The Fine Line

Chapter 25

Zarah's POV

"You're it."

I don't have to turn around to know who that is. Sometimes I just wish I never grew up with him. Its been years since we've indulged in a game of tag. Our version of tag was to say what we're thinking at the very moment.
It seemed to be a fun thing to do then. right now, I'm not really sure. what would I have to do to get this guy to leave me alone?

"Go away, Jess" that was all I could say to him. I thought the statement would get him running away from me. The guys was sensitive and I know he still is.

He cries. Not that its a bad thing but which guy in this century of domination and masculinity cries in front of a girl? Jess Mallik does! I know because the girl was me. Well, the only girl he cried to was me.

But no, Jess Mallik surprises me with a grin towards my rude and cold statement. His grin modifies into a laugh when I glare at him with my arms folded.

"You know the rules, Z. You're it. You're supposed to say whatever is going through you mind."

God, this guy is impossible. Bloody dumbass doesn't know when to quit! with voice filled with sarcasm, I reply. "Well, You better back off before you get your nose broken. That's what going through my mind, happy?"

But then, he surprises me again. I don't recognise the guy pulling me into an empty class room just a feet away from us. His face filled with determination and pins me into the wall beside the door. Though he has got me pinned, his eyes filled with care, his hands delicate around my wrist. I've seen his every facade. His dumb wits, stupidity, acts glorious of idiocy, his bad hair day, his depression, his happy hour, and even his tears. But this one is too foreign to me. His gaze tear through to my soul. I shift under his heated gaze, uncomfortably. I've never been this nervous and sweaty around him. He was comfort and care, he was home. But now, I'm sweating profusely with him just a couple of inches away from me. As his gaze intensifies, he closes in to me. The space between us is no more, bringing my arms above my head.

He hasn't taken his eyes off me, nor have I. Blue to grey we stare at each other for what seems like infinity. I can feel his heart beating loud and clear. Our hearts beat in sync, showing agreement to each other as if finding long lost lovers.

"Zarah .." , he whispers. My name rolls off his tongue like pearls, smooth and perfect like it was made for him. More than lust, I see love in his eyes. I was capable to recognise love, I didn't know. With just my name from him, my heart beats faster than before. I'm passive as of now. The firewall standing strong around the ember, the ember starts to ignite inside of me.

"Stop fighting me." he said, voice filled with atmost love and care  I stand silent to him, his body still latched onto mine. He doesn't seem to realise the fact that he hasn't touched me since Saira and yet his touch has the same effect on me as before. He has my heart beating three times faster with just my name through his lips. My mind clouded with vague thoughts of uncertainity and anxiousness. His gaze melt my self-defense. I don't respond to him and his concern is evident.

"Please just say something, baby." his words drill through me to find that embers to light them. My jaws clench tighter and my knees starts to shake. I can feel a drop of sweat rolling down my neck. I can't seem to form a coherent sentence. If he doesn't stop saying stuff like this, I won't be able to stop myself from kissing that luscious lips. My breathing hitches and becomes more ragged and irregular, inhaling and exhaling with faster pace.

"Stop." was all I could utter in my current state. My body respond in agreement to his touch, to his words. But my mind is constantly trying to repel him. His words play in a loop in my mind and somehow his words stand dominant in this battle between mind and heart.