A Step Away From Falling ➸ h.s. [Needs Editing]

Chapter 29: "Don't let your guard down"

Helen's POV

After almost two weeks of Zayn's training I could totally see a change. I felt healthier, fitter and... this is going to sound stupid but I feel powerful. Like I could do anything. 

Also, now that I think about it, ever since I started this "training" my cutting has decreased. I don't do it everyday anymore and I don't feel like I'm going to burst open or drown in my own depression. I actually felt somewhat... alive. All thanks to Zayn.

I threw a couple of punches at him which he blocked with a smirk.

"Asshole" I said under my breath.

"What was that?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. I smiled innocently at him.

"Nothing Mr. Malik. Just breathing. That's not against the rules is it?" I asked with fake sweetness. He chuckled.

"I never would have thought of you as the sarcastic type. Showing our true colors aren't we?"

"Sarcasm is life. Just sayin'. Why don't you show me yours?" I asked while I blocked one of the punches he threw at me. We were wearing boxing gloves, and Zayn never threw full punches at me because even though he tried to be "tough" so I would step up to the challenge, he didn't want to hurt me. That did not mean I didn't have a couple of bruises here and there, I am the clumsiest person on the face of the earth and sometimes I just trip over my own feet. Coordination is not my strong forte. 

"I don't think you want that" he said, his face turning serious. He always did that. He pushed and urged me to show him the real me, but when I tried to make him open up to me, he did the complete opposite. What could he be hiding? A terrible past? A horrible secret? 

"C'mon Zayn, is not like you're a serial killer or something right?" I joked. He just stared at me. 

I stopped guarding and he took advantage and faked throwing a punch,  I squealed and he shook his head, disappointed.

"Let's take a break" he muttered.

He strode away to gulp down some of the water in his bottle. He had taken his white tank top off earlier because it had been dripping in sweat and I said it was disgusting. I should've kept my mouth shut. Now while he was facing away, I couldn't help but stare at this rippling muscles in his back. When he turned around he found me watching and looked up at the ceiling. I was genuinely confused. It was like he was frustrated or something. But there was something I was sure of: Zayn looked like a freaking angel. But a fallen one of course. 

Zayn's POV

I went to drink some water and when I was turning around I found Helen watching me. I looked up at the ceiling, wondering why on earth was God testing me like this. I mean, he knows I'm trying my hardest to keep my relationship with Helen to be strictly of friends and trainer- trainee but Jesus Christ if she kept looking at me with those puppy dog eyes I might forget to care that I can't be with her.

"Okay, let's try this again. Never let your guard down, the enemy could strike at any moment" I repeated for the third time that day. Helen kept getting distracted and there's a part of me that would love to know what's going on in her mind all the time.

"Okay, I'm ready" she said, frowning in concentration. She made even that simple expression attractive. I hated her for it. 

She smacked the side of my face and I looked back at her, shocked.

"Don't let your guard down, the enemy can strike at any moment" she repeated with a smile. I shook my head and bit my lip to keep from smiling.