Chapter Forty-two

ALLIE

Was it stupid that I had directed him to my floor? When the elevator door slid open, I stepped out.

"You got some men’s shopping to do as well?"

I spun on my heel, swallowing sharply. Why did he always turn me into a sudden stumbling mess?

I pulled my key pass out. "I, um, work here."

He arched his eyebrows. "Since when did you get a part-time job?"

I placed a hand on my hip, tilting my head to the side. "Since when did you care if I had a job?"

Uneasiness passed across his face before he returned to his blank expression. I wanted him to say something else. I wanted to talk to him.

Instead, he stepped around me and headed over to the t-shirt rack.

Well, at least there were two things I've learned about Zane. One, he can actually have a conversation, and two; the guy had money, especially if he was shopping here.

Watching his strong back stride away from me, I just couldn't give up this opportunity.

"Did you want some help, Zane?"

He froze. Not saying a word. My heartbeat began to flutter faster and faster as I waited for his answer. When a few minutes had passed, and he still hadn't said anything, I knew I had to add something onto what I said.

"After all, I do work here. It's my job to help you." I chewed on my bottom lip, just as he turned around to face me. He looked me up and down - again. Why did he keep doing that? And why was there always this boiling rage in his eyes when he did!

"Or I can leave you alone, it’s up to you," I added quickly.

"Don't want to get you into trouble with your boss because you’re helping a friend." His eyes pierced through mine like they always did when we had eye contact. It was as if he could see inside my soul, past the walls I put up to the world.

Then my mind floated back to what he said.

Friend.

We were friends?

Was he mad?

"Um, well, I guess we aren't friends really, so I'll be doing my job."

He scoffed quietly, muttering something I didn't catch.

"Well, let's get started," I said, brushing past him and heading for the department where I was sure he would find something he liked.

"What size do you wear?" I threw over my shoulder.

"Large."

"Really?"

"You saying I'm fat, Winters."

"No!" I scoffed, "I meant how could such a muscular, tattooed man like yourself, be fitting into a large. I would have guessed an extra-large for sure."

His firm fingers wrapped around my arm, pulling us to a stop and once again I was drained into those soul-sucking eyes.

"Can't tell if you are insulting me or flirting with me?" His eyes reached deep into mine, searching for the answer. Surely this wasn't normal for him to reach so deep inside me.

I swallowed sharply, prying myself out of his grasp. "A friend would know I hate being touched by strangers."

Every part of me told me I shouldn't fear him, but his appearance was enough to scare any normal girl away.

His face melted with disappointment, even if it was only for a few seconds I caught it.

So, I mentally wanted to slap myself for being mean to a guy that I have been crushing on for months.

"Zane, you don't know me. That's ok. I know I'm nobody special at school so don't feel sorry for me, or act like you want to be my friend because I know who I am."

He scoffed loudly and shook his head out of frustration.

"Fine. You be a worker, and I'll be a customer. Just show me where the darn tops are."

So I did, and he didn't say another word, and neither did I.

 

***

“Winters, if you drop those darn books of yours again, I swear I’ll glue them to your hands,” Blake grunted as he once again collected my textbooks off the floor.

“Sorry, I’m just clumsy.”

I honestly was sorry. That was the second time this morning I had dropped them, and it was all thanks to that stupid tattooed hot machine named Zane.

Just seeing him always resulted in me tripping or dropping something.

“I thought his power over you would have eased by now,” Blake grumbled under his breath, which only resulted in confusing me.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” He handed me my books. “Just get a move on to second period before you’re late again.”

I wanted to press him more about his odd comment, but he was right. I couldn’t be late again.

“Fine, see you at lunch,” I threw over my shoulder as I quickened my pace.

Blake and his double-sided comments were doing my head in. Why couldn’t he just directly say what he meant? I guessed even when we were little he would always dodge questions.

Although now, it was a sort of feeling as if everyone was dodging my questions or just me in general.

 

***

I walked into class just as the bell rang and was sort of feeling proud of myself until I realized once again the only seat left was next to a very unhappy looking Zane.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

I sighed, dropping my books on the table next to him and pulling the chair to the edge of the table.

The last thing I needed was another run-in with him.

I hadn’t spoken to him since I saw him at work. I also knew for a fact he hated me because I had overheard Ebony telling Gemma in the girl’s bathroom.

The teacher started the lesson, and I was half listening when my attention was pulled away. Jamie, a guy I rarely spoke too, gestured with his hand for me to lean over to him.

“What?” I hissed across the bay.

“Are you going to the beach party tonight?” The tone he used told me he was genuinely interested in whether I was going or not.

“I wasn’t planning on it; it wasn’t like I had a reason to.”

His grin dropped for a moment, and then he shook his head. “Not good enough, Allie, and I’m giving you a reason to right now.”

He was flirting with me.

Me.

Allie Winters.

I blushed slightly. “Ok, well, maybe I’ll re-think it.”

He gave me a quick wink before we both straightened up in our chairs.

I was still slightly blushing when I snuck a glance at the stone man. What a surprise! He had an intense, angry expression on his face yet again.

Was Zane ever not angry?

 “You finished flirting now so we can get these questions answered?” he snapped at me.

Great a joint project yet again.

“I can just do them if you want,” I muttered, feeling uncomfortable.

“What you saying? I’m dumb or something?” he quickly snapped back, his eyes scorching mine.

“No. I just thought that I would save you the trouble of having to spend an extra moment with me, considering you hate my guts.”

I don’t know where that confidence came from, but as soon as the words slipped from my lips, so did the confidence.

“Hate you?” He screwed his face up. “Who told you that?”

I went silent and just stared down at the textbook in front of me.

“Allie, tell me who said that?” Zane’s voice softened just slightly.

I hated the fact that tears were swelling. “Ebony, but even if she hadn’t been gossiping about it, I would still think the same.” I turned to meet his eyes. “You’re a jerk, Zane Harris, and I don’t care what you think of me anymore.”

A fire in my belly was growing against him, and I did something completely out of character for me. I picked up my books and walked out of the classroom.

That’s right I, Allie Winters, walked out of class early, and I didn’t even listen to the teacher yelling for me to come back.