Age Is Just a Number by Jeffery zedd

Chapter 24 

Zara’s POV: 

I tap my foot on the cement. 

Where the sitting duck was lan?! 

He was supposed to pick me up ten minutes ago for school so that we can play the whole fake relationship, lovey–dovey stuff. I even changed my online status to in a relationship for him that dick. 

When I felt someone tap on my shoulder, I swung around to see William, still creepily smiling like always. “Good morning.” he chirps, looking happier this morning than other mornings. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” I ask, eyes drawn down to see his fist wrapped in bandages. I grab his hand. “What happened?” 

He retracts it, releasing a short chuckle. “Just got into a-” he pauses, “bar fight.” He grins, “Where is your boyfriend?” 

I look around and shrug, then feel my phone buzzing. Pulling it out, I got a message from lan telling me that he can’t pick me up today due to some problem. I feel another buzz seeing the next message, how we need to talk. I wonder what happened since the text seems serious. 

Looking up, I can see William peeking on my screen. “Something wrong?” He asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my head. 

“Yeah, lan told me he can’t come pick me up.” I tried to sound sad, but inside I was burning with rage. 

He better broke an arm or something for ditching mel 

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William puckers his lips, swaying back and forth, humming for some fucking reason. His happy mood and bright sun are pissing me off. “Want me to drive you?” He asks, dangling his keys in front of my face. 

I slap his hands away. 

“Fine, have fun walking to school,” he said teasingly and walked towards his car. 

He won’t dare leave me. 

And he shut the door. 

He won’t leave me. 

He starts the engine. 

No, he wouldn’t.. 

He drives away. 

I hate William right now. 

Who am I kidding? I can never hate such a beautiful specimen. 

Damn it! I’m weak again! 

Pulling my backpack strap down, I walk to school but stop when I hear a car honk. Turning my head, William rolls down his window, waving at me to get in, but being the brat I am, I continue walking. “Zara!” 

I ignore him. 

“Zara,” he said in a stricter tone. 

A hand pulls me back, and William tugs me towards his car. Opening the door, he tilts his head, gesturing for me to get in, but I only pout. “I was just joking. Angel,” he whispers gently, pinching my puffy cheeks. “Get in.” 

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+ 

Releasing a deep breath, I hop inside, seeing a smile on his lips before he closes the door and jumps in. While he drives me to school, I can hear him humming to the song, which freaks me out. “Why are you in such a good mood today?” 

He shrugs, “Just have a feeling that something good will happen today.” 

I nod, placing my chin on my palm, staring out the window, but realistically I was staring at William. How handsome he looks today, with his nicely styled hair and cleaned suit. How great it would be if he takes it off. 

Zara! Snap out of it. 

We didn’t speak a single word as he drove, passing by street to street. My brows furrow when he passes my school. “Uh, my school is back there.” I pointed a thumb behind me, seeing all the students staring at William’s car as we drove past them. 

He nods, “I know, but I’m not going to stop driving until you tell me what’s wrong.” 

“What do you mean?” I ask. 

He pulls the car to the side. “Zara, you barely spoke to me lately,” he strokes my cheek lightly. “So, tell me what’s wrong, Angel,” he whispers. 

I shake my head, removing his hand. “Nothing is wrong. I mumble, hearing his 

release a sigh, running his fingers through his hair. I couldn’t help but imagine how great it would be to run my fingers through his hair. 

He ran his tongue through his cheek and nodded, taking me back to school. When we arrived, he parked. I held the handle, feeling his hand on my free one. William didn’t say anything, merely tangling our fingers together. “Mi piaci molto.” 

“What does that mean?” 

“Have a good day at school,” he responds. I remove my hand. Hopping out of William’s car, he gave me a wave goodbye. I smile at him before walking away, hearing the students whispering about me. 

“Are the rumors true? I heard Zara is cheating on lan with an older guy,” one of 

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the girls whispered a bit too loudly. 

“Look at that car! I wouldn’t blame her.” 

“What a slut, probably spread her legs wide open,” another mumble. 

Ignore it, ignore it. 

This is how it had always been, people pretending to be my friends in front of me, but then they would talk shit behind my back. I know rumors circulate the school about me, but no one ever dares say it in front of my face. I guess having the popular kids backing you up has its perks. Ironically, they’re not the ones spreading rumors about me. When they have something to say, they say it right in front of my face. 

When I walked into the hallway, a large group blocked me. I hear a familiar voice in the center of the group. “Yeah, some guys were trying to pick a fight with me, but those fuckers didn’t know why they were messing with.” 

Struggling my way to the center, I saw lan in a cast with a black eye and a few bruises. “lan!” I shout. 

I stomp towards him. “What happened, baby?” I try to sound like an affectionate girlfriend, placing at hand on his shoulder. 

“Sweetheart, I think we need to talk,” he sang slowly and excused us into ant empty classroom. 

cast. 

“What happened, lan?” I shout, staring at all the words signed by students on his 

“Your fucking obsessive stalker, that’s what happened!” 

My brows furrow together, lips thinning. “William?” 

He ran his fingers through his hair with his good arm. “Yes! Him! That dude is fucking batshit crazy! I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to date you! I know girls like you are nothing but trouble.” 

I cross my arms. 

ution is not fucking 

was 

such a thing! He wouldn’t even step on a bug!” 

lan rolls his eyes. “Dude got you wrapped around his finger,” he takes a step towards me. “Look at me, Zara, my fucking arm is broken! How? Because of William, your handsome prince next–door neighbor’s big brother did it!” 

Staring into lan’s flaming eyes, I knew he wasn’t lying, but there is no way William would do such a thing. He is too sweet and kind to do such a horrific thing. 

“Why would he do that?” I whisper. 

“For fuck sake Zara!” lan shouted. “That dick is crazy about you! Can’t you see it? How he glares at me with murderous intentions? How he look at you with loving psychopathic eyes? He is obsessed with you, where even a stranger can see it! Everyone can see it, except you!” 

played with my fingers. “T–That not true. He probably only did it because he cares about me as a young sister.” 

lan slaps his hand on his forehead, throwing it back. “For a smart girl, you sure are stupid. It’s like he has to put his dick inside of you for you to understand,” he grumbles, releasing a deep breath. 

He leans against the desk, “I want to break up.” 

“What?” 

Honestly, I felt slightly happy I don’t have to deal with a fake relationship. It’s hard work being in a relationship. I have to be with lan and post pictures online all the time to show the world we are in love. Then, I have to tell people good stuff about lan and why I love him without throwing up. 

“Zara, I had fun being your fake boyfriend and all that. But, this.” He lifts his broken arm and groans a tad. “This is too much for me.” 

I nod, and soon after, we discussed our break up. lan wanted me to break up with him during lunch in front of everyone, including Kayla. He told me that it would give 

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him a reason to run into Kayla’s arms. 

And I thought I was the desperate one. 

So, when lunchtime rolls around, we start our show. 

&# 

I release a deep breath with Nina standing behind me in disapproval of basically everything. Pushing the doors open, I stomped inside towards lan. I put on my sassy as fuck mask, crossing my arms. “lan, we need to talk,” I said in a stern tone, causing 

everyone to stop eating. 

lan stands up, feigning innocence. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” 

“Look-” I pause for dramatic effect, “I had fun being with you, like a lot of fun.” I drop some hints in front of Kayla, seeing her hands tightening around her fork, notifying she was jealous. “But, I think we should break up,” I said, causing everyone to gasp. Apparently, we are known as the golden couple around the school. 

“What? You want to break up?!” lan said, unnecessarily loud, causing everyone in the cafeteria to go quiet. 

I merely stand there and nod, allowing the tears to roll down, but it’s because Nina is pinching me from behind, and it hurts. 

“Why?” He breathes out, attempting to look heartbroken. 

“Because I’m sick and tired of you not paying attention to me, lan! It’s always about football, academics, or your parents!” I stomp my foot, shoving my face into my hands. 

“You know those things are important to me!” 

Kayla stands up. “How can you do this to lan?” 

I did not expect that. 

“What?” lan and I said at the same time 

“How can you break up with him because he wasn’t giving you enough attention! Those things are important to lan, and you should respect that!” She shouts, taking everyone back a little. 

“Oh right,” I mumble. 

She stalks towards me, clenching her fists. “You are a little spoiled brat, Zara Lee. Everything in your life is fucking perfect, so you aren’t grateful for anything!” 

Standing there, I can feel more tears rolling down, and this time Nina wasn’t pinching me. “You think my life is perfect?”