Triple Dog Dare *A Zayn Malik Love Story*

Chapter 18

The song for this chapter is Young Love (Strong Love) by The Judds(: It's one of my personal favorite songs and I hope you guys like it!

*Zayn's POV*

Our studio manager clapped his hands. "That's a wrap guys!" The five of us stood and cheered, scrambling out of the recording booth and into the room immersed with the workers from the studio. The crew crowded into an enormous group hug and afterwards, we took the time to shake hands and talk with the people that helped us to record our second album within the past few months.

I wandered into the neighboring room and grabbed my bag from a chair it was carelessly tossed on and dug for my phone. Two text messages appeared when I turned it on; one from Doniya, my oldest sister, and one from Camille. My heart notably clenched when I opened the message I'd received from my sister:

Hey(: When are you coming to visit next? We miss you lots... especially mum. We also hear you have a girlfriend??? Call me soon, I'd fancy a catch up xx

They weren't the only ones. I missed them just as much as they did me, probably more. It had been months since our last get together and it was clearly taking a toll on all of us. I decided to not text her back, promising myself to call instead, but at a more convenient time.

I opened the text from Camille next. My eyes scanned over the words multiple times:

Please call me when you get the chance x

I was torn between being worried and not. She usually wasn't so forward which made me wonder if something was wrong. However, she ended it with an "x" which went completely against the unusual wording of her text. I guessed I was going to have to call her as soon as I could and find out.

I thanked the rest of our crew again and made my way outside to Leland's car. I said when I opened the passenger side door and hopped in shotgun. I slammed the door behind me. "Hey, Leland!"

"Well you sound happy," he acknowledged. He waited for me to put on my seatbelt before pulling out of the back driveway of the studio.

"Well... we just finished all of our recording for the album!" I cheered and pumped my fist.

"Are you serious?! First dibs on hearing it before it comes out!"

I laughed. "Sure, why not?" I pulled my phone out of my duffle bag. "Hang on, I need to call Camille back really quick."

He dramatically batted his eyelashes and flipped his non-existent long hair mockingly. "Ooooo!"

I backhanded his chest and turned to face the window as the phone rang in my ear. It stopped after the second ring and a familiar voice greeted me from the opposite end to mine.

"Hi, Gorgeous." I leaned back in my seat and grinned. "I just got your text. What's going on?"

"Nothing too much." She sounded upset and I could tell right away.

I brought the phone closer to my ear. "What's wrong? Something's happened."

"I um..." She sighed. "I got to one of my classes and completely forgot a big assignment was due today."

"Like, how big?" I asked.

"Huge. Enough that my grade is probably going to plummet."

"What class was it?"

"Business and Economics."

We sat in silence for a long time before I spoke. "What are you going to do?"

"I really don't know." She sounded devastated. I imagined her running her fingers harshly through her hair in frustration and closing her eyes to concentrate.