.