Small Hands (Zerrie Short Story)

Chapter 3

Zayn saw Perrie first, through the glass of the shark tank. Her blonde hair was long and straight, before she cut it. Black leggings hugged her slender yet muscular legs as her shirt fell gently over her defined waist. He caught himself staring and turned away, moving to the other side of the tank just as she turned the corner to meet him.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," She laughed as they collided, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"It's no problem," The nervous boy started, turning towards the opposite wall and signing his name on the volunteer sheet. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"It's my first day," She said, taking the pen he offered and signing her initials under the name 'Perrie Edwards'.

"Perrie, that's a beautiful name," Zayn said before he could stop himself.

"So is yours, Mr. Malik," Perrie purred effortlessly, if it was any other girl Zayn would think she were flirting, but Perrie didn't strike him in that way. To him, she seemed like the girl who didn't need to flirt, her enchanting voice and angelic air pulled you in without having to be suggestive. Zayn was about to respond when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket.

"I'm sorry," He apologized, Perrie smiled and shrugged before heading back over to look at the tanks. When he checked his phone he realized it was just his boss Rebecca, she always texted him before the aquarium opened, usually on what he would be working. Today it was showing the new girl how to clean the sea urchin's tank.

By the time he looked up she was already back at the tanks, a six foot shark gliding by just a foot away between a bit of glass.

"Looks like you'll be with me today."

She turned around, blue eyes full of delight. "Okay!"

"You're not too disappointed?" He clarified.

"Not at all, I've got a feeling about you, Zayn Malik."

"What kind of feeling?"

"A feeling we'll get along."

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"I'm so sorry," Perrie said, staring off into the sky. He looked at the sky too, thousands of twinkling stars blinking down at them, all quiet. As if these gargantuan flaming balls of gas light years away were all hushed and watching this moment. Zayn hoped it was worth it.

"Don't, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Zayn stated, which to me sounded slightly kind but the boy was fond for her.

"Zayn."

Zayn turned to look at his friend, "What?" He asked stupidly.

"Kaylie Heilman, that's the girl that was kissing Driver at the party."

"Neither one of them are worth a second of your time. Don't let them get in your head."

"I'm going to sound so petty," She groaned, putting her hands over her face.

"No, you won't," Zayn said, sitting up and peeling her hands off of her face. "Talk to me."

"She has money, unlike me. She's pretty and not as muscle-y in the wrong places and she has this gorgeous olive skin and I'm so pale and-"

"Stop," He said, kindly but assertively. He didn't think over the next words to come out of his mouth, "You're worth a million Kaylie Heilman's."

A strange look flashed across her blue-green eyes, but before she could say anything there came a sound from the other side of the house.