International Love. ✈ z.h.

four ~ ❝running and hiding.❞ ✈ (ii.)

Zayn

I couldn't even process the fact that I had seen Niall again, watching him scurry into the employee room while Liam looked back and forth between the both of us. I furrowed my brows; why didn't he want to talk to me? Was he still upset over Perrie?

"Is there something that I'm missing? Do you know him?" He was just as confused as I was, and as much as I wanted to answer his question I wanted to catch Niall before he ran away from me again.

"I'll tell you in a bit; I have to talk to him." I didn't wait for Liam's response as I stood up and made my way over to the room that Niall had disappeared into. He had to come out at some point, and just as I was about to pull out my phone to keep myself busy I turned and saw the door coming straight for my face. I groaned, about to curse out whoever hit me when I saw those familiar blond locks apologizing profusely.

"I am so sorry—"

"I need to talk to you," I interrupted him, grimacing as I rubbed my forehead and waited for his response. His blue eyes were wide, biting his lip as he looked unsure for a few minutes and then finally made up his mind.

"I don't think this is something we should do here; let's just drop it? Please?" He pushed past me, trying to get to the door while I followed. I wasn't going to let him get away from me that easy, hot on his trail as he left the diner. He didn't get far, my hands capturing his arm and tugging him back to me. I turned him to face me, his eyes avoiding mine as I gripped his shoulders. I wanted to explain myself to him, get him to understand that I just wanted to talk.

That almost kiss we shared; it just wouldn't leave my head. I remembered how close he was to me, his long lashes fluttering when I went in for his pink lips. I couldn't understand why it was so easy for me to just lean in, why he had such a huge pull towards me that made me want to just be around him all the time. Whatever the case was, I wasn't going to let him leave again.

"I don't want to drop it. Perrie...she wasn't directing her attitude towards you. She has some stuff going on and the almost kiss—"

"I don't want to talk about it! Zayn please just leave me alone, and let me go." That stung, him not wanting to talk about what almost happened between us. But I could see where that was coming from, and it pained me even more when I saw his eyes start to water. I stepped closer to him, trying to close the space between us as I brought my arm around his waist. I wanted him to feel better, not feel that he had to run away from me every time that he saw me.

"Please..." I begged, feeling that familiar pull in my chest as I leaned in closer to him. He almost gave in, our lips close to touching before he pulled away and pushed me off of him. He scoffed, his brows furrowing in frustration as he shook his head.

"I don't know what your problem is; you don't even know me!" Before I could even get another word in he was running off to his car, getting inside and speeding off into the street. I ran a frustrated hand through my hair, looking up and catching a glimpse of a girl holding her phone up in our direction.

"Shit," I muttered, running back inside and seeing a confused Liam putting a few dollars out for the drinks we'd ordered. "Liam, we have to go."

"Will you at least tell me what's going on?"

"Yeah, on our way to the hotel; it's going to get a little overcrowded here in a second."

+

We entered my hotel room with our stomachs feeling heavy, Liam biting his lip as he hurriedly went to find the remote. I told him everything, to what happened with Niall at the concert to what happened almost an hour ago.

"Christ, Zayn. I think you need to come see this!" I left the entrance of the hotel room and walked towards my room, eyes widening when I saw the reporter on the screen talking about what happened earlier at the diner.

Breaking News! Is international pop star Zayn Malik involved with one of many Youtubers, Niall Horan? The two were seen in front of Tracy's diner in L.A., having some sort of altercation ending with the blond boy storming away and the singer agitated as he gave up and went back into the diner. What does this mean for the two? What does this mean for Zayn and his girlfriend, hit singer Perrie Edwards? More news on them online, and stay tuned for photos! 

Of course there were photos of Niall and I, the biggest one being our faces pressed close together, almost as if we were about to kiss. Well we were, but that wasn't exactly the point right now. It still felt as if Niall was in my arms, my fingers itching to touch him again as I sighed.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" I ran my hands over my face, groaning as I lie down on the bed beside Liam.

"Yes and I don't know why." He scoffed.

"You're in love, Zayn." I immediately sat up, shaking my head as I looked over to him.

"No, no I'm not because Perrie and I are supposed to be together," Liam laughed, making me chuckle as well as I groaned to myself. He knew just as much as I did that Perrie and I's relationship wasn't real. All there was was a contract; the only reason she made a show like that at the concert was because Niall was there. We were close friends yeah, but we couldn't imagine sleeping or being intimate with each other. "I'm just...these feelings are scary. I've never been with a guy before, kissed them or anything like that." I froze, looking over to Liam who only shook his head.

"No."

"But Liam—"

"This is a bad idea."

"Liam, please? You've been with a guy before!"

"That was one time in high school! Haven't seen the guy since then either," He muttered, rubbing the back of his head as I stared him down. He stared back, the two of us in some sort of silent war until he groaned and sat criss cross in front of me.

"Fine. But we don't speak of this afterwards." I nodded, fixing my position and facing him. It was awkward, the both of us not knowing what to do until Liam started to lean in. I was hesitant, but soon enough I pressed my lips against his, furrowing my brows at the unfamiliar feeling. They were soft but rough, the feeling of his stubble against my chin unfamiliar as he pulled away.

It was weird but I definitely wasn't uncomfortable from it, opening my eyes to see Liam's cheeks drenched in red from embarrassment. He awkwardly rubbed the nape of his neck as I sighed, punching him in the shoulder while he furrowed his brows.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For helping me confirm that yeah, I might actually like guys."

a.n.

i'm heartbroken. currently praying for louis, i love him so much.

m xx