Age Is Just a Number by Jeffery zedd

Chapter 30 

02071% 11:32 

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Zara’s POV: 

“So irrelevant,” she replies, pointing her pen at me. 

“You still did it,” I smile, knowing that I am swaying away from what I should do with my future topic. 

She snorts, “He is still hot.” 

“You have a boyfriend, and you’re thinking about another guy?” I tilt a brow at her playfully. 

She gave a one–shoulder shrug. “Matt was before Kevin’s time, not like I’m cheating.” 

“From what I heard, the dude is in his twenties. He sounds like a pedo, making out with a teenage girl.” 

She tilted her head towards me, dangling the pen on her fingertips. “You don’t want to bring up the age difference with me, Lee.” 

Damn it, went too far. 

Unfortunately, the school was over a lot faster than I would like. William messaged me around lunch that he would pick me up, something about wanting to talk. A part of that was anxious for William to come to pick me up, but then there is another part that’s like, please don’t come. 

Lucky for me, I got a message from him saying he is busy. 

And at that second, standing in front of the school, I feel only one thing – disappointment. 

There was a hand waving in front of me, and I glanced up to see Carla and the other cheerleaders. “Hey, you look sad. What’s wrong, sweetheart?” She cooed. 

The whole day, Carla and her friends babied me because they felt terrible about my almost coma situation. It was suffocating, but I know they meant well, and I love free food. 

I smile, “Nothing.” My eyes roamed around, “Going to practice?” 

She takes a seat beside me while the girls chat about whatever it is they want to talk about. “Kind of, tryouts. Perhaps you can, you know, try out.” 

“I don’t know,” I mumble. 

“Come on, Zara! I know Nina is busy with her student council, violin practice, book club, and all those other irrelevant stuff. But what are you doing?!” 

I smack my lips together. “My bed needs me to warm it up.” 

She grabbed my wrist. “You are going to become a cheerleader, Zara Lee.” 

I stand there, holding a bag Carla got for me. “See you at school for practice!” 

I don’t know what happened, but I went to the gym with her, somehow managed to do some backflip without breaking my neck, and I’m a cheerleader now. 

Whatever, it’s not like I was doing anything anyway. 

When I saw an unfamiliar overly expensive–looking car in William’s driveway, I duck down in the bushes, quite curious about who is inside. William got out of the driver’s side and went to the passenger side. He grabs the handle and opens the doo to reveal someone very familiar. 

A certain blonde female. 

She steps out, positioning her sunglasses over her head. “Thanks for the meal William,” she said, placing out her hand, and William dropped the keys. 

1/5 

That’s why William didn’t pick me up today. He was out with her. 

She leans in, whispers something in his ear, and kisses his lips before going back into her car. She rolls down the window. “Call me,” she winks before driving away in her expensive–looking vehicle.. 

Lifting my bags, I quickly went back to 

my 

my house. I walked upstairs, threw stuff in the corner, and closed the curtains. “What the fuck,” I threw myself on the bed and stare at the ceiling. 

The next morning. I hop out of bed, getting ready for the day. I grab my backpack, staring at the bag in the corner, and use all the minimum amount of energy I have left and lift it. I don’t understand how cheerleaders can carry all these things every day. It’s back breaking–no wonder why they always leave their books at school. 

Horn honk. 

William. 

I gave him my usual smile and waved. 

“What’s up with the bag?” 

I held it proudly and lifted my head. “You are looking at a new. cheerleader.” 

His face fell flat, the finger that was in the air dangled down. “You’re al cheerleader?” he asks, and I nod firmly. “W–When?” 

I smile. “Yesterday, after school,” I said, gluing my teeth together, trying my best. not to sound bitter, remembering when that blonde girl kissed him. 

Hearing a beeping sound, I tilt to the side to see Carla. “Well, I got to go.” I robotically turned my body and made my way towards her. 

He held my wrist. “Are you free after school? I’ll pick you up. I want to tell your something.” 

I shake my head. “I have practice after school.” 

C 

] 

2/5 

“Practice in the mornings too. That’s why Carla is picking me up,” I respond, seeing Carla lifting a brow behind her sunglasses. 

“What about after practice today?” 

“I can’t. I promise the squad to hang out with them. I’ll probably be back late–ish.” 

There was another beeping sound. “Come on, Zara! We are going to be late!” Carla shouts. 

“Coming!” I remove his hand from my wrist. He stands there staring at me, opens his mouth, but slams it shut. I pat William’s arm. “Isn’t this great? I’m a cheerleader!” | squeal, trying my best to sound happy. 

“Y–Yeah. G–Great,” he replies. 

“Bye, Muffin.” 

Throwing my stuff in Carla’s trunk, I turned my head to see William standing there, and I gave him a wave. He smiles at me and waves back. I hop into Carla’s car and put on my seatbelt to see her drooling over him. “Who is Mister Fine over there?” 

I turn my head to see William still in the same position. Frankly, it’s starting to creep me out a little, but God, my panties are soaked with all this intense stare. I grab. the seatbelt, pulling it across my body, attempting to make myself comfortable. “That’s William, my next–door neighbor.” 

“He’s hot! Is he taken?” 

I take one more glance at him. “Yeah.” 

“Who is she?” 

“A super hot model Russian girlfriend,” I said in more of a mocking tune than I intended. 

T 

3/5 

my shoulder. 

“I’m not.” 

She starts driving. “I won’t judge if you like him. He is fine.” 

I stare at the rearview mirror until William disappears. 

When am I going to get out of my delusional state? 

I thought something might be going on between us after all the bizarre kisses he gave me. I thought he was jealous of Randy, which was why he punched him. But I was wrong. Everything was all inside my mind. When I saw him kissing that hot blonde girl that he probably fuck, everything became clear. 

He doesn’t like me the way I do. 

I gotta get out of my delusional state and perhaps get a real boyfriend or maybe a girlfriend. Who knows, possibly feeling this way towards him turned me. Maybe one day, I’ll find a guy or girl who will like me and not give me all these false hopes. 

I’m sick of playing these games. 

No, it’s not even a game if there is only one player. 

Solitaire. 

I hate playing solitaire.