Juliana |Z.M| |A.U| (Completed)

1.

Arcade Fire – Wake up

"But now that I'm older, my heart's colder..."

1.

"I have an assignment up my sleeves for you guys." The entire hall was filled with silence and anticipation Professor Radcliffe's next words. "This time we'll be doing a partner project." Well whaddaya know!! "In the span of two months, you and your partner need to read eight novels, one per week." He said, loud and clear. "Make sure you don't read the same ones and by the end of each week, you make a report on what your partner thinks about the novel; the protagonist, the antagonist, the plot, you know the drill. And then based solely on your partner's views, you need to write what you think about the book and if you plan on reading it."

The silent hall rung with hushed mumbles of students gossiping about the project. "I've already chose partners for you so I want you all to listen carefully as I announce your partners." The murmurs died within seconds as the professor continued, "Alan Smith and Regan Jonson, Stella Martini and Joey Carter..." He kept on saying names lazily and somewhere in the middle, he took her name. "Juliana Augustine and Jack Bennington."

Him? Out of all the people, him? Wait, who is he?

Juliana was annoyed beyond limits.

But then again, who else?

Who else was Juliana comfortable to talk to?

No one.

No matter who she'd get paired with, the reaction would have been the same. Great. Now she'd have to hold conversation with someone.

Ugh!! She'd much rather poke her eyes with her own fucking fingers.

"That's all for today. I suggest you talk to your partner and decide on the books you will be reading." The professor said, dismissing the class.

The students started to gradually gather their stuff, talking about god knows what as they start exiting. Juliana quickly shoved everything inside her bag before rushing down to Professor Radcliffe. He was just about to leave when she called him out. "Professor!" her voice was followed with intense pants. Professor turned around on her call.

"Miss Augustine, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

She placed both her palms on her knees bending over trying to level her breathing. "I-I needed to have a quick talk with you sir." She said between huffs.

"Okay, better make it quick then, I need to get to my next class."

"Yes sir." She could finally breathe properly, "Is there any chance that you could change the project for me? I-I mean anything else that I could do on my own."

"Miss Augustine, I know you prefer going solo, but I cannot treat you any different than how I treat the other students."

"But-"

"If you have a problem with your partner, I can switch him with Harsheet Patil."

Harsheet, sounds a lot like Horse-shit.

"No sir, I just wanted to do something by myself." She replied, hoping to change his mind.

"Well Miss Augustine, I can't do that so I suggest you suck it up." he said with a playful smile and then made his way out of the class.

Crap!

She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, slowly making her way out.

"There you are!" a voice hollered, making Juliana turn around, "I was wondering where you were off to." The guy walked over to her with a bright smile. She frowned at him, fazed by how casually the guy was behaving, as if they were best friends. More importantly, who is this guy?

It didn't take another second for him to realize that she didn't recognize him. "I'm Jack Bennington, we're partners."

"Right..." she stepped away maintaining arm's distance from the overly excited guy. "I'm Juliana." She added and then started walking.

"I know, although I'm pretty upset that you don't know who I am." He said pressing both his hands on top of his chest feigning hurt.

"I'm sorry if you think I waste my time focusing on other students than focusing on the class. Actually, I take that back, I'm not sorry."

"Ooh! Feisty, Jack likey..." she rolled her eyes at the cocky asshole as she increased her pace.

"So how's this going to work?" he spoke.

"How is what going to work?"

"The project. We need to decide on the books." He was managing to maintain the same pace as her.

"Read whatever the fuck you want. My job is to make a report out of it by the end of the week and I expect the same from you."

"But what if our reads clash? No, we need to talk it through."

"I'd rather pass. I highly doubt if our reads will clash."

"C'mon Augustine, why do you have to be so difficult?"

"Why do you have to be so pestering?"

"We'll have to be seeing each other like twice each week from now on; you seriously want to do this? C'mon, I won't bite." She rolled her eyes at him, again. Something told her that she'd be doing that around him a lot.

"Okay fine. Where?"

"Not my dorm today. My roommate, Zayn, it's laundry day for him and it's a mess. How about your d-"

"No! No fucking way!"

"Okay, chill." He was a bit surprised at her quick outburst, "Let's meet at places."

"What?"

"Places, the café down the street."

"Oh, okay fine."

"Alright, see you at four; it's a date." And here she goes rolling her eyes, again.

"Oh please, don't flatter yourself."

"Whatever lets you sleep at night gorgeous." And with that he sauntered the other way.

So now she had to meet the cocky asshole outside in two hours. Oh Jolly!! Note sarcasm.

Maybe she should have agreed with Professor Radcliffe and went on with that Horse-shit guy.

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So this was the first chapter. What do you guys think? Any theories? Feel free to tell me.

It might seem like I'm rushing into stuff, in my defense it is a short story.

And I've chosen to write this one in third person-past tense, so... yeah.

That gif of Zayn in the side should be enough to make you vote and comment.

Nivi XX

Ps. The cover design is by @Imelda_summer.