Age Is Just a Number

Zara’s POV: 

I sat there and stare at the wall in front of me as the guy continued blabbing about football or soccer. It’s some sport. My eyes went back towards him, noticing how his skin isn’t as tan. He didn’t have the cute little mole on his neck. How his hair isn’t as smooth and silky looking 

After some time, I shake my head and stand up, grabbing my purse. “Going to the bathroom to powder your nose?” He said, laughing to himself. 

What the fuck does that even mean? Do I have snot up my nose? 

I opened my purse and laid down a twenty, causing his brows to furrow. “Sorry, I don’t feel any chemistry between us.” I said bluntly. 

Instantly, his face reddens, his ego probably bruised. I don’t understand why he is so upset. At least. I paid for the meal instead of eating and then ghosting him later. He stands up, darkens eyes glaring at me. “I have a taser,” I said. His eyes widened and he settled back down. Smart boy. 

Throwing my purse on my shoulder, I walk out of the restaurant. I glance down at my watch. “Twenty minutes,” I said, nodding to myself. “I’m getting better at this dating thing.” 

Ever since that awkward moment with William, I’ve been avoiding him whenever I can. I called up Carla and asked her to set me on a few blind dates. This is my seventh one this month. The first one didn’t 

even last five minutes because I kept thinking about how unattractive he was compared to William. 

Shaking my head, I kick the pebble on the ground, regretting how I decide to wear heels. Since my forgettable name date told me he would take me to a fancy restaurant, I thought I should wear something nice. The sun is beaming down, causing me to sweat like a pig. Taking out my phone, I GPS my location. realizing I’m half an hour away from home. When I saw a bus stop. I released a deep breath and took a seat. 

William probably drugged the ice cream he bought for me when I was younger, causing me to be 

addicted to him. 

I smack my dry lips, wishing I drank more water inside the restaurant. I jerked back when I saw a water bottle in front of me. My head turns to see a guy wearing a brown cap, covering his eyes. Glancing downward, he’s wearing tan shorts and a white t–shirt. “Here,” he said, granting me a small smile. 

I sat there and stared at him. 

He rolls his eyes. “I didn’t poison it, Zara.” 

I hurry back. “How do you know my name?” I yell, covering up my body, hands ready to pull out the taser from my purse. 

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O 

1/4 

He takes off his cap revealing deep steel orbs. “It’s me.” 

I sat there, narrowing my eyes, staring at him. “Oh, it’s you,” I said slowly, having no idea who he is. 

“You don’t remember me, do you?” He said, and I shook my head. “Seriously, Zara? We have been going to elementary school together.” 

I continue to shake my head. 

“Chocolate. Kid. Basketball game. May or may not think you were cute?” 

The head shaking returns. 

“I’m fucking lan.” He threw the water bottle at me. 

I dramatically catch the bottle as if it’s a bomb, “lan? lan Van de Berg?” I said, recalling some memory of a boy confessing his emotions to me at a game. Then again, I am a catch, and a lot of guys like me. Shimmer down the ego Zara. 

He scoffs, “How the fuck did you manage to remember my last name but not first?” He opens another water bottle. I can tell he still likes me. Not. 

I unscrewed mine and drank it to satisfy my quench. 

“So, what’s the oh so popular Zara doing here at a bus stop? In a dress? With heels?” 

“Oh, I finished a date, told him I didn’t feel the chemistry and left. Thought it would be rude to ask for a ride,” I said, nodding my head. 

“If you weren’t so fucking cute, no one would want you, sweetheart,” he said. 

I tilt my head toward him. “lan thinks I’m cute?” I said, teasingly, causing him to roll another set of eyeballs. “Be careful. You don’t want those balls to be stuck.” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He snickers, “Which balls are you talking about?” 

“Get your mind out of the gutter, I meant your eyeballs,” I said, snapping my fingers at him. 

The bus rolls towards us, and we stand up, walking inside, releasing a deep breath when the AC hits our sweaty skin. We paid the amount and took a seat. My brows narrowed when I saw him sitting beside me. “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask. 

seat. 

He looked downward, “Sitting. 

Smartass. I glance around to see an empty bus. “Why don’t you a–sit over there?” I point at the open 

“I like a–sitting here,” he said, pointing downward and grinned, “Plus, it gives me a chance to get to know my future girlfriend.” 

2/4 

“Oh puh–lease,” I responded. He can’t catch me then, and he can’t catch me now. I probably forget about him if it weren’t for the chocolate bar I miss out. 

He tilts his head towards my ear. “Save that for the bedroom,” he whispers, causing me to leap back towards the window. When he saw my reaction, a sly smirk made its way across his face. “I’m just joking, 

calm down.” 

“Don’t joke like that,” I said, shoving his shoulder. We sat there, feeling the rattling of the bus back and forth. “So, why are you here?” 

“Took you long enough to ask,” he said. 

“Are you going to tell me?” I question slowly. 

“I’m out and about to find a fake girlfriend,” he grins proudly. 

“Are you kidding me?” I ask. 

He shakes his head. “I need a girl to make another girl jealous.” 

“An ex?” 

He wiggles a finger in front of me. “Nope, best friend.” 

“Okay,” I said. 

He lifts a brow. “Okay?” 

“Yes, I agree to be your girlfriend,” I place quotation marks around the word girlfriend. 

He releases a short snort. “What’s in it for you?” 

I shrug. “I’m bored. I need a distraction.” From William. 

“Oh, then no,” he said, staring at me with a blank face. 

I 

“Why not? I’m pretty!” I said, pointing two fingers at myself. 

“Yeah, and that’s the problem, pretty girls like you bring nothing but trouble,” he states. He looks like he is reliving some sort of horrific memory. 

“Hey bud, you’re missing out,” said, flipping my hair over my shoulder. 

He shakes his head. “Trust me when I said I’m not,” he said, scanning my body. “I admit, you’re pretty and have a nice body Zara, but girls like you tend to have some obsessive stalker who is ready to kill if I laid my hands on you.” 

“Obsessive stalker? Really? Aren’t you exaggerating?” 

3/4 

lan shrugs, “I may be right, you know,” he responds. 

I shake my head. Crazy. 

When the bus stops, I stand up to walk out, but he grabs my wrist. “Hey, you alright?” 

“Yeah, why?” 

“Because you look sad,” he replies. 

My face lit into a smile, “I’m not.” 

He releases a deep breath. “Zara, sometimes it’s okay not to be happy,” he said. When he releases my wrist, I walk out the door. Turning around, he was still looking at me as the bus door closed. I watch the bus as it disappears around the corner. 

Throwing my heels back on, I start walking back home. The sun is shining, and birds are chirping, and oh fucking crap its William, 

I dived right into a bush when I saw William and Anthony in his driveway, Nina’s front door opens, and she walks out with a bag of trash, eyes staring at me I place a finger over my mouth and wave at her to continue walking. “Hey, Nina William shouted. I can hear his footstep jogging toward her. 

Quickly, I start crawling around the bush seeing a gap and thank God I’m tiny I nudge my way into it 

and pop out on the other side, seeing Anthony. He stands there, narrowing his brows at me. I place a finger 

of my lips, silencing him only to receive a smirk in return. 

“Hi William.” Nina said, very slowly. 

“Have you seen Zara?” He asks, and my heart leaps out of my chest. 

“Uhhh nooo,” she replies. It was bluntly obvious she was lying 

Instantly, I crawled towards my house 

“Zara.” 

川