The Boyfriend

My Best Friend's Ex (Zayn)

"Come on. Kaylee!" I whined. "I don't want to meet your 'amazing new boyfriend'!" My best friend ignored me and pulled me through the busy streets of London.

"You'll like him, don't worry." Kaylee reassured me. But I wouldn't go down without a fight.

"You're practically pulling my arm out of its socket," I tried again. Kaylee stopped suddenly and spun around.

"Stop being a whiny baby. If I don't hold your arm, you'll run off. So, will you follow me and make this painless or will I have to keep dragging you?" she demanded. I planted my feet into the ground and she rolled her big green eyes. "The hard way it is." she sighed, grabbing my arm again. I stayed silent as she lugged me along.

"Are we close?" I nagged. She nodded. "Yay!" We kept rushing for just a few more minutes, then fell to a halt abruptly. We were in the rich part of town.

"Here we are," Kaylee said proudly, gesturing to a huge brown mansion that was nearly spilling out onto the street.

"And you're sure you're only together for love, not money?" I teased. Kaylee shoved me, then knocked on the door.

"Hold up!" a very masculine voice yelled. It was silent inside the house for a minute, then the voice rang out again. "Do I have to wear pants?"

"My friend is here, so probably!" Kaylee called. The person groaned, and the house was silent again.

"Is it your girlfriend?" an Irish voice asked. There was a pause. "Then I'll get it!" Feet shuffled their way to the door, and someone thumped to the floor.

"No way, Niall." the first voice contradicted. The door swung open to reveal a handsome, tattooed, curly-haired guy about a year older than us. He had a butterfly tattoo on his ribcage and two birds on his pectorals and others adorning his arms. I knew this guy.

"Kaylee, your boyfriend is HARRY STYLES?" I demanded. They both laughed and Kaylee nodded.

"Hey, is, um, he here?" Kaylee asked. The smile disappeared from Harry's face and he looked very solemn. A blond guy peered over his shoulder- Niall Horan.

"Who's 'he'?" I wondered aloud. Harry stepped aside to let us through and he kissed Kaylee. I waved at Niall shyly, then at Louis Tomlinson, who was peering from around the staircase. He bounded out and wrapped me up in a huge bear hug.

"You're Kaylee's friend, Kelsi, right?" he asked. I nodded, winded from the hug. He grinned boyishly. "That's awesome. Here, come on, Zayn and Liam are watching Star Wars." Louis took off and I followed. There they were, dark-haired Zayn and lighter-haired Liam, staring at the scene on the TV very intently. I recognized it- "The Empire Strikes Back".

"I love this movie!" I exclaimed. I plopped down on the couch next to Zayn, who looked at me in surprise and confusion.

"Uh, don't wanna sound rude. But who are you?" he asked. I blushed.

"I-I-I'm Kelsi," I stuttered. He smiled, his perfect features lighting up happily.

"Pretty name," he complimented, then turned his attention back to the movie. Harry and Kaylee walked in, chattering away. His arm was slung over her shoulder. Kaylee froze when she saw Zayn.

"Hello, Zayn," she said coldly. He looked up. The fiery sparkle in his eyes disappeared like someone had put it out with an extinguisher.

"Oh. Hello, Kaylee," he replied. They glared at each other, then Zayn refocused on the movie.

"Move over," Harry commanded. Zayn and I scooted until we were pressed against Liam. Kaylee plopped herself next to me, with Harry next to her.

"There is no room for me here," Liam declared. He slid onto the floor between Louis and Niall. The other boys laughed.

"What was that?" I whispered in Kaylee's ear.

"What was what?" she answered innocently. I poked her.

"Don't play dumb. What was that between you and Zayn?" I said. She sighed.

"Last year, we were going out, and-" she began.

"Why don't you tell me you're dating famous people?" I complained. She ignored me.

"And it ended badly. He cheated on me with his old girlfriend. I left him for Harry," she explained.

"Well... I think he's hot," I whispered. She rolled her eyes.

"Who doesn't?" she agreed.

"Is there any... iciness between Zayn and Harry?" I asked. Kaylee shook her head. We all stared at the movie until it ended. The boys all stood up and stretched at once.

"Hey, let's have a sing-off," Kaylee suggested. The boys all looked at each other incredulously.

"Seriously? We're famous for singing. Do you really want to compete against our awesomeness?" Louis asked cockily.

Kaylee shrugged. "Kelsi and I have been singing together since 7th grade. I think we've got a shot."

"Sure, why not?" Harry said. The others mumbled in agreement. "We're going first."

"Whatever," I said. They got in a line and began to sing 'Rock Me'. When the song finished, Kaylee and I applauded.

"That's a hint," Liam winked. I blushed.

"Come on, Kelsi. Let's knock their socks off," Kaylee said, pulling me up by the hand.

"Let's sing one of their songs. How about... 'They Don't Know About Us'?" I suggested. Kaylee responded by started to sing, kind of loudly but clearly. I began my solo, softly and sweetly. I could feel the tips of my ears burning. When we finished, the boys stared at us, awestruck.

"That was... amazing," Zayn breathed.

"Maybe, but you guys won," Kaylee said.

"Only because we did this professionally for years," Niall claimed.

"What do we win?" Harry wondered aloud. Zayn eyed me, then grinned devilishly.

"How about... the new girl owes us each a kiss?" Zayn offered. He was evil. The boys smiled.

"That seems fair," Liam said. I blushed, and walked up to Harry. I got on my tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek. Next was Liam, then Niall, then Louis. Last was Zayn, who smiled brightly.

"You blush too easily," he whispered in my ear. I blushed- obviously- and rose up to kiss his cheek. At the last second, he turned his head and our lips pressed together.