I had a strange feeling that Ali was up to something. He was constantly looking at me during the drive to school. As we reached, I turned to talk to him. "Okay, so. You know you have to keep our new relationship a secret, right?" I asked him for confirmation.

He nodded and then smirked. "Yeah of course I know that." I glared at him. "Don't do anything stupid. You know how those girls would burn me alive when they find out about this." I told him, seriously. He smiled, shaking his head. "I'm not that bad, Anisa. Relax." He said, still smiling.

Something told me that the smile was totally fake. But, maybe it wasn't fake. After all, he helped me a few times ever since I started living in his house.

"I am telling you, Hassan. Don't. You. Dare do anything stupid." I warned him, calling him by his middle name. "I told you, Anisa. I won't." He said, a spark of sincerity shining in his eyes. I nodded, hesitantly. But then I quickly got off. I made sure no one saw me coming out of Ali's car.

Ali got out of the car behind me. "We part ways from here. It was nice to meet you. See you again sometime." I gave him a grin, acting as if I was never going to see his face again. But, we both knew that was not going to happen anytime soon.

He nodded, flashing me one of his smug grins that sent every girl in a frenzy. That made them dance around him for his attention. For a second, I got lost in his handsome face. His eyes, his swept-back hair, and his height. He looked handsome with that smirk. Even though he was skinny, his shoulders were broad. "Why do you keep on smirking. You aren't up to something, are you?" I asked him. God knew why my eyes couldn't leave his face. Maybe it was the first time we were talking and not throwing insults at each other.

And maybe it was the first time I looked at him from up close. His smirk disappeared. "Nothing​'s up. We should go now." And with that, he left.

Weirdo.

I walked to the school building. Getting inside, I made my way to the lockers. Usually, Ali and his friends would come there, trying their best to piss me off. But, no. Things changed in just a week. They were scattered around the corridor, flirting with one girl or the other. I scowled.

Astaghfirullah.

I opened my locker and started taking my things out. Until a hand suddenly shut my locker with a loud "bang". I was startled. I turned around, only to see Andrew's face. My eyes narrowed at the second in command.

"What the heck! My hand could've been there!" I glared at him. He just stood there with a poker face. His lips turned upwards into a smug smile. I groaned. I really didn't have the energy to deal with the jerk.

"So, Anna," he started. I rolled my eyes at the nickname Ali and his pack had given me. I didn't care what they called me. They could call me whatever they wanted since it made no difference. "Yes, Andrew?" I said sweetly, fake smiling.

"That sounds so much better. You should lower your voice and act more like a lady." He told me. I rolled my eyes. "That was sarcasm," I told him. He nodded. "I knew that."

"What'd you want?" I tapped my foot impatiently on the ground. "Want to go out with me today?" He asked with a grin on his face. I took my books and walked away. "Hey, I was talking!" He shouted behind me, running after me.

"I don't need this right now." I snapped. This guy was just like Ali. I could see why they were such good friends. Everyone knew none of them were really interested in me. They flirted with me just to tick me off since they knew very well I was a practicing Muslim and I would never say yes to their ugly face. "Come on, Anna. How much do you want a guy to suffer?" He whined.

I could easily see the mischief twinkling in his eyes. He was just playing around.

"Maybe until you decide to leave me alone." I retorted. I didn't know why but I was starting to lose my cool. I knew very well he wasn't worth it but it just made me so mad that he had the audacity to stand in front of me and make such demands. "And that's never happening so you'll just have to say yes." He replied. I glared at him. "I have no words for people like you." I told him, folding my arms over my chest.

"Okay. Let's make this easy for you." He said. "I'll leave you alone when you show me what you're hiding under that towel." He inched a little closer to my face and I quickly stepped back.

At that moment, I felt startled but my surprise turned into fear when he. grabbed the Hem of my hijab and tugged on it. "Come on." He said suggestively. I yanked my hijab away from him quickly. "And besides, we can be friends can't we? We don't really have to be enemies all the time." He said. I frowned at him.

"Step away from me, Andrew." I pointed my index finger at him warningly. His smile just widened and he didn't back off. By now, every cell of my body was screaming to push him away and give him a good punch he would never forget. But something made me freeze in my place.

Ali and his friends were annoying all right, but they never came this close. Before Andrew could stop closer, a hand on his shoulder made him look away. A sigh of relief escaped me unintentionally. I didn't know why I was so scared all of a sudden. Maybe it was something in Andrew's tone that made me freak out.

"I've been looking for you and you're here?" Ali's voice made me look up. My savior was none other than my number one enemy. Andrew quickly backed off and let out a nervous laugh. "You were looking for me? I thought you were late today."

Grabbing the opportunity to run away, I immediately scurried away. But before I could go any further, Andrew had other plans. "Ali, your chicken trying to run away. You gonna let her off so easy?" he folded his arms as he said that. I glared at him.

"I'm not anyone's chicken, jerk."

Ali's facial expression changed and he gave Andrew a look as if accepting the offer. "Who said I was gonna let her off?" he smirked. I death-glared at him but then I smiled.

"You sure, Ali?" I asked him. Both of the men in front of me frowned in confusion. "You should really stop your friend, Ali. I told him, smirking. His face suddenly had a worried expression. He remembered what I was talking about. His father would kill him if he found out Ali bullied me.

"Hey, Andrew?" He grabbed his friend's attention, who was still confused. Ali was still facing me, his eyes not leaving mine. He was scared, I could tell. "Yeah? Why'd you stop?" Andrew questioned.

"Just leave her, dude. Not today." He said to Andrew. Andrew was shocked. I smiled, folding my arms over my chest. "Good." Saying that, I made my way to class. Now Ali was all alone. Left to explain everything to Andrew. I was sure he would never spill more than needed to.

He'd just probably lie and say that I was blackmailing him or something. Whatever he would do, his stupid friend was his problem. Not mine. But I felt a sense of victory.

It wasn't everyday you see Anisa Malik playing with Ali Hassan like that.

I walked inside my class. Making my way at the back, I noticed many of my classmates staring at me with weird looks. I ignored them, knowing they had nothing better to do.

Ignoring them, I sat down on my chair. Just then, Ali entered the class, followed by Miss Jane, our class teacher. Ali walked to his usual seat, sending me a glare. Poor guy had to lie to his best friend. To be honest, I was curious. Maybe he did tell Andrew the truth. Oh well, only Allah knew.

"Alright class! Settle down." Miss Jane called. I faced her and took out my physics book. "As you know, for every science subject you take you have to complete 5 projects in one year. Last time you presented your group projects in the exhibition. Now you'll have to present them here in the class. We don't have much time to give the projects so I'll be dividing you into pairs."

At that, everyone sighed with relief in union.

"I have already made the list. If anyone has any problem with their partner they can tell me after class during recess. I'll be in the library."

One by one, Miss Jane read out the names from a piece of paper.

"Jessica, Ramona."

"Ryan, Julia."

"Kate and Pooja."

"Salman and Andrew."

"Anisa and Ali Hasan."

"James, Bri—

I blinked twice.

Did she just call my name with Ali's? With a horrified look, I turned to look at him. Uh oh. This was not good. I saw him sitting there without any change of expression. When he caught me looking at him, he just smirked. Something told me that he wasn't going to make the project any easier for me.

I looked back at the teacher as she called out the other names in monotone. Seriously. She had no idea what she had done. But on the other hand, it was pretty convenient. Ali and I shared a room for Allah's sake.

Maybe I would get out of it alive.

Just Maybe.