{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.21

"Well, I'll be damned.." Zayn and I broke apart from our heated session of lip locking. The music stopped briefly as it switched to another song. Harry was standing there with two red cups in his hands and Camila was beside him, sipping from her cup and averting her eyes.

"I've brought you your drink, but it seems you've already quenched your thirst." I wiped at my bottom lip feeling slightly embarrassed but also very accomplished. I couldn't look at Zayn though. I gave a small smile and took the plastic cup of something strong and fruity from Harry's hand. I took a long, hard gulp from the cup and shook my head at how pungent it tasted.

"We are highly attracted to one another and we made out. Sue us," Zayn shrugged. I looked up at him and saw how disheveled his hair was and my dark red lipstick was smudged on his lips and neck.

I bit my bottom lip and looked at Camila. We'd been best friends for so long that I could read her facial expressions. She wanted details and I wanted to give her them, but I was still on cloud nine.

"I'm gonna head out. This party isn't the best. The music kind of sucks," Zayn said. "Are you guys headed out?"

"We're gonna stay for a bit. Explore a bit," Harry said. Camila nodded in agreeance.

"What about you?" he nudged me.

"They're my ride, so..." I let the silence finish my answer.

"If you don't want to stay, I can gladly give you a ride back." I looked at Camila who was nodding her head. "Yeah, sure. I'll go with you," I said.

"Cool," Zayn smirked. Camila handed me my clutch and Zayn bumped fists with Harry. "I'll see you."

We walked in silence back to Zayn's car.

"So," Zayn said breaking the silence that I personally was starting to find a tad bit awkward. "Selena told me everything." So much for her wanting to keep that in wraps. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"She told me not to," I said. "I was even amazed she was telling me anything at all."

"I was amazed too, but now you know the full truth," he said making a right turn.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I should have believed you when you said nothing was going on." Zayn waved a dismissive hand in my direction.

"We're past that. Let's count the events that occured tonight as our clean slate. Right?"

"Yeah, let's do that. I like that idea," I said with a smirk.

"Do you want to go back home now? Or would you like to come over to my place for a bit?" I looked straight ahead at the night sky, and then looked at my phone. It was almost twelve thirty in the morning. "I'll head over to your place," I said.

"Alright, the Malik-Horan complex it is," he said.

Niall was rummaging through the refrigerator when we arrived at the apartment. Niall spun around when he heard the door shut. He was drinking from a milk gallon. "Lauren, it's always great to see you. You look.. wow!"

"Thank you," I laughed. Zayn tossed his keys onto the table. "Didn't I tell you to stop drinking from the cartons?" Zayn questioned.

"You did but I haven't. I'll buy one tomorrow morning." Niall tossed the now empty gallon into the recycling bin. "Not trying to stir the pot but I thought Selena was your date to the ball?"

"She accompanied me. Lauren was there with Steven and we talked. We're on pretty good terms right now," Zayn smirked in my direction.

"I can tell by the lipstick all over your neck and the lack of lipstick on her lips," Niall laughed. "I'm gonna go play some video games. Enjoy the rest of your night you too. It'll be like I'm not even here," he said.