Zustin - A new start

To heaven and back

Zayn's POV:

I stare at Justin as he finishes talking. He looks hurt but determined to keep the wall up between us.

"Justin, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lie, it just... slipped out. It's not like I didn't want to spend time with you," I say, feeling the truth of my words but knowing it doesn't change anything.

He just looks at me, his eyes hard to read. "Yeah, alright Zayn. So why did you say it then?" His tone is sharp, as if he doesn't believe a word I'm saying.

I sigh, feeling embarrassment creeping up my neck. "Because I freaked out, okay? I freaked out because I wanted to hang out with you, and I didn't know how to deal with that. Fuck Justin, I can't even explain it."

Everything's a mess in my head. Nothing makes sense. I'm with Perrie, right? I'm not gay, and I barely know Justin. Plus, he's not into guys, so what the hell am I doing? But nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever felt like this. Not even with Perrie.

Justin doesn't seem convinced. "I really don't get what you're talking about, but I gotta get home. I'll see you tomorrow, Zayn." He turns and gets into his car, like he's done with this conversation.

But I can't let it end like that. Before I know it, I've run around to the passenger side and jumped in. Justin's eyes go wide, like I've confirmed all his suspicions about me being insane.

"ZAYN!" Noelle's little voice cuts through the tension, and I turn to see her grinning at me from the backseat.

I smile back, trying to pull it together. "Hey Noelle! Did you have a good weekend?"

She nods enthusiastically. "Yes! Me and Daddy went to the playground, and I met my best friend! Daddy spent the whole day with two women having fun!" She giggles, and I feel a weird knot in my stomach at the idea of him with two women. Not that it matters.

Justin quickly jumps in, correcting her. "Baby, Daddy met Jack's moms, and we all hung out together. It wasn't just me and them, okay? Don't make it sound bad." He glances back at her, smiling.

"OH YEAH! Jack has two mamas. They're married. I only have zero mamas," Noelle chirps, her little voice filled with more understanding than I'd expected.

Before Justin can respond, she's talking again. "Zayn, are you my other daddy now? Jack has two mamas, so I can have two dadas!" She's practically screaming with excitement, and I can't help the warmth spreading through my chest. God, this kid is adorable.

Justin laughs softly, shaking his head. "No baby, Zayn's not your other daddy. You're stuck with just me."

"Okay Daddy! But we have to go home now and eat ice cream for my boo-boo!" Noelle says, her mind already moving on.

Justin nods and starts the car, but not before looking at me. "So, are you gonna get out, or...?"

I shake my head, turning away to fasten my seatbelt. "Nope."

He just sighs, like he doesn't have the energy to argue, and starts driving.

Noelle is off in her own little world in the backseat, so I figure this is my chance to fix things. "Justin... I really don't know what's going on in my head right now. Everything's been a lot lately, and I just... I don't know. But I did want to spend time with you and Noelle. I just got nervous and said the wrong thing. I'm sorry. Can we just... be cool?"

There's a long pause, and I wonder if I've messed it all up. But then he finally speaks. "Yeah, alright. I get it. It's been a lot for me too. Let's just forget it, okay? I'm sorry for overreacting."

We both smile, and just like that, it's like nothing happened. It feels weirdly natural, like we've been friends for years, not just two guys who barely know each other.