Time appeared to go slow as we waited. The office was filled with silence. We were non the wiser with what was going on the outside.

The ticking of the clock was the only sound that filed the room. After the first initial shock of getting trapped, Ava and Lexi stopped protesting. Pure silence from the basement, it almost had an eerie feel to it.

I felt like I was sitting on the edge of the cliff. The anticipation was creeping up on me. Slowly climbing up on my back.

"It's been thirty minutes, do you think we should check on them?" I questioned.

Zac, who was sat on the far desk, shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Its been a while since they've screamed."

"Do you think you could go and check?" I hesitantly asked, still feeling the dread of going down to the basement.

Zac reassuringly nodded and proceeded to make his way down. A mere few seconds had passed and the sound of thumping started to get louder.

I turned my head to follow the sound, Ava entered the room like a raging bull. Her nostrils flared and her jaw clenched down, seething with pure anger. Just as I was about to say something, she turned on her heel exited the building, slamming the door behind her.

My brows wrinkled down in confusion. I stood there in the room on my own, until Lexi came barging into the room with Zac closely following behind.

"Lexi! Oi I'm talking to you," Zac called out, trying to get her attention.

"Leave me alone, don't talk to me!" Lexi screeched slamming the door as she exited.

We both stood staring at each other. My brain tried to compute what had happened.

"Yeah I don't think that worked." Zac shifted his brows, indicating that our plan had been defeated.

We proceeded to make sure the office was in check, we then locked up and made our way home. Both Zac and I were dumbfounded at how the plan seemed to have failed.

***

The rest of the day moved along fairly moderate. With intense revision for the exams, I couldn't concentrate, I kept milling over about how Ava looked. She had the look of disappointment, like I had hurt her.

After avoiding her for most of the day, I decided to peer into her room. Quietly knocking, I opened the door slowly, edging my head around the door.

She noticed me and let out a exaggerated sigh, as if she was sick to see me.

"Are you going to tell me what-"

"What you did was stupid." She let out in a harsh tone. "What was all that for?"

"We came up with a plan to get you and Lexi talking again," I explained, setting myself in the edge of her bed.

"As in you and Zac?" Her voice was masked in such disgust.

All I could do was nod my head, it felt like I was the younger sister, getting scolded by someone elder.

"I already told you," Ava sighed. "We've both said and done a lot of things to each other. We will never go back to being friends."

I bowed my head down. It was like I had let my sister down. My mind was so hellbent on reviving their friendship, it didn't think of the implications.

"Look, we won't be friends," Ava continued. "But, we did agree to keep things civil, for the sake of our parents business."

My eyes and ears opened up to the little progress made. I couldn't help but etch a small smile on my lips. Slowly, Ava's lips curled upwards and she let out a slight chuckle. I wrapped my arms around her shoulder, bringing her into a tight hug.

"So this plan was made by you and Zac?" Ava questioned, changing the subject towards me.

"Well it was my crazy idea, Zac helped me." I chuckled, shaking my head at how frantic I was about putting the whole plan in motion.

"Hannah, you sure there's nothing going on between you?" Ava lifted her brows up, looking at me in a quizzical manner.

My brows furrowed at this sudden repeat of questioning. "What? Why are you asking me this again? I already told you there's nothing."

"It just seems weird to me. It's like the other day you were practically hating him, and now you're coming up with elaborate plans."

I took in Ava's words, I wanted to argue back, but I knew her words were correct. The situation was simple between us, but I didn't know how and when it changed.

"And what if there was something between us?" I asked defensively.

Ava's mouth gaped open and she let out a laugh as if she couldn't believe what I had said.

"You've got to be joking me!" She exclaimed. "Nothing can happen between you two. Have you forgotten the shit he's said to you and me over the years."

Suddenly, I felt like I had shrunken in my place. It was almost as if Ava was towering over me like a strict parent, scolding me for acting out.

"People can change," I let out in a hushed voice.

Ava frantically snickered. "Come on Hannah, you know a leopard never changes his spots. Once a twat always a twat."

I tired to digest what Ava had said. Could she be right? I wanted to believe that Zac was truly being nice, but now I was second guessing it all.

The little voice of doubt in the back of my mind, creeped in. I was beginning to think this was all a play to get a good grade in our business project.

***

The events of operation Ava and Lexi, soon faded. It was like a distant memory, as if it never happened. Much of it was forgotten about, as the grand opening of our parents new business venture, Woodville & Carter Partnership, was in full swing.

It was a cool evening and the office was buzzing with various people. Chatter amongst us all was dotting around the room, as everyone mingled.

Due to the fact that it was a grand occasion, once again my mother urged me to dress up. I had lost count the amount of times I had to 'dress up' this year.

With the help of Ruby, I opted for a jumpsuit instead of a dress. It was blush in colour, the material was thick, enough to keep me warm with the cool breeze fanned around. The neckline was slightly plunged, with my shoulders slightly peeking out. It had a wrapped front and a tie waist. The jumpsuit moulded perfectly into my body, with the fabric easily moving as I milled around the office weaving through the vast amount of people.

With the help of Ava, my dark brown hair, was straighten to perfection. Beige heeled sandals were paired with my outfit. Sliver plated hooped earrings, enriched with crystals, adorned my ears.

Throughout the evening, as I hung out with Ava and Ruby, I kept peering over to Zac, who laughed and howled with his friends. There were times when I noticed he often did the same, when he did, I felt a slight blush fan onto my skin.

Zac donned a pristine white buttoned shirt, paired with slim fitted trousers that had a light blue checked pattern. His light brown hair was brushed back, creating almost perfect swirls.

Confidence soared through my veins, as I plucked up the courage to go say hi, whilst he laughed away with his friends.

As I approached him, he noticed me, for a moment it seemed as if he looked happy to see me, with his brows lifted. As his friends took note of me approaching, they had a look of confusion plastered on their face.

"Hey," I plainly say, subtly lining my lips upwards into a smile.

"Hannah Montana, what brings you here," Zac chimed in sarcastic tone.

I jerked my head to the side, at the sudden change in his stance. He now stood in a cocky way, that almost seemed condescending. His friends started to snicker under their breath.

I shifted my weight side to side, picking at my skin as I clutched the glass of drink tightly in my hands.

"Just thought I'd come and say hi," I let out in almost a whisper, slightly feeling awkward as they all continued to stand and stare as me, as if I were a stranger.

"Okay, you've said it now, you can go," Zac cheekily responded.

His friends bursted out in laughter. I felt like I had shrunken into a tiny being, like Zac was ready stamp on me. In fact he had stamped on me. I couldn't understand his change towards me.

I gritted my teeth, flaring with anger and embarrassment, I turned on my heels and marched away. Ava's words echoed in my head.

"A leopard never changes his spots. Once a twat always a twat."

Her words were loud and clear, swirling around my mind. It was stupid of me to even believe the old Zac was no more, the old Zac never left. I felt my eyes pool with water, I urged to fight against my emotions getting the better of me. I wasn't going to let the likes of Zac ruin the evening for me.

I held my head high, and proceeded to make most of the evening, laughing and chatting away with Ruby and Ava. I ensured I didn't shift my eyes towards Zac, but when I did. his gaze was boring into me deeply. As always, with a straight face, I flicked my head away from him, ignoring his presence.

The time had come for my dad and Brian to make their speeches. We all huddled together. I beamed with happiness seeing my dad proud at what he accomplished with Brian.

After the speeches, both our family were urged to stand together for a big group picture. Ava tried her best not to showcase her annoyance, forcing to smile in a picture with Lexi.

With our parents behind us, the four of us stood front and centre. With Ava on my right, Zac next to me on my left and Lexi next to him.

As the photographer waved his hands for us to stand closer, I felt my dads hand on my shoulder and I was pushed to stand quite close to Zac.

I clenched down on my teeth, with the feeling of awkwardness surrounding me. Zac's tall frame stood over me. My shoulder was pressed against the upper part of his arm.

The back of my hands suddenly came in connection with his. I abruptly jerked at the touch, but it felt like a magnet had pulled our hands back together. It was like a force pushing the back of our hands together.

I wanted to stop, but something within me couldn't. Lifting my head up slightly, I noticed Zac feeling the same as me. He knew what he was doing.

I couldn't quite comprehend him. At first he acted like a pompous twat, and now it was almost as if he was apologising for the way he responded to me.

Confusion rippled through me. It started to get hard for me to believe whether Zac was different. Maybe nothing between us changed. Maybe we were destined to hate each other.

For someone who I was supposedly hated, his close proximity and subtle touch of his hand, was quite welcoming...

A/N

This was a slight packed chapter, but I had to include various parts to build up more.

Looks like the plan kinda worked...

Who can figure out Zac? Is he nice or still the rude and annoying guy he's always been?

Share your thoughts! Comment and vote!

Love _xxAMxx