<Ava>
When the sirens blare I jolt involuntarily and my mind can't seem to catch up to what's happening.
One moment Zayn and I are (I think) having a moment and the next we are sprinting down alleyways and through traffic.
We run until my lungs burn and I can't feel my legs.
Until my sides are splitting and my hearts feels like it will burst.
Until my face aches from smiling so much.
With one last glance over his shoulder Zayn slows to a walk and we stop outside of a tattoo shop (yeah what a coincidence right?).
"Is this- where you come- to get- your ink- done?" I manage to force out between gulps of air.
"Not all of them. But this is where I got one of my favorites."
His breathing has barely changed and he doesn't look like he is in as much pain as I am.
Does he do this regularly?
"Do you have any?"
Unable to give an actual verbal reply I just nod my head.
His eyebrows raise in surprise. "You've got tattoos? Seriously?"
"Don't look too shocked," I say with a laugh.
"I dunno I mean I thought it might be too tacky for you or something."
"Tattoos are only as tacky as their wearers ... or something like that. For instance: a rose or dolphin on the hip or ankle, YOLO on anywhere, and, my personal favorite, the infinity sign with a word such as love inside."
He laughs the kind of laugh that make your eyes crinkle and oh good lord his cheekbones.
"So are you going to show me any of your non tacky tattoos?"
I think for a minute before turning my back to him and lifting my hair off of my neck.
"What's it mean?"
"It's the Native American symbol for wisdom or medicine man. It's like a reminder to not say or do stupid things," I let a sly grin slide onto my face, "sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't."
He rolls his eyes playfully and pushes the door open. A little bell signals our entrance and a blonde boy with dark ink on his biceps looks up.
"Hey long time no see man!" I'm a bit surprised by his accent. Irish maybe?
Zayn nods in his direction.
"Hey Niall got any new designs for me?"
"Actually I just finished something up that I think you'd like." He shuffles some papers and, finding the one he was searching for, holds it up.
"It's brilliant. Got some free time right now?"
He grins, "Come on back mate."
I follow behind the two.
"So who's this lovely gal you've managed to trick into coming with you?" He asks as he gets the machine ready.
I cut in before Zayn can answer, "This lovely gal is Ava and, believe it or not, I came here on my own accord." Zayn shrugs and take a seat in the chair.
"You getting any work done today?" Niall questions.
"Nope," I respond popping the p.
He shrug, "You'll be back, they always come back," he adds with a wink.
"I can honestly say I don't think I will be a part of the 'they'," I laugh, "sorry babe."
"We'll see."
Zayn clears his throat.
"Mate if she is going to distract you as you put permanent markings onto my skin I'm asking her to leave."
"Aw is wittle Zaynie jealous? I was only being friendly but don't question my ability to produce a kick ass tattoo ... beautiful girl in the room or not" he says.
Zayn grumbles and with that the little needle begins buzzing.
Zayn? Jealous?
That's very interesting ...
<Zayn>
I AM NOT JEALOUS! I mentally yell at myself since saying it out loud wouldn't help anyway.
Now she's gonna think that I have some creepy obsession with her.
Fantastic.
The room is silent except for the buzz of the machine but it isn't awkward.
Ava has been flipping through design books and looking at pictures of some of Niall's past clients. I take advantage of her not paying attention and just watch.
The way she subtly tilts her head to the side as she analyzes the image. Her delicate fingers tracing over the pages.
The slight part of her lips.
She looks up.
I quickly avert my eyes and look back after a few seconds. She's still looking at me.
Shit.
I attempt to smile but I'm way too embarrassed for it to be cute or charming.
Fuck she definitely thinks I'm a creep now.
Instead of giving me a weird look like I expected, the corner of her mouth twitches up and she holds my gaze.
Her eyes hold an inquisitive look as they flicker between mine; it is if they are searching for something.
The moment breaks (yet again) as Niall shouts "Done!" to no one in particular.
We both turn our attention to the new print on my forearm.
A small comic book inspired picture of Big Ben.
I smirk and turn to Niall, "Wrap 'er up mate."
He smiles triumphantly as he cleans it up.
After insisting to pay and Niall telling me no I thank him and Ava leads the way out the door.
The sun is starting to go down but it burns our eyes after being inside the dimly lit parlour.
"So what do we do now?" I ask.
She thinks for a minute as we wander aimlessly down the sidewalk.
"Central Park, there's something I want to show you."
So we hop back onto the metro and back to the city.
__________________________
OK so I know that this took forEVER yet again but ya know ... big year and such. Hope whoever is still actually reading this likes this chapter! YOU ROCK BYEE
xx
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Crooked Neighbor, Crooked Heart
Fanfiction"Hmm Zayn ..." She meets my eyes. "I think I'll call you Z instead." She says it like she's giving a name to her new pet hamster or something. What the fuck is wrong with this girl? "And what can I call you?" "By my name." She does that half smirk...
