Novocaine

Two

I wake up to the aroma of coffee in my flat. I pull the covers over my head wanting to go to back to sleep but wanting to know why the hell it smelled like coffee. I tried to recall last night's events and why my clothes had stains of blood. I head towards the kitchen and see a tall muscular figure in there making coffee. I quickly turned my head behind the corner panicking on why a random man was in my kitchen making coffee. But then I remembered it was Zayn and that I had offered him a place to sleep in. So I casually walked back into the kitchen as if I had never panicked in the first place.

"Morning!" I chirped as I sat down at the island.

"Hey you're finally up. I made some coffee if you wanted any. You know it was the least I could do after you took me in last night." 

"I'm going to be completely honest here and tell you that I hate coffee."

"Alright then, most people just pretend they like it and drink it anyway to be polite but it's fine!" 

"Well I'm not like most people," I teased, "plus this is my flat it'd be a different story if I were at yours and you offered."

"My question is why do you even have coffee in your flat if you don't like it." He smirked.

"Because so many people like it so for me as a host it's just convenient to have. Anyway do you want breakfast? I can make something for us." I offered. 

"No I'm good thank you. You've already done enough for me." 

"Zayn it literally takes 10 minutes to make pancakes and bacon. I'm not some gourmet chef."

"Since you insist I guess I'll stay." He says as if he was doing me this big favor. 

"Wow thank you so much, I am just truly honored." 

"Hey no need for sarcasm. But since I'm staying for breakfast why don't you tell me about yourself." 

"Well I'm a counselor for people with all types of issues: divorce, depression, anxiety, mid life crisis, you name it I've got it," I start making pancakes for us but couldn't help but steal a few glances at him when he wasn't looking. Something about him just really intrigued me. 

"Wow so you help people, now I get why you intervened in the fight. I don't know how you do it though, I can't stand people and to have to deal with their problems too would just make me go insane. And I'd also consider myself the world's worst comforter. I honestly don't know what to do when people cry I just kind of sit there and pat their head until they're done. Thank god my boys aren't criers." 

"Your boys?" I ask even more interested now. 

"Oh, uh my construction boys. Uh yeah I'm a contractor, and you know us we got to be uh tough, yeah." I watched him struggle with his words and couldn't help but laugh. 

"You sound so unsure of yourself. Are you sure you're a contractor?" I teased.

His face started to pale, "of course I am," he defensively said.

"I'm kidding don't worry. But yeah, helping others is sort of my thing. I never really got that as a kid so it's like I want to make sure no one has to feel alone like I had to." I set the food down in front of us and start to dig in, but the entire time I felt his eyes on me. 

"Why do you say you felt alone?" He asked with a sudden curiosity. 

"I mean it's not like I was completely alone. I lived with my parents and everything and I did have childhood friends and all. It's just my parents never really cared about my emotional state. It was always about doing good in school so I could get a good job and become rich. That was their main concern, I can't really remember a time where they asked me how I was doing. But I shouldn't be complaining other people have it a lot worse."

"Just because others have it worse, doesn't mean you can't pity yourself you know?" He whispered getting closer to me. 

"I know," I whispered back, "that's something my parents wouldn't agree with though. Pitying yourself shows a sign of weakness is what they told me." 

"Well they were wrong weren't they? If only they knew you broke up a fist fight between two grown men and took a drunk stranger home without even slightly fearing about your own life. I'd say that's nothing even close to being weak." 

"Thanks, that means more than you think. What was your fight even about in the first place? Like was there really a purpose in beating the shit out of each other?" As soon as I asked this, his light mood was gone and his features suddenly hardened.

"That's none of your business." He said through gritted teeth.

"Actually, I think it is since I basically helped you not get arrested," I argued back. 

"Ava why are you so fucking nosey in the first place? You fucking just had to get involved. What purpose did you even have to get into our business? Couldn't you just mind your business and walk past us like most would? For fuck's sake I get you want to be this superhero who saves the day for everyone, but news flash not everyone wants your fucking help," he hissed while getting up and getting his things. 

"That's your problem Zayn you just push people out instead of just taking a helping hand every once in a while. Not everyone's trying to screw you over in life." I retorted back. Why was he getting all worked up over a simple question. He could've easily just told me a lie or that it was personal and I would've left it alone. Actually no I wouldn't, fuck I am nosey. He still had no right to be an ass about it though.

"Ava you don't even know me! That's not even true at all," he hissed. 

"I don't have to. I can just tell by your personality on how guarded you are. Someone had to screw you over badly to get you this way." 

"Right I forgot you're this counselor who fucking knows shit about everyone." He said as he started to head toward my door. 

"So you're just going to leave like that? One wrong question and you're out the door?" I called after him as he left my flat. Even though he was being a complete asshole, I wasn't ready for him to go. 

"Bye Ava," he called over his shoulder as he was halfway down the hallway. I sighed as I closed the door and went to clean up our breakfast. I noticed there was a piece of paper on my countertop. 

"7 o'clock tomorrow night. Be ready at 6:45 for me to pick you up. - Z" I stared at the paper in utter confusion on what I was getting myself involved in.

A/N: Chapter 2 is done! Sorry these first few chapters may be slow but it's just to build up the plot so bare with me loves ! Anyway lol at Zen and his attitude. Please help spread the word by reading, commenting, and voting ! Ily all xxx. - emilia