Dark Black- AsYa FF - Page 6

Chapter Four

Zoya couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips as Ayaan halted the car and pulled the engine to a stop. He turned to her and his smile stretched adding a twinkle to his eyes. He always knew how to make her laugh, around him, that's all she did and despite feeling like a silly fifteen year old girl, after a long time... it felt good almost like everything might be okay.

"Planning to get out?"

His voice startled her out of her thoughts and as she looked up to him her eyebrows furrowed together. Ayaan must have noticed her confusion as his head pointed behind her in explanation. She followed his gaze and through the clear window; there stood a tall old Victorian white house- the colour vivid even in the dark.

Home.

The place had changed so much since her mother passed away, although aunt Amana tried her best to keep it as normal as possible... it just wasn't. She hardly recognized it. The years of neglect had its toll on the old house. The place looked a little dirty; the off-white paint had dried out and begun to peel and the front porch looked dishevelled even under the shadow of the night.

It just wasn't home anymore, it was a house instead.

"Wanna come inside?"

Zoya said without moving her sight from the dark green grass and lifeless flowers that surround the place. She didn't know why she had said those words; she hardly had anyone over anymore. She preferred to be alone. Tonight however she knew as soon as she stepped outside, that's exactly what she would be... and that scared her, terrified her.

She turned around to face Ayaan. His eyes were drawn to the floor, thinking hard and from it she could deduce he was contemplating to come inside. Zoya sniggered at the expression that had replaced his usual calm demeanour; he looked like he was deciding to turn off her life machine. She must have caught him off guard as his head sprung up towards her face and as soon as his russet eyes fell on her, lines gathered on his forehead.

"I am asking you to come to my house, not join the military." She added.

His pupils widened and he shook his head vigorously. "No, no I was just thinking..." Ayaan paused before he went on. "Is aunty okay with me coming over at this time?"

His voice was the deepest she had ever heard. It was rare catching him so stern, so full of emotion and for a moment, Ayaan reminded her of him. He was always the serious one, the thinker. She caught herself smiling at the very thought of him and when she did her face slowly dropped and her smile vanished. Zoya closed her eyes tight and slowly undid her seatbelt pushing his memories into the back corner of her mind.

"Its 7.00 pm, hardly late. Besides Aunt Amana's got a night shift at the hospital this week." Zoya whispered, shrugging her shoulders.

There was silence for a minute as Ayaan's face contorted to that of uncertainty. It was only when she forced a smile at his direction that he nodded and slowly undone his seatbelt. He looked back at her with an innocent spark lit in his russet brown eyes- almost childlike, ready and excited. Zoya fidgeted on her seat, feeling uncomfortable and suddenly unsure of him coming over. He reminded her of him too much.

"You are gonna regret this." He added as the driver's door creaked open.

"I already am." She replied, opening her door wide and stepping outside.

His laughed crackled as the chilly wind whipped back her long brunette hair forcing her to pull the collars of her coat together. This was definitely Grey Hill's coldest season. It was always so chilly, so cold, so harsh at this time. She never knew why it was her mother's favourite season. She heaved a sigh, she never understood her mum when she was alive; she was hardly going to understand her now.

She run her hand through her hair in frustration as the wind made another untimely appearance. Zoya fastened her steps towards her front porch wanting to go inside her warm house; the thought of hot cup of coffee never seemed so tempting. She could hear footsteps behind her and feel Ayaan was close.

Standing in front of her white French timber door, she opened her bag and dived deep inside for the keys. The cold keys tingled together as the wind swished passed, sending a chill to trip down her spine. She looked at Ayaan who was busy rubbing his hands together and breathing deeply as she clicked opened the door.

The heat that surrounded her like a group of old friends as soon as she stepped inside brought a small smile to her face. It always felt good to be home after work even if the place looked like a thief had been in search of money, with no luck, offcourse. She figured aunt Amana couldn't find her car keys, again.

She closed the door shut.

"Welcome aboard my humble home." Zoya whispered, turning her focus to Ayaan as she dropped her bag near the door.

Ayaan was busy looking around the massive lounge that had white sofas with old paintings and pictures, and the long wooden staircase in the middle of the hallway that led to the second floor, to reply to her. Zoya understood his silence. The place needed time to get used to; at least that's what Violet said to her.

"It's hardly humble." Ayaan said as he touched the spiral staircase slanting his head upwards to get a better look into upstairs.

Zoya shook her head; honesty was Ayaan's worst and best feature. In a lot of ways he reminded her of the orphans she had encountered on the streets of Mumbai. Ayaan had their innocent smile, dark happy eyes, their generous heart' and their honest tongue.

"Coffee?" She asked, taking her coat off and hanging it on the hanger.

"Please." Ayaan replied almost instantly, turning towards her with a bright smile.

"Make yourself comfortable then." Zoya added pointing with her eyes to the lounge.

He nodded, taking his brown leather jacket off as she proceeded to walk towards the kitchen. The kitchen was hidden in the corner to the right of the house and was small and cosy with floral wallpaper and wooden cupboards. It had the best view into the front yard and it was her second favourite place to that of her room upstairs, because of it.

Her eyes almost immediately fell on a note on the coffee brown bench placed under the bowl of fruit. Lifting the white bowl she grabbed the crisp paper and instantly recognized Aunt Amana's messy handwriting.

Dinner is on the microwave- Pasta. Don't wait up, coming back at 3. x

She sloppily placed the paper back into its place and made her way to the top cupboard smiling at the thought of Aunt Amana even attempting to cook. She didn't bother to look at the "pasta"- she had lived with Aunt Amana for four years and in those years not once had she cooked a decent meal.

The dark chocolate cabinet squeaked open as she took the coffee out and two cups with it- eager to hold a hot steaming coffee in her hands as soon as possible. She turned on the tap. The water rushed down like a cascade against the water jug until she filled it up to the top and placed it back on the boiler.

Zoya Fauraki's sight travelled to the window as her petite body rested against the wooden counter. She could see the street and the neighbor's houses across from hers and just tonight the place was rather quiet. Deserted bikes on yards, no sign of teens and no howling dogs? She wondered how this may have come about.

The night was dim and the stars seemed a little tired tonight- there light faint, burning out. She snickered mentally at the idea of a bright star-filled night in Grey Hill. Grey Hill was anything but a happy town. Sunshine was as rare as diamonds in this ignored vicinity of the world. But she liked it that way.

Even under the darkness, Grey Hill looked beautiful- it had an eerie beauty to it like a bird, a raven. The loud cry of the boiler caught her attention as it came to heat and for a moment she got alarmed at the thought of how unnatural a raven's beauty is- her mind flashing images of the crow she had seen in the graveyard; its glassy-black wings, wide accusing dark eyes... She shook her head, annoyed at her thoughts going astray.

Few minutes later and with few ingredients mixed together she was holding two hot coffees in her hand as she walked back to Ayaan in the lounge. Ayaan was seated contently with his phone in his hands scrolling through Facebook, looking rather bored. As she put the coffee down on the coffee table he looked up with a solemn expression.

"You didn't tell me Ruby was gay." He said.

"What?" Zoya asked as sat next to him, wondering what on earth he was going on about.

"Ruby Jackson. Ruby." He replied, with sad eyes.

Zoya shrugged. "How am I supposed to know that? Should've of guessed it though." She said.

"What do you mean should've of guessed it?" He replied, suddenly angered by her opinion.

"Come on, I don't know how we missed it. She did seem a bit odd though, you gotta admit. And how long has it been since I dropped out?"

Ayaan remained silent, taking in the new information with a brave face- probably re-examining Ruby's every move. It didn't help that Zoya could see, read how sad his eyes were; after all Ruby Jackson was his ex-ex-ex girlfriend. He turned off his phone and shoved it deep into his pocket with a little gloomy smile pinching his lips together. As his sight poured into hers, he looked the saddest he had ever been and Zoya wasn't sure what to make out of it.

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" He whispered.

She tried very hard not to laugh, not to make a mockery of his feelings but she couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter at how sad his words sounded. Her voice echoed around the wide room and for once she didn't mind the sound of laughter in this place. Even when her laugh hadn't subsided, her mind wondered how long had it been since someone had laughed in this house after the death of her mother.

Zoya slowly stopped laughing when she felt his eyes pierce against her skin, feel him think, hear him breathe, and as she looked up to his dark beautiful eyes, they looked rather interesting, attractive and she could feel herself turn pale under his stare.

"It's not the same without you zee." Ayaan voiced.

She hated the sound of pity ring at his voice and soon she found herself getting angry, upset. Silence cut through the cool room like a sharp knife, hanging on the air like silent shadows of the past. She knew she should reply, to say something cheesy back, to melt away the silence but she didn't have the energy to pretend anymore. Nothing was okay.

Nothing was the same.

She hated how things had turned out. She hated that her mum died. She hated that she dropped out. She hated that he wasn't here anymore. And she hated herself most for letting it all happen. She should've fought harder. Been stronger... brave.

Taking a sip of the coffee, her thoughts eased as she savored the warmth of the liquid swirl against her tongue.

"Good." She finally replied, her voice barely coming through.

He smirked and shook his head as he reached for his coffee. Then there was silence, complete beautiful serene silence and she felt the most happy she had ever felt, just being in silence... with him.

Okay, this was by far the worst update (not fishing for compliments just stating how I feel). I had written this immediately after the 3rd chapter and then made like 5 billion changes and am still not satisfied, hence why I took so long to update but I figured its not getting any better and aint no body got time to re-write so might as well update. I know, I know, you all gonna hate on me for not bringing Asad still, but yaar I wanna get this story just right and I don't want to rush the character developments or the story line hence I am gonna bring him when I feel its right and perfect for the story (atm i am planning to bring him in the next chapter) so calm your farms and put those shoes back down guys! To the new readers, welcome and thank you to every who commented and waited for my lazy ass to update!

Originally posted by: Salwa_Mehrin

Imma read this once I m free
What about yout other FF's??:-)