Pause. Rewind. Play. (A Zayn Malik Fanfic)

Chapter 28: Limelight

John's P.O.V:

My eyes dart across the small print on the newspaper, reading article to article as I walk down the streets of New York. The air just keeps getting closer as the days get closer to winter. Oh how New York gets busy every winter, more than usual with Christmas time and New Year's just around the corner. I wonder if Ari is coming by. Even to drop by for a simple "hello" is enough. It isn't the same without her here.

"Oh, sorry!" I apologize after bumping into a woman. She just ignores me and keeps walking on. People these days. Noticing my surroundings, I see I'm in front of Ari's old apartment complex. I can see her art studio, the curtains closed tightly concealing the room from the outside world.

I've always been curious with what's been up there. Ari never let just anyone in the studio, and I've always been respectful of that.

As I walk away from the building, something catches my eye. One of the windows is open with smoke pouring out. An older man stumbles out, coughing loudly. He grabs onto my arm for dear life, still coughing.

"Please! Call the police!" My eyes widen and my phone is in my hand dialling 9-1-1 in an instant.

"9-1-1, what is your emergency?"

"Fire. There's a fire."

Ari's P.O.V:

"Zayn! Zayn stop!" I squeal, trying to squirm off the bed. He grabs my ankles, pulling me back to him as he continues to tickle me. He pulls me down, pinning my wrists down on the bed as he hovers over me.

"Say it." I shake my head. He cocks one eyebrow. "Oh, so that's how you want to play?" Zayn's lips attack my neck, scattering kisses all over. The scruff from his chin and cheeks tickles the showing skin.

"Zayn!" I say, trying to free myself. "Okay, okay you win!" Zayn lifts his face away from my neck, smirking at me.

"I'm waiting," he says in a sing-song voice.

"You are the sexiest man to ever walk the Earth," I mutter, my cheeks flushing at my words.

"And?" His smirk gets wider.

"And I love you," I say, rolling my eyes playfully. Zayn chuckles and then quickly pecks my lips. I grab the back of his head, pulling him down for a deeper kiss.

We're interrupted by my phone vibrating furiously on the bedside table, signaling a caller. I try to push Zayn away, but he just pulls me back, giving me a big love bite on my neck.

"Zayn!" I cry out. He chuckles against my skin, giving me the chance to push him off and grab my phone. I answer it. "Hello?"

"Ari it's me!" 

"John?" I ask. "What's up? How's New York?"

"Ari, you have to come back, now," he says urgently. I furrow my eyebrows together. "Someone broke into your apartment building, there was a fire. Your apartment has some damages, the cops want you back here for an investigation." My eyes widen.

"I'm taking the first flight out. I'll see you in a few hours." I hang up. Zayn's looking at me strangely.

"Where are you going?" he asks when I'm getting my shoes and jacket on.

"Someone vandalized my apartment back in New York. I have to go. Can you give me a ride to the airport?" I ask. Zayn nods, going into the hallway of the hotel to get Paul.

---

Within a few hours I find myself in the police station, waiting to be interrogated. John is sitting next to me, fiddling like crazy. This is ridiculous. It's just a fire, what's there to be an investigation for? And I was in Miami, couldn't they just call and tell me the damages. They're throwing this way out of proportion. While I'm at it, why are John and I the only ones in here? The other people living in the complex didn't even need to come down to the station.