A Little Bit Like Heaven

Chapter 12: Divine Intervention

ZAYN

I rode back home with a cloud above my head. I tried hard to get Caroline’s image out of my head but I just couldn’t every time I closed my eyes it was the picture of her looking at the sunset that haunted me. It was absolutely crazy, I know, we were strangers but somehow we get each other and talking about our hopes and dreams seemed to make time fly by faster.

Caroline. Caroline. Caroline. She was all I could think about and I knew it was wrong.

“Zayn, get yourself together.” I muttered as I drove into our block.

This would be the last time I was going to see her. I promised to myself. Though even to myself it sounded hollow I didn’t plan this day, neither did she, it was destiny that brought us under that willow tree and somehow I couldn’t thank whoever was up there for my time with her.

As I came nearer to my house I noticed the lights were turned on. So was the other houses near me and since the lads were my neighbors I could only assume they got back early from their vacations.

“Great.” I muttered again as I eased into my parking space on the sidewalk.

I got out of the car and ran the few steps to my town house. I didn’t even need to knock because Harry opened the door before my fingers could touch the wood.

“Where were you?” He asked as he ushered me in.

“Why are you in my house?” I shot back another question.

The lads were in my living room and I mean all of them including Niall who last I saw was heading to Dublin eating pizza and munching on popcorn while on the TV played Love Actually. No surprise in that Harry always kept extra copies with him and I swear he’s memorized each line in that god damned movie.

“Well, since you were the only one out we figured we could crash for a while.” Louis said in between mouthfuls of pizza.

“Why are you guys here anyway?” I grabbed a slice of pizza and popped it in my mouth.

“I told you—“

“No, why are you all here in London? Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation?” I asked.

“Management called us.” Liam said.

“We’re starting the album early.” Niall continued.

“But why? I thought it wasn’t scheduled till next week?” Something must’ve gone wrong for management to change schedules. They were real sticklers for ruled.

“Word leaked out that we were starting our albums and the fans just wanted us to start right away. So the pressure kind of weighed down on management.” Harry explained.

Damn it. I was planning to go to my parent’s house and spend a couple of days and subconsciously I hoped that whatever brought Caroline and me together would work its magic again. It was wishful thinking on my part. Caroline didn’t even see me as a romantic interest in her actual words ‘let’s just be friends I don’t have any time for something more’ well it wasn’t exactly what she said but I got the message.

“Earth to Zayn.” Liam who was beside me was snapping his fingers in front of my face and I didn’t even notice it. I blinked and pushed his hand away.

“What?”

“Where did you go?” Liam asked again.

“None of your business.” I muttered as I headed towards the kitchen to ignore their prying.

“Why are you wearing a hoodie and glasses?” Harry called back.

“And why do you have that besotted look on your face.” It was Louis who asked.