Beneath His Cold Charm

22

Too Close, Too Far

★★★

Exam Day

The morning sun filtered through Zoey's window, casting a warm glow in her room. However, the brightness felt harsh against the heavy weight in her chest. It was exam day—an event she had dreaded for weeks. She glanced at the clock, its relentless ticking amplifying her anxiety. She had studied, but the fear of failure loomed over her like a dark cloud.

In the kitchen, the smell of coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the distant sounds of her parents arguing. It was the same routine every morning—her dad's voice booming, her mother's pleas barely audible over the chaos. Zoey tried to drown it out, focusing instead on her exam and what lay ahead.

"Zoey! Breakfast!" her mother called, snapping her back to reality. Reluctantly, she made her way to the kitchen, bracing herself for the tension that always accompanied meal times.

Her father sat at the table, papers scattered around him. His gaze was fixed on his laptop as he sipped his coffee, his expression unreadable. As Zoey entered, he glanced up, a frown creasing his brow.

"You're up late," he said, his tone clipped. "You've got an exam today. Shouldn't you be studying instead of wasting time?"

"I'm ready, Dad," Zoey replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I studied last night."

"Studying isn't just about the night before. You need to be on top of your game if you want to keep your grades up," he snapped, his frustration evident. "You can't afford to mess this up."

Zoey felt a lump form in her throat, the pressure mounting as she bit her lip to hold back her emotions. "I won't mess it up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"See that you don't," he said curtly, returning to his laptop.

With her heart racing, Zoey grabbed a piece of toast and made her way to the door. She couldn't stay there any longer. As she stepped outside, the fresh air hit her, bringing a momentary sense of relief.

Arriving at school, Zoey was met with the usual hustle and bustle of students. She spotted Chris, Nick and Emely near their lockers, deep in conversation. Chris looked up and waved her over. "Hey, Zoey! Ready for the big day?" he asked, a teasing grin on his face.

"Yeah, as ready as I'll ever be," she replied, forcing a smile despite the turmoil in her chest.

"Don't worry too much. You've got this!" Emely chimed in, her voice warm and encouraging.

As they chatted, Zoey couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos in her life. Just being with her friends made the day seem a little less daunting. But as they made their way to the classroom, her mind kept drifting back to the tension at home and the argument with Matt.

The Exam Room

The classroom buzzed with nervous energy as students settled into their seats. Zoey took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She glanced around the room, spotting Matt in the back corner, his face a mask of concentration as he flipped through his notes. Despite everything, she couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he seemed to carry himself, even under pressure.

The teacher entered, handing out exam papers, and Zoey's heart sank. She glanced down at the blank sheet in front of her, her mind going blank. The questions swam before her eyes, and panic began to set in.

The room fell silent as everyone focused on their papers, but Zoey's thoughts spiraled. Images of her family life flashed through her mind—the shouting, the disappointment, the fear of not being enough.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pang of anxiety. She rubbed her wrists instinctively, feeling the scars hidden beneath her sleeves. The sensation grounded her momentarily, but it also brought back the hurt from her earlier confrontation with Matt.

After what felt like an eternity, she forced herself to look down and begin the exam. The first few questions came easily, and she felt a flicker of hope. But as she progressed, the questions became more challenging, and doubt crept back in. Her mind raced, each tick of the clock sounding louder than the last.

Just then, she caught a glimpse of Matt's focused expression. He was writing furiously, his brow furrowed in concentration. Despite their previous argument, a part of her wanted to reach out, to share the burden of this stressful moment. But instead, she buried herself deeper into her work, trying to shut out her emotions.

Minutes turned into an hour, and as she flipped to the last page, Zoey felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had done her best, despite the inner turmoil that threatened to pull her under.

As the exam ended, students began to shuffle out of the room, but Zoey lingered for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Just then, she felt a presence beside her. It was Matt, his expression unreadable.

"Hey," he said quietly, breaking the silence.

"Hey," Zoey replied, her heart racing at the unexpected interaction.

"I... um, how do you think you did?" he asked, his voice softer than she expected.

"Honestly? I'm not sure," she admitted, biting her lip. "It was tough."

"Yeah, it was," he agreed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. There was an underlying tension in the air, and Zoey felt the weight of their previous argument hanging over them.

"I'm sorry for how I acted before," she said suddenly, surprising herself. "I didn't mean to push you away."

Matt's expression softened slightly. "I get it. I was too harsh, and I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Zoey interrupted, not wanting to dwell on the past. "I guess we're both dealing with our own stuff."

There was a moment of silence, and Zoey could feel the tension begin to ease. "Yeah," Matt said, his voice quiet. "We are."

"Good luck with the rest of your exams," he said, offering a small smile before he turned to head down the hallway.

Watching him go, Zoey felt a mix of emotions—relief, confusion, and a hint of something warmer. There was something deeper beneath Matt's tough exterior, a vulnerability she had glimpsed that made her heart ache.

As the day went on, Zoey felt a shift in her perspective. The pressure at home was still looming, but she found solace in the fact that she wasn't alone. Nick, Chris and Emely were there for her, and even Matt had extended an olive branch.

She spent the rest of the day with her friends, the camaraderie making the burdens a little lighter. But as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Zoey couldn't shake the feeling that she was still holding back, still afraid to let anyone truly see her scars—both physical and emotional.

Tomorrow would bring another round of exams, but for now, she could at least allow herself a moment of peace, knowing that the connections she was forming, even with someone as infuriating as Matt, were worth exploring.

★★★