Playing With Fire || z.m

"I wasn't listening"

ZAYN

“So did you dump him?” I ask as Ellie returns to the lounge with my phone. She hands it back to me and I wedge it back into the pocket on my skinny jeans.

“Why would I dump him?”

“Because you’re no good for each other.” I tell her.

“It’s nothing to do with you.”

“It’s everything to do with me because Harry is my best mate and you are the girl I’ve been shagging.”

“You’re such a dick.” She retorts.

“Yes, yes I am.” I laugh. I do enjoy winding Ellie up.

“I’m really not in the mood for this bullshit.” She rubs her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Thanks for checking up on me and letting me use your phone.”

“Finish with Harry.”

“Or what?” She replies as I walk past her towards the front door.

“Or nothing, Just finish it. You’re just playing him. You aren’t right for my friend, you are just with him for the hell of it. Finish it.” I raise my voice slightly and watch as she flinches.

“How is this any different to you and Perrie? You are such a hypocrite,” She starts.

“Don’t talk about her, how many fucking times do I have to fucking tell you?” I step closer to Ellie.

“So it’s fine for you to cheat on Perrie and marry her yet I have to dump Harry because I slept with you and I am the bad guy here? This does not make any sense, what the fuck is even going on?”

“Dump Harry.” I say so low I creep myself out. Ellie narrows her eyes at me.

“And what are you going to do if I don’t dump Harry.” She speaks slowly, testing me.

“I’ll tell Harry you cheated on him.”

“Go on, then.” She tests. “And I’ll tell Perrie about,” Before Ellie can even finish her sentence I put my hand around her throat and shove her against the wall.

“Go near Perrie and fucking watch what will happen.”

“Get the fuck off me!” She squawks as she uses both hands to pull at my arm. I loosen my grip on her and she manages to push my arm away from her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she pants. “I couldn’t breathe!” Her hands clutch at her neck and I see tears fill her eyes. “You need to leave, Zayn.” Her voice shakes.

I step closer to her again and she flinches away, but this time I grab her arse, squeezing it and kiss her on the lips. “Don’t make things awkward, Ellie.” I tell her before leaving her house.

*

“So, Zayn, we heard a little rumour that you and Perrie are engaged!” Sarah, the interviewer, screeches in my face. I lean further back into the sofa that I’m sitting on. It’s too early for this.

“Yeah,” I nod my head and manage a little smile.

“Congratulations. So how did you pop the question? Were you nervous? Have you got a date for the wedding yet?” She speaks so fast I can hardly keep up with this interview.

“Zayn isn’t prepared to speak about his engagement to Perrie yet.” Our manager butts in, putting Sarah back in her place.

“Okay, well, Liam, why don’t you tell us about your new girlfriend?” Sarah’s cheeks burn bright red and she turns towards Liam who is sat on the other end of the sofa. He starts off on one of his tirades all about Sofia who he has recently started dating and I pull my phone out of my pocket, not wanting to listen to him.

*Where are you* I send to Ellie. I know for a fact she replaced her phone due to Harry actually smiling today. She doesn’t reply straight away but I see the dots appear several times on iMessage. Come on Ellie.

“What do you think, Zayn?” Sarah asks me. I glance around at the other boys, all looking at me like I’m mentally ill.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t listening.” I snap.

“Oh, well I just asked what you all thought about Sharon Osborne being back on the X Factor this year.” Sarah stutters. Why is she asking me this? Does she honestly think I care about Sharon Osborne being back on X Factor?

I take a deep breath, keeping myself calm. “I think it’s great, she’s very entertaining.” I smile, politely. I feel the boys all breathe a sigh of relief that I wasn’t rude.

“Well, thank you all very much for your time.” Sarah stands from her chair and we all do the same, shaking her hand in turn and we are swiftly guided out of the small, dark room and straight in to the van waiting outside to take us to the next interview.

“Zayn, what’s got into you today?” Louis asks.

“Please don’t.” Before anymore can be said I pull my head phones out my bag and plug them into my phone, pulling them over my ears.

“I don’t know what is up with him recently.” I hear Harry say before I press play. Are they actually going to start bitching about me? “Can you hear me Zayn?”

I can hear him but I’m curious as to what they’re going to say about me thinking that I cannot hear. I ignore him.

“Am I the only one finding Zayn particularly difficult at the moment?” Harry speaks slowly, offering around a packet of crisps he’s eating from.

“His temper is getting shorter, I swear.” Niall laughs as he fiddles with his laces on his high-top trainers and politely declines Harry’s offer of food.    

“Just take a moment to think about Zayn here will you? He’s obviously been stressing about this whole engagement situation, he was obviously nervous, he’d obviously had it on his mind for a while.” Liam pipes up. “We just need to show him that he can talk to us about things, show that we are all here for him.” Thank you Liam!

“I just feel like there is something more. Like, seriously, he never used to be so angry.” Louis sighs. No, Louis, no no no. “If anyone says anything it ends up in a big argument.”

“It’s the constant rude comments, we’ve all argued so much more recently. I don’t like confrontation.” I feel Harry shift uncomfortably next to me.

“He needs to stop acting like a prick.” Niall says with a mouthful of crisps.

“Just give him a break guys.” Liam sticks up for me again.

I can’t stop myself from laughing out loud. “You three,” I point at Louis, Harry and Niall in turn. “are amazing. At least check that my music is definitely on before you start bitching about me.” All four of them stare at me in disbelief. “I’m a prick am I, Niall? I make constant rude comments, Harry? I’m difficult? I’m hiding stuff, am I Louis?” I shake my head. “Thank you Liam for sticking up for me.”

Liam mumbles something under his breath.

“Well, Niall, Harry and Louis, Is this car journey going to be uncomfortable or what?” I rub my hands together and watch them all squirm as I take my headphones off and smile at them all.   

 A/N Thank you for reading!! Means a lot.. I’m trying at writing longer chapters but.. ya know..