Crooked Neighbor, Crooked Heart

Ten

Hello to anyone still actually reading this(hopefully there are some of you left ...) anyway I know these chapters are taking FOREVER but it's cause school is kinda stressful this year but I'm doing my best!!!! Hope you all enjoy this next part :) BYEEEEE
XOXO GOSSIP GIRL

just kidding
__________________________

<Ava>

I take a seat outside of my favorite cafe in the village and pull out my sketchbook. I doodle and think as I wait for Zayn to arrive.

What am I even doing? Why did I tell him to meet me here? It's not like I even have anything planned! In fact when he asked me why I just shrugged and said 'why not?'. I mentally face palm myself. Well this blows.

I am completely absorbed in reliving my embarrassment when the little patch of sunlight brightening my sketchpad disappears. I look up and am greeted by a t-shirt with a nice big 'Fuck You' stamped across the front.

I smile.

"'Bout time you showed up Z."

He smiles politely and sits down, "So what did you want to meet me for anyway? I was attending to some very important business."

I roll my eyes, "Shopping for vulgar t-shirts does not count as important business."

"Whatever," he leans back and folds his arms across his chest and I get a good view of the ink he's had done, "but seriously why am I here?"

I shrug. I've been doing that a lot lately and make a mental note to stop.

"Last day of real freedom so I wanted to get off campus."

He raises an eyebrow, "Jenna wouldn't come with you?"

"She had shit to do before our first official day of classes tomorrow."

He looks at me questioningly but lets my lame response slide.

Gosh darnit Ava! You might as well flat out tell him that you have no reason for specifically asking him and that Jenna is actually sitting in your dorm room staring at the wall and trying to use 'the force' to move a can of Coke.

He's gonna get some crazy idea in his head that you're interested in him and then what?!

But then again maybe you want him to get that idea into his head so he makes a move and you don't have to ...

You sneaky little manipulator you! This is a horrible idea remember?! You've got much more important crap to settle right now. Shane? Psychotic mother?

This is not going to end well ...

"Alright well I've got an idea."

"Shoot."

<Zayn>

Without another word I stand and walk in the direction of the nearest metro. I can hear her packing up her stuff and the wrought iron chair scooting backwards as she falls in step just behind me. I smile a bit.

Now who's the one struggling to catch up to keep up?

"So where are we headed? You're not leading me into some dark ally to kidnap me are you? Because I happened to have taken mixed martial arts for half of my life and I have a rape whistle in my bag."

I can't tell if she's being serious or not so I swivel my head around to meet her eyes. They have that gleam of god knows what and a smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth.

So it's just Ava being herself then.

"Just don't talk and follow me"

"Yes sir," she mutters under her breath.

We take the tube into Brooklyn and shortly after emerge from underground. She quickly takes in her surroundings and eyes me skeptically as she shifts closer.

"Don't worry I'll protect you."

Oh god you did not just say that mate.

We walk for a while without exchanging a word until we get to an abandoned train track. There are artists everywhere with tarps and bottles of spray paint littering the old platform.

"Wow," she breathes.

I have the same reaction every time I come here.

There are barely any spots left on the concrete and brick walls for artists to leave their marks.

We stroll in silence, taking in all of the colors and words and pictures that all carry some sort of important meaning to their creators.

"I never knew that graffiti could be so beautiful."

She doesn't take her eyes off of the artwork as she speaks.

"Most people look at this and us," I gesture to the platform and myself, "as nuisances to society; angsty teenagers who have nothing better to do with their time. We all think otherwise. This is where you go to find a voice. To get people to realize, 'Hey look I exist and I have something I need to say.'"

She takes a breath and looks up at me through her lashes.

"What do you need to say then Z?"

I meet her gaze and we just stand there for a moment, completely absorbing one another's presence.

I open my mouth to respond but all of a sudden that perfect moment is interrupted by shouts of 'cops!' and the sound of cans clattering to the ground as worn out shoes hit the pavement.

My head snaps up then back down to, Ava expecting her to panic.

Of course she remains un phased.

Instead there is a grin making its way onto her face and I can feel my own mouth begin to bend into a smile.

I grab her hand and we run, the sirens and lights fading behind us.