The Direction of Zadie

Chapter 7 - Wet T-shirts

Zadies POV:

I took a sip of my scalding hot coffee and ran my tongue across the roof of my mouth. I was going to have that annoying burn you get on your tongue from eating or drinking something too hot. Damn.

“How much longer do you think they’ll be?” Erin asked impatiently from beside me.

I laughed at her anxiousness. “We got here 5 minutes ago, dork. Think you can wait a few more minutes?”

She stuck her pink tongue out at me and pulled the Twitter app open on her phone.

We’d gone to get coffee (thus the reason for the prickly burn in my mouth), and then stopped by the hotel where the guys were meeting One Direction. Chloe had to be at the daycare she worked at today, so it was just Erin and I.

I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d see them. One Direction, I mean. They were famous, and even though I was one hundred percent supportive of King the Kid, I can’t help but admit my interest in 5 British boys was at an all time high.

Erin’s phone chirped and she pulled open her messages, scrunching her face at the screen. “David says to come back.”

My eyes widen and she returns my look of bewilderment. I stood up and grabbed my sweatshirt, tucking it over my arm, and threw out my coffee in the garbage on the way to the hallway that led to the conference room.

 Just as I was about to grab the door handle, it swung open from the opposite side.

  And that’s how it happened. That’s how I, Zadie Harper, came face to face with none other than Harry Styles himself.

 His messy curls fell in waves over his forehead, highlighting bright green eyes that looked so deep it made my heart ache. His tattoos peeked out from under his rolled up black thermal shirt and black skinny jeans hung low on his waist, complimented by shiny black dress shoes.

 “Oh! Sorry, didn’t expect you there.” That accent. What was it about British accents that made you melt? Because if I wasn’t already a pool at his feet, oh god, I was now.

   “Uh, um…” I stuttered, because I guess my brain forgot that I knew English.

  A hint of a smirk graced his full lips before he turned it into a full on smile.

   “Were you headed in?” He asked, holding the door open.

  I nodded and gave him a small smile, but I could feel my face on fire. Dammit, this was not how I would prefer this to go.

   Erin grabbed my arm from behind and tugged lightly, most likely trying to save me from this train wreck. I walked into the room, my face on fire.

  Harry hesitated behind us, glanced at the hallway, and then turned back into the room.

 “Erin, Zadie, you’re here!” Ricky said happily, walking around the large conference table. That’s when I noticed the 4 – now 5, with the addition of Harry – boys peering at us from their seats. “Meet One Direction.”

Harry POV:

 I was supposed to be going to the bathroom, but I saw her flushed look and I couldn’t help myself. She was pretty damn adorable.

  Now, her and her blonde friend were standing across from me, looking pretty out of place. Ricky had his hand on her arm. Everybody seemed to be touching her arms.

 “Erin, Zadie, you’re here!” Ricky said rather excitedly. “Meet One Direction. Harry, Niall, Liam, Zayn and Louis.” He motioned to each one of us and their heads followed his hand.

  “Oh, uh, I’m Erin, and this is Zadie. Were good friends with these losers.” Erin introduced and David laughed at her nickname.

  Zadie. It was unusual, but I liked it. It somehow suited her.

  She smiled, but quickly hid it behind her masses of brown waves. They fell past her shoulders and a good length down her back. I wanted to wrap my fingers around it and see how far down her back it reached.

  What the hell?

  “You pretty girls touring with us?” Liam asked with a smirk as his eyes raked up and down both girls. I could see Erin squirm and Zadie’s cheeks began to redden again, and suddenly all I wanted to do was knock that asshole look off Liams face.

“They have school, but they’ll probably visit a few times.” David answered, eyeing Liam.

 “Looking forward to it.” He winked.

  “Clam down now, Liam.” I chided, slapping him on the back of his head. He cursed and rubbed his hair.

   I looked back over a Zadie, and caught her watching me. Her eyebrows creased and I grinned at her. Might as well, right?

  “Harry Styles.” I stuck out my hand praying she’d grab it. And she did. Her skin was soft and warm and felt good against mine.

 “Zadie. Harper. Zadie Harper.” She was so flustered, and it was pretty fucking adorable.

   “Sorry I almost ran you over, Zadie Harper.”

   “It’s alright, you’re just lucky I threw out my coffee before you did.” She teased.

 “Yeah, Liam probably would’ve gotten too excited if you’d walked in with a wet shirt.” I grinned.

  She laughed sweetly and I felt my body warm.

 What the hell was happening to me?

Zadies POV:

 “Yeah, he seems a little…” I trailed off. I’d heard of Liam as such a sweetheart, but he was obviously proving my resources wrong.

 “It’s a long story. Just make sure you don’t wear any wet t-shirts around him or be prepared for some perverted comments.” He cracked.

 I shook my head at him. This boy was surprising me, that’s for sure.

 He tugged on his dark curls, looking like he was about to say something, but somebody interrupted just as he opened his mouth.

 “Zade, you ready?” Ricky said from next to me, putting a hand on my back and pressing lightly, signaling it was time to go.

 “Uhm, yeah.” I told him and turned back to Harry. What should I say?

  “Nice to meet you, Harper.” I laughed at his use of my last name.

 “Later Styles.” I said with a wink. Where had this confidence come from?

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(A/N): Hey guys! Thanks for 68 reads!! Heres a relatively long chapter, sorry for the lack of updates, I only really have time for 1 or 2 a week!

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