{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.25

It'd been two weeks since our fun day at the beach that Zayn's old fuck buddy tried to ruin. Two weeks of Zayn making me feel like he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend and then two weeks of that not happening. I didn't want to pressure the boy, but damn. I hadn't physically seen him in two days. He'd been busy working. He'd been so busy that the time to text me more than two words at a time just didn't exist.

I wanted to see him so bad but I didn't want to be a stalker and show up at his job. I had to refrain from getting in my car and going. I walked across the street to find a different distraction than pacing around my room and doodling my thoughts in a journal.

Camila was on the porch with her sister, Sofia. "Lauren, welcome to my hair salon!" Sofi grinned. I took a look at Camila's hair that was up in a partial bun with a long strand hanging in front of her face. Sofi grabbed a butterfly clip and secured the hair to the top of her big sisters hair.

"It's a quarter a hair style," Sofi held her small palm out to me. I dug around in my pocket just for show and then threw my arms up. "It looks like I don't have a quarter, Sof. Can I make an appointment for another day?"
"Lauren!" We all spun around and craned out necks to see my sister Taylor walking out of the house.

Taylor eventually joined us on the porch. She handed me my mothers car keys, a coupon booklet that Zayn had gave me on my birthday and my mothers credit card. "I am having a sleepover and mom wants to make her infamous guacamole and nachos."
"And mom can't go to Pachecho's herself?"
"No, she's busy cleaning." I let out a sigh and turned to Camila. "Want to take a ride?" I asked.
"I would, but I have to watch Sofi."
"I can watch her," Taylor said. "As long as you guys aren't gone all long." Sofi's eyes lit up and she clapped her hands. "You can come to my hair salon."
"I sure can," Taylor said.

Camila and I got to Pacheco's in no time. "We can separate and make things go quicker again," I said ripping the list in half and handing it to Camila who was bouncing leg to leg. "I will as soon as I use the bathroom. The waiting room at Sofi's salon was equip with all you can drink water bottles." I laughed as Camila ran off toward the bathroom.

I went to the produce and tossed a bag of avocados in the cart. "Hey, you." I turned my head and saw Zayn standing there with a cart of items he needed to stock. "Hey," I said as he greeted me with a kiss on the cheek that sent shivers down my spine. "I would love to stay and chat but I've got a lot to get put away." Zayn started past me and I grabbed on the back of his Pacheco's shirt.

"What are you doing after work?" I asked. Zayn shrugged.
"Probably going to hang with the lads."
"Can you hang out with me first? I want to talk to you. I feel like we haven't talked talked since we went to the beach, and I miss talking with you."
"Yeah, sure. Just text me the details and I'll be there," Zayn smiled and rolled the cart away. I rolled my eyes sensing some weird tension before crossing off items on the list.

"Alright, I got the tortilla chips and the cheesy doodles," Camila said coming around to the produce aisle. "You went to the bathroom already?" Camila nodded.

"Yeah, was that quick or something?"

"No- so, I talked to Zayn it was a really weird kind of awkward conversation. I don't know.. I felt like he kind of didn't want to talk to me."

"Don't say that. I'm sure it's just in your head," Camila said.

"I just want to see where he is with his thoughts of he and I."

"He's probably been acting strange because he wants to ask you to be his girlfriend but he's dated Selena so long, he's kinda rusty on the topic."
-
"Can you pass me that avocado?" my mom asked gesturing with pointed out lips. I reached for the confused fruit and walked it over to my mom. "Do you have any plans for tonight?" she asked cutting the avocado in half and pulling out the large seed. I glanced at my phone. "I do actually, yeah. I mean, not for tonight but-" I glanced at the time flashing on the oven. "I should head out now. Do you need help with anything before I go?" I asked. My mom took a look around the counter. "No, I've got it. Give me or your dad a text if you're gonna be out late."

I texted Zayn to meet me at the peak which is like a place people come to hook up or overlook the city. Zayn and I have done both. We hadn't fully hooked up but sometimes we were close and had to stop ourselves before things went regretfully far.

I didn't have to look but once the car rolling through the gravel came to a hault and the door shut I could hear Zayn making his way toward me. "Hey you," he said. He went in for a kiss but I dodged it. Zayn furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What's up with you?" he asked.

"The real question is, what's up with us?" I didn't want to waste a moments hesitation. I wanted to get everything out that has been on my mind.

"What do you mean what's up with us? Nothing is up with us," Zayn stated.

"Exactly, Zayn. Nothing is up with us. What is the problem with me that makes me not girlfriend material? We basically act like a couple and you may be okay without a label, but I'm not. I like you so much and I feel like you're just stringing me along."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Lauren. I'm not stringing you along. How about we start off with that fact? You know how I feel about you."

"Then why don't you act on your feelings? You barely knew that Elle girl and you were practically claiming her and despite Selena being crazy, you still openly claimed her. I'm going to take it as something's wrong with me. What do they have that I'm clearly lacking."

"Nothing is wrong with you. Fuck. Can you stop saying that?"

"No. It's got to be true." I shrugged.

Zayn and I stood there in silence. I was looking down at the rocks beneath my feet. "Can you just tell me why then? I'm feeling very used by you. You get what you want and that's it. I didn't sign up to be your friend with partial benefits."

"I just- I don't want to date you, okay?" Zayn simply said. I looked at him with disgust. "Seriously? That's it? You just, don't want to date me. No other explanation?" Zayn shook his head and I started to get teary eyed.

"Don't cry, please don't cry," he put his hand on my arm and I swatted it away.
"Fuck you, Zayn. I have more worth than being your object of temporary affection." I pushed past him and got into my car.

"Lauren," Zayn stood in front of my car. I rolled my window up and started my car up quickly. The engine roaring to life didn't even cause him to flinch. I reversed the car and made my way out of there.