Unbreak Me

★CHAPTER NINE★

LEIA

It was officially the fifth day of school. And I was late––later than usual. When I entered the school building, the hallways were empty and a serene silence filled the space, giving me a little calm in the havoc of my everyday life.

Since I knew the bell had just rung, I wasn't panicking. The teachers took time to come, especially in the first period. The watch sitting on my wrist told me it was exactly 8 a.m. and I hurriedly untied my veil, slipping it off and gathering it up in my hand. Right before entering the class, I unzipped my robe, surprised that I didn't feel nervousness and neither was I worried about what people thought of me.

It brought a smile to my face.

I didn't realise that I had entered the classroom until my eyes landed on Zayn. The smile slipped right off when he scowled at me. I closed my eyes and drew in an angry breath. I was heading to my usual seat in the very back––trust me, I hated sitting in the long row right next to Zayn––when I heard him say something.

"You're not sitting there today," Zayn drawled from behind.

I turned to face him, glad the students were busy in their own conversations. "Excuse me?"
He shifted the position of his legs, crossing them at the ankles as he stood propped up against the whiteboard, a register in one hand and a ballpoint in the other.

"I said: you aren't sitting at the back today. Is that too much to understand?"
Was that how he was going to woo me into falling in love with him? Seriously.I was flattered.

"That's my seat," I tried to be polite, although he didn't deserve it.

He took three large steps and stopped a foot away from me. He snapped his fingers in the direction of the empty two chairs at the very front. "That's your seat now."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "And who are you to tell me what to do?"

He laughed languidly. "At this very moment, I'm offended, but otherwise, hello nice to meet you, I'm the one and only head boy."

It was the fake smile curving those ridiculous plump lips that had me seething. And maybe I hated that he had such a position of authority.

Also, hadn't Hoor said he was the prefect? Something was seriously wrong with that girl's information skills.

"I don't want to sit with you." I grated out.

I could've sworn his eyes darkened a shade or two. Whether it was anger or something else, I couldn't be sure. "Very few have the honour to be seated next to me."

I wasn't sure what he wanted me to do with that helpful––and gallingly arrogant––statement, so I settled on an eye roll.

"Well, I want to be exempted from this honour, Mr. Head Boy."
"Don't worry, I wasn't sitting with you anyway." He stated, arms crossed and features tight. I think I had managed to tick him. It made me immensely pleased with myself. "Remember the rules: We shift seats every day and anyone who's at the back moves to the front. Since the last row is all joined together, our partners get shuffled."

I nodded.

His gaze didn't move from my face. I knew it without having to look.

"Can you . . . like . . ." I gestured to the seat––my new seat––he stood in front of. ". . . move?"

He sighed and stepped back. I took a seat, settling my backpack next to my feet and bending to take out History's book and notebook. When I straightened, I felt a large shadow of a man hovering over me.