Playing With Fire || z.m

"Let me introduce myself."

ZAYN

I wake with a start, sitting bolt upright and reach for my phone that is on the bedside table to check the time. 6.30am. ouch. I fling myself back under the covers, shutting my eyes tightly but it’s no use. There is no chance I would be getting back to sleep when I’m desperate for a fag. With a groan I pull myself into a sitting position on the side of the bed, taking a cigarette from the packet and light it quickly, taking a much needed drag and I breathe out slowly. Noticing the room fill with smoke, I stand up and push the window open. Suddenly something moving outside catches my eye. Looking at the house opposite the pretty girl appears that I pissed off yesterday. She was up early! 

I watch as she ambles up her garden path with two bags hanging off her shoulder, a huge pink folder tucked under her left arm and an iPad in the other hand. She presses the button on her driver’s door to unlock the car – keyless entry, impressive – and yanks the door open, leaning in and putting all her stuff on the passenger seat. She then slides gracefully into the driver’s seat and starts the car up. God, there is something about her that is really sexy even though she looks so innocent. 

“Come back to bed, babe.” A voice pulls me back into the room. I turn to see my beautiful girlfriend gazing at me, her blue eyes sparkling. “I need a hug.”

“Coming, baby.” I look back out the window but the girl in the silver car has gone. I take one more pull on my cigarette and stump it out in the ash tray, quickly jumping under the covers to join my girl.

“You stink.” She moans. “You really should give up smoking.”

“Yeah I really should, shouldn’t I?” I put my arms round her waist, pulling her into me and close my eyes.

“But you’re not going to are you.” Perrie states. She knows me too well. Well we have been together for a year!

“Course not.” I chuckle.     

*

“Thank you for dropping me home.” I glance over at Perrie sitting in my passenger seat.

“You don’t have to thank me, gorgeous.” I tell her. She grins at me, her eyes sparkling. “I’m going to miss you so much while you are in Japan.”

“I’ll miss you too, but its only two weeks.” I stop the car at the traffic lights and take it as an opportunity to gaze at my girlfriend. I watch as she pulls her blonde hair back into a scruffy pony tail and admires herself in the mirror on the sun visor. She looks amazing even with no make up on. “What are you looking at?” she laughs. I focus my eyes back on the road, saying nothing. I’m scared that if I say anything else my voice may break and I’ll cry in front of her. It’s horrible having to keep saying goodbye to a loved one.

As I pull up outside her house I finally find the courage to speak again. “Call me as soon as you land in Japan okay?” She nods and leans over, kissing my cheek softly. “And Skype me when you can.”

“Zayn, chill, we’re both away from home enough, we have a routine now. We call each other when we land, Skype everyday and remember good morning and good night texts.”

“Sorry babe, long distance makes me anxious.”

“Zayn, please tell me you trust me.” She puts both hands on my cheeks and moves my head so we are looking into each others eyes.

“Of course I trust you.” I smile. It’s me I don’t trust, I say silently to myself.

“Well then, no need to be anxious you idiot.” She laughs, chucking her arms around me and holding me tight. I return the hug, breathing in her smell and we stay in each others arms for a good five minutes. “I have to go.” She whispers before slowly pulling away. “Zayn, remember that I love you.” I know she’s biting back tears.

“I know you love me baby, and I love you too.” She leaves a lingering kiss on my lips and gets out of my car.

I drive home in a blur. I don’t actually cry but I just feel spaced out and even a fag doesn’t make me feel better. 20 minutes later I finally pull up outside my new house and admire it while I finish my cigarette. I like this house. Finally I had found a decent place to live and I actually felt at home and the plus was that there were no freaky fans hanging about outside. I could happily sit in my car and smoke with no one bothering me.

I fling the door open and heave myself out the car, flicking my fag butt on the floor and watch as familiar silver car pulls up on the opposite side of the road.       

“Good evening neighbour.” I call out to her as she gets out her car, my confidence suddenly returning. She glances over at me, saying nothing in return. I watch her pull her two bags out the car and heave them over her shoulder, then the pink folder gets tucked back under her arm, followed by the iPad, and she closes her car door. Before I know it I start walking across the quiet road towards her. “Let me introduce myself.” She looks up at me, her mousey brown hair falling over her face. “I’m Zayn.” I hold my hand out towards her and she shifts her iPad into her other arm and takes my hand, shaking it.

“Ellie.” She murmurs, letting go of my hand before she drops something.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ellie.”

“I’ve never met a Zayn before.” Ellie starts. “The only Zayn I’ve heard of is…” She stops, shutting her eyes for a moment and then looks back up at me, realisation crossing her eyes. “Shit.” I watch as her cheeks flush bright red and she takes a few steps back. “I’ve just realised who you are.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Well it’s nice to know you aren’t a fan girl who’s going to set up camp out side my house.” She frowns at me. “I moved from my last house because one of the neighbour’s kids was a huge One Direction fan who constantly had a million friends round and they just sat outside my house taking photos constantly.” I shudder as I remember the things those girls used to get up to.

“I’ll be sure to post your new address on twitter then.” A smile plays on her lips. “Might get rid of you from my door step.”

“You don’t really want to get rid of me.” I take a few steps closer to her. I can’t help but flirt with her. There is just something about her that turns me on.

“Don’t I?” she retorts.

“Course not. Us being neighbours could come in handy. We can water each others gardens when the other is away. And feed each others cats.”

She snorts. “That sounds gross.” I can’t help but laugh.

“A dirty mind. I like it.”

“Well, I don’t own a cat.”

“Neither do I.” I shrug. “But if it’s you who’s going to feed it then I may get one.”

“I don’t have much of a garden either.” She raises her eyebrow at me.

“Well everyone has a garden that needs watering.”

She looks up and down the road quickly, and brings her gaze back to meet mine. “Are we still talking about cats and gardens here, or…?”

“No, I don’t think we are. What are you’re plans for tonight?”

“I’m washing my hair.”

“Come to mine in two hours. Wear something nice.” I wink and march back to my house.