Young & Dumb «ZM» ✔️

Part 22

We talked for a while, they asked me if we could try again to be friends. And that I won't have to be in cherries if I don't want to. That sounded a bit like they'd still try to convince me later, but then we'll see. Zayn came back with two cupcakes. One for me and one for himself. He had to go though, so now I'm left alone with them again.

"It's kind of weird, seeing you with Zayn so much." Cora says and frowns. I look at her confused. Why would it be weird? It's not like I was his one night stand or something.

"Why? Is it because it usually was Perrie?" I ask her. She nods. "They haven't talked in a while. I mean, as much as I know." I shrug. She shakes her head. Oh, come on. When did they talk? And how do they know?

"Last night they both were out on a walk. That's also when she left cherries." Rosalie mentions. I smile and look down at the cupcake paper that I've been messing around with in my hands for the last twenty or so minutes. Even though it hurts me and it's so not cool to hear it from them and not Zayn, I'll let it be. I'll let him come to me.

"Okay, again about her. Sorry." Cora apologises, "Why's Zayn calling you wrong? Thought you were close?" she asks. I look around and notice Perrie also still sitting by her table. She's on her phone. I decide on not telling them, so I look at Cora and shrug.

"I guess he shortened it." I say even though I know he picked it up from my mum. She's been calling me that since I was a little girl. She told me she called me Kayleen and only when I was eight she said I looked more like a Lena. With time it's become my second name. "He began to call me that somewhere around the time when he came over after Christmas." I lie. He's been calling me that since the day he heard my mum call me that. The day we first kissed... sober.

"Lena, Lena, Lena." Ryle startles me as he sits beside me, totally ruining the lie that I just told them, "Does your mum know you two have sex while she's not home?" he asks. I look at him with a death glare. He just ruined the fact that I tried to lie and he dares saying something like this?

"We're not having sex. Why are you here?" I ask him, because he wouldn't come just because. He chuckles and looks at Cora and Rosalie. Meanwhile I notice Perrie leaving.

"Because he doesn't trust them. He believes they want to break you two up." he answers, "And I don't want that either. As long as you let Zayn go clubbing with me." he adds. I giggle and shake my head at him. Okay, he just literally told them me and Zayn are together. And he's a bad liar.

"You're such an asshole. Also, don't call me Lena, it feels weird." I frown. He smirks, leaning in closer to me. Why is he invading my personal space? Is it to distract me?

"Why can Zayn call you that then? Don't pick your favourites, I'll go cry and he'll choose me to soothe and leave you hanging." he terrorises me. I guess that's true. But I'm not letting it all go.

"I know. As it turns out, Perrie is also more important to him than me. Quite funny, don't you think?" I ask and get up, taking the tray with me. I go, throw out all the garbage and put away the tray.

"Wait, wait, wait!" I hear Rosalie call after me, "You and Zayn are together?" she questions which by now is more than just obvious. I look at her and then at Ryle next to her.

"Was I not supposed to say it? Was it a secret?" Ryle whispers. I smile, shaking my head at him and look in Rosalie's eyes. She looks both curious and shocked.

"We are. But sometimes it looks like he wants to go back to his ex which is funny." I answer, "Now, I'm sorry, but I want to go to my room and be alone for a while. I'm tired and I want to get some sleep." I say to them and go to the exit. I hear girls say bye to me.

When I leave the school, my eyes immediately drop on Zayn. With Perrie. They're talking next to his dorm house. I decide to act like I don't see them as I go to my room. But I still notice that she kisses him. He pushes her away, but the tears still sting to my eyes. For some reason, somebody catches my arm and turns me around. My eyes meet Ryle's. He looks scared.

"Wait, are you crying?" he asks. Fuck, no, I can't be crying. I touch my cheeks and then frown, swallowing the lump in my throat. He almost gave me a heart attack!

"Why would I be crying?" I ask him, "Don't scare me like that, I thought I was crying without noticing myself!" I quietly scold him. But, honestly, I was close to crying. I am.

"No, I can see it in your eyes, if you weren't crying, then you were about to... Why?" he doesn't let it go. I look at him like he's weird.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, "Okay, nevermind your weirdness, have you seen Zayn?" I ask him, faking a smile. Now he looks confused. It's better if he doesn't know that I saw... whatever that I saw.

"I, uh..." he looks behind me, probably to see if Zayn's still there. Then he looks around. "No, not really. He told me he'd be out here somewhere, but I don't know where." he now looks in my eyes. I sigh.

"Fine. When you see him, tell him to come over to my room, okay?" I ask him with a smile. He slowly nods and looks behind me. It's getting harder to keep it inside, can he just leave me?

"He's coming himself. You can tell him yourself." he says and looks at me again, "And now you're crying. I knew there was something wrong. What is it?" he asks. I realise that this time a tear did fall. I wipe it away and shake my head at him. In just a moment, Zayn wraps his arms around me and he places a kiss on my cheek. "You know what? I'll leave it to you two." he says it like he's not sure about it. Then he slowly steps away while Zayn lets me go and turns me around.

"Is everything alright?" he quietly asks, "If you saw Perrie kiss me, I swear, I pushed her away! I'm not cheating on you, let alone with her!" he frowns and cups my face with both his hands as more tears fall from my eyes.

"I just don't understand why you would lie to me. Last night, where were you?" I ask him. He slowly shakes his head. "You were with Perrie, no? Gosh, first night here and you go running back to her. So please, decide. It's either me or her. I won't ever sit in her shadow, I'm tired of it!" I shove his hands away from my face and make my way to my room. But I can hear him follow me.

"It's you, Lena. You know I choose you. Last night I told you I was playing video games with guys just because I know how bad it sounds when I say I'm going out to meet Perrie." he explains on the way, "Just... Take my phone and read our messages." he says and pushes his phone in my hand. We go for a while in silence.

When I sit in my bed I look at him angrily. He ignores it as he sits right beside me and makes me cuddle. He knows I love that. He wraps his arm around my shoulders while I press my whole body against his. That only brings more tears. I just put his phone on the night table. I didn't look at it and I don't want to.

"Kayleen Lena Becker. You are my girl and I will always choose you over my ex. I met up with her just because she said it was important and about you. If you check my phone you'll see that she texted me she has something to tell me about you." he begins to quietly explain, "And today, sweetie, I was on my way to my room to call my mum, because she's in hospital again. Perrie caught me and tried to talk me into breaking up with you, because last night I told her we're together and I wouldn't be falling for her lies. She kissed me in attempt to show me that I might miss her kiss, but I don't." he keeps his voice quiet. I feel like a bitch now, but I can't stop myself from saying what I'm about to say...

"I don't want you to go to clubs." I whisper and clench his shirt. Immediately I regret saying it. He's not reacting, but I feel really bad for it. What a wonderful way to start our relationship. It was easier when we were just dating and not in an official relationship. Or was it rather... When we were alone?