Playing With Fire || z.m

"Zayn, that's enough!"

ELLIE

“This is amazing, Harry! You made this meal yourself?” He grins at me from across the table.

“Yep.” He grins, popping the ‘p’.

“It’s so tasty!” I shove another forkful of homemade mousakka into my mouth. It’s absolutely wonderful and I can’t believe Harry made this dinner all by himself. He is a man of many talents. He has completely spoilt me tonight, cooking for me, choosing a few films he thought I would like, and buying me a gorgeous bunch of flowers. And he didn’t even care when I was 45 minutes late! Thanks to my fun and frolics with his best friend.

“So how was your day?” He asks but before I can answer, there is a loud knock on the door. “Sorry, it must be one of the lads as they know the code to my security gate.” He stood up slowly from his chair. “I’ll go and get rid of them.”

“No worries.” I smile, putting more food into my mouth. He disappears out of the large dinning room and I chew my food quietly, trying to listen. I can’t make out a word that’s being said but all of a sudden the voices start coming closer.

Oh God, I panic. I begin to chew my food as quickly as I can. What if the whole of his band walk in? I’m not ready to meet all these famous people, I may pass out. What if it’s some one else? He has loads of famous mates, right? It could be anyone!  

“Wow, this looks amazing.” Oh. Of course. It’s Zayn.

“Zayn, please don’t.” Harry pleads with his friend. I freeze as Zayn walks over to the table and sits in the seat next to Harry’s.

“Ellie doesn’t mind, do you, neighbour?” His eye’s bore into me giving me goose pimples all over.

I nervously shake my head. “No, it’s fine.” I say quietly.

“Zayn you shouldn’t be here.” Harry huffs and sits back in his chair digging into his dinner. All of a sudden I have lost my appetite.

“Did you make this yourself, Haz?” Zayn grabs a piece of potato off my plate, popping it in his mouth. “It’s beautiful!”

“Yeah.” Poor Harry dives into an amazingly long description about how he decided on what to cook and then exactly how he made it, not realising Zayn is actually taking the piss out of him. My heart reaches out to Harry. What Zayn is doing isn’t fair, and I know what his game is.

“So, Ellie, tell me about yourself. We’ve lived opposite each other for a few weeks now, we should get to know each other, don’t you think?” He smirks. Yes, I know exactly what his game is. “How long have you been single?”

“Zayn!” Harry snaps.

“No, it is fine, Harry.” I smile, pushing my food around my plate with my fork. “I’ve been single a while, I’ve never been into the whole relationship thing, but then I met Harry. And I really think this could go somewhere.” I smile shyly at Harry and he smiles back. I don’t even have to look at Zayn to know he is seething. Two can play this game.

“Really?” He snaps. “So when you say you’ve been single for a while does that mean no sleeping around?”

“Zayn, what the fuck?” Harry raises his voice.

“I’m helping you out, Harry, you have to know these things about a girl.” He smirks at me. “So tell us, Ellie, Who was the last person you slept with?” He spoke slowly, daring me to tell the truth.  

“Zayn, that’s enough! You’re acting like a prick. You turn up here uninvited while you know I have someone round and you are nothing but rude.”

I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face. Why is he doing this? Why has he come here to interfere? I stand up and collect our plates from the table taking them out to the kitchen. I don’t want to be around him when he’s being like this. This is Dangerous Zayn, and I don’t like this side of him. How long will it be until he says something to Harry about us?

I can hear them bickering in the dinning room but instead of eavesdropping I slip out the back door to have a quick smoke.

*

“Hey.” Harry’s voice startles me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump.” He sits next to me on the back door step next to me and kisses my ear. “And I’m sorry about Zayn.”

“That’s ok. I should be heading off anyway. It’s getting late.”

Harry looks down at the floor as I take another pull on my cigarette. “I had a really nice time until he turned up.” Harry whispered. “I’m sorry he ruined it.”

“Don’t worry.” I put my finger under his chin bringing his gaze up to meet mine. “We have plenty of other nights to do this, okay?” I peck him on the lips.

“I look forward to it.” He smiles. “I’ve told Zayn to go so you can stay if you want?”

I smile and shake my head. “I think its best I head off. Why don’t you finish the night off with a few beers with your best mate? I don’t want to come between you two.” I finish my cigarette and stand up, holding my hand out to Harry. He takes it, pulling himself up and we walk back inside together, still holding onto each others hands.

“I’ll call you a cab.” Harry tells me as I pull my smart beige coat on.

“You’re going, Ellie?” Zayn pipes up from the doorway. “I’ll give you a lift. It makes sense as we are going to the same place.”

I freeze. Do I really want to get into a car with Zayn after his behaviour tonight? Not likely! Deep down I am furious and also very embarrassed.

“No, no, it’s fine, Harry can call me a cab.”

“I insist.” Zayn grins. I don’t like the look in his eye.

“Well if you’re sure Zayn?” Harry speaks slowly. “I’d drop you home, Ellie, but I’ve had too much to drink to legally drive.”

“It’s fine, honestly.” I smile. I really don’t want to cause a scene. I don’t want to get into Zayn’s car but I also know he isn’t likely of backing down and will insist I get into his car. I don’t like this side of Zayn.

“Come on then.” Zayn opens the door and steps to one side to let me walk out first.

“You go and start the car while I say goodbye.” He shoots me a ridiculous death glare and leaves the house anyway.