Make the Most of It

31. Road Trip

"Alright so what's next?" I asked Zayn. We had been out on the road for a while now after leaving the diner. It was already 1:45.

"Well there's a couple more places I want to show you, but I'll save those for tommorow. Today, we're going on a road trip."

"To where?"

"It's a surprise."

"Are we going to make it back home in time?"

"Really Nikki? We are 23-year-olds and you're worried about getting back home by curfew?"

"You're right sorry." He laughed at my concern.

"How long is the drive?" I asked.

"It'll be a while." I rummaged through his car compartments in search of music.

"Do you not have any music?"

"No, Doniya took most of them."

"Ugh, I hate long drives," I whined. "There's nothing to do."

"It'll be worth it, trust me."

"Tell me a story," I asked, turning my head sideways so I was looking at him. He looked a little confused by my sudden interest. "About anything. Like from when you were little or first kiss or something." He chuckled.

"Well my first kiss is actually a funny story." I rested my head on the side of the door and closed my eyes, imagining everything he was saying.

"I was about thirteen years old," he began. "I was supposed to meet this girl after school." As he went on, I could feel myself beginning to fall asleep because I was so tired and the long drive didn't help either. The last things I heard him say were something about standing on a brick and then I was consumed by my sleep.

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Zayn's P.O.V.

"And that was how my first kiss went," I finished. "What about you?" I asked Nikki, but she didn't respond. I glanced sideways to look at her and saw that she was sleeping. "Oh."

She looked so gentle and calm in her sleep. The way her lips formed a half-smile and her shoulders gently moved up and down as she breathed. It began to make me think.

She was only only 23 and had still managed to open and run a successful fashion business in the midst of having to spend time with friends and make time for boyfriends. She even managed to take up boxing lessons. Well, actually, the boxing lessons were a mix of boyfriend and hobby for a short period of time. But, I pushed the thought of Jake away for right now.

I hated not being able to go to Italy with Nikki, but I didn't want to get in the way of everything. I mean, she would be so busy. At the same time, what if I never see her again? I don't even know if I'm going to go back to LA. I could just as easily get a job and my own apartment here, like Doniya.

Nikki groaned beside me quietly as she stirred in her sleep, then slowly opened her eyes. She groaned again.

"Nikki, what's wrong?"

"I don't feel so good."

"Like tired or throwing up?"

"Both. And my head hurts," she grumbled.

"Ok well there's an exit coming up. I'll stop by a gas station."