32| A Dinner From Hell

Spraying some cologne over himself, Zachary assessed his look in the mirror. He was wearing a crisp black shirt with blue jeans, with his hair tousled back. Rubbing his hands together, he took a long sigh and prepared himself for the dinner.

"I still don't understand why you invited her for dinner." Althea appeared behind him. "Plus this hairstyle makes you look constipated."

"We invite all our friends for dinner. It's nothing new." Zachary said, changing his hairstyle which will suit his facial structure better.

"But she is not our friend." Althea said, displeasure clear in her voice.

"She is my friend." Zachary shrugged.

"Really? Is she your new target? Are you bored with normal girls?" Althea commented sarcastically and Zachary rolled his eyes.

"I think Maya is more normal than any of us." He taunted. "Especially you, sis."

"Yeah, right." Althea said dryly.

Zachary was about to say something more when a servant came to told him about Maya's arrival. Ignoring Althea, he walked out of the room towards the main hallway of their house. He couldn't understand why he was this excited to have her here. She was just a girl.

In the hallway before the main gate, he found her standing nervously. She was playing with the hem of her top, her movements slightly fidgety. When he reached her, a hint of relief appeared on her face. "Thank God. I thought it was a prank." She smiled and her dimples deepened.

Zachary assessed her appearance from head to toe. She was wearing black jeans with a nude top embellished with white pearls. Her curls were simply falling down her shoulders in their usual style. She looked perfect for a casual dinner, unlike some girls who try too hard to impress people.

"You look nice." Zachary said, smiling at her. She was beautiful, not in traditional sense but there was something about her that made her look different from other girls, in a good way.

"I always do." She chuckled but he could sense the nervousness in her voice.

"Come on, my parents are waiting." Zachary said and led her to the dining table. "Don't freak out, okay. My family can be a little extra but there are nice people."

"I bet they are." He heard Maya whisper under her breath.

Maya's heart pounded inside her chest as she walked forwards. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the Harpers. She once again gave a look to her clothes, hoping she doesn't look underdressed. But her hopes get crushed when she entered the dining room and found everyone both Althea and her mother wearing pretty, girly dresses.

"Mom, Dad, meet Maya." Zachary said and Maya shifted on her feet in discomfort.

"Hi." She said first to Mr. Daniel Harper, the senator that she had watched millions of times in news. In person, he looked much more intimidating and strict. Then she said the same to Isobel Harper, who looked not a day above 25.

"Welcome to our home, Maya. Please have a seat." Isobel said with a warm smile and Maya did as she said. She seated herself on an empty seat and Zachary sat beside her. Their dining hall was two times bigger than her room and her parents rooms combined.

She turned her head towards Althea who looked completely disinterested. But when her mother motioned her, she passed a cold smile to Maya.

A servant came to serve dinner which consisted of different dishes like salad, salmon, grilled chicken, pasta, dinner rolls, dumplings and steamed vegetables.

"So Maya, what does your father do?" Senator Harper broke the uncomfortable silence prevailed on the table.

"He owns a superstore." Maya said and Daniel nodded with an unimpressed face.

"And who else is in your family?" Isobel asked.

"My mom. She runs a small business of homemade jewelry from home." She replied and both Daniel and Isobel exchanged a subtle look.

"Eat." Zachary passed the pasta dish to her to divert her attention from the cold stares.

"Thanks." Maya said and served some pasta in her plate.

"What are your hobbies?" Isobel smiled at her.

"I... Um... I spend half my day at the superstore to help Dad and spend the rest of my time inside my house." Maya replied.

"Oh. Sounds nice." Isobel said and resumed eating her food.

Swallowing food felt harder under the intimidating glances of Zachary's family. The only relief was the presence of Zachary who kept talking to her every now and then.

"Zachary told me how you helped him pass Algebra." Isobel said.

"Yeah." Maya said. "He is bright so it wasn't that difficult." At this, Zachary raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, he is bright." Daniel commented. "Too bad, he is wasting his time in stupid hobbies like basketball."

"Basketball is not my hobby, Dad. It's my passion." Zachary responded.

"Passion." Daniel let out a humorless chuckle at this. "Tell me Maya, don't you think my son has potential to follow my footsteps?"

"Umm..." Maya felt troubled at this. Whatever she answer, she would offend someone at this table so she chose the diplomatic approach. "I don't think I have enough knowledge on this matter to say anything."

"Let them eat in peace, Daniel." Isobel said and passed the salmon tray to Maya.

"I am just saying, this is the age to use his potential to the best. I don't want him to regret in the future." Daniel once again started.

"Ok let's change the topic, shall we? What college would you like to join?" Isobel asked Maya.

"Yale." Maya said without a doubt in her mind.

"That's great. Daniel and I, we both are from Harvard." She said and gave an adoring glance to her husband. "That's where we met."

"Althea wants to join Harvard as well." Daniel said while Althea kept her mouth silent. "Too bad, my son thinks Harvard isn't good enough. He wants to join Duke."

"Duke has a better Basketball program." Zachary said.

"See, that's how basketball is ruining him. I think---"

"I think I am done." Zachary slid his plate away and stood up.

"Zachariah, sit down." Isobel admonished.

Maya looked at everyone on the table nervously, not knowing what to say or do. Senator looked like he wasn't done yet, Isobel and Althea seemed worried and Zachary's face was flushed with anger.

"You can come to my room when you are done. I'll drop you home." Zachary said to Maya and stormed out of the dining hall in full speed.

After he left, another uncomfortable silence prevailed on the table, with no Zachary to make her feel better this time. "I'll go check on him." Maya excused herself and followed Zachary. Entering inside his room, she watched as he angrily plopped himself over the bed and hid his face in between his palms.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"No, it's okay. I understand." Maya said and silently watched him.

The embarassment was visible on his face and Maya felt sad for him. She wanted to console him but she didn't know how. Sighing, she put her hand over his large one in a comforting manner. At this, Zachary raised his head and their eyes locked for a moment.

For the first time in her life, she had found Zachary Harper looking vulnerable. The guy who always looked like he had the ability to own the world appeared defeated. In a way, this moment between them felt strangely intimate and it scared her.

"You will be fine, Zachary. Whatever you do, you will excel in it. I am sure." She said with a warm smile.

A smile appeared on Zachary's lips, just like hers and for a brief moment, his eyes lingered on her mouth. He wanted to kiss her, just a peck, just a friendly peck. With that thought in mind, he leaned forwards and Maya immediately ducked backwards, her eyes widened in shock.

"I am... Shit. I am so sorry." He said and Maya's face became red.

"It's okay." She said and haphazardly, stood up to leave.

"I'll drop you." He offered.

"No. It's okay. I will catch a cab." She said and rushed out of there as soon as possible.

•••••••••

Inside the cafeteria, Zoey silently sipped on her smoothie while Olive flirted with a girl from their Literature class. They both were here to eat something but Olive looked like food was the last thing on her mind right now. In a way, Zoey felt bad for her as her pretty blonde friend would never be able to date freely unless she move out when they go to college.

"Bye." Olive giggled at that girl and once she left, Zoey raised her eyebrows.

"What's up with all the giggling?" She asked.

"What giggling?" Olive acted clueless. "We were just discussing Literature."

"Yeah, right." Zoey teased and took a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich.

She glanced around the cafeteria to pass her time but when her gaze landed on a certain person, she couldn't help but stare. It was Travis, talking to a chubby girl with red hair, they both quite engrossed in whatever they were discussing. For some reason, Zoey felt a pang in her stomach.

"Is she his girlfriend?" Zoey asked Olive, pointing towards them.

"How would I know? I mean the girl is kinda cute, in a nerdy way so maybe." Olive said. "Not my type though."

A frown appeared on Zoey's forehead as the girl's pale skin flushed at something Travis said and she smile shyly. "Does he like curvy girls?" Zoey asked, noticing her own flat stomach and thin limbs.

"Maybe. Who knows. Why do you care though?" Olive asked with a smirk but Zoey was too focused on Travis to reply.

She couldn't understand why her stomach churned at the sight of them. Yes, she knew she felt something for Travis but it was only physical. Getting jealous because of someone wasn't her style.

Once the girl left, Zoey excused herself and made her way to Travis, who was now chugging a can of apple juice down his throat. His Adam's apple moved with every sip and the movement ignited something in the pit of Zoey's stomach. "Now is not the time." She chided her hormonal self and sat down beside him.

"Hey." She said.

"Hi." He replied.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Nothing much." He answered.

"So who was that girl? The one you were talking to?" She asked without realising how stupid she sounded.

"What is it to you?" Travis asked her.

"Nothing. I just... I was just curious." She shrugged, hiding the discomfort on her face, or at least tried to.

"So what if she was?" Travis propped her elbows on the table.

"Well, then my sympathies are with her." Zoey replied.

"Well, in that case, she isn't my girlfriend. She is in my art class and we were discussing our sketching techniques." Travis replied and then took a bite of his salad.

"Oh." A strange relief washed over her but then the girl's blushing face appeared in her memory. "Well, she certainly looked like she had a teeny tiny crush on you."

"Bullshit." Travis shook his head and narrowed his eyes.

"You undersestimate yourself, Anderson. I think many girls in Majesty High have crush on you but they are too afraid to say anything because of your dry behaviour." Zoey said.

"Are you one of them?" Travis asked.

"Of course not." Zoey replied with widened eyes and an amused look appeared on Travis's face.

"Then I don't see how this is any of your concerns." He said teasingly. "Unless you really have a crush on me."

"As if." Zoey scowled and stood up to leave.

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Maya's outfit