The Story of us

Chapter Fifteen: Consequences

"Umm... excuse me?"

As one might expect, sleeping upright on a train was not a comfortable experience. Most of the night was spent shifting about restlessly. I slipped in and out of a half-sleep where my brain was hyper-alert but my senses dulled. At last, in the early hours of the morning I fell into an exhausted, dreamless doze.

The next thing I knew, sunlight was streaming through the carriage windows and I was unusually comfortable and warm.

And someone nearby was speaking.

I lifted my head blearily, eyes focusing on the cleaner standing there as he looked curiously at me. My brain still dragging itself from its comatose, I turned my head, realising that I was curled up against Zayn. I was a bit confused as my mind processed this sight. He must have sat up during the night and readjusted my jacket so that it kept both of us warm. No wonder why I was so comfortable.

I blinked abruptly, remembering the cleaner.

I scrambled up at once and looked at him, realising how absurd this must appear to him. Instinctively I elbowed Zayn hard in the ribs and he groaned, stirring and getting up.

"Were you guys here the whole night?" the cleaner asked in disbelief.

Zayn and I just looked at each other.

After all explanations had been cleared and the train pulled into the platform, we were soon out of our carriage and back at the station, puffy-eyed and yawning in the morning cold. The streets were relatively empty. It was still too early on a Sunday morning for people to be out yet.

I glanced timidly at Zayn as we ambled along the main road. Once again, I was at a loss as to how to act around him. Things kept changing much too quickly with Zayn Malik and it left me feeling confused and abashed.

At last, I cleared my throat loudly and said, "I should go home." I peeked at him uncertainly.

Zayn glanced at me untrustingly, "Are you alright to get back?"

"Yes," I replied a bit grudgingly; after all, just who was the one who'd fallen sick and had to be taken care of? I scrutinised Zayn; he was still wearing my scarf, but his face wasn't as flushed and it seemed like his fever had gone down. "Are you alright to get back?"

"I'll be fine," he said emphatically, as if this was a silly question.

Somewhat awkwardly, I nodded and announced, "Okay then... bye."

"Wait, Layla."

The sound of his voice shouldn't have been accompanied by a sudden surge of warmth. I knew that, but that didn't stop my heart from speeding up when he called me back.

I turned back impatiently, but then froze on the spot. Because he was looking at me again with that same intensity and solemnity that made my heart perform a kind of drum roll against my ribs. Stars dazzled my mind once again as he walked closer, dipping his face towards mine with a slight smile on his flawless lips. My muscles were all seized up... now all I could see were his dark mysterious brown eyes...

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"Stop!"

Jade's brown eyes were round with apprehension and curiosity; she was literally sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Did he... kiss you then?"

"Of course not," I said sourly, gulping down a mouthful of tea at the Smith's' house. It was Monday afternoon and I'd gone over to visit Jade after a nightmarish day at school. For once, I had more to say than she did, and every word of my anecdote so far had captivated her attention.