By the time the final bell rang, Zain had already half-planned his escape.
His phone buzzed just as he stepped outside.
Ella: “Hey! I’m heading over now. Can’t wait to see you 😊."
Zain groaned out loud. Theo, who was leaning against the school gate, caught the look on his face immediately.
“Ella?” Theo guessed.
“Yup.” Zain stuffed his phone in his pocket like it would make her disappear. “She’s on her way to my house.”
Theo smirked. “You coming with me or playing tutor of the year?”
Zain hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to deal with Ella’s endless small talk and awkward attempts to hold his hand. But if he ditched her… he could already imagine the disappointed look his mom would give him.
Theo must’ve noticed because he nudged Zain’s arm. “Come on, man. She’ll be fine. Besides,” Theo added with a dramatic flair, “I need emotional support. You know how hard life is when you’re this cool?”
Zain rolled his eyes but laughed. “You’re so full of it.”
Theo grinned. “Seriously, though. Let’s go.”
Zain hesitated for half a second, but the thought of spending the afternoon with Theo instead of Ella made the choice easy.
Theo’s house was quieter than Zain expected. His mom wasn’t home, and his older brother was apparently out with friends.
Theo tossed his bag onto the couch and sprawled out, flipping through channels like he owned the place. Zain sat at the edge, bouncing his knee out of habit.
“You gonna sit like that all day?” Theo asked without looking over.
“I’m thinking.”
“Dangerous habit.”
Zain grabbed a pillow and threw it at Theo’s head. Theo caught it with one hand, grinning.
“What’s going on with you and Ella, anyway?” Theo asked. His voice was light, but there was something else under it, curiosity, maybe.
“Nothing’s going on.” Zain leaned back. “That’s the problem. My parents just want me to like her, and it’s exhausting pretending I do.”
Theo nodded slowly. “So stop pretending.”
Zain huffed. “Easier said than done.”
For a second, neither of them said anything. The faint sound of the TV filled the space.
Then Theo glanced over, his expression unreadable. “What if they wanted you to date someone else?”
Zain frowned. “Like who?”
Theo didn’t answer right away. He just shrugged and focused back on the TV.
“Forget it,” Theo said casually, but Zain caught the way his grip tightened slightly on the remote.
Zain didn’t know why, but his heart started beating faster. He didn’t push it, though.
Not yet.
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