02| g e t t i n g  h e r

Tris sighed, checking the time on her watch before her eyes moved onto the girl's soccer practice. Rachel had promised her that she would give her a ride if she was free but quickly took it back when a surprise training session was called.

All her other friends had other things to do. Besides, Tris had offered to walk back home instead.  It would help her clear her mind on all things Max as she had failed to pay attention in calculus and had to borrow Andy Holland's notes.

She bent down to slip her books into her bags when she felt a presence lingering over her. A lump formed in her throat as she slowly looked up, frowning in confusion when she found herself staring up at Zayne Mahone.

It wasn't the first time that day she was seeing his face. She hadn't failed to notice how he sat down next to her in calculus, leaving her more confused and distant. Of course, she minded her own bussiness when Max walked into the room, a look of determination slapped onto his face.

Obviously he was determined to start a fight with the school's QB.

Zayne smirked, running a hand through his blonde hair before bending down. The blonde boy gestured to her books, taking her silence as a sign on how to approach her.

Zayne had always been good at making first impressions by feeding off how the people behaved around him. The skill often came in handy but he could never be too accurate.

"Thank you," Tris smiled when Zayne took her books, their hands touching only for a moment. Tris shivered at how warm his hand was compared to the cold air that drifted around.

Every January in New York was usually cold as winter rolled down. Most of the students had jackets on as they speed-walked to their cars, desperate to get back home after the first day of school.

Zayne nodded back, placing the books on one arm and using his other hand to run through his hair. Tris noticed this and stared down. Zayne Mahone had always been handsome-as much as she hated to admit it.

His green eyes were so intense they were sometimes scary and he had messy blonde hair that was usually just brushed carelessly and left to go wild in a handsome way. She shook that thought out of her head.

She was already having a hard time focusing because of Max. Adding Zayne Mahone to the equation would just jumble her up all over again.

"Excited about graduation?" Zayne asked, turning to her. She had been so lost in thought, she almost didn't hear but she had managed to catch it.

She shrugged, trying to figure out whether or not she was ready to leave high school. Of course, it was a hell hole but her best friends were all going to different universities and she didn't know if she was ready to leave them behind.

"I guess I am." She answered with a brief nod, "What about you?"

Zayne flinched, not expecting to be asked the same question. Nobody besides his best friends ever wondered if he was excited about leaving the school. Only about the upcoming football games.

He exhaled deeply, trying to find a way to explain that he wasn't ready to leave his throne. That he wasn't ready to climb up the social ladder again just so that he could have a few more years of glory.

At least a few more years until it was all over and he was just another human in the world.

"I'm not ready to leave yet." He admitted and Tris' eyes widened. The way he walked, talked and did everything had made him seem so confident. Like he knew what the future held for him and  welcomed it with open arms.

Hearing that he wasn't sure about going into the future shocked Tris but she tried not to show it. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them once more and stared at Zayne.

"Anyway sweetheart," he shook the conversation off subtly. Tris blinked at the new nickname but didn't say anything about it. Though she did blush slightly. Zayne smirked and leaned towards her. "Aren't you anxious to get out of here?"

She chuckled lightly. He had no idea how much she wanted to rush home and jump into her bed after a day of hell. She had to admit that it wasn't that hellish though.

Max Grey had sat infront of her in calculus and had actually spoken to her at school. It wasn't long enough to be considered a conversation per say as he had only muttered a small 'hi' but they were making progress and Tris appreciated it.

"I am but I don't have a ride. I'll just take the bus," She shrugged, her eyes moving to the field one more time. Something in Zayne's mind clicked, making a smirk spread onto his face before he stood infront of the girl who came to an abrupt stop.

She gulped at the smirk and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Zayne shifted the books in his hand to grab his car keys and held them up, shaking them for emphasis. Tris finally got what he meant and shook her head.

"You don't have to. I'm ok with taking the bus," She answered, shaking her hand. Zayne waved it off, muttering a small 'nonsense' before changing their route and guiding her to his car which was a blue Ford.

Tris opened her mouth to protest but shut it when Zayne gave her a look, telling her not to argue. He opened the door, smirking more when she threw him a small but playful glare as she entered the car.

He bent down so that his hot breath tickled Tris and she stiffened, immediately latching onto the seat as his face hovered above hers. "Get used to this," he whispered, "It will be happening everyday from now on,"

Tris swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving him as he moved back and closed the door. As soon as the door shut, she released a deep breath of air, trying to calm herself down as she tried to make sense of what he had said.

If she had translated it properly, it meant that he would be driving her everyday and when she realised that was what he meant, there was only one question hovering in her mind.

Why?

******

The Jacobs' house was always known to be one of the biggest in the area Tris lived in. Her father came from a long line of ancestors who knew a good deal when they saw it. The house- though large-was cosy and as soon as Zayne's eyes landed on it, they widened.

"And I thought my house was big," he whistled, turning off the car engine before turning to look at Tris, who had been looking out of the window the entire ride.

Tris turned to him and shrugged. "The Jacobs made a big investment in the past. I can show you around if you want?" She offered. Zayne reluctantly stared at the house, weighing over the consequences of going into her house.

Just as he was about to agree, his phone buzzed in his pocket and he groaned, already knowing who it was. He looked up at Tris, who was still squeezing the side of the seat like before and sighed. "Maybe next time. I have practice in a few. I'm so sorry," he answered.

Tris nodded, waving it off like it was nothing and got out of the car before throwing Zayne a wave. He waved back and she watched as he drove away, heaving a sigh.

The year before, she had never been close enough to stand next to Zayne Mahone and actually smell him-as wierd as it sounded- but now, she knew his smelt like cologne and warmth, if that could be a smell.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned to her house and walked towards it, shivering once more while trying to get rid of the pair of intense green eyes lingering in her mind. She wondered what had changed between them.

She wondered why he'd decided to become her 'driving buddy' but the thought immediately left her mind when she heard the sound of a baby crying and a woman trying desperately to comfort it.

Mrs. Jacobs and her baby, Eliza Jacobs were both in the hallway when Tris walked in. Eliza's face was red as tears fell down her face and Tris found herself feeling glad that Zayne had rejected her offer for a tour in the house.

Mrs. Jacobs looked up at the sound of the door and let out a breath of relief, "Thank God. Take her while I try to make dinner,"

The baby was gently placed into Tris's arms before she could protest and her mother began to walk to the kitchen with her two daughters on her tail.

Mrs.Jacobs, though in her 40s, had aged well despite the grey hair peeking out at the edges. Her face nearly always wore a smile that reached her soft brown eyes and Tris loved that about her mother.

"How was school?" Her mother glanced up at her as she stirred a pot nearby. Tris sat on the counter with the now calm baby in her arms.

She sighed, "We have assignments piled on us until next week and Cara Stevenson paid me a visit,"

She purposely refrained from mentioning Zayne, deciding her mother would jump to conclusions like she always did. Besides, Zayne wasn't important. Max was.

Her mother raised an eyebrow at the mention of Cara and set the cooking seat down. "What was the visit about?"

Tris shrugged nonchalantly, "She just enjoys making fun of me."

Mrs. Jacobs muttered profanities under her breath and shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the baby screaming on the top of it's lungs once more.

"This baby takes after your dad," Her mom muttered tiredly, "He's such a cry baby as well,"

Tris stifled a chuckle and handed her the baby. Once her mum was out of the room, she slid of the counter and thought back to how close Zayne had been. Something seemed fishy about him.

After so many years of avoiding her, he finally decided to talk to her and drive her around. What had made him notice her all of a sudden?

She didn't know what had compelled him to do it but she sure as hell intended to find out.

No matter what.

******
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Musawa