My Beautiful King

Chapter Eleven

Me and Zayn rested, bodies entwined, underneath the shade of a large oak tree in Balfow Park. It was the last day of the autumn term and we'd been given an early departure from school. We'd decided to take this opportunity to chill, smoke and kiss at the park we had christened ours. The mid December chill was wicked, but Zayn's thick hoodie and warming body temperature kept me heated.

Zayn feathered plentiful kisses to my neck while gripping my thigh, which was placed on top of his. I moaned softly as my heart pounded. Zayn was so beautiful, so affectionate, and so perfect. But I never knew how far he was planning on taking our kisses. I didn't even know how I far I wanted him to go. My parents didn't know I was going out with him; they didn't even know he existed. Although to be honest, I'd rather keep it that way. As serious as I was with Zayn, I didn't want him to meet my parents. I just knew they would ruin everything.

But there was still something else missing, a question left unanswered. I positioned my hand on Zayn's chest, signalling for him to stop. His breath hovered over my collarbones, hands remaining low on my body, before he straightened up, back against the tree trunk. I nuzzled my head into his shirt, ready to finally speak the words that had been floating around my mind ever since he'd asked me out.

"Zayn?" I whispered softly. I waited for him to respond. For a while he remained silent.

"Yeah, Ash?"

"Why are you going out with me? I mean, I love it, don't get me wrong... But why not date someone more popular?"

I could feel the reverberating sound of his laughter echo through my skin. "You're about as popular as a girl can get these days!" He joked. "God, stop being so angst, Ash..."

"Zayn, I'm serious." I pressed. "Tell me! I need to know, there must be a reason!"

Zayn shrugged desperately with another laugh. "I don't know!" He exclaimed. "To be honest... you're well, not really my type. I know that sounds bad but I'm more typically into brunettes." He stroked my long blonde hair wistfully. "But whatever, Ash, stop asking questions! This is awkward conversation; I'd rather go back to kissing."

"Yeah," I sighed, my brain whirring. "So would I."

-x-x-x-x-

"Hayley, please help me!" I whined. "I've never done this before and you're an expert at this type of thing."

Hayley groaned and rolled her eyes. "Okay!" She agreed. "What are the choices between?"

"Hazelnut Brown or Honey Brown?" I held both hair-dye boxes next to my face in an attempt to make it easier for Hayley to decide.

It was the day after Zayn had revealed to me his preference of brunettes and I was ardent to keep him interested in me. Colouring my hair was a length I was more than ready to go to. Hayley and I were standing in a pharmacy, trying to find the perfect brown shade to suit my complexion. I planned to get her to dye my hair and, since I was going round her house to get it done, ask her mum to cut it at least six inches shorter. I trusted them completely; Hayley's mum was a hairdresser and she'd been teaching her daughter the trade for ages.

"Definitely Hazelnut Brown!" Hayley decided. "It'll bring out your eyes."

I nodded and put the other hair dye box back on the shelf. "Hazelnut it is then!" I quickly made my way to the counter to pay.

An hour later and Hayley was stuck in colouring my hair. Her young heavily-pierced mother had already cut and styled my tresses so that it only just fell over my shoulders and even given me a full fringe. It was down to Hayley to complete my transformation.

"You're so cute!" Hayley exclaimed suddenly as she poured more hair dye onto my already sticky coated locks.

"Why?"