I Don't Wanna Live Forever (A Zaylena fanfic)

Chapter 4 - The Night Is Long

As Louie introduced Selena to Zayn, he couldn't help it. He just couldn't stop staring at her. And yet, surprisingly enough, this wasn't the first acquaintance between them. "Selena, this is Zayn. Zayn is --" "Selena, yeah." said Zayn as he held his hand out and touched hers. Selena does the same and holds put her hand to touch his among their introduction. "Yeah. Hey." "Hey." Both bid hello shyly and keep locking eye with one another. "Wait, you two know each other?" asked Louie. "I remember you! You presented me with the Best Pop Video Award at the 2013 VMAS!" said Selena excitedly. "Really?" asks Zayn. "Of course! You remember, I hugged Taylor then I walked on stage and hugged Louis first, then I kissed you  - then onto Liam, Harry and Niall before finally back to you and you gave me my first Moon Man Award." recalls Selena. As Selena discuses that fateful win for Best Pop Video memory, Zayn remembers that night too...and blushes at the thought of Selena greeting him with a kiss on the forehead then blushes even more as he remembers awkwardly attempting to present her with her award as she moved on to greet Liam, Harry and Niall before coming back to him. Zayn recalls the moment being awkward for him. But still, for him, it was worth it to give her the award for Best Pop Video and see her reaction as her face lit up and she became overcome with emotion and happiness beyond her wildest dreams. Boy, she was so happy! And he wanted her to stay that way which ever possible. Just at her happiest.

"Don't you remember? Gosh, the VMAS went crazy at the time." sighed Selena in astonishment. "Yeah. Yeah, I do. I do remember." says Zayn, still remembering his presenting her award with One Direction...and that kiss. "When I held that award in my hands, and you greeted Liam, Louis, Harry and Niall before me next and I presented you your award, you were so happy I just...I didn't know what to say." Zayn sighs, looking to the ground blushing as she looks at him happily. Of course, memories of that VMA moment reminded him to keep it short, for his crush on her could get him in trouble, and this haunted him at times. So he stayed mum about how he truly felt and focused on her happiness. "You just looked so happy, I wanted to make sure that you did whatever was possible to keep that happy...or-or at least always be that happy, even if it isn't a VMA Award or a kiss or..."

Zayn stuttered when he used the word "kiss" in his  sentence and remembering that kiss she gave him in the VMAS, he blushed causing Selena to smile momentarily. Selena had a shroud of happy back into her life from the moment she stepped into the vehicle and chatted with Zayn and Louie as they gave her a ride home. All through the night they chat, and yet somehow it didn't seem like it wanted to end.  "So what have you been doing with your life?", asked Selena. "Well, I'm releasing my new album soon." said Zayn. "Oh, that's great! I didn't know." said Selena. As their conversation continued, the car pulled to a slower speed and Louis gave them what seemed to be good new for them all but bad news for her. "We're here, arrived at your destination home, miss Selena!" said Louis in his giddiness. He was in awe over her love for on-off boyfriend Justin Bieber but unbeknownst to the both of them, that"love" was rather dysfunctional by emotional and physical abuse and was becoming more and more tortured by the waking minute whenever a fight starts up or he accuses her of something. 

"We're here." said Louie. As he said that, Selena looked outside and saw the front door. Boy did her shroud of happy almost disappear. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to get out of the car for she knew what was awaiting inside was another round of relationship abuse just about to go off at any minute. She felt sad and she was just getting to know her new two best friends. As she looked at the door, Zayn could almost seen her unhappiness and asked for her concern. "Are you okay?" Zayn asked her. "Y-yeah. I'll be fine. Just cold is all." replied Selena. And she wasn't just talking about the weather. As she stepped out of the car, Zayn followed out after her and guided her to the front door and wrapped a coat around her to keep her warm. In that kind gesture, time was Frozen between them, at least for now. "Well, see you around." said Zayn. "Alright, see you guys tomorrow." says Selena. As he smiled and waved, Selena waved back as Louie bid farewell and drove the car away. Then Selena happiness almost disappeared the same moment that car did. What waited behind that door was something most unpleasant for a welcome home....