Sticks & Stones

Chapter 4

Later that evening, Zayn called me and said he would be picking me up at 7 o'clock. He told me he wanted to take me on a real date. He also apologized for how abruptly he ended the call earlier, plus what he had told me. I however, was in awe that Zayn had taken a moment to ask for my forgiveness. I accepted his apology and his invite. Half of me accepted it to piss off my parents and the other half of me accepted it because he's extremely fit, in a complete opposite way than Marcus. I'm just hoping my mum will be home when Zayn picks me up. It would make her more displeased than anything because she so desperately wants me to be in a steady relationship with Marcus.

It was already 10 minutes before 7. I have put a loose blue dress, black tights underneath and have black heels to go with it. Then finally, I have a tan suede jacket over my dress because it is mid winter, my hair back in a loose messy looking ponytail, trying to make my outfit look like I have put no effort into it. My mum is in the kitchen when I come downstairs and I tell her, "I have a date mum."

"Where are you and Marcus going?" She asks, as sweet as can be.

I keep my best poker face on, in an attempt to not crack a smile, "It's not with Marcus. His name is Zayn."

"What happened between you and Marcus?" She stops her activity, worriedly, to speak to me.

"Nothing. I just figured since we don't have a label, it'd be okay to see someone else."

"Now darling, that is not okay. Marcus and you do not need a label for what you have."

The doorbell rings exactly at 7 o'clock sharp. I walk into the living room, with my mum on my heels. I open the door and Zayn smiles, "Not too bad." He is wearing an unbuttoned plaid flannel with his sleeves pushed up, with a black shirt underneath, grey skinny jeans, and black Dr. Martens.

I turn around to see my mums reaction and Zayn must've came as a bombshell to her. His eyes stay fixed on me as I smile and say, "Goodbye mum." I shut the door behind me and take Zayns hand as he leads me to his car.

Zayn finally parks on the side of the road in town after the soundless car ride, which is how it always seemed to be. Outside my window, I'm facing a wall that once was grey cinder blocks, but is now full of graffiti. He comes around my side to open the door for me and I politely thank him. We walk not even a block, then turn into an alley. I wasn't sure what to think, it was getting pretty late. But an alleyway? He opens an unexpected door, which leads into a large, shabby-chic coffee shop. "Coffee or tea?" he asks.

"Black coffee," I answer. As we walk up the wooden staircase, I spot a boy and a girl waving to him. The girl dressed like Zayn, she had a many piercings up her ears and around her face, plus tattoos on both her arms, and I'm sure there were more that weren't visible. She had beautiful black, thick, silky hair and tan skin. She was wearing a black dress with lace tights and black boots. Then there was a boy with dark brown wavy hair. He didn't have any piercings, but he had small tattoos splattered over his arms. When he smiled his dimples popped. He wore a plain black t shirt, black skinny jeans, and brown, worn down, leather boots. Zayn turned around and smiled, "We were meeting them here. They're my friends." He walks to them and I follow.

The girl stands up and has a welcoming smile spread on her face, she warmly greets me with a hug, "I'm Ana."

Then the boy sitting down turns to me and nods, "I'm Harry." He reaches his hand out and I shake it.

"I'm Jenna," I smile and turn to look at Zayn, he's already at the cash register.

I pull a seat out from the table, and Ana suggests, "So, tell us, how did you meet Zayn? He's so stubborn, he refused to tell us even your name."