Long Lost and Refound - A Zayn Malik Story

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Long Lost and Refound

Monday, January 30, 2009

Avery's POV

I poked my head around the door frame into our math class. I turned back to Zayn, whose back was pressed against the the lockers beside the door. He gripped my hands tighter and pulled me against him, looking down at me with big, reassuring eyes.

"Stop. They might talk, but it doesn't matter."

I bit my lip, trying to pry myself away. "I don't like it."

He pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. His nose brushed mine. "You were in bed sick all day yesterday. Don't stress yourself."

I sighed and hesitantly leaned against him. I still wasn't completely adjusted to the whole "together" idea. I hadn't been friends with a boy since grade two. People passing by glanced at us, curiosity in their eyes. It was the most visible I'd felt in years. "But they're looking," I whined, letting my hair fall over my cheeks.

He brushed the hair away. "Then let them look. Avery, we can't do this unless you're comfortable. What're they going to do? The most they can do is talk, and that won't do anything to you."

Just then, the bell rang. I took the opportunity to pry myself from Zayn's grasp and dash into the classroom. He didn't let me get far before he grabbed my wrist and spun me to him, locking an arm around my waist. My breathing hitched when I realized how close his face was, our noses touching. He let go of my wrist and brought his hand up to my cheek, fingers curling around the back of my jaw. He tilted my head up and pressed a small kiss to my lips. My eyes fluttered closed for barely a second and I gripped his jacket in tight fingers. When his lips lifted from mine, I felt this strange coldness seep through my skin. My eyes open and I looked up at a grinning Zayn. "Come on," he said before grabbing my wrist and pulling me into the classroom just in time for the second bell to ring. We walked to our seats on the far left of the classroom and sat down. Zayn finally let go of my hand to take his textbook out.

It wasn't until we were sat, the teacher started her lesson, and the giddiness from Zayn's actions out in the hallway faded that I realized the number of eyes on the both of us. My cheeks burned and I let my hair fall over my face, dropping my gaze to my open textbook. I felt Zayn's fingers brush my hand before the slipped inside it, squeezing. I glanced up at him, but he wasn't even looking at me. His eyes were alert, attention on the teacher. I felt my uneasiness slipping away and I left his hand inside mine.

The class went on and too soon, the bell rang. For the first time that class, our fingers unwound so we could gather our stuff. I waited up on Zayn, slinging my bag over my shoulder. He zipped his bag up and took my hand. We walked out of the classroom together. "But did you understand that?" he asked. I glanced behind me as we left the classroom, lowering my voice.

"I definitely understood he outburst about how her ex is a 'good-for-nothing bastard who couldn't handle her independence'," I said, drawing the quotations in the air with my free hand. He chuckled.

"Sounds like she needs to get her life in order."

"Sounds more like she spent the weekend watching Ryan Gosling in the dark with three litres of ice cream."

He playfully elbowed me, laughing. "We have English next, right?"

I nodded. The bell rang again. "Let's go."

* * *

Wednesday, February 1, 2009

I raised my eyes from my book to look at Zayn, who was rummaging through his closet. My vision was slightly obscured from the glasses on my face, the ones he'd given me the night we met. I pushed them back up my nose.