Once in a Lifetime (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 22. Heartbreak.

Chapter 22

Mia's POV

Friends. That's what Perrie and Zayn was. Just friends.

That's what Harry said to me last night...

[Flashback to the conversation]

Harry shifted on the wooden bench to face me, his expression serious. I crinkled my eyebrows, prompting him for a response. I might be making this a little bit more dramatic than it's supposed to be but when it came to Zayn, what wasn't dramatic, really?

Our first meeting resulted in him giving me a restraining order. The time our lives were almost on the line. The time he had kissed me unexpectedly. This was nothing compared to what happened two years ago.

"They're just friends, Mia."

"Friends?" I repeated.

"Yes, friends. A little dinner here and there is exaggerated into headlines "Zerrie back together". They're just good friends."

"Really?" I sounded a little happier than I wanted to be. I was sure Harry caught the tone of my voice too because he smiled at my reaction.

"There's something else you need to know too," Harry said.

"What is it?" I asked, suddenly anxious again.

"It concerns Zayn. He wants to meet you."

"He wants to meet .. me?" It seems like all I ever did was repeat whatever Harry said.

"Yes. I called him right after dinner that I had seen you and he's been looking everywhere for you. London was the last place he thought you would be living."

"He's been looking for me?...Is he in London?" I asked. Oddly, hearing that Zayn was looking for me made me kind of giddy.

"He's at our hotel. Tomorrow. I mean today. At noon. Meet him here. I'll tell him where you're gonna be."

Harry and I together at a time like this was probably not the best. We kept getting confused on which term to use. Today, tomorrow. Early, late.

"Okay," I tried to restrain myself from smiling excessively but failed miserably.

I was conflicted inside. I was happy yet sad. I was excited yet anxious. I ... really wanted to see Zayn.

Though I was afraid of what meeting him would bring upon me.

Would I cry?

Would I, without being able to control my feelings, hug him?

All of these thoughts rushed to my head but I pushed them away to say goodbye to Harry. It was getting close to morning so we exchanged numbers quickly before parting ways.

[Back to present time]

Back at my apartment, it was now thirty minutes before noon. Thirty minutes before I see the guy

Should I be late or early? What should I wear?

These questions were really annoying. I should just wear whatever I wanted. And arrive on time.

No need to worry about such tedious things. It wasn't as if we were going on a date or something.

Yeah, it's definitely not a date.

I pulled on an oversized brown cashmere sweater and a red knit infinity scarf. Some blue jeans and slipped on a pair of white flats.

I seated myself in front of my bedroom mirror on my dresser. My hair looked like a warning hazard. All I ever did with it for the past two years was put into a ponytail since I never had time to spare. This was the first time in a long time where my hair was down. It was so long now, all the way down to my waist.