{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.22

You wouldn't believe the copious amounts of time I've looked out my window and tried to figure out how much I'd hurt myself if I walked out. I came to my senses that I'd get extremely hurt. The grass looked plush, but no way would it be from all these feet up. I couldn't believe my parents grounded me. I'm nineteen! But as long as I live under their roof, I live under their rules.. or so the story goes.

I walked out of my bedroom and had to pause for a moment because I didn't hear my parents watching their novelas. "Mom? Papi?" I waited a moment for a response. "Taylor? Chris?Guys?" I spun around startled when I heard a door open behind me. It was my brother.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"They went to get food." He stretched. "Now if you can stop shouting I'm gonna go back into my room and finish this heist." Chris disappeared into his room and if I had no knowledge that he was referring to a video game I'd be slightly concerned.

I slowly crept downstairs and out the front door. I ran like I was in danger over to Camila's house. Camila was thankfully on her porch and her little sister, Sofi was coloring. "Lauren, aren't you grounded?" Camila questioned.

"I am, but my parents went to get food so I figured this was my chance to escape. Did Zayn ever respond?"

"He did actually. He told Harry that he's kind of bummed that the two of you aren't going to be hanging out today." I was mentally kicking myself.

"I want to talk to him. Is there some way that I can talk to him?"

"I have my old ipod touch you can use and I'll send ask for Zayn's number and send it to you."

"Would you actually? That's be amazing!"

"Of course I would. I'll go get it. Watch Sofi quick."

Once Camila was inside Sofi put her pink crayon down on the paper and turned to me. "You like a boy?" she giddily asked.

"I do like a boy. I like this boy a lot," I smiled.

"So you love him?" Sofi pried. She was definitely of relation to Camila. I shook my head. "I don't love him, but maybe some day we'll both love each other."

The front door opened and out walked Camila. "It's fully charged because I occasionally listen to my illegally downloaded music because I am such a bad ass." She handed me the charger next. "Here is the charger. I will text you from my phone number, only my email is set up, so that's what you'll be texting Zayn with."

"Thank you, Camz! I'd better get going before my parents ground me for life."

I was back in my room and just getting comfortable again when I heard my parents and sister come back. I missed their arrival and my future life sentence by a mere five minutes. "Kids, come and eat!" my mom called up the stairs. I put the ipod under my pillow and headed downstairs.

I sat down at the table as my mom passed out cheeseburgers and french fries. "Where's Chris?" my mom asked.

"In his room playing grand theft auto," I said.

"Can someone go get him?" my mom said agitated. "He's the first one to complain about cold fries."

"I texted him," Taylor said.

I pulled the wrapped off my burger and reached for the ketchup. "Do you still think we're the biggest villains?" my mom asked. I was in the midst of putting ketchup on my burger, but I knew her question was directed for me. I shrugged. "I never thought you guys were villains, but the only way this punishment would be logical is if I were seventeen and under doing what I accidentally did."

"You didn't come home last night and you didn't text or call," my dad said.

"It was an accident. I told you that. This was the first time something like that has happened and you guys know that. I'm responsible," I said popping three fries into my mouth. Chris joined us at the table and without a word started to devour his food.

"Maybe we did overreact a bit..." my mom said. I smiled at that. Of course they did. "I don't think we did," my dad shrugged. I could throw a fry at him, he was being so complicated. "But... I don't want to start a fight, so Lauren your punishment is waived."

"Really?" I clapped my hands together in excitement. "Are you guys serious? Like, I can get my phone and my car keys back and leave the house?"

"That's what being off punishement is," my mom laughed.

"Unless you want to be on it some more."

"No, no of course not. Thanks guys! Okay. Well, I had plans to hang with friends tonight, so just a heads up when I run out of here after dinner."

"You better charge your phone too."

"Will do." I couldn't contain my excitement.

After dinner, I ran for my car and headed to Pacheco's. Zayn got out in a little less than thirty minutes and I wanted to surprise him. However, the further I got, the more I realized I should have probably texted him to tell him I'm off punishment. What if I got there and he was walking out and some girl was waiting to pick him up. My stomach started to turn at all the possibilities.

I grabbed my phone that was in the car charger and by the time I got to Zayn's name the light turned green and I had to drive. By the time I got to Pacheco's, there was still ten minutes to kill, so I headed inside. It felt weird being in here without someone else.

"Looky here, looky there." I spun around to see Harry standing there with a check price gun in his hand. "I heard from a little bird that you were punished. Did you escape the nest?" I laughed and shook my head.
"No, I was released from the nest for good behavior. Now, is Zayn still here?" Harry nodded.

"We were both supposed to be checking prices for the last half hour before we get out but Zayn got lazy and hid out in the international aisle. I don't know if he's still there, but you can check."

"Thanks," I smiled and high fived him before heading toward the international foods aisle.

I went through the european food, no Zayn. I went through the asian foods, no Zayn. I walked into the hispanic foods, and there he was leaned against the shelf watching a video that had something to do with art loudly.

Zayn jumped, startled when he saw me. "Lauren, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be punished?"

"I was but my parents, mostly my mom, realized that I am nineteen and shouldn't be treated as a lesser."

"Well, it's good to see you free," he laughed holding his arms open. I walked into them and we shared a tight, warm embrace. Zayn even kissed me on the top of my head. I got chills.

"I've got to clock out. Did you drive here?" he asked. I nodded.

"We'll take my car and afterwards, I'll bring you back here to get your car. Alright?"

"Sounds good. Where are we going though?" I asked.

"I want to show you something cool. Or, it's cool to me atleast. Just, stay right here. I'll be right back." Zayn kissed me on my mouth softly but it still managed to leave me in a daze. Was I ever going to get used to this?