the one that got away, zayn malik

chapter eleven

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
CHAPTER ELEVEN
17th of november 2014

AS the sun dipped below the horizon on the 17th of november, harry's apartment glowed with warmth and camaraderie. it was an inviting space, filled with the rich aroma of freshly baked pizza and the effervescent fizz of champagne. the walls, lined with photos and mementos from their journey, seemed to pulse with memories, each one a testament to the bond they shared.

"alright, everyone, gather around!" harry announced, his voice brimming with excitement as he grabbed a chilled bottle of champagne. his eyes sparkled with a playful glint as he popped the cork, sending it flying across the room. "it's time to toast to four!"

the boys quickly formed a circle, their faces lit with shared joy and anticipation. niall, juggling a slice of pepperoni pizza in one hand while raising his glass with the other, grinned widely. "this is just like when we celebrated our first album! but i promise, this time i won't drop any pizza on the floor!"

"just try not to spill anything on my sofa, alright?" harry shot back, a teasing smile on his face.

"i make no promises," niall replied, mock seriousness in his tone. the laughter that erupted filled the apartment, a beautiful harmony that mirrored the sound of their friendship.

"okay, let's do this! on three!" harry instructed, his enthusiasm infectious. "one, two, three!"

"cheers!" they all shouted in unison, their voices blending together in a jubilant chorus as their glasses clinked. the sound echoed like an anthem, a celebration of their unity and the journey they had embarked upon together.

"to four! and to the memories we're still making!" liam raised his glass high, his eyes shining with pride.

"cheers to us! and to all the girls i'll be bringing on my yacht someday!" niall joked, winking at olive, who rolled her eyes in playful disgust.

"still disgusting," she retorted, laughing.

the sound of laughter bounced off the walls as olive felt a wave of warmth wash over her. in that moment, the pressures of their careers seemed to fade away, replaced by a comforting sense of belonging. the apartment was alive with nostalgia, and she was grateful for every moment spent with them.

"remember our first interview?" olive asked, her voice softening as a smile tugged at her lips. "how nervous we all were?"

"oh, god, yeah. i thought i was going to faint." niall exclaimed, slapping his knee as he recalled the memory. "we were such babies back then!"

"and look at us now!" harry added, beaming. "if we can survive that, we can survive anything."

"especially niall's pizza anxiety," zayn joked, nudging niall with his shoulder.

"hey! that pizza was important!" niall shot back, laughing along with everyone else.

"just admit you were scared of the questions," louis teased, grinning widely. "remember how i had to cover for you when you blanked out?"

"oh, i still cringe thinking about that!" niall replied, chuckling. "you guys saved me! you were like my little safety net."

as the evening unfolded, they shared stories and jokes, each tale drawing them closer together. niall launched into a particularly animated retelling of a mishap from their tour, complete with exaggerated gestures that had everyone in stitches.

"and then, as i was trying to be all suave, i slipped on the stage!" niall exclaimed, mimicking the slip with an exaggerated flail. "i swear i saw my life flash before my eyes!"

"classic niall!" zayn laughed, leaning back in his seat, tears of laughter glimmering in his eyes. "it was like watching a baby giraffe trying to walk."

"oh, please! at least i didn't trip over my own feet," niall countered, pointing at harry. "that was all you, mate!"

harry feigned indignation, raising an eyebrow. "i'll have you know i was showcasing my best moves!"

"more like showcasing your best falls," liam quipped, and they all erupted into laughter again.

amidst the banter, olive caught zayn's eye, and he smiled at her with a warmth that made her heart flutter. she felt a sense of peace, enveloped in the comfort of their friendship. in this lively atmosphere, she was reminded of the joy they had created together.

as the laughter filled the room, olive leaned back against the wall, taking it all in. "you know, i never thought we'd make it this far," she admitted, her voice softening amidst the chatter. "but i'm so grateful for all of you."

"same here," liam said, sincerity radiating from his expression. "we've been through so much, but we always come back together."

"always," zayn echoed, his gaze steady on olive. "and we'll keep making memories, no matter what."

as the night wore on, they shared stories of dreams and aspirations, each moment weaving a tapestry of camaraderie that felt almost tangible. the air buzzed with a happiness that was palpable, as if time itself had paused to let them savor this moment.

"alright, who wants to hear some embarrassing stories?" niall asked, leaning forward with a glint in his eye.

"only if it involves harry!" liam chimed in, raising his glass, prompting another wave of laughter.

niall launched into a hilarious recounting of harry's infamous dance moves during their early performances, mimicking harry's exaggerated hip sways. the room filled with laughter as they all joined in, reminiscing about the carefree days of their youth.

"remember when we thought we could take on the world?" harry said, a nostalgic smile creeping onto his face. "we were so naive, yet so hopeful."

"naive? we still are!" louis interjected, his laughter infectious. "but that's what makes this journey so much fun!"

olive felt her heart swell with gratitude as she watched her friends. they had faced challenges and obstacles, yet here they were—together, celebrating, and filled with hope for the future. the night sparkled with happiness, like the fairy lights strung around the room.

as they settled into comfortable conversations, olive felt a deep sense of belonging. each laugh, each shared memory, was a reminder of why she loved being part of this family. in the midst of their joy, she realized that despite the difficulties they faced, moments like this made it all worthwhile.

"here's to more nights like this!" olive declared, raising her glass once more, her voice full of warmth and sincerity.

"to more nights!" echoed niall, harry, zayn, and liam, their voices harmonizing in a perfect symphony of friendship.

AUTHORS NOTE
yah this is kinda sorta a filler

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