You (Zarry AU)💚💛

You're still on my mind

"How things are going over there?" Zayn asked over the phone.

"Pretty good actually. Reina hired someone for the part-time position that I told you about and, I must say he is doing a very good job," Niall said.

"Is that so? I'm glad that's working out," Zayn said.

"More than you think. Listen I'm sending you over some ideas for the store for you to check them out," Niall said.

"Ni, I told you that I don't want to mess with the place, no modern things or anything," Zayn said.

"Just check them out, would you?" Niall said.

"Okay, will do. But I'm not making any promises," Zayn said.

"Just do it. And, hey, erm... tell me, how are you doing? I've been reading those tabloids man, is it true? Are you engaged?" Niall couldn't help asking.

"Erm... yes, I'm kind of engaged," Zayn replied.

"Kind of? Why?" Niall asked concerned.

"What can I say to you? I mean, I got tired of... waiting for something that won't happen, and... Gigi loves me," Zayn said defeated.

"Come on, are you serious man? You can't marry her just because you're missing someone else," Niall said.

"I... don't. I mean... never mind. I gotta go Ni, talk to you soon?" Zayn said and hung up.

"Za...yn..." Niall said.

Zayn couldn't keep talking about his feelings, he'd suffered enough when he had to leave the States. He still remembers those emerald eyes and he misses them still. He recalled how hard it was when he arrived in the UK to live with his father.

"Zayn, son, I'm glad you're here with me but you have to resume your studies here or at least get a job," Yussef said seriously to him after a month of seeing him sulking in his bedroom.

"Okay, I'll go and look for a job or sumthin in the meantime. The school doesn't start until fall," Zayn said.

After a few weeks of job hunting, he got a job at a record store in a mall, working part-time and that's where he was discovered by a scouting agent while having lunch in the food court.

He was invited to be part of small runaways at first, then got his first big gig and was invited to model and walk for Versace full-time. It was a stroke of luck. A fluke, he always thought.

With that contract came a lot of things that he wasn't used to, like more money than he could ever imagine, expensive cars, moving out of his father's house and living mostly in luxury hotel rooms, drinking the finest labels, traveling only in private planes, new tattoos, etc. but he was lacking one thing: real love and affection.

And him.

One day he traveled to Milan to do a runaway and he was invited to an after party that Donatella Versace was holding. He decided to make a quick appearance, take some photos with some people here and there, and leave. He wasn't fond of this type of social event after all.

"Hey, aren't you the new Versace model?" a girl's voice said interrupting his thoughts.

"Erm, who's asking?" Zayn said turning around. He was escaping from the social reporters hiding in the balcony.

"I'm Gigi, Gigi Hadid," the blonde girl said smiling, totally unaware of Zayn's seriousness. "Are you having fun out here all by yourself?" she continued.

"I don't like crowds," Zayn said turning his back to her, looking back into the city and having a sip of his champagne flute.

"Sometimes I don't like them either, y'know? But my mom insists on "networking" she said air quoting the last part.