We get home and as soon as my head hits the pillow in the guest bedroom I fall asleep.
I wake feeling groggy and still tired. I push myself up just as my door opened. Zayn walked in already showered and dressed.
I gave him a confused look and threw the covers aside.
"Hi sleepyhead! You feeling good?"
Ignoring his question I asked my own, "Where are you going?"
Zayn smiled at my eagerness, "I'm going to the gym. I think Niall is joining me as well. We're shooting hoops for a bit."
My eyes widened the second Nialls name was spilled. Withoutthinking, I blurted out, "Can I come?"
I knew Zayn was going to react the way he did, it was absolutely no surprise. From the moment my eyes widened at the mention of Nialls name, Zayn had on his famous smirk.
Zayns eyes twinkled and he stifled a laugh, "Hmm. Why today? You never want to watch me shoot. I though it was massively boring?"
I pursed my lips and crossed my arms. I sat back down on the comfy bed and said stubbornly, "Fine, never mind.."
I refused to look at Zayn but he had other plans in mind. Yes, I was being stubborn, but it was who I was.
Still smirking like a idiot, Zayn made his way over and sat next to me on the bed. He kindly put his arm around my shoulders and said, "You know I was only messing with you..."
I smile and nod shaking off his arm. Smiling back at me, Zayn puts his arm as it was before.
"Go and get ready, I'm leaving in a half hour."
I nod giving Zayn my best scowl and head to the bath room. I gave him a playful shove as I left and dodged the one he tried to return.
I shower quickly and push away my thoughts of how excited I was to see Niall. I kept repeating to myself not to let him get close. Him entering my life was not a good idea.
Keeping a distance is safe.
I bound down the stairs humming to myself. I had thrown on dark skinny jeans from American eagle and a light pink shirt. I had over my shirt a cute white zip up and had on my usual white vans.
I had put on a bit of mascara, not needing too much because it felt heavy with a lot on. And I really didn't need a lot. My amber hair was left naturally pin straight because curling it wasn't even an option.
Zayn greeted me at the bottom of the stairs in a black t-shirt and black gym shorts. He quickly tied his Nikes and said to me, "You look really pretty, Mace."
I smiled and thanked him with appreciation. Zayn always knew how to brighten my mood. The kid knew me inside and out. He read me like a freaken book.
~~~
"So" Zayn says as we pull up to the gym. "Remember, simply talking to a person isn't such a bad thing."
Zayn meant for his word to be a halfhearted joke, but we both understood his words had truth behind them.
I nodded and said, "I know. Don't worry, I'll talk..."
We laughed for a moment and headed inside.
As we got closer to the gym the beating of my heart got faster and faster. Even though the reason was 100% obvious to me, I did my best to ignore it.
We got to the gym and I took a seat in the bleachers.
It was early in the morning so Zayn and I were the only ones here. Zayn had told me on our way in Niall was on his way.
Zayn grabbed a ball and started shooting away. As I watched him I caught myself several times glancing at the entrance of the door.
Out of nowhere Niall came jogging in. He had on a simple white tshirt, blue basketball shorts and the same white shoes he had on last time I'd seen him.
Niall greeted Zayn with a smile and then they made their way over to me.
The closer Niall got to me the faster blood started to rush to my cheeks. It seemed as if a small army was pounding in my chest.
I absolutely hated that I was reacting to Nialls presence this way. It wasn't like me and it was absurd.
Zayn and Niall stopped in front of where I sat and I could feel the heat on my face.
Zayn bounced the ball a couple times as Niall says to me, "I didn't know you were going to be here!"
Nialls massive grin on his face explained plain as day he was happy to see me. I looked down, trying not to read too much into it.
Zayn shook his head smiling like a goof. He said, "She was just SO eager to watch me shoot hoops today.."
Still smiling he continues, "and I don't think she knew you were coming either..."
I was bright red at this point and wanted to crawl under the bleachers and hide.
Catching on, Niall smirked and says, "Well, I'm happy you came. Do you play?"
I glanced at Zayn scowling and this time it was my turn to smirk.
"I don't, last I played basketball with Zayn, he cried. I felt bad so I don't usually play any more..." I joked.
Zayn rolled his eyes as Niall belt out a laugh. I laughed along with the two boys and couldn't stop smiling.
Niall threw me a wink and I tried not to go any redder than I already was.
Niall says, "Well, that's too bad" and they both headed back to the court. As they walk back I try not to think about how irritating Zayn was and how adorable Niall was.
