Cool Kids » Z.M. AU [discontinued]

23. It's All I Do

Zayn always wondered what it would be like to hear those three words coming from in between Sky's bright pink lips, softer than the smoothest surface he'd ever touched, as pretty as a pair of lips could get. He'd thought about it when he was alone sometimes, thought about it when he was with Louis and drowning out whatever story it was that he was telling at the time because he couldn't seem to take a break from daydreaming about his girlfriend even if he tried to; he thought about it on sunny days, night time when the city was sleeping and the stars burned brightly up above, thought about it when he was sat right in front of Sky, watching her like she was the greatest human to ever walk the planet.

To Zayn, though, sometimes he felt like she was—he wouldn't ever be able to explain it.

He'd imagined it to feel like his heart was going to burst into two, like once he'd heard those words his heart would automatically leap right out of its cage like it was programmed to do just that, and land right into Sky's hands like they were his heart's home and he trusted her to keep it safe. Zayn would hand his heart over to her on a silver platter if he could, would let her know that it was hers, that she could keep it, he didn't care, that he didn't want it without her.

And thinking about how strongly he felt about the girl he'd literally ran over with his skateboard, maybe he was, too. Maybe he did love Sky in the way that she loved him if she truly meant what she'd accidentally said. Because Zayn knew that she hadn't meant to admit it out loud, could tell by the look on her face that it was a simple slip up, could tell by the way her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open and her heart raced fast enough for Zayn to question if it was healthy or not. But he felt the same; he felt like his palms had a mind of their own they way they were shaking, felt his body tense up and his heart almost stop, but he knew. My god, did he know. He knew how he felt for Sky, thought about it for a while even though sometimes he was still a bit unsure about it, but right now, in this very moment, he knew. He knew and it was the best feeling in the world.

He loved Sky—what a feeling that was.

And he'd wondered what this moment would feel like beforehand, and now that it was here it was everything he'd expected and then some. It was everything and more.

"I love you, too."

Boy, did that feel amazing to finally let out. Zayn felt like he could walk on water, like he could soar through the clouds, like he could move mountains and manipulate time with only his two hands. He'd felt better than he'd ever had before, and that was all thanks to Sky.

The look on her face wasn't one Zayn expected her to have once he'd finally confessed his love for her, and it made his stomach twist and turn in ways he never wanted to explain. There was a bad taste in his mouth, and his heart had gone cold, and he just didn't know what to do.

With a frown blatantly indented into her features like it'd been carved into stone, Sky's lips turned downward and the grip she held on Zayn's hands loosened just a smidgen, and Zayn was on the verge of feeling empty. He held his breath. "Don't say it if you don't mean it," Sky whispered, turning her face, almost as if she'd suddenly lost her voice. She twirled her skinny finger around Zayn's wrist like she was trying to distract herself from the conversation that was coming. "Don't say it just 'cause I did."

Zayn wanted to take her frown and turn it upside down, and if he could he would, but that was impossible so he opted for the next best thing. His hand found itself resting underneath her chin, thumb grazing against her cheek softly, relaxed. Sky still refused to meet his gaze, and Zayn felt like he was running out of time. So he wasted no more. He cradled her face with both hands, his fingers slipping into the strands of hair at the back of Sky's head before he began to say what was at the front of his mind.

"I mean it, I swear," Zayn muttered firmly, eyes hard and intense because he wanted Sky to know that he was serious—he was serious and he'd never do or say anything if he wasn't. He hoped she realized that. Because Zayn cared about her a lot, and if she was hurting he'd probably hurt, too. If she was sad, Zayn would feel sad, and if she was happy, her happiness would be his as well. It was like all of Sky emotions transferred to him somehow, almost as if they were becoming one, and it was a scary thing, that, but it felt so right. Everything just felt so right in the midst of Sky.

"Okay?" Zayn continued, Sky finally meeting his eyes. She was beautiful, she really was. "I hope you know I'd never tell you anything if I didn't mean it. I mean this, Sky, I do."

Seeing Sky's mouth start to curve up into that shy smile of hers that Zayn loved and cherished so much made him feel like he was on fire. It made him feel like he was swimming with the stars and the moon above, felt like he was experiencing life for the first time all over again, and if this was how it would always feel with Sky, God, he never wanted them to end.

"You mean it?" Sky questioned like she needed the reassurance to survive with big, wide golden eyes, making Zayn fall just that much more than he'd already had. He was so gone it wasn't even funny. He wouldn't be surprised if anyone ever told him he'd grown hearts in the center of his eyes.

And yeah, of course he meant it, still did. Always would. Wouldn't have it any other way. "I do," he grinned, and just like that everything seemed like it was all falling into place.

And that was all the confirmation Sky needed before slipping her arms around Zayn's shoulders, her fingers locking together behind his neck. Their foreheads rested against one another's, eyes closed, hearts beating in sync, before they pushed their lips together and sealed the deal between the two of them. Zayn held onto Sky so tight as if he never wanted to let go, which was true, he didn't, and that was the only agreement the two of them would ever need.

Although things around them had been rough and their best friends were falling apart, everything with them was falling exactly into place. Just like that, their puzzle was complete—they'd found their missing piece.

***

The title... I just couldn't resist. Hope this chapter was enjoyable, thank you so much for reading! :)