{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.15

I had not seen, or heard much from Zayn since Camila had been hospitalized two and a half weeks ago. We rarely texted each other, and we used to text until one of us fell asleep. I honestly think me telling him how I felt made him go into hiding.

"You're being boring," Camila suddenly said snapping me out of my thoughts as I doodled on her cast. "What do you mean I'm being boring? You asked me to doodle on your cast. I'm doodling on your cast."

"I know, I know but you're not talking. You're just sitting there with your chin in the palm of your hand. What are you thinking about?" she questioned. I shrugged and then let out a sigh. I remember when I told Camila and Ally that I had discussed my feelings toward Zayn, to Zayn, they absolutely freaked the fuck out. The did the highest pitched squeal that made my ears ring for minutes after. "Does it have to do with Zayn?" she asked. I let out another sigh.

"He's avoiding me and I feel so pathetic because of it. I don't know what I did wrong." I put the cap on the marker and leaned my head on Camila's bed.
"Well, first off, you didn't do anything wrong. How would you have known that he'd react in this way? It's not wrong to have feelings and it's not wrong to express them to the person you feel for. Have you texted him asking what's up?" I looked at my phone and shook my head. "Then how would you know? One of you guys has to be straight up. C'mon, let's go to Pacheco's and see if he's working."

Camila climbed off her bed and tugged on my hand. "Get up, Jauregui. You're the driver here." I realeased my wrist from her grasp and shook my head.

"He already thinks I'm a stalker. I'm not going there," I said.

"We aren't even one hundred percent sure if he's even working or not," Camila said.

"And that's a chance I don't want to take." Camila stood in front of me and pulled out her phone before letting out a sigh. "Fine, I guess I'll just have to ask him what his deal is myself."

"Camila, no!" I reached up for her phone but she backed away. I jumped to my feet and threw my arms up. "Fine. Fine. I'll face more embarrassment," I grabbed my car keys from the dresser.

"Please don't be here, please don't be here." I repeated to myself numerous times throughout the ride to Pachecho's and as we entered the entrance. Camila nudged me with her casted wrist. I looked at her and rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. The automatic doors slid open for the third time. "Do we have to go in? I don't want to waste my time if he's not there." Camila's phone dinged and she dug in her pocket. "Well, looks like he is there. Harry just told me." I let out a groan as Camila gave me a shove inside.

I hadn't been here in what felt like forever. I had no true reason to "stalk" him as he likes to tease. I rubbed my hands on my shorts. They started to feel like they were getting clammy. why did he make me like this? "Do you see him? I don't see him. I think we should go," I said.

"I don't see him yet.." Camila said. I let out a gasp feeling like I was seeing a ghost. "Selena. Selena is here."

"Where?!" Camila said a little loudly. I slapped her arm to silence her and nodded with my lips in the direction I wanted her to look. Camila's eyes were now staring in the direction of Selena who was throwing bags of chips into a cart, almost as if she didn't care what kind she was grabbing.

"Wow, she's like really pretty," Camila said. I gave her a dirty look and nudged her. "But she's got big ears though," she added trying to make things better.

"Let's just get out of here," I said.

"Not until we find Zayn.." Camila cleared her throat. "Okay, looks like we found Zayn." I looked up and there he was in front of Selena, listening as she spoke.

"My stomach hurts. Why does my stomach hurt? I told you that it wasn't a good idea to come here," I said.

Selena looked pissed as Zayn responded to whatever she'd been saying. "Hey you guys!" I spun around seeing Dinah approaching. "Dinah, hey," Camila greeted her. I waved still trying to calm my insides from the fiesta they were having. "How ya been? Long time no see."

"Yeah, we've just been out about," I said, not really realizing what I was saying. Camila held up her sprained wrist. "I haven't really been out and about."

"Yeah, Harry told me and Mani about that. I'm really sorry that happened to you," she said.

"Thank y-" Camila stopped speaking when we heard Selena scream out. "You're such an asshole!"

Zayn had his hands on Selena's upper arms trying to calm her down. Dinah let out a groan. "Who the hell let this crazy in here?" Dinah looked around. "I'll be right back guys."

Camila and I watched as Dinah made her way over to the scene. "I don't want to be seen," I said rushing into the baking aisle. I started acting like I was looking for cupcake liners. Camila entered the aisle. "Lauren, just talk to him."

"And say what? He already thinks I'm a desperate stalker already," I said.

Dinah appeared just moments later with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face. "Well, well, well," she began. "While the boss man is busy escorting Selena out, I can tell you guys the gossip." Dinah leaned in closer. "It turns out she invited Zayn to a party and he said no, and in the middle of the discussion Zayn got a text from some girl and it turns out he's talking to someone other than Selena and she flipped at the fact he may actually move on," Dinah said.

"What do you mean talking to someone?" Camila asked on my behalf.

"You know, spitting game, giving his time and attention to for the time being," Dinah explained.

My heart dropped to my stomach and continued dropping as my brain soaked in this new information that I would have been better off not hearing. "Wait, wait, wait a minute he's talking to another girl?" Camila questioned. Thank God she was doing all the talking right now because my voice would've been small. "Yeah.. did you not just listen to what I just said?" Dinah asked.

"Dinah Jane Hansen, please return to register four. Dinah Jane to register four, please." The intercom boomed dismissing the top 40 hits that were playing for a brief moment. "They realized my breaks been over. I'll see you guys. Oh and talk to Ally, I really want us to have that sleepover sometime."

"Ally went back to Texas," Camila said.

"Really? That sucks. Well, you guys talk about it then. I gotta get going." Dinah waved with her long fingers and then mazed her way through and elderly woman with her cart parked diagonally in the aisle.

Camila turned to me with a deafeated look on her face and I pouted. "Well, I know why I've been being ignored now," I did a hurt laugh.

"Yeah... maybe it wasn't the best idea to come here. I really didn't know any of this was going to unfold.. He's only been avoidant for two and a half weeks, how can he blossom something else in that time?" she tried to understand.

"Who knows? Maybe he's been talking to this girl. Maybe that's why the crush was unrequited. I don't know. I don't even want to think about it," I said.

"And you don't have to. Just while we're here I might as well get my mom a bag of rice since we're running low. You can go wait in the car if you want," Camila said.

"No, it's fine. You need someone to help you carry that bag. You sure can't do it."

"If I see Harry, he can help me."

"Camz," I let out a laugh. "It's really okay."

We walked toward the spanish food aisle and that's when I saw Zayn. My heart was still dropping. He looked at me and the way his face was made it seem like his heart was dropping as well. "Okay.. you should've really waited in the car," Camila whispered to me. It was really too late to do anything like make a run for it. I could always act like I didn't see him and say "Oh hey, wrong aisle," but that work because we already made eye contact.

"Zayn, I have a bone to pick with you," Camila suddenly said. I turned to her so fast, I feared whiplash. "Camz?! Are you fucking insane?!" I loudly whispered. Camila held her good hand up to silence me as Zayn approached her.