44 ??This little...??

TWO MONTHS LATER

ZAYN

Last CIE.

I don't know how I was supposed to feel about that. Probably happy. But I felt nothing. It was just English, anyway.

I bid my cat farewell on my way out of the house and sat in my car, speeding over to the examination hall.

Our CIEs took place in all sorts of weird marriage banquets and halls. Today's was a little nearer to my house compared to the rest. As I parked my car and went to sit inside, earlier than everyone as usual, I felt like there was something prickling me. This feeling that I was being watched.

Ignoring it, I went and sat in one of the empty rooms since there was more than an hour left before the doors to our room would open. I cracked open my English book and started revising.

I startled when I heard something like shouts from outside. Telling myself it was none of my business, I went back to reading. That was, until the door flew open.

And in front of me stood Ammar; slamming the door shut in the security guard's face.

I clenched the book tightly in my hand. You are calm Zayn. You are not the same. You will not pick a fight with Leia's husband.

"Are you Zayn?" He barked, striding toward me.

I kept sitting, kept my mouth shut. I was not a dog like him. Not anymore anyway. I wouldn't waste my energy on him.

If only I could stop thinking of him being intimate with my Leia. Those weren't images I ever wanted in my head. My jaw was clenched so tightly I was shocked I hadn't snapped my bones in half.

"Get up!" He hit my leg with his foot.

And then I lost it.

I rose from my chair in one deft move and lightly shoved him. He stumbled back and then glared at me.

"What do you want?" I demanded, staring at his pretty face.

I just wanted to tear it to shreds. So that Leia wouldn't ever look at him. So that he wouldn't look at her. The hair I wanted so badly to see and touch, he was allowed to. The gorgeous smile I wanted to be directed at me, he had access to.

He had everything I ever wanted. Everything.

Because Leia was his.

"I just wanted to see what she saw in you," He examined me, frowning once he was done. "Why do I think I've seen you before?"

I snorted darkly. "Because you have. In your nightmares."

"You are so arrogant," he observed. "Something she hates. You two have absolutely nothing in common."

"You keep saying 'she'. Who the heck are you talking about?"

I really felt like cussing but I was a changed man. And Changed Zayn didn't curse. In fact, he never got angry. Which was what I was right now, by the way. I was so angry, I was teetering on the edge of madness.

"Don't go all innocent on me now. You know very well who I'm talking about." I hated his posh accent. Hated that he wasn't a total fool. Hated that he didn't smell like the gutter. Hated. Hated. Hated.

He was eyeing me again now. God, I felt like tearing his eyes out.

"Why did you text her?"

"Excuse me," Don't scoff, Zayn. Calm people don't scoff. I scoffed, the sound low and mocking. I was born a brat, anyway. "You have no right to speak to me about Leia."

He got in my face and if it weren't for the fact that I was stronger than him, he would've broken my skull by now.

"You're strong," I commented, a sardonic smile playing at my lips. "But nothing compared to me. If I wanted, I could easily take what I want from you."

From the darkening of his eyes, he got the message. I could easily take Leia from you. "I'd like to see you try."

I chuckled. "Oh, but you wouldn't be here if you didn't think Leia had slipped out of your fingers."

A vein popped out of his forehead and his pretty face was getting redder and redder.

With a shove of my finger, I pushed him away. "Get out now."

"If I see you around her again, I swear to God I will kill you with my bare hands."

"I'd like to see you try." I imitated his words, voice shrill and girly.

He raised his fist. "You son of a—"

"Don't you dare say it," I shoved him away from me again, trying to rein in my anger. He had to get away before I did some serious damage. "Your threats might be empty, but I always keep my promises. And if you don't get the hell away from me, so help me God."

He narrowed his eyes at me. And I knew whatever was going to come out of his mouth was the last thing he'd say before leaving.

"Behave, Zayn," He gave me a derisive smile. "You don't want Leia to get hurt, do you?"

I didn't even think before acting. When I had punched him square in the jaw, I didn't feel the satisfaction I had hoped for. So I gave him some resemblance of a black eye.

There. Now that was what I called art.

"Raise a hand against her and we'll see what happens."

I wouldn't give him the chance.

I had to speak to Leia.

Now.