Engaged [z.m.]

Chapter 20: Cold Shoulder

C H A P T E R   T W E N T Y

Perrie

I exited the bathroom 2 minutes after thinking about my encounter with Anna.

I was scared she would leak the details to the press and then from that point on, anything could happen. Everything was working so well for me and Zayn, we couldn't let things fall apart. I didn't want the news to break out before we were ready for the reaction. I couldn't let that happen.

I walked to the kitchen, passing the living room but I didn't find Zayn in both regions of my flat. I was hoping to buy as much time as I could to wipe that anxious look from my face before Zayn deciphered it. I unpacked the groceries, putting everything in their designated place and then starting on breakfast. I grabbed the pancake mix that I bought and boiled some water for the tea while I was working on the pancakes.

I mixed the batter together with milk and while I was heating up the pan, Zayn appeared from my bedroom; his hair wet from the shower. I kept my back to him as I felt him enter the kitchen.

"Good morning" he said, as I felt him come near me. He wrapped his long arms around my torso, towering over me. He left a small peck to my neck turning me around.

"Morning" I tried to fake a smile for his as he pressed his lips to mine in a short kiss. He pulled away and took the steel kettle off of the stove and pulled two mugs out of the cabinet and poured the contents into them, equally. He went through the cabinets, trying to find mine and his favorite tea bags. He dipped both of in the individual mugs while I worked on the pancakes, two for each of us. Since I was already done with two, I put them on a plate and squeezed a good amount of maple syrup onto them and handed them to Zayn who sat on the breakfast, drinking his tea but eyeing me closely at the same time.

I spotted my own mug on the bar and grabbed it, taking a sip and putting it on the counter next to the stove.

"You're quiet today" Zayn said.

So he noticed. Of course he did.

"Mhm..." I mumbled.

"Yeah" he said back as I tossed another pancake onto my plate.

There was silence for a couple of minutes as I finished up on my last pancake, putting that onto my plate and going to the breakfast bar to sit with Zayn. Since my tea had gone cold I drained it in the sink and filled my mug with orange juice instead.

"I could make you some more" Zayn motioned towards my mug that now held orange juice.

"No, it's alright" I took a bite of the maple covered pancakes. Zayn was finishing up his last one as we ate in silence.

It bothered me why he wasn't asking me or questioning me about why I wasn't as talkative as I usually was but as the same time I was thankful that he wasn't. He got up and rinsed his plate, putting it on the side to try as he did the same with his mug. He turned around looked at me for a few seconds and sighed.