Lost

Chapter 55: What's the Catch?

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Salma's P.O.V.

"Will you please tell me what happened?" Zayn repeated.

Salma did not give Zayn any sort of an indication that she heard him this time or the last thirty seven times he'd asked before. She refused to talk to him. He was so rude to her the other day, threatened and intimidated her just a few hours ago, and now he was suddenly very concerned about her? Salma didn't think so. Whatever he was trying to prove with all his antics, was something Salma was too exhausted to work out.

Sighing heavily at her absolute silence, Zayn sank into one of the chairs.

"I'd forgotten how impossible you were," he grumbled.

Salma rolled her eyes. She just wanted her family to hurry and pick her up. She did not know how long Zayn would be able to take her silence before he would either snap or storm out. It was hard to decide if his presence comforted or annoyed her more. Salma did not want to be left alone after what happened, but at the same time, Zayn was the last person she wanted to accompany her.

"Here, Bee. It'll help --"

Something warm touched her wrist. Salma jerked away abruptly, glaring at him. To her surprise, Zayn was seated at the adjacent end of the table, his hands safely away from her wrist. Salma followed his gaze to the table. A cup of hot chocolate was lying next to wrist. Salma's eyes snapped back at Zayn.

"It'll help you feel better," he finished.

Salma had no idea how Zayn had managed to smuggle hot chocolate into the library, but she found herself not caring enough to ask. The sweet smell of chocolate wafted towards her. It did nothing to calm her down and neither was she tempted to take a sip. Instead, she felt frustrated. It took a lot of self restraint to not slap the hot liquid away.

She placed her head back on her clasped hands, completely ignoring the cup or the boy who brought it in. Zayn cursed under breath. Salma snorted mentally. Did he really expect her to accept the drink after everything he's been doing? What did he take her for?

"So you won't talk?" he said in an impatient tone.

You finally got the message, nustcase! Just stop bothering me, Salma mocked him in her head.

The chair scraped as Zayn leaned in.

"Bee, I'm not known for quitting easily. You'll have to talk to me," he warned her quietly.

Salma could tell he was much closer than earlier. Her chest tightened uncomfortably. He was not giving up.

"I'm willing to try more ways than one until you either explode, or talk to shut me up," Zayn said. "You want to hear what I have in mind before I try it on you?"

Her ears perked like a dog's. For once Salma actually heard what he said. She swallowed nervously. Something about Zayn's tone made her feel uneasy. He was not harsh or threatening but it made her skin crawl nonetheless. She could tell he was getting impatient.

"I'd take that as a yes," Zayn continued when Salma stayed quiet. "I used to hug her till she would talk to me, my grandma. Always worked on her. Without fail."

Salma felt her heart stab when he mentioned his deceased grandma, however, she reminded herself to not forget what he said the other day. He could not just humiliate her one day, threaten her the next and then sit with her a few hours later and expect her to be dandy about it. Salma could not even comprehend how he added it all up in his head.