brilliant discovery • zauren

O8

"You should have bought food," Lauren grumbled as they sat on opposite ends of the couch.

Due to the attention she was getting, Lauren chose to remain home while the rest went grocery shopping. Camila insisted on ordering pizza or Chinese, but Dinah was keen on home cooked meals. The rest agreed because it's been so long since they had any. The former was also going to remain at home to keep Lauren company, but when Ally couldn't remember what ice cream Camila wanted, she went along for the sake of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey!

"Next time, okay. What's your favourite that will grant me easy entrance here?" Zayn chirped out of jest, but he was curious on her go-to meal.

"I am not easy..." she countered, tone raised as she highly defensive for mishearing what he actually uttered. Zayn casted her a bewildered look before she realized her error. "I mean sushi. I love sushi..."

Suddenly, it all made sense to him. Before sleeping together, Lauren was always nice and easy to approach. Hence, he decided to make conversation at the bar. Zayn knew he would have an enjoyable conversation with her. However, ever since that night, Lauren's been acting strange and far more distant. Not that they were close, but the reason for her change of attitude became crystal clear.

"Lauren, I never said you were. And I never once thought you were." Zayn made sure he came off as sincere as he felt. He wanted to be clear with her. "Sure, we slept together without any form of relationship, but that was my fault. I should have known better and acted like a gentleman. Now, you're stuck in this mess and I'm truly sorry." His gaze dropped, landing on his hands that fidgetted due to nerves and guilt.

From her designated area on the long white leather sofa, Lauren studied Zayn through her peripheral vision. In her opinion, he seemed to mean his words. And since that was all she could go by, she trusted him to an extent. Anyway, she didn't want to dwell too deep in her feelings to an acquaintance who happened to be posing as her boyfriend; very complex things.

"You don't have to apologize," she said very lowly; Zayn could barely hear, but he did. The room was quiet, so even the meekest traces of sounds could be heard. "It takes two to tango, after all." Lauren laughed lightly, albeit forced, to lift the downcast mood.

"There's a slight difference between have and want," Zayn emphasized with a breezy chuckle of his own. He found her carefree nature a bit peculiar, but it was better than moping around. "Anyway, since we are in this sticky wicket-"

"I beg your pardon," Lauren interrupted, face scrunched with scrutiny. "But what is a wicket?" Impressively, she managed to mimic his accent.

"Ah... A sticky situation, I mean," he corrected himself, feeling a bit daft for his slip up.

She giggled, finding the term amusing. "Wicket? That's so cute."

Zayn half smiled and laughed. Was she being serious? He shook his head and continued, anyway. Though, her reaction was quite the bees knees.

"Like I was saying, since we're in this whole ordeal, we might as well be friends and try to get to know one another in process. We can hang out and such," he further exposed his bright idea. Well, to Zayn it was brilliant, but the look of query on Lauren's face said otherwise. "Hear me out, when we get interviewed about our relationship, we at least have things to touch upon. For example, if they ask me what I get you to brighten your day, I say sushi-"

Again, she cut him off. "And what do I say?"

Zayn blinked, unprepared for the question, but he responded: "McDonald's."

And once more, Lauren laughed after his answer. It was a tickled chuckle of sorts. Not enough to be classified as a giggle, but it was charming.

"So, if you're ever in a sticky wicket, I'll be a good girlfriend and buy you McDonald's to cheer you up?" Lauren was clearly teasing him as she continued in hysterics, only ceasing when he threw a pillow her way. "Hey!" she hissed, fortunately catching the cushion before it ruined her hair. She fixed it, anyway; out of habit.

"I'm trying to tell you something important," Zayn seethed, leaning his elbows on his knees as he shot her a subtle scowl.

"I know, I know," Lauren said a bit too casually, dismissing his worry with a wave of her hand. "You're insinuating that we become friends." Basically, she summed everything up before he could even fully explain, but Zayn was moved by her understanding and open mind.

"So, what do you say?" he asked, shrinking into the cushions of the couch.

"Are you asking me to be your friend, Zaddy?" Obviously, Lauren was completely entertained. "That's so cute!"

And it was clear to Zayn she was teasing him, but seeing her smile as she did was a far cry better than hearing she detested the whole idea. "I'm going to assume that's a yes because I do not have the heart to hear a no." According to him, it was best to play along.

"Oh, I would never break your heart. So, it's a yes."

--

OMG. I need a moment to thank you guys for all the support you've generously given me so far. Feedback for the last chapter absolutely killed me, in a good way. I was dead on the floor, mijas. So, thank you all so fuckin' much. I don't even know how to emphasize how much y'all make me happy. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

I may update again later today. Depends if I get things done. Peace out, beansprouts!