Petty Happenings

IX. (nine)

Zayn looked absolutely terrified. After talking for a bit, he asked the young woman a silent question to which she nodded. She thought he had done a fine job speaking with their fellow companion earlier, but this made him take two steps back. Zayn had helped her calm down and be less nervous, at least for the moment, so the young woman would work with him on this. Even if it meant she had to give him a little push, which meant forcing him into a conversation.

"Uhm, Novaleen?" the young woman spoke.

Zayn gripped the armrests, throwing the young woman a look of mock-betrayal. Novaleen turned in her seat immediately, giving the quiet passanger a kind smile.

"Yes?"

"Zayn has something he'd, uh, wish to show you."

Novaleen's eyebrows raised up, glancing at him in amusment. "Oh? And he couldn't tell me this himself?"

The young woman shook her head, to which Zayn glared at her. She giggled silently, nodded at the over-used sketchbook on top of his bag. He gulped, grabbing between loose fingers. The young woman thought she was surprised how Zayn went from cool, collected, and relaxed to this mouth-gaping fish. But, then again, she really wasn't. Girls.

"Right. Right. Forgot. I drew something, if you want to see it...?"

Novaleen's face lit up. "Of course! I've been dying to see how you art."

Zayn paused from handing the drawing book over. "How I 'art?"

The young woman laughed softly to herself, not being able to stop the sound from inbetween her lips. her female companion wasn't even embarrased, simply taking the sketchbook and shrugging. When she glanced down, however she seemed at a loss for words. Zayn fidgeted nervously, trying to gauge her reaction and looked to the young woman for support. She merely shrugged, to which he rolled his eyes.

"This is... wow. I can't even find the words."

"I swear m'not creepy, you two were just in front of me and... yeah. Do you like it?"

Novaleen grinned brightly. "Of course! You're amazing at art, though that's not the right word. More like..."

"Phenominal?" the young woman suggested quietly, biting her lip to keep from smiling at Zayn's reaction.

"Yes! Thanks. Phenominal."

Novaleen started to hand the sketchbook over, but Zayn took it only to rip that particular drawing out.

"You can have it; free of charge since you were an unknowing model," he said shyly, giving it back to her. Novaleen's face portrayed worry, oddly enough.

"Are you sure? I mean--do you want it?" she asked Zayn, then the young woman; they both mumbled no's.

"You have it. I'm going to draw the other Miss over hear something else, anyhow," Zayn replied. The young woman opened her mouth to protest but he silenced her by sticking out his tongue before turning back to Novaleen witth a slight smirk still placed.

"Oh. Well. Thank you! How long did this even take you? I didn't notice," Novaleen asked curiously, carefully folding the paper and slipping it in her bag.

"Maybe fifteen minutes." He shrugged.

"Fiftee--wow!"

"'Wow; wow'," the young woman joked under her breath. Much to her horror, Novaleen had overheard.

"Miss Sassy," she replied, humor dancing in her tone. The young woman bit her lip, turning to Zayn who had been, not surprisingly, watching Novaleen. He felt her gaze, however, and saw her looking uncomfortable. He smiled reassuringly, giving his support silently. The young woman took a deep breath and moved her gaze to look bodly at Novaleen.