Chapter 40: "Shots Fired!"

Don't forget to vote and post your reactions as you read 🥰. Enjoy!

First draft: April 2018

"Thank you." Salma gave Zayn a quick smile as he held the door open for her and then turned back to her phone.

James: Look, I'm being super kind, but you better make it up to me.

Salma sighed, before replying. At least he had stopped using that abbreviated mumbo-jumbo he used to text her, but she still could not help but feel exhausted with his continuous whining. He was partially justified to complain. Salma was yet to visit his new studio and also, James wanted her to be his new girlfriend tester – which Salma was not keen on.

"I want to see how she behaves around you," James had explained his logic. "If she's alright with your ninja ways and not put-off by the fact that you're my first and only soul twin, then I'll keep her. Otherwise I'd be glad to go for the next one and protect my lovely heart."

Salma was speechless. Realising she had taken offense, he pretended to have been kidding but Salma knew he was serious. That jerk had a very high opinion of himself and he was going to sift through girls like shirts in a store before choosing one.

Salma hit 'send' as she typed a couple of texts.

Salma: I'm sorry! It is not my fault my movement is restricted by threats.

Salma: X-Raw all around dude!

Salma: Why don't you come over and we'll catch up.

Salma smiled at her clever thinking. Maybe if he came over, Salma wouldn't have to be party to any of his questionable filtration process for choosing his girlfriends.

James replied almost immediately.

James: Haha, very funny. And should I bring my studio along too?

James: So it can catch up with you?

Salma sighed, mentally facepalming.

You're such an idiot, Salma!

A hand waved in front of her face just as Salma locked her phone.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You were saying?" she quickly turned to Zayn, slipping the phone in her abaya's pocket.

Zayn stopped the moment they stepped out of the building and turned to her. He raised his eyebrows, blinking.

"I didn't say anything. . ." He laughed awkwardly.

Lovely. Salma scolded herself. She just proved how attentive she is to him.

"but," he continued, and then held his hand to her.

Salma stared at his open palm.

"Your hand? What's with your . . ."

Her cheeks burned when it dawn on her. Zayn bit back a smile. He quirked a brow.

"I see," Salma muttered looking away shyly. Her hands were suddenly cold and sweaty.

"You see what?" Zayn asked, following her gaze to where she was looking.

Trees, she wanted to say, but she knew that wouldn't get her out of the situation so, taking in a deep breath and avoiding his eye, she placed her hand in his before she could overthink it.

A shiver raked up her arm the moment she felt the contact and her heart started running a marathon. His hand was warm and hard against hers. Her fingers tingled. Salma drew in a shaky breath, trying to relax.

Why did her hand suddenly grow so small? Her malfunctioning brain questioned out of blue. Or was it Zayn's hand that was too big?

The weird thought distracted her enough to give her the courage to close her fingers around his.

Zayn smiled. Salma was careful not to meet his gaze. He interlocked their fingers and started walking again. Salma almost staggered on her feet as she fell in step with him. Her legs were suddenly stiff and her brain a bit too focused on the soft tissues of her hand pressed against the warmer ones of his palm. A wave of goosebumps swept over her as Zayn rubbed her knuckles with his index.

to and fro . . .

. . .to and fro

to and fro. . .

Salma shook herself away from the touch of his finger against her bare skin. She cleared her throat.

"So now we're doing this every day?" she all but whispered.

Great! Salma closed her eyes. Now he knows she's overwhelmed and sounds like a choked frog simply because he was holding her hand.

"Doing what?" Zayn feigned innocence while his finger continued its playful assault.

Forgetting her discomfort, Salma gave him the stink-eye.

"It's time you let go of my hand," she said pointedly.

Zayn laughed.

"You're no fun." He pouted but loosened his grip anyways

Salma tightened her fingers, maintaining her hold. A fresh dose of tingles shot up her arm when her palm pressed flat against his again. Zayn glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Salma wondered if he felt tickles too? Or was she the only mutant with a messed up physiology?

. . . Five . . . Six . . .

She continued counting in her head.

Seven. . . Eight. . .

"I'm not your definition of fun, and I'm fine with that," she said, then let go once she had counted ten seconds.

"Who said you're not my definition of fun?" Zayn frowned at her.

"The dude walking next to me."

Zayn glanced over to her right.

"I'm assuming you got rid of him 'cos I see no one," he said, then shrugged. "Good riddance, he sounds like an idiot anyway."

Salma shook her head, feeling both amused and tired of his lame jokes.

"Are you usually like this?" She raised a brow.

"Like what?"

"Nevermind."

Zayn chuckled.

"So where are we headed?" He changed the subject. "The usual spot?"

"Okay," Salma agreed.

"Unless you want to go chase bees?" Zayn asked with a cheeky grin.

"No, if I go, I go there alone. You ruin the bees' flowers."

"I deny that accusation but I understand that you want to keep your flower to yourself."

"I meant the bee!"

"I heard you."

"Not me bee, the bee!"

"'cos that just made so much sense!"

"The bee, the one you –

"Claimed?"

"Yes – no!"

"The one who claimed me?"

"No!"

"Held hands with?"

"Just be quiet!" Salma scolded. "I meant the insect you bothered yesterday."

Awkward.

Salma felt the heat creeping up her cheeks. Did she really just walk herself into that corner and called herself an insect? Zayn had his lips pressed together but it was not hard to see him containing a fit of laughter as his entire body shook with it.

Salma closed her eyes in embarrassment. Great going, Salma!

"You know what --"

"I didn't say anything!" Zayn burst out laughing, raising his hands and moving a step away from her.

"You were thinking it!" Salma accused.

"I was thinking what?"

"That I was talking about myself."

"Were you not?"

"No!"

"Didn't you say Bee --"

"Yes, the winged- six legged creature --"

Salma was cut off by a sing-song voice and a pair of arms encircling her.

First draft: June 1, 2021

"Saaaalloooooo!"

Salma blinked. She realized they were already at the benches. Jason grinned and waved at her from across the table.

"Hey, Monkey-arms!" Zayn tapped Louisa's slender forearm. "Keep your furry limbs away from her!"

Louisa ignored him and turned Salma around to face away from Zayn.

"How's you doing, Queen?" she asked, letting go and leaving only one arm loosely draped over her shoulders.

"Lovely." Salma replied taking a seat next to her. "How are you?"

"I was doing fine until you brought the pest along."

Jason laughed.

"Go away!" Zayn cried. He picked Louisa's arm between his finger and thumb and removed it from around Salma. "Ugh! Germs!"

Salma's soul shot straight out of her body when a more well-built, much heavier arm enveloped her smaller frame in its stead. A volcano of tingles jolted her as he pulled her closer.

"Excuse me!" Louisa fumed.

"You're excused." Zayn pulled Salma closer, making her skin rake with goosebumps. "Stop trying to inject my favourite human with your brain disease, monkey!" he said.

"You let her go this instant!" Louisa dived to pry his arms off of her. "You're the disease!"

Salma shivered when Zayn tightened his arms around her in response. She was literally pressed into him. Before she could lose her wits, feeling all his toned muscles flexing and relaxing against her, Zayn seemed to have realized she was getting uncomfortable and loosened his hold on her. He casually scooted away on the bench so she was no longer plastered to his side.

"You are deluded!" he continued his bickering with Louisa as if nothing had happened. His arms – with an elbow resting on the back of the bench and the other on the table now - were still forming a loose circle around her form. "Bee is with me. I got to her first!"

When Zayn moved to slap Louisa's approaching hand away, Salma realized she was still leaning against him.

The heck is going on with you, Salma. Her head scolded. Pull yourself together and move away!

"Guys!" Jason intervened her mental and the idiot's verbal battle. He jerked his head behind him when the three turned to him.

Salma saw Charlayne and Lena making their way towards them. She felt Zayn stiffen. Salma made a move to pull away from him just as Zayn's hand rested on her upper back. Too late. Salma saw Lena's eyes flashing with anger as they zeroed on the two of them cozied up together. Perhaps Charlayne was surprised to see Salma in Zayn's arms too, but Lena's murderous glare was all Salma noticed.

"Right, flies are here," Zayn muttered under breath, sounding exasperated, before he turned to Salma. "You want to grab a bite, Bee?"

"I think I'd like that," Salma replied, happy to avoid a confrontation, or at least, an unpleasant company in form of Lena.

The two of them hastily got to their feet. Salma followed Zayn as he shuffled out of the bench, only to find Lena step in after him to block her path. Her eyes flashed with accusation and anger as she glared at Salma. Zayn reached for Salma's shoulder and stood close behind her.

"If you have a problem, Bee's got nothing to do with it," he began. "I won't take anymore crap from you, Lena."

Lena did not budge.

"You really are something, aren't you?" she said in a leveled-tone. "Hanging around that man despite what he's done. I thought that reminder the other day would help you remember where he stood in your books."

"I've got nothing to say to you," Salma replied. "Please move out of my way."

Lena ignored Salma's request. She stared at her, searching her eyes for something. Salma could see that she was angry, yes, she was mad with anger, but there was also this confusion.

"Move out of the way!" Zayn shot at her.

Lena scoffed.

"You really let his pretence blind you," she continued in that same leveled tone. "And here I thought you were better than that."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I really don't care what you –"

"You should!" Lena fumed, her earlier calm disappearing as unexpectedly as it arrived. "You should learn to care! Do you have any idea what he'd done to the girl before you? What makes you think you're any different?"

Caught off guard, Salma turned to her. Her lips parted in surprise.

"Just shut up!" Zayn snapped.

"What are you talking about?" Salma all but whispered.

Lena scoffed again.

"I see, he hasn't told you of his high school adventures, has he?. He ended up killing a fellow student!"

"Lee!" Charlayne whispered, aghast.

Lena shrugged out of her reach, not breaking her unblinking stare away from Salma, who felt like she had turned to stone.

"The student didn't die!"

Salma turned to the source of the voice, surprised to see Niall standing behind Jason. When did he arrive?

"She survived," Niall continued, mostly addressing Salma. "And it was not Zayn's fault she was suicidal!"

"Or was it?" Lena asked. She had a cold smile playing on her lips, but Salma could see she was holding back the urge to cry. "Okay. Let's wash his past, Salma. Let's believe the best friend here." She pointed at Niall. "Of course he'd never lie, right? But would you? Will you deny it yourself? Or are you going to let one of them stand up for him and deny the fact that he abused you?"

Salma felt her chest congest. Her words were like a punch to the gut. She could not breathe. Lena probably meant what Zayn had done in front of the dormitory buildings but her words would hold equally true for what he had done up on the roof that night. He had abused her. He had abused her verbally, emotionally and physically.

"How can you forgive him and feed his ego?!" Lena lashed out. "How can you be so shameless and have no self-worth?"

Salma took in a gulp of breath. She staggered back only to knock into Zayn. She pushed away from him. Her head was spinning. Lena's sudden shift in targets had her suffering from vertigo. Was she mad that she was with Zayn? Or mad that . . .

"He does not deserve the happiness that you are burning yourself for!"

. . . she was with Zayn?

"Enough!" Zayn raised his voice.

"Of course you'd say that!" Lena rounded on him. "Of course you'd want me to shut up! You think the world dances to your tune, Zayn but I did not forget! You have blood on your hands. You killed one and almost sucked the life out of another. You think it's all dandy because here comes another unsuspecting dimwit you can prey on?!"

"I think you need to slow down a notch," Salma said.

Everyone turned to her. Salma hated the look they were giving her. One of sympathy, of pity, the 'Oh poor confused lamb' look. She felt Louisa step close and put a hand on her arm. As quiet fell around her, Salma took in a few breaths to clear her head.

"Are you mad at me for being with him, or him for being with me?"

Lena snorted.

"As if there's a difference," she snapped.

"You want to be with him and I'm in your way?" Salma provided. "Or you want him to suffer and I'm . . . well, I'm in your way?"

"You see the common denominator, don't you?" Lena said derisively. "You are in my way. It doesn't matter what I want, you, miss Rahman, you're in my way, and I want to know what gives you the galls to actually be there when you've been told pack up?"

Salma chewed on her lip as she searched Lena's eyes. She wanted to be with Zayn or see him suffer by being alone, or both? She probably wanted both. Salma  could not quite understand what Lena was aiming at, but her condescending tone had made Salma focus better.

Pack it up? Salma scoffed in her head. Since when did a random girl get to tell her what to do?

Salma exhaled a breath.

Lena could have whatever she wanted, but she could not order Salma around or demand answers for her personal choices. That much was quite clear.

"Zayn?" Salma said out of blue, taking almost everyone by surprise.

"Hm?" he replied, quite obviously confused.

"What do you call her?" Salma gestured towards Lena.

"I don't understand . . ."

"How do you address her when you want to talk to her?" Salma elaborated.

"Lena?" Zayn provided.

"No," Salma replied, maintaining the staring contest with Lena despite the latter glancing between Zayn and Salma in confusion.

"Lee?"

"No, not that, not Lena, Lee, Len --"

"Get to the point!" Lena snapped.

"What did you call her just before she blocked my way?" Salma asked.

Salma felt Zayn's chest rumble with a quiet laugh.

"A fly."

Louisa and Jason snorted with a laugh. Niall quickly looked away. Lena shot Salma a murderous glare.

"And what do you call me?" Salma continued.

"Bee," Zayn said fondly. Salma felt his hand running up and down her bicep as he uttered her nickname.

"There you go." Salma smiled at Lena.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"So that's your worth? A half-assed attempt at a slightly cuter nickname and you bow before him, turning into a slave he can push around," she said, disgusted. "I really expected too much from you!"

"No. I believe you missed the point." Salma replied calmly. "Let me explain. A wise person once said, 'Bees don't waste their time explaining to flies why honey is better than shit.'"

The few seconds pin drop silence that followed her reply was literally blasted open.

First came the hoots and the laughter as Louisa bent double next to her.

Then the screaming curses from Lena as she charged towards Salma.

Then came the sticky, hot liquid that slapped Salma in the face, blinding her vision. Surprised and confused, Salma wiped at her eyes.

Her hand was stained scarlet.

Blood!

Something heavy knocked against her chest, staggering her back. Blood. Lots of Blood. A bone-chilling scream of terror escaped Salma's lips.

"LENA!" Salma quickly cradled the blood-soaked figure from slipping to the ground.

She heard more horrified voices. A bang tore through the air. Salma jumped and stepped back again.

Splinters flew from the edge of wooden canopy. Screams ensued.

Another explosive bang. More splinters.

"Move! Run! Run!"

Salma turned around in confusion and panic to see Zayn picking up Louisa who leg was covered in blood. Niall and Charlayne were already running for cover. Salma held onto Lena's limp body, not sure what to do. Terrified madness was echoing across the grounds around her.

Someone jumped over the table towards her.

"Down!"

An arm wrapped around her left and pushed her to her right.

"Take cover! Get down!"

Salma knocked her thigh against the back of the bench as she was shoved. Her weight flipped over it. Lena slipped past her limp and blood-soaked grasp, crumpling in the small space between the table and the bench.

Salma's world turtled. She hit the ground, hard.

And the horrifying assault continued. Bangs. Splinters. Screams.

Chaos!

Author's Note:

Lots of Love

J.