Page 19 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Itwasn't until Zach started boldly increasing his territory in the hunt for herthat Sana truly became fearful. It had been a little over a week since theirtrip to the abandoned circus equipment and three days since the time he pulledher to the hardware store's rooftop and pressed her onto the rough tarmac,kissing her for what felt like hours. For three days, she went without hisdominating presence and feral smiles. On the one hand, she felt as if she couldfinally breathe again; that she could be young and silly with her littlebrother as he demanded for her to play with him, whether it be out in the yardunder the sun or sprawled out on the living room floor with video gamecontrollers in their hands. There was no overpowering feeling swamping her sensesand jumpstarting her pulse, no pair of strong hands to hold her down as herbody was taught to feel things beyond her comprehension. It was just her andher innocence once again. But that didn't mean she didn't find herself staringabsently into space, wondering what the rebel Waatese was up to at that verymoment.
Bythe fourth day, Sana didn't have to wonder anymore.
"Comeon," Kamal whined. He was standing in the middle of the foyer holding asoccer ball against his hip and a definite pout on his face staring at Sana,who was lying on the couch. "You said you were going to play withme."
Puttingher book down to mark her spot, she shot her brother an angry look."Kamal," she bit out. "This is just as much my summer vacationas yours. I do not want to play soccer, I just want to sit here and read. Goplay by yourself."
Shecould feel him pouting with absolutely no need to turn her head to confirm. Theimage of her brother's puffed-up cheeks, pursed lips, and laced eyebrows was anexpression she was quite familiar with. As her parents' favorite child, thehellion had come to take the wordnoas simply as an invitation to throwa silent tantrum.
Witha politeness coated in pure venom, she calmly sat her book down on her chestand threw him an acid-sweet smile. "I hope your face gets stuck that way,so then all your children in the future will have the same ugly expression whenthey are born."
Thebrief moment of appalled shock on his face was rewarding enough before hewhipped around on his heel and spouted his favorite catchphrase, "I'mtelling mom."
"Fine,go tell her," Sana grumbled to herself as she snatched up her book again.
Themelodic sound of the doorbell temporarily halted everyone in the house. Theirdoorbell hardly ever rang. Being the closest to the door, Sana laid her openbook face down on the armrest of the couch. Walking to the door, she realizedshe was barefoot. For a second, she considered slipping on some shoes butthought against it. It was probably just the neighbors stopping by to tell hergrandparents something. Taking no real notice of the tall, dark figure'swarbled image through the stained glass windows on either side of the door,Sana opened the front door, prepared to step out into the vestibule to open thesecondary door when it suddenly opened for her.
Freezingin place, Sana watched in fear-tinged shock as Zach stepped through into thesmall vestibule entrance followed by a younger boy with the same familialtraits she had seen in all Waatese. Confused, Sana glanced at the shy smile ofthe boy practically hiding behind the older boy then back to Zach.
Satisfactionbrightened Zach's gilded eyes as their eyes met, making them practicallysparkle. Grinning evilly, he spoke first. "Hello, Sana."
"Whatare you doing here?" She hissed.
"CanI help you?" The sudden sound of her mother's imposing tone from behindher made Sana's nerves turn to glass.
Withoutso much as a flicker of nervousness, Zach's gaze moved to the woman behind her,losing the predatory gleam that shone in them seconds ago to a polite, invitingwarmth. "Hello, Mrs. Bhatt. My uncle Adam sent me to come repair your ACunit," he replied politely as he lifted the tool bag that Sana just nownoticed in his left hand. Zach gave her mom such an innocent smile, Sana couldbarely suppress a gasp of shock.
Hermother didn't say anything in response. Averting her steely gaze from Zach, shelet it settle on the younger boy peeking from behind Zach's lanky frame,realizing that he was now the focus of the woman's attention, the young boyvisibly stiffened behind Zach's legs.
"Ifigured," Zach continued slowly in explanation, "that I would bringmy little cousin Elijah to come and play with Kamal while I work. I hope youdon't mind."
Atthat, Sana could practically feel the radiating excitement from her brother ather side without any need to look down at his beaming face for confirmation.Turning to look at her youngest child and back to the kid hiding behind thetaller boy who spelled nothing but trouble, Fatima Bhatt gave a soft, relentingsmile and nodded her head. Like spring-loaded toy cars, the two boys, who werevirtually strangers seconds before, raced from the porch and down into thelarge yard in sheer excitement and shared happiness.
Nowwith just the three of them, Sana cast her mother a worried look. The steeledge of authority returned to Fatima Bhatt's gaze as she stared directly at theyoung man who stood nearly two feet taller than her. She didn't like him, thatwas plain to see, but the tall boy just stared boldly back with a polite, ifnot knowing smile, as if he knew something she didn't.
Aftera few tense seconds of silence, Fatima finally turned on her heel. "Come,I will have my husband show you which unit that's broken."
Withoutsparing Sana even a glance, Zach replied with a "yes ma'am" andfollowed her mother through the vestibule, stopping only at the door topolitely toe off his dirty work boots at the entrance and proceed the rest ofthe way in his socks.
Staringdumbly after them, Sana just stood in silence, rooted to the spot. Just whatthe heck was going on? Was this a purposeful visit, or was it merely justcoincidence as he made it seem. Though even as she asked herself the question,Sana knew the truth: if she wouldn't go to him, he would just come to her. Thestartling truth of it made her stomach feel sickly light all of a sudden. Whatwas he planning? She prayed it wasn't anything. Zach had no idea how strict herparents were when it came to their daughter. Excellence was what they demanded,obedience was what they expected, and anything less would not be tolerated. Herparents had a plan for their daughter, the same plan her mother, father, aunts,and uncles all followed themselves: education, career, and family. There wouldbe no parties on the weekend, no summer vacations with friends, and certainlyno steamy summer flings that left her breathless against rooftops. With herstomach in knots, Sana walked out onto the porch and sat down on the attachedporch swing, and attempted to take her mind off the renegade boy currentlyfollowing her mom around the house while Kamal and Elijah played soccer on thelawn.
Afew minutes later, the sound of the front door opening and closing alerted herto his presence. Sitting with her back towards the front door and her feetpropped on the opposite hand-rest of the swing, Sana had a perfect view of thestretch of empty lawn her brother and Elijah were using as their soccer field,but she would have to turn in her seat if she wanted to confirm who thefootsteps behind her belonged to.
"Wouldyou like a glass of water?" Sana heard her mother ask from what she couldonly guess was the inside of the doorway.
"Noma'am, I have a bottle of water in my bag," the deep, familiar voice thathad come to haunt her waking dreams replied.
Hermother said nothing in reply, but Sana could sense the woman's scrutinizingstare linger on her back like static electricity for a few more excruciatinglylong seconds before finally walking away. Out of the corner of her eye, Sanacould see Zach set the heavy window unit on the porch floor before grabbing histool bag. In silence, he began to lay out a heavy canvas cloth at the top ofthe stairs before setting the AC unit on top of it next to his tools. Using thestairs as a seat, Zach sat sideways on the steps as he began working on theunit. With only the sounds of the boys' laughter as they played, both she andZach sat quietly on the porch while he began dismantling the machine, and shepretended to read the words in her book.
Neverlooking up from his work, eventually, Zach spoke. "Your mom left the frontdoor open."
Sanacouldn't help but wince in embarrassment at her mother's blatant sign ofdistrust. "I'm sorry," she whispered, not really sure what to say.
"Don'tbe," he drawled, she could hear the smirk in his tone as he popped theplastic frame away from another section of the AC unit. "She's right, sheshouldn't trust me."
Sana'spulse quickened at that.
"Tellme, have you been hiding from me, Sana?" The innocent question wasdisguised with an air of matter-of-factness, but she could hear the ominousunderlying note threading each word.
