Melted

Chapter 13

I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling fan. Watching each board go around and around super fast. Wondering how fans were made. Focusing on the details in the paint and the wood.

Two ice packs rested on both of my hands. Another ice pack resting on my forehead.

My eyes were dry from crying all afternoon.

I remember when my parents split up, my dad would always call me at night to ask how my day was and to say goodnight. Hearing his voice made me so happy.

I could really use one of those calls now.

I always told him to be a sports narrator because his voice was so strong and he never studdered. He always knew the right things to say. And if he didn't know what to say, he'd shut up and keep to himself. That's why I loved him so much.

There was a light tap on my door. My door cracked open and my mom's head popped in.

She was smiling.

"El?" She asked.

'El' reminded me of Zayn and I didn't like it.

"What?" My voice was like a dart. I chucked it at her and hit her like the target.

"Someone is here to see you. . ."

I continued staring at the fan, remembering when my mom left me the other night, with a wine bottle shattered all over the kitchen floor.

"Well I don't want to see them, whoever it is." I fixed the ice pack on my head, "tell them I'm busy."

My mom's eyes rolled and she made that "don't be silly" face at me.

"Honey, he just wants to see you for one second."

I sat up, "he?"

She nodded and in came Zayn.

Has he been standing there the whole time?

My mom turned around and smiled at Zayn, allowing him to enter my room.

"The door stays open. . ." she waved her index finger at us and left. The door wide open.

Zayn sat next to me on my bed, he was staring at the ground. "I'm stupid." He said, "i'm stupid," he said again. He repeated himself three more times.

On the fourth time, I stopped him, "stop saying that, please." I snapped.

His eyes finally met with mine, "I treated you like crap. Again. And you're going to tell me I'm not stupid?" He shook his head. He was disgusted with himself.

Well that makes two of us.

I stared at the open door. "I get it Zayn, okay, you want to be my friend but you don't want the public to know because. . ." I paused, "because I'm me."

He didn't say anything. He was searching for the right words to say. He just studdered. "No, El that's not how I feel."

"Then why is it that every time we hang out alone, you act super friendly but then when we're at school you act like the bully Zayn that I used to know?" I wiped a tear away, "I don't like that Zayn."

He faced me and grabbed my hands, "Eleina, you're an amazing girl and, I just. . ."

Then it happened.

Zayn planted his lips on top of mine.

Our lips connected. My bottom lip between both of his.

My heart sped up and I backed away.

Zayn's eyes looked worried. "I'm sorry Eleina."

I shook my head, "it's just, I've never kissed a boy before."

Zayn chuckled, "well now you have."

I continued to look into his eyes, I was clueless. I had no clue what to say next.

Do I laugh back?

Do I tell him to leave?

Accept his apology?

I don't know.

Zayn scratched the back of his neck, "want to know a secret Eleina?" He whispered. His breath smelt of winter mint gum.

I shrugged my shoulders, "sure."

He scooted closer to me. His face only a couple inches away.

"I've had a huge crush on you for forever."

Zayn's face was bright red and he was smiling the biggest smile I've ever seen.

"You're lying." I half-smiled back to him.

He shook his head quickly, "oh no, I'm not."

I readjusted my body, crossed my legs on my bed. I looked at Zayn like he was the only person in the world.

"I only treated you that way because I didn't know how else to treat you," he looked out the small window, "I treated you that way because everyone else did. . ."

Both of our smiles faded.

I think we were both disappointed in Zayn.

"Really, Zayn?"

He whipped a tear away from under his eye with his finger, "I was stupid El. And I still am."

This time *I* grabbed Zayn's hands and looked at him straight in the eye, "you're not stupid Zayn."

He let go of my hands, got up and shut the door.