ANNA’S POV

PAST

Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? I mean a few months back I would have never thought that I would be in a situation where I would be hanging around a real friend let alone the fact that I am currently blushing in front of a smirking Zachary.

My day started pretty like any other school day. The only difference was that I had been getting car rides to school from Jake,  I didn’t want to disturb him, but knowing Jake, there was no way he would change his mind. So after insisting or rather threatening to steal my precious sleep by making me exercise daily, I finally agreed to catch a ride with him to school.

The classes went normal and before I knew it lunchtime had arrived and I headed towards the cafeteria. As I was walking down the corridors fiddling with the ring on my finger, I heard a small burst of laughter coming from one of the janitor’s rooms.

Oh Lord, please don’t let this be one of those cliché moments where I am stuck with the awkward exit of the people coming out of the closed room, I thought.

“Looks like that won’t be happening today.” A voice whispered in my ears. His hot breath on my neck was all I could focus on. I surprised even myself when I felt so calm around him like I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. And subconsciously leaned closer to him and I don’t know if it was just me but I felt him sniffing me.

Suddenly the bell rang, breaking me out of the said trance and I jumped and hit the door. Now I was facing him and I realized that I had been staring for a little longer and suddenly cleared my throat.

“Well umm, that’s good,” I said and tucked my hair behind my ear. I slowly looked up and saw a red tint on his cheeks and it looked like he was trying to avoid my gaze.

But the next second, he looked at me, smirking and leaned closer, leaving a very small gap between our faces and pointed towards the door and said,

“Wanna break the stereotype and get inside and scare the next person who passes this door?”

And this is how Zachary made me laugh even in an awkward situation like this.

That is the moment I realized that I have a crush on Zach.

PRESENT

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear.

Get yourself together woman, I thought.

“Sor-sorry I just remembered something from our high school days.” He blushed and looked away.

We had finally sat down around a table that I had asked to be set up specifically for today. It consisted of two chairs and it was well laid with flowers in the center and I made sure no one would disturb us. It was overall a very beautiful arrangement done and I am proud of my gang members to do this in a short time.

“Ah yes, I remember when you asked me to get in that room, though we didn’t get to do anything because your friends called you.” I smiled remembering exactly what happened that day and how I was a blushing mess.

“Uh yes, I mean, that was a good day.” He said and if I didn’t know him better, I would say he is thinking of recreating that day.

“You know Zach, there is no one stopping us today, want to break the stereotype and use that bed instead? And this time let me have my way with you?” I smirked and teasingly bit my lip and then seductively bit into a strawberry that was served to us.

“Now you are deliberately trying to tease me.” He pouted and I never thought I had this much of self-control because I swear I was so tempted to kiss his pouting lips.

“Guilty as charged.” I winked at him.

He angrily huffed out and immediately started filling his mouth with grapes and he reminded me of a chipmunk.

“Okay, I think I should tell you why I called you here,” I said and leaned forward and interlocked my hands with Zach’s hands. My hands fit perfectly into his.  His were more to the softer side which proved he was always gentle, definitely opposite to mine. Mine was born to hurt or kill people.

“Hey, you know you can tell me anything right?” He said and gently caressed my hands and the next thing I know, he brought my hand to his lips and placed a small kiss on it.

“Well as you already that I am the leader of RoseBlood and I guess you figured it out that I kill people.” I nervously chuckled. “I started this gang with only one mission, to help those in need. And that doesn’t make me a good person either, I will admit I have killed more people than I can count, and it makes me proud because, at the end of the day, one family is safe from the chaos done by the ones who deserve to get punished.”

I slowly removed my hands from his, knowing he would be disgusted with me, after all, I am not the same Anna I was before and I kill people with no regrets.

From my peripheral vision, I saw Zach stand up and he adjusted his chair so that now it was directly facing me. His hands reached for my chair and he pulled my chair towards him, so now I was facing him and he took my hands in his and squeezed it lightly.

“Anna you know you are my favourite girl besides Alaia and my mom. What you have done for yourself is not easy. I would never hate or judge you. I know you do everything for the right reasons, and I am really proud of you. How can I now? After all, you are my Indian American and I am never leaving you again.”

I didn’t even realize I had tears running down my face. Before I could do anything, Zach touched my face, and with his thumb cleared away the tears. His eyes had a gentle look and he looked so calm and everything in me was screaming to always protect him and not let him get hurt but I couldn’t trust my enemies but most importantly I don’t trust myself.

“Hey, I know what you are doing; stop thinking about us breaking us just to keep me safe. I am never leaving you, not again. So no matter what you try to do, it won’t stop me from being with you.” He said this and took a deep breath and pouted.

“I never knew you had it in you Zach; look at you expressing your feelings to me.” I chuckled light-heartedly.

“Uh you are not being fair; you can’t suddenly change the topic.” He pouted and this time I didn’t control myself and grabbed his nape and kissed him hungrily. The same lips that had been tempting me since the moment he entered my room, I could finally taste him.

After kissing him for a while I broke the kiss and leaned my head to his forehead and kissed his nose and closed my eyes. I breathed in and pecked his lips again and whispered,

“If we are going to do this, then I promise I will do anything to love and protect you forever and even if we break up I –"

And I was cut off by a pair of lips which now I have grown accustomed to.

After making out for a few minutes, I reluctantly broke the kiss and finally looked at him. His cheeks looked flush and his reds were looking redder, probably due to my lipstick and he overall looked cute.

I stood up from my chair and climbed on his lap so that now I was straddling him.

“This is a better position, this way I have more access to you and I can freely touch you without any obstacles.” I traced my fingers on his eyebrows and finally went down his cheeks and gave him a peck on his lips.

“I have assigned some guards around your house who are going to keep a lookout and report anything  remotely suspicious to me, this way I can feel safer knowing that you are well guarded now that everyone knows who I am.” I looked at him and he nodded without any hesitation.

“Okay.”

We spent hours just talking to each other. I was sitting on his lap, obviously and between innocent teasing from my side and tons of blushing from his side, we were finally together. It felt so natural at that point and I would make sure that it stays the same.

Now I was driving him back home but only after giving him a stern look that I asked him to be here today and it’s my responsibility to make sure he is home safely. And well it wasn’t hard convincing him but now he was sitting in my car with a pouting face.

“You know pouting only makes me want to stop the car and kiss you and this nowhere helps your case.” I looked at him and smirked.

“Bu- but you didn’t have to drive me back home, I could have taken a cab, I just didn’t want to trouble you. I know you have other important things to do.” He looked down at his fingers.

I realized that he is Zach and he would always make sure others are happy before he would even remotely think about himself.

Talk about a selfless guy huh, actually he is my selfless guy, I thought.

“Listen carefully Zach, there is nothing I want more but to spend time with you. And honestly, you should be selfish sometimes with the people you want to be with; don’t you want to spend more time with me?” I questioned and gave him a hard look.

I could see him hesitating and fidgeting in his seat and then I realized that maybe he doesn’t feel the same way I do, and I can’t even blame him. He wouldn’t want to be with a killer how can he?

The next moment I felt his hand covering my hand which was left freely on the gear. He took my hands and put it on his lap and started playing with my fingers. And wouldn’t you know, I couldn’t stop smiling then.

The entire car ride went smoothly then, with Zach intertwining his hands with mine and me being satisfied with only looking at him.

We finally reached his place and like the last time, it was still looking so cozy and just homey.

Just like Zach, I thought.

Reluctantly I left my car and saw Zach standing outside the car. It was time to say goodbye even though we are meeting tomorrow it felt like everything would change tomorrow.

“Um I should go inside,  Alaia must be waiting for me,” Zach said and reached out to hug me.

I hugged him back and discreetly sniffed his neck. I heard him chuckle slowly and he hugged me even tighter. I smiled knowing that whatever happens tomorrow, I will at least have Zach with me.

After a few minutes of us just hugging each other, he moved away from me and gave a peck on my cheek and ran away from there. I smiled and shook my head. I saw him waving to me from his door and he finally went inside.

I felt my phone ring and saw it was Jake and I picked the call.

“Anna you have to get back here immediately.”

AUTHOR'S NOTE(yet again😬) -

Hi! How are you guys?!
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it❤️❤️ I couldn't stop smiling when I wrote this chapter, I was literally acting crazy lol.

Anyway please vote, comment and share❤️😊

Also I'll see you guys in the next chapter :) but I am always here to talk, so please don't hesitate to drop me a message and I'll definitely reply ☺️