hijab // z.m. au

0.2 .

zayn's pov 

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the calm state that i was usually in had somehow dissipated, as i waited patiently for muna at a corner library desk meant for two. i knew this was her favorite spot, i had seen her here, intently studying for hours each week. i wasn't a stalker, but after i had coincidentally spotted her here a couple days, it became a way for me to see her without having to do the one thing i feared most-approaching her.

i sat, staring at my english notes that weren't even halfway finished, i spotted muna out of the corner of my eye and lit up at the sight of her. i couldn't help it. unfortunately, she hurriedly sat down and rearranged her books, all with no smile or direct eye contact with me at all. odd.

"hey, how was your day?" i asked. she slowly stopped getting out her things and looked at me, before staring back down at the table. she mumbled an almost incoherent 'fine' under her breath and went back to her books.

"right. well, we should get started with the dickens reading. compare notes after?" i tried my best to make her feel comfortable with a study partner, tried my best to not seem like i would copy off of her despite my lack of interest in school.

"tolstoy." she stated, scribbling her notes down in a quick fashion but a pretty handwriting. i furrowed my brows in confusion. what the hell was tolstoy?

"what?" i blurted.

"tolstoy. we're reading anna karenina by leo tolstoy. not charles dickens. remember?" she asked, but it was clear from her expression that she knew i was not exactly the teacher's pet. i nodded anyway, and she laughed, emotionless. i asked what was so funny and she smirked in response.

"don't your parents, like, care about your education? at all?" she muses. 

"who's to say i don't do good in school?" i ask cleverly, seeing the response on her face and laughing out loud. a librarian hushes us with warning and muna is off into work mode once again. i sigh tiredly and scribble notes down as well. every once in a while. muna and i would make direct eye contact (me) and a sly smile (her). i liked the way our sudden friendship worked, and it turns out we were great study partners. we kept each other focused, well at least she did to me.

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the 3 hours of constant review of dickens--okay, tolstoy--was actually quite fun. maybe if muna was the one teaching instead of mrs. what's her face then i could actually give a damn about school. i started to pack up my stuff at around 7:00 pm and i turned to muna.

"hey, um...i had a great time today. studying usually sucks, but you make it seem fun." i internally slap myself for that last sentence. it sounded way too weird. she chuckles anyway, a sight i had gotten used to today.

"that's good to hear. but," she checks her phone, and as cliche as it sounds i think the spell broke right then and there. she glances back up at me, frowning. "i think i'm busy tomorrow too, if you were gonna ask for studying. sorry. i had a good time, bye!" and just like that, she goes off in the direction of the main entrance, out of the library. and way out of my league.

--

the next day at school, i walk to first period hopefully trying to bump into muna. it turns out, i see carlos, not muna. dang it. he rushes up to me and grins that infamous smile of his.

"hey, man, i've been trying to call you all day yesterday. where the hell were you?" i roll my eyes and sigh deeply. i felt the urge to just find muna and talk to her. 

"uh...studying. at the library." i reply, but it felt weird to say it out loud. studying just wasn't me...but it could be with muna's help. carlos makes a puzzled look and laughs impulsively. i see muna across the crowd in the hallway and keep my eyes on her, trying to get her attention while carlos kept talking.

"dude...really? there was a great game on last night! anyway, why did you...oh, i see.." he turns around and follows my eyes to where i'm looking-muna. 

"what do you mean?" i ask.

"i mean...you're totally hooking up with her, score!" he exclaims proudly in the hallway and pats me on the back. i felt absolutely sick when he said that. what the hell...

"ugh, no.. i really like her, and i was studying with her last night because some people want to get a good education and not fail every test they take.." i stated harshly. as much as it pains me to treat my kinda-best friend like that, it had to be said. for muna. i ran across once the crowd cleared and saw muna with a group of her friends. laughing, talking...god, she was...

"hey, zayn!" a voice greeted me. muna. she laughed and looked into my eyes happily. happy, she was...glad to see me. wow. 

"hi, um, i know you can't tonight but i...i wanted to hang out tomorrow? i mean, that is, if you're.." god i sound nervous. how stupid am i? she chuckles and shrugs her shoulders.

"maybe...i don't know. here's my number. we can work something out, okay?" she smiles a warm smile of hers and walks away as the bell rings for next class. i stand there, speechless as i clutch her number in my hand. as i walked to fourth period, i felt overjoyed. like there was nothing that could go wrong.

i mean, it couldn't, right?