BURN

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

My gaze returned to the game, unwillingly watching Malcom but not once did he look over at the bleachers. He was quite the make of a hot specimen and every single time he pulled up his top, I had to bite down my lips so I wouldn’t moan over his glorious, toned abs.

Finally the coach blew the whistle and after a few instructions, he dismissed the players.

“Jade, Sophie,” Ben called and Malcom who had been walking out, suddenly stopped and slowly pivoted around, our gazes instantly connecting. Despite the fact that we were far apart, I felt my breathing grow erratic. Time had stopped moving and the only thing I could see was Malcom staring back to me.

“Sophie,” Jade nudged my arm and that’s when I broke the eye contact.

“Um…What?” I asked looking at her.

“You were staring at Malcom for far too long,” She whispered as we walked down the small steps to where Ben was standing.

“So what do you think of this first day?” Ben asked as we walked out of the basketball court.

“You were pretty great,” I hastily replied.

“I doubt if there is really anything great about sitting through an entire game,” He sneered.

“What?” I questioned confused.

“They made the first years sit so they could watch and learn from the seniors. Were you really that distracted?” Jade laughed. I definitely had to plead guilty to that.

“Distracted?” Ben casted a confused look over to me.

“She would stop drooling of Malcom,” Jade laughed a little more, clasping her mouth when I glared at her.

“Yeah, you guys have some history together. You were officially the first freshman and actually girl not to fall for the notorious playboy’s charm. Congrats on that by the way,” He patted my shoulder as if that was the most honorable thing one could ever do.

“Is that your brother’s goon?” We all looked ahead at the parked Mercedes Benz with Andrew leaning on its truck, a piece of unlit cigarette between his lips.

“Just great,” I mumbled under my breath.

“I’ll see you guys in class tomorrow,” Ben branched off, leaving us to deal with Andrew.

“Let me guess, Danny asked you to make sure we arrived in our apartment on time,” I wound my arms around myself, feeling annoyed by the whole protective-big-bro thing Danny had going on.

“Yes,”

“How about, you drive me to his apartment right now?” Maybe its time we had a little chit-chat with my older brother.

“Danny said I-“

“To hell with what Danny said. Get me to his apartment right now,” I demanded.

Andrew regarded me for a moment, completely not affected by my abrasive tone. He twirled with the car keys around his right index finger but then jumped off the hood of the car. Squashing the remaining piece of his cigarette under his boot, he let out the last whiff of smoke flow through his nostrils. I internally cringed at that but did not let it show on my face.

“All right. Get in the car then,” He sat behind the wheel but I noticed he was trying to desperately type on his phone.

“That was rather badass,” Jade whispered as Andrew revved the engine, skillfully driving us out of the main gate.

Daniel lived in a far bigger apartment, his neighbors mostly being the cream of the Student Body of Maseno. The moment the car stopped, I was the first one to step out.

“Wait, Dammit!” Andrew cursed as I walked in with Jade closely following me.

The sight that met me was one I never expected.  Bottles of whisky filled the room as couples grinded on the make-shift floor. It was a party. Daniel was hosting a party at six in the evening. Pushing past the crowd, I peered over some couple making out, finally managing to locate Danny lounging in the red leather couch with a girl patched up on his lap. The girl had her lips on Danny’s neck.

“Daniel?” I muttered once I was close enough. Then he shifted his gaze and noticed me standing right in front of him.

“f**k!” he muttered, jerking forward almost throwing the poor girl off his lap.

“What the hell Daniel?” The girl muttered as she turned around. Someone really had to be kidding me.

“Janet,” I breezed out the name.

“Hey freshman,” She flips her hair, watching me with an amused grin. I ignored her, returning my focus to the fidgeting Danny.

“All this talk about me being responsible and here you are, the beloved Student President being the top most irresponsible. God! You are so unbelievable Danny!” I snapped turning around, fighting my way out of the place that looked more of a club than a house.

“Stop Sophie!” Daniel called after me but I ignored her. The only thing I felt was the immense rage burning through me. How dare he betray just what exactly he was trying to make me emulate? I tried being perfect because I didn’t want to ruin his name and yet here he was, partying at sundown.

“I said stop!” he gripped my hand, pulling me to a stop.

“Why? So you can lecturer me over what I should and shouldn’t do in the name of good reputation?” I smiled sardonically.

“Just listen to me for once Sophie,”

“I have been listening to you my whole life Danny. You were that big brother I always wanted to be like. You know, good grades, good behavior, good reputation but it was all a lie apparently,” I shrugged.

“Sophie…” He trailed off, disheveling his previously neat hair.

“You made me feel like s**t every time I did something you thought was wrong. Then you had the audacity to lecture me about Malcom. At least he didn’t have to pretend to be someone he is not, which is something that I wish I could say the same of you,”

“Calm down Sophie and let’s talk about this later,” He tried to coax me but that the last thing I cared were the students beginning to get interested in our little conversation.

“Please don’t ever talk to me again Danny,” I strutted off with Jade following me.

Tears burned the edges of my eyes but I never let them out. Just as I was exiting the main gate of the apartments, I spotted Zain walking in. A look of surprise flashed across his eyes as soon as he saw me.

“Sophie,”

“Zayn,” I worked up a smile as I hugged him.

“Jade,” He nodded at Jade who looked like she was still in so much shock. Who could blame her though?

“Is everything okay?”

“Of course. We just need to find some means back to our apartment before it gets too dark,” A conflicted look plastered his eyes.

“I have a friend who could get you there, if that is okay with you,” I nodded in affirmation, barely able to trust what would come out of my lips. He fished out his IPhone and spoke some foreign language nodding a few times in between his own words.

“He’ll be here in five minutes,” He paused, cast a quick look past us to the apartment where Danny lived before meeting my gaze again.

“So you came to say Hi to Malcom?” He asked after silence.

“We had some few things to talk about. What about you?” I asked, steering the topic off my brother.

“I live here. Apartment 6B,” He pointed at the last house on the block.

“Really? So must also know my brother has been throwing parties,”

“He didn’t tell you? I thought you already knew,” Zayn replied, the surprise in his voice being no mistake.

“How come I’ve never heard anyone mention his parties?”

“Because they only for the elites. Personally I’d rather spend a whole day in the library rather than be in them. He has tried to invite me a couple times but I declined,”

“Good of you,” I bit.

“So we are still on for tonight right?” He asked hopefully.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” If going out with Zayn would be a distraction, then I wouldn’t care less about anything else.