Zayn POV:

My body sweats as I continue running on the treadmill at the gym. Yes , I skipped school this morning to go to the gym. I ain't the nerdy Zayn anymore. I changed and I don't know if I like this change or not.

Well , maybe both. I don't like the coward old Zayn but I still don't completely like the new Zayn. I now do things I never thought I would do like skipping school as you can see.

I press the stop button and realize that I have been running for two hours straight. I grab a water bottle from my bag and drink almost all of it in one gulp.

I wipe my face with a towel and place the bottle back in the bag. I throw the bag over my back and walk out of the room. On my way out of the place , I notice a girl staring at me. She smiles at me flirty and plays with her hair.

I smirk back and wink at her. I'm flirting back just for fun , I mean I'm not looking for a bitch right now.

I leave the place and head to the gym's garage to get my car. I get in and drive to my house.

I walk into the house to see mom who is watching TV looking at me with a worried look. She already knows that something is wrong from the way I'm acting these days. I mean my behavior has completely changed and she doesn't know what happened to cause this change.

Thank god that she leaves it and decides not to open the subject , instead she waits till I myself want to tell her.

"Hey mom. " I greet her.

"Hey honey. " She smiles back before I make my way upstairs to my room.

I quickly take a shower and get dressed to go to school to attend the remained classes.

I place the needed books in my backpack and grab my car keys then I head downstairs.

"I'm going to school. " I inform my mother who is still watching her favorite show.

She looks at me and nods. "Okay , take care of yourself. " I kiss her head and walk out of the house.

Arriving at school , I park my car and walk into the building just on time for the bell to ring for the third class.

The hallway is already empty as the students all have gone to their classes which means that I don't have time to grab anything from my locker.

I sigh and walk to my class which has already started. I knock on the door and open it to find all eyes on me.

"Mr. Malik? Why are you late? This is not your habit. " The teacher looks at me confused and surprised at the same time.

"Sorry.. uhh I woke up sick and had to get it together before coming. " I scratch my head and look away because I'm sure she will tell that I'm lying from my eyes.

"Oh.. hope you're fine now. Take a seat , please. " I quickly thank her and make my way in class.

I look around for an empty seat when my eyes lock with Harry's. He gets nervous and I can see him shift on his seat. My gaze hardens and I quickly look away.

Leo raises his hand for me and I notice an empty seat beside him. He probably kept it for me.

I walk to him and take the seat. "Hey! " I give him a smile.

"You don't look sick at all so why were you late? " He raises an eyebrow.

I roll my eyes playfully and shrug. "Wasn't in the mood. "

He fakes a gasp and places his hand on his chest in a shocked way. "Now you totally sound sick! This is ain't Zayn. "

I chuckle and point at the teacher. "Focus or we will both get detention. "

I can see him stick his tongue at me from the corner of my eyes but I just ignore him and listen to the teacher.

Finally , the class has just ended so I grab my things and wait for Leo to grab his.

We head to the cafeteria for break. "Do you want anything? " I ask him after we have found an empty table to sit on.

"Grab me a piece of pizza. " He tells me so I nod and go grab the things.

"I want a piece of pizza and a coke. " I say to the woman.

She hands me the things and I pay before walking back to the table.

"Thanks. " Leo smiles when I hand him the pizza.

I open the coke and take a gulp. "So are you going to the school camp? " Leo asks as he takes a bite from his food.

"When is that? " I question.

He looks at me confused. "You didn't hear about it? It's next week. "

I shake my head with a shrug. "No , I didn't hear about it but I don't know if I'm going. "

He pouts with a mouth full of food. "Come on , let's go together. It will be fun and most of us are coming. "

"I will think about it. " I hum and we fall in a comfortable silence.

"Zayn! " Leo whines while I'm reading a book still in break.

I look at him and he points at a math problem that he has been struggling to solve.

I shake my head and take the book from him. It didn't take five minutes for me to solve.

"Thank you. " He smiles smugly at me.

"Okay , I'm going to grab something from my locker before the bell rings. " I inform him and stand up.

I head to my locker and when I reach it , I find Harry and Hunter standing near it. They look like they're arguing which makes me raise an eyebrow in surprise but I don't give a shit.

I open my locker and take out a book for my next class when their voices start to get louder.

"I told you I don't want to go! " Harry yells.

I look back at them to see Harry glaring at Hunter and Hunter clinching his jaw in irritation.

"Oh cut the bullshit , why are you being so distant these days? " I shake my head in defeat and turn my head away from them.

"This is none of your business , Hunter. " Harry answers back.

"You're a bitch , go fuck whoever you want. " I hear Hunter insults him and Harry gasps.

"And you go fuck yourself you stupid asshole. "

I hear some moves and my gaze turns back in time to see Hunter shove Harry away so I quickly run to them just as Hunter's hand is about to land on Harry's cheek.

I grip Hunter's wrist tightly in my hand and Harry quickly hides behind my back.

"What the fuck are you doing? " Hunter snatches his hand back and looks at me pissed.

"You can't just hit him like that. " I shrug and I can feel Harry's hands grip my shirt tightly from the back.

"Go mind your damn business before I can make your ugly face uglier. " Hunter hisses in my face.

"You go. " I push Harry away from behind me and tell him to leave.

He hesitates but takes a few steps away from us.

"Come back here! " Hunter growls and makes a move to go after Harry but I hold him back.

Suddenly , I'm pushed back against the lockers. My back hits the lockers hard which makes me groan.

"Don't touch me again , bitch. "

That makes me stand up in anger and push him back which makes him fly back and hit the ground.

"Don't call me bitch again , bitch. "

I haven't noticed the crowd around us until a teacher came to stop us from fighting. "You two , the principal's office now. "

I straighten my shirt and look beside me at Harry , who is just a few feet away , to see him gaping like a fish out of water.

I ignore him and turn around to follow the teacher to the principal's office.

"I didn't believe it when the teacher said that you are one of the two students who were in a fight , Mr. Malik. " The principal says as soon as we enter his office.

I sigh and look down not wanting to meet his eyes. I mean this is the first time ever for me to enter his office to get scolded instead of getting praised.

"So what happened? " He asks.

Hunter is about to talk when the principal cuts him off. "I want to hear it from Mr. Malik first. "

I can see Hunter glare at me from the corner of my eyes but I ignore him.

"I was at my locker getting some books when I heard Hunter and Harry arguing. I ignored them but when their voices started to raise I looked to see Hunter shoving Harry and he was about to slap him when I stepped in to stop him from doing it. Hunter got mad when I did that so he shoved me which leaded to me shoving him back. " I explain to him.

"He is lying sir! I didn't touch Harry. We were just having a simple argument but he decided to stick his nose in other's business. " Hunter scoffs.

The principal sighs and asks his secretary to get Harry to ask him about what happened.

It doesn't take too long for Harry to come through the door.

"What happened at the hallway , Mr. Styles? "

Harry looks at me nervously then starts to explain what happens. Thankfully , he said the truth and didn't act like a bitch.

"Well , it was kind of you to stop him from slapping Mr. Styles but you can't act this aggressive in school. Plus , you cursed and called him names. " The principal tells me.

He turns to Hunter with a hard stare. "And you can't just hit Mr. Styles like that and even lie about it. You also shoved Mr. Malik and called him names and this is unacceptable. "

"You're suspended for a week and you Mr. Malik are suspended for two days. You all can leave , now. "

I storm out of the office but not before glaring at Hunter who is trying to get on my nerves.

"Zayn! " I can hear Harry running after me but I just quicken my pace.

"Zayn , wait! " He yells louder and this time he reaches me just as I arrive at the parking lot.

"What? " I shout causing him to flinch back in surprise and fright.

"I-I am sorry. " He stutters while looking down.

"It wasn't your fault but your fucking boyfriend caused me to get suspended. " I huff and run my hand over my face.

"I don't know what came over him but if it wasn't for me , you wouldn't be suspended right now. " He looks at me with an apologetic look.

"I couldn't let him hit you because I know well how it feels to get hit from someone like him or someone else. " I emphasize the last words.

I can see his body flinch at what I'm referring. "I'm really s-sorry. " He sniffles.

I sigh and take a deep breath. "Whatever just leave me alone. "

He is about to speak when I turn around to refer to him to leave. I hear him sigh and can feel him walking away.

Great , now I'm suspended for trying to help. What the fuck is wrong with people?

"Zayn? Are you okay? " Leo's voice interrupts me.

I sigh and nod. "Is it true? Did you get suspended? "

"Let's go somewhere else to talk. "

I get in the car and he does as well before driving away.

❤