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The gasp I let out wasn’t supposed to be so loud, but I could practically feel the wind created by the whip of heads. I quicky looked forward, seeing that half our class were looking my way. That included Zak and Mr Collard.
“Do we have a problem, Miss Newman?” He couldn’t even chastise without sounding boring. “Hmm?”
“Nope. No problem here.”
“You think we can concentrate, then?” He didn’t even wait for an answer before turning back to the board.
I blinked slowly and deliberately at everyone else and waved my hand, indicating for them to turn back around. They all did except for Zak who smirked sexily.
“You okay, Maddy?” he asked, tapping his pen against his bottom lip. “Anything bothering you?”
Swallowing hard, I searched desperately for an answer, but his blue eyes were too magnetic and mesmerizing. Trapping me in a vortex of silence.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he added when it was clear I wasn’t going to reply.
“I’m fine,” I added quickly, desperately hoping he wouldn’t turn around and move his attention back to his textbook.
He studied me, and it felt like he was looking beyond the clothes, the skin, and the bones, right into my soul. My blood warmed as his stare intensified. He was beautiful and dark, with perfect teeth, a straight nose, a little dimple in his rightcheek, and a tiny scar on his chin. It was so small it was almost unnoticeable, but I’d seen it.
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
His eyes twinkled with a whole host of things, and I imagined all of them were bad, but in a good way.
“I’m a little stuck on the problem which Mr Collard has set. Do you think you could help me? I hear you’re a bit of a brainbox.”
I frowned. I’d heard he was so clever that had his pick of universities. “Didn’t I hear that you wanted to be an accountant or something?”
His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “No way. I want to be a vet. Who wants to be a boring accountant?”
I nodded to the front of the class. “Mr Collard, apparently.”
“Not surprised. He’s a boring bastard.”
Wow that accent was just the sexiest thing ever. Having lived in Norford since infant school, no one I knew sounded any different. We all had the same flat Cheshire accent with a hint of Manc, which made Zak’s all the more interesting. He was the exciting new boy. He made my stomach a little bit squishy despite how much I denied it to my friends.
“You should go and sit with him,” Ana said as she looked down at her black painted nails. “Help him with his…” she looked Zak up and down, “problem.”
I narrowed my gaze at her and silently told her that I hated her. Ana shrugged and grinned.
“Well,” she sighed. “What the hell are you waiting for?”
“Ana.”
“What is going on back there?” Mr Collard asked.
Zak turned around to face him. “I’m stuck on a problem sir, and Maddy was just offering to help.”
“I can help you,” Liam offered from his desk in front of Zak.
“It’s fine, mate.” Zak pointed a thumb towards me over his shoulder. “Maddy offered.” He leaned forwards. “No disrespect but I think she’s a bit cleverer than you.”
Liam laughed, balled a piece of paper and threw it at his new friend. “Dick.”
Their banter was good-natured, and it made me smile. I liked Liam and, in many ways, he was like a brother to me—or the very least, a cousin—and he’d often hung around with me and my friends when we were young. Now, though, it seemed that he and Zak had become really good mates.
“That’s true,” Liam answered. “She’s got all the brains. Sit with her, but keep your hands to yourself.”
“Liam,” I hissed.
