Vulnerable (Zayn Malik AU)

Chapter 6

"You wanna swim?" He asked.

"No. I don't have a suit." Is he kidding? I'm not swimming in my clothes.

"I know you don't, Dais. C'mon." He said ripping his shirt off. His tattoos were very intricate, and I couldn't help but wonder what they meant. You could see more with the removal of his shirt. His single 'Zap!' tattoo on his forearm was still visible as always. He had wings on his collarbones that belonged to a set of ruby red lips. He had what looked like an Arabic symbol on his right shoulder. As he lifted the shirt completely off, you could see a smaller symbol on his side. He turned and got closer to the water, a bird on the back of his neck visible.

"What do those mean?" I asked.

"What?"

"Your tattoos...what do they mean?"

"Maybe if you get in the water I'll tell you." He said as he undid his belt. He was probably the only boy at my school that wore a belt to actually keep his pants up. All the other boys wore them, but their pants still sagged to their knees.

"I told you. I don't have a suit."

"You have a bra and underwear right? It's the same thing. Different material, but covers just as much." I bit my lip and scrunched my brows. He made a good point, but I was nervous. What if he doesn't like my same old boring bra. What if my underwear is too nerdy. I thought. "Don't tell me you're one of those girls who hates their body and is too afraid to share what they've got going on." He smirked. What I've got going on? Really, Zayn. Honestly...I don't really like my body. But I'm content with it. It's never going to change the way I want it to, and I've accepted that.

"That's not it." I lifted off my shirt to reveal my black, lace bra.

"Then what?" He asked.

"I'll just stay in my shorts."

"Dais. Don't be silly." He said dropping his pants. I don't know how he was wearing those in the first place considering it was so hot outside.

I bit my lip again and closed my eyes as I undid my shorts. I didn't want to see his face.

"Oh my gosh." I heard him say and I opened my eyes.

"I'm a total nerd, I know."

"Are those superman undies?!" I covered my face with my hands and nodded, completely embarrassed. "That's so AWESOME."

"Wait what?" I dropped my hands and looked at the big smile on his face. 

"I used to read superman comics all the time! Those are awesome." I looked down at my cartoon boy-shorts. They were actually my favorite pair of underwear. But, I didn't want anyone else to know that....

"Oh...yeah..."

"Well lets get in then." He smiled and stuck out his hand, seating us on the rocky edge before sliding himself in.

"You're sure this is safe? No fish or anything?"

"I swim here all the time, and I've never come across a fish. I think they stay upstream. Or out in the river maybe." He said pointing to the left. So I was right, that is McCloud river. "Go on, slide in, then." He encouraged me. I touched my foot to the water. It was a nice contrast to the hot summer air, but it was still a bit cold.

"No I can't." He looked disappointed. "If I slide into the cold, I can't get used to it." I said and backed away from the edge. He continued to look disappointed and started to get out. But, much to his surprise, I never said I wasn't getting in... I took two large steps and jumped into the cold water. I could get used to it much faster by jumping in.

I stayed under for a second, and opened my eyes considering it was fresh water, not salt water. The stream was only about 6 feet deep. Just about as tall as Zayn. I turned in the direction I remembered the waterfall being an began to swim. After what felt like only a minute, I couldn't hold my breath any longer and blew out bubbles as I reached the surface.

"What are you doing." Zayn said from behind me.

"Woah!" I struggled to stay afloat, startled.

"The waters clear, Dais. If you were trying to escape me it definitely won't work when I can see you." He laughed.

"I wasn't escaping. Just swimming." I twirled a little in the water.

"Good. You'll never be able to escape me...." He said and dropped into the water.

"Ok very funny." I looked down to see if he was still below me, but the water was clear and practically unsettled. I spun around and looked all throughout the water, but he was nowhere to be found. "Zayn?" I called out, slowly pushing myself backwards. "Zayn!"

"You ok?" He startled me from behind, but when I turned around he wasn't there.

"Where are you?! I'm gonna get out." I threatened and just as I began to swim away a hand reached through the waterfall and pulled me in. I yelped in fear, but once I was safely behind the waterfall, everything was clear. "What the..." I stuck my hand through the waterfall just to make sure...of what I didn't know. I looked in front of me to see Zayn laughing - at my confused expression I assumed. "How-"

"We're behind the waterfall." He said and pointed around. To my left was a wall of rock, the wall the water was cascading down. From outside, it looked like the water was pouring directly onto the rock, but it definitely wasn't. There was a solid foot between the wall and the waterfall. Little specs of light trickled in through the water.

"Wow." Was all I could manage to say. As if it wasn't beautiful enough, I was with Zayn. His face was illuminated with a smile that could warm even the coldest heart. I'd never had a 'favorite smile,' but the way that Zayn's tongue lightly pressed to his teeth showed that - in that moment - he was genuinely happy.....it was my favorite.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, the smile turning into a line as he tried to figure me out.

"You're beautiful." I whispered.

"Beauty is a thing of the mind." He looked out at the falling water. I couldn't help what happened next.

I reached my arms up around his shoulders and he reached his arms around my waist to  support me. The water was still too deep for me, but he seemed to be managing fine. His hands glided along my hips and pulled me closer as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Our noses touched only briefly, his hot breath teasing my skin.

"Zayn." I leaned my forehead onto his.

"Hmm."

"Kiss me."

His lips slowly inched toward mine, meeting ever-so-sweetly. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't needy...but it was perfect. His lips pursed just enough to make my stomach flutter. I tilted my head and deepened the kiss as his tongue brushed along my top lip. I opened my mouth, but he didn't take the opportunity. Instead, he pulled away.

"Take a breath." He said and I did as told, closing my mouth just in time for him to pull me under.

His arms were wrapped safely around my lower back as he kicked off the wall and we stayed under the water. I opened my eyes to see him looking right at me as he changed positions and rolled, placing my back along the bottom of my creek. His lips met mine once again, only it was so different. I was too afraid to open anything. I was afraid I'd accidentally let my breath out, so I didn't really kiss back. He realized my fear and moved from my mouth down my jawline. He left tender kisses to my collarbone, and I felt a slight pressure. It wasn't painful, but it shocked me enough that I breathed in, taking in a large gulp of water.

I began to choke and kick, trying to get some air. Zayn wrapped his arms around me yet again, and pushed off the bottom. Within seconds my back was safely lying on the grass at the edge of the creek, Zayn hovering above me to check my body.

"Are you ok? Are you breathing?" He asked panicked, and I leaned over to cough up some water.

"Great. I'm gonna have water-filled lungs for the rest of my life." I said in between coughs.

"No it'll all come out eventually." He laughed nervously.

I sprawled my arms out on both sides of me, and continued to breathe fast, the kiss and my near-death experience overwhelming me.

"Come on. I'll take you home."



•••••



After throwing my clothes on over my wet undergarments, the ride was cold to say the least. I didn't tell Zayn but I'm sure he could tell with the way my arms wrapped around as much as possible and tucked into his open leather jacket. I was a shivering mess.

When I got home he made sure he didn't leave until I was safely inside - a quality I was growing rather fond of. I took a shower almost immediately. It was even colder inside my house considering my dad had on the air conditioner. We both preferred the cold, especially while we slept, and my dad sleeps during the day, so the air was always cranked up high.

After my shower I sat on my bed and finished my vocabulary for Econ. I wish Zayn had stayed for a little bit so we could work on our project, but he seemed like he was in a rush.

I was laying in bed, and I honestly couldn't sleep. My lips were still tingling from his touch. I couldn't stop thinking about it. How it wasn't rushed...it wasn't too strong, or too gentle....I actually felt sparks. For the first time in my life, I felt sparks. It all felt so dramatic. Something you hear people say, but never feel for yourself. I'd only ever had one boyfriend, but that was freshman year. Everyone makes mistakes their freshman year.



•••••



"You know, I feel like I never see you anymore." Lilly scolded me as we walked to first period.

"It's only been a couple days." She stopped and stared at me. "I know, I'm sorry. Now that schools started back up I need to focus, ya know?" I said. I hadn't really talked to her since school started. Not how we used to, anyway. I was too focused on Zayn, and I hadn't told her anything about him... "But you can come over today if you want." I tried to make it sound like I wasn't avoiding her like she thought I was.

"I have a shitload of homework, but maybe you can help." She smiled.

"Yeah! Cause I totally got all of my hard classes out of the way so I can spend my senior year doing YOUR work." I said and rolled my eyes.

"Aww see! You're so considerate." We laughed as we walked into Econ, our much-too-peppy-for-the-morning teacher greeting us with a couple of 'howdy's.

"Morning, sir." We said simultaneously.

We were running a bit late that morning, so we were actually coming to class at the same time as everyone else. The room was already practically full. I took my seat in the back, and per usual, Lilly sat on my left.

I couldn't help but watch the door anxiously, waiting for my favorite leather jacket and piercing hazel eyes to step in. Just as the late bell rang, I saw a boot make its way into the crack of the door. He's here - cutting it close - but he's here.

"Morning." I smiled at him.

He didn't look at me and just took a seat in his desk, effortlessly removing his jacket onto the back of his seat.

"Excuse you....I said morning." I said and this time he looked at me, but still said nothing. Just a slight smile before his attention was back at the front of the room.

I tried my best not to be bothered and pulled out my planner to copy down the objectives.


Check vocabulary
Work on partner project


Great. Another day of sitting in silence because my jerk of a partner refuses to work with me.

Mr. Trig made his way around the class stamping everyone's vocab. Of course mine was the only one overdone. We had to draw pictures for each term, and everyone else used their pencils. I on the other hand used markers....it only took me like one minute per term, if that....the others really didn't use any effort at all.

"Well Ms. Toomey! Going above and beyond I see!" My teacher said and everyone looked at me. I quietly thanked him and slouched into my desk as I shut my notebook, completely embarrassed.

"Did I miss anyone?" He asked and looked for anyone to raise their hand. "Alright then. Go ahead and find your partner. Today is the last day that I will allow you to work in class, and it's due Friday so I hope you're all close to being finished."

Everyone began adjusting their desks and Lilly looked at me apologetically before she went to her partner. I was stuck with grumpy Zayn. Again.

You know what? I'm. Not gonna sit here silently like yesterday. He can't keep doing this to me.

I scooted my desk up against his, and he didn't budge.

"Look at me." He turned just enough to meet my eyes. "What is your freaking problem?" He shrugged. "Why don't you talk to me at school? You completely ignore me and flirt with other girls right in front of me, but when we're alone you're a total gentleman. I don't get it."

"I didn't think it mattered." He finally spoke up.

"You didn't- what?! Are you serious? You think you can just kiss me and nearly make me drown and that not matter?!" My voice was a whisper, but I was still yelling. He looked down at his desk and shrugged yet again. "You can't keep playing with my emotions, Zayn." I said and scooted away.

The rest of class I spent my time drawing a very red, abstract picture in my portfolio. I had to let my anger out somehow or else I wouldn't calm down. Once the bell rang I was excited I didn't have to sit by him anymore. Granted, we still had every class together. The next being first year ceramics - which I was a Teacher's Aid for.

I walked in and greeted Ms. Fay. She was always stressing, but at least she stopped long enough to give me a cheery hello.

"Need me to do anything?" I asked, trying to lighten her work load.

"Yeah actually can you go sweep the kiln shed?" I nodded and set my bag by her desk before grabbing the broom. We have a metal shed outside the classroom with two kilns. Because clay is made of dirt, it can get a bit dusty in there.

I swept the floor, pushing out any remnants of broken projects and even some leaves that made their way inside. I could hear Ms. Fay doing her daily morning lecture before the class started up.

"Hey, Daisy? When you're done sweeping can you help a student? I need to correct worksheets."

"Sure thing." I would rather have corrected the worksheets than get dirty, but whatever she asked me to do I did.

I grabbed the dustpan, swept up the little pile I'd created, and went inside. Once I dumped all of the dirt and patted my hands I went to put on an apron. "Who am I helping?" I asked Ms. Fay as I tied my apron on.

"The kid at the back table. I think Zayn's his name?" Of course. He doesn't want to talk to me, but he needs my help. I should be rude and just destroy his project.

I made my way to the back and pulled up a stool next to him. "What do you need help with." I asked, uninterested.

"I can draw an alien just fine....here's my sketch." He said sliding a paper over to me. "But I just can't turn it into clay. I keep trying...." He looked down at a ball of clay sat on a wooden board in front him.

"Ugh. Give me that."

"I'm sorry. I know you don't want to help me." I kept my eyes on the clay as I tried to mold it to match his drawing.

"I don't want to help you because you're a jerk. Don't act all sad, because you made me feel this way yourself."



•••••



The rest of the day I tried my best to ignore Zayn. Even though we had every class together, it proved to be quite easy. After I helped him with his alien, we had Creative Writing. He sat across the room in that class so I didn't even look at him. Then after that I had Advanced Ceramics with Franky, but Franky wasn't at school. Which was too bad, because I was going to ask what happened the day before. After that class I had Peer Resource - again, with Zayn. We didn't really do much in that class. After Peer Resource I was about to have lunch with Kendall, but instead I grabbed my salad and went straight to art class. She said something about inviting Zayn to sit with us and I wanted to avoid him as much as possible.

In art, when everyone finally arrived, I minded my own business and worked on a watercolor painting in my portfolio. Zayn didn't talk to me, but that time I didn't feel avoided. I felt empowered.



•••••



Lilly and I were sitting in my room as we worked on her math homework. She really had no idea what to do. It was for geometry, and I barely passed geometry with a C, but I did what I could. 

"How does an angle equal more than...what?! I fucking quit. This shit's useless." Lilly exclaimed and fell backwards on my bed. "What does geometry even have to do with me, anyway? I want to be a veterinarian, I don't need to know how a quadrilateral relates to a fucking polygon." She shouted at the ceiling, ignoring my sleeping father upstairs.

"Ok, first of all....those are the same thing. Second, watch your mouth. It's not that-" I was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

"Ooh! I'll get it. You go ahead and keep working." She said and pranced out of my room. Pain in my backside, I thought. "Um....Dais? It's for you." She called from the door.

I got up from my room and walked down the hall. "Who is it? Oh." I stopped in my steps as the visitor stepped through the door.

Zayn.