IV. innocence
[Zayn's POV]
"I know I shouldn't be so hard on her, Danny. But the girl cheated on me, for God's sake! I know, yeah. We were going to get married! I'm glad that I have you as my sanity, mate. God, girls are confusing." I told Danny as I phoned him.
If there was one person I could count on, it was Danny.
As he talked to me, I looked at my photo collage. My sister, Safaa, had made it with me almost a year ago.
I was home for a little while, and it was refreshing to be somewhere I knew, somewhere I loved.
September was beginning to make an appearance, with only a few days until August ended.
Once I was off the phone, I tucked myself under the duvet and sighed, tired from all the day's events.
A smile spread across my face as I remembered rescuing those kids with Thalia. I enjoyed her company, although she seemed keen to get rid of me.
Girls, I shrugged to myself. Weird.
▬▬▬
Morning broke through the windows and I left the comfort of my bed when I realised it was 11.30am already; I was late.
Diving through my wardrobe and finding jeans and a plain grey top, I swapped my pyjamas for them and used my fingers to comb my hair, having not unpacked all my stuff yet.
Wiping sleep from my eyes, I walked downstairs and greeted my mum, apologising.
"Why are you cooking lunch?" I asked her, baffled.
She smiled, "Your dad's mates are coming over, you know what they're like when they visit; always hungry."
I nodded. "What did you need help with, then?"
Mum wiped her hands on her apron and gestured uncertainly, "Be a sweetheart and vacuum the living room? We're meeting some of your father's colleagues, and their kids. And get a wash, you smell." She laughed.
My eyes rolled and she kissed my cheek, something which I would usually cringe at, but welcomed since I'd been away from home for so long.
Hot beads of water which I gathered in my palms were splashed against my face, the feeling revitalising.
I took shower gel and massaged it against my skin, cleansing myself.
I was tired, but regained my energy by singing in the shower.
I had locked the door, hadn't I? my ever wandering mind questioned as I stopped singing.
"Oh my God, sorry! Trisha said the bathroom was free and-" The girl hid her face in her hands but that dark, flowing hair was familiar.
"Shit, Thalia?!" I gasped, mortified.
Grabbing a towel, I used it to wrap it round my body whilst turning off the shower.
Not sure what to do with herself, Thalia lifted a hand from her face and then screamed, making me laugh.
"Um, could I...get changed? Unless you have another idea, of course?" I perked my eyebrows suggestively but she just blushed a deeper red and scurried out the room.
Laughing to myself, I ignored my embarrassment and relished the look of horror on Thalia's face - but why was she here?
▬▬▬
"So this is Dave, Joe and Mark." Dad introduced as I shook each man's hand.
Every now and then, I'd look over at Thalia - we hadn't spoken apart from when mum explained she was babysitting Dave and Joe's kids while they ate.
Later, I excused myself and strolled into the living room, where Thalia was feeding the little kids and herself simultaneously.
I admired her patience, especially for the inquisitive seven year old who kept tugging on her hair and asking her silly questions.
I slumped my posture against the door and ran a hand through my, still damp, hair, smiling.
"Hey." I said, staring at her and the way her flowing blue dress pooled around her, allowing only her feet to poke out as she sat cross legged with the three children.
She looked up and immediately averted her gaze, blushing.
I liked her this way - quiet.
"Lost for words?" I teased.
"Shut up."
"Oh, the mute now speaks!"
She huffed in annoyance, "I didn't mean to walk in, I'm sorry! Let's just drop it?" She asked with some hope.
I smiled gleefully, walking towards her.
I caught my breath, not allowing her beauty to make me falter.
I could feel her hazel eyes watching me; eyes which I noticed showed vague interest despite her obvious discomfort.
"We ought to stop running into each other." I stated, kneeling down and running one finger across the outline of my tattooed arm.
Thalia toyed with her wild hair and I could see, up close, the pale freckles across her cheeks, and the green and golden brown of her eyes.
She wasn't even wearing makeup, and that was what I found myself admiring in the next minute of silence.
Of course, Thalia kept up her guards and shuffled away from me, scolding the children she was minding even though they weren't doing anything.
The electricity I felt when she was beside me was overwhelming, dying down as she put more distance between us.
A sigh escaped my mouth unknowingly, and I caught Thalia's eye as she turned away from me to look at the kids playing happily.
"Look at them...they're just enjoying every bit of their childhood. They have no idea what the world out there is really like." She turned to me slowly. "Sorry, just thinking."
I watched her, my head tilted, as she stood up, her blue dress floating around her whilst her black hair made a satisfying swish against her back.
I was becoming increasingly intrigued by what she was hiding - even when I tried to tease her, she seemed withdrawn. I wondered what was silencing her.
Shaking my head, I roused myself from my momentary mind lapse.
Again, Thalia remained taciturn; mute.
Taking her by surprise, I gently took her hand in mine, staring her in her mesmerising eyes and smiling genuinely. "Take a walk with me?"
YOU ARE READING
misfits // z.m
Fanfiction"Her hazel eyes seemed to scintillate, as though the stars itself had been poured into two twinkling, golden rings. She looked at me watchfully, unsure of me and my uncharacteristically bold move. Everything was so much clearer when I was with her...
