Stand Up » 1D

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Zaylin Matthews

I woke up with my tear-stained face buried in a wet pillow. My face felt sticky and my nose stuffed up. I reached over for a Kleenex and somehow found one. I blew my nose.

I'm surprised that's the first thing I noticed. The second thing I noticed was that I was lying in an unknown bed, wearing unknown clothes in an unknown place, with an unknown figure sleeping next to me. I had a small panic attack right then.

Then the events of last night came crashing back down on me, and I stifled a sob. It scared me to think of how Harry reacted. He didn't try fighting for me, he just let me go. He didn't want to know the truth.

Well, screw him. I had Zach. Zach never hurt me. Zach was always there for me. He never left.

Speaking of never leaving, I heard and felt Zach shift beside me. He groaned and rolled over. He bit his lip when he saw me.

"You okay, Zaylin?" he asked me.

I sniffed and nodded, wiping furiously at my face. "I'm fine," I said. "Just fine. Peachy."

I threw back the covers and stood. I stretched, the hem of the extra-large t-shirt Zach had given me reaching above my knees. I glanced back at him.

"Thanks for letting me spend the night," I said softly.

"No problem," Zach replied nonchalantly. "You needed it."

I winced slightly but he didn't notice.

"I assume you want me to drive you back to your friends' place?" He sounded kind of disappointed.

The tone of his voice reminded me of Harry's face last night, how destroyed and betrayed he looked. I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I didn't want to hurt anyone, yet I did.

"Only so I can pack up my stuff," I said, my voice still quiet.

Zach frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm... moving out." I forced both the words out and a small smile.

I was moving away from all of my troubles. I figured the atmosphere in the bungalow would be tense and unhappy if I stayed, and I didn't want to do that to my girl friends. But at the same time, I didn't want to leave my boy friends....

"Wait," Zach said, standing. He was only wearing sweatpants, but the sight of him half-naked didn't take my breath away like Harry's did. I shook my head to rid myself of the thought.

"Does this mean... that, um...." Zach looked awkward. He scratched the back of his neck. "Zaylin, will you be my girlfriend?"

Oh. If I agreed, my ties to the boys of One Direction would be cut. I'd most likely never see them again. Zach would keep me away from them.

And what about my girl friends? How would they react?

I pushed my worries away. "When was the last time you thought for yourself?" Abby's voice asked me. A long time, I thought.

"Yes," I murmured. "I'll be your girlfriend, Zach."

He grinned and scooped me up in a hug, pressing his lips to mine. I kissed him back and smiled up at him when it was done. It was a little less forced this time.

"I'll just wear my clothes from yesterday," I said. I gathered up all of my things and dressed in the bathroom. I brushed my hair and teeth. I didn't try to look overly pretty.

I left the bathroom and Zach went in after me. He came out wearing a simple black t-shirt and blue jeans. Definitely his style. I grinned at him. He offered me his hand and I took it. We left his hotel room together.