Clouded Judgement (One Direction Fanfiction)

Chapter Two

She looked pointedly up at them. Smiling half heartedly, but not wanting to seem rude.

"Ree, this is Niall. He's a leprechaun but you already know that. I'm just being polite." Essie tapped Niall's shoulder lightly before smacking him on the head playfully.  Niall extended his hand and grinned.

"Ello chuckles." his voice was deep and tinted with an obvious Irish accent. His eyes were friendly, almost like a puppy's and she felt the sudden need to ruffle his hair.

She met his hand and shook it. Smiling at his pool water eyes.

"And this young god right here, is Zayn." Zayn blinked again, his eyes piercing Ree's so deeply she felt the urge to walk forward and fall.

"Hey, Ree." Zayn smiled, his deep voice washing over her head.

Oh thank the holy mother for Zayn’s smile because when Zayn smiled, the whole world froze and the room went dark and Zayn was the only one she could see, her eyes widened like disks as she watched his lips pull back to reveal his gorgeous smile. She found herself wondering why he even bothered to ever stop smiling, if she had a day to smile like that.  She would never stop smiling.

Her eyes wandered over the crevices of his face, and she found her gaze crawling back up to his eyes     She felt her hand raise, and collide with Zayn’s.

"Hey there." she smiled, impressed in more ways than ever. Mentally checking ever box she had ever made on her list.

"Ooh, look at that. Instant connection." Essie chimed playfully, draping her arm around Niall's neck and swaying, occasionally giggling at him. He wrapped his arm around Essie’s waist. and said.

"Just like us, right?" Before taking her lips into his.

"Weeheww. Tonsil tennis." muttered Zayn, his sexy Bradford accent pounding in Ree's ears.

Niall and Essie broke apart. Grinning happily, looking flushed.

"So? Does anyone want some drinks? Should I call for a round of shots?" Essie didn't wait for an answer. She turned, grabbed the collar of the closest server and yanked him towards their table.

"Essie!" yelled the distraught waiter.

"Okay, look chill out. Wait! Stop pulling Ess-" he was cut off by Essie rambling off an order at high speed, almost challenging him to ask her again. He quickly noted it down, winked at her and nodded to the others and went to get their drinks.

"So! Boys, tell Ree about yourself. She of course knows enough about Niall, but Zayn! Tell her something."

Essie urged.

"Uh yeah.. I don't know. I’m Zayn Malik. I live in Bradford with my mother and three sisters. and.. Yeah. I don't know. Shut up Essie, why must you make life difficult."

Ree found herself blushing at his embarrassment.

"I like bradford. I've been there once." she tried to hopelessly strike up a conversation.

"Yeah I guess, it's a nice place."

Nice one Ree! She thought to herself.

Niall had gotten up a few moments before this awkward exchange had taken place, and he was standing in the far corner of the room, arguing with someone over the phone. His head bobbed and his hair flew around with his movement. Suddenly he cut the phone and came up behind Essie, he slid his arms around her waist and whispered something in her ears, her eye brows scrunched up in worry. Essie's face contorted and she immediately got up.

"Listen you two, something's come up. I'll be back in a bit ok?" she took niall's hand and waltzed out of the bar. But no one missed the way niall's serious expression melted and his arms gathered Essie up seconds before the door closed.

"Smooth."

Ree giggled at Zayn's comment and picked up her shot glass.

"To sneaky love?"

"To sneaky, and all other sort of love." Zayn raised his glass and downed it. Both glasses smacked the table together.

Essie and Niall went missing for almost an hour and a half, Zayn and Ree slowly wove themselves into conversation, and continued talking late into the night. Essie and Niall came back eventually but announced they were leaving.

"I think Ree and I will.. Stay here? For a while?" Zayn's eyes twinkled beautifully before he smiled at her.

"Yeah, yeah I'll catch up with you later, k babe? Ree grinned up at Essie who winked at her naughtily.

"Well don't get too naughty, alright? Ta loves."

Zayn and Ree talked till last call was approaching, after which they decided to hit a club. They were both pretty tipsy, but they knew how to handle their alcohol.

The club was thumping with music, girls dressed in skimpy clothes and drunk guys floated around everywhere. Ree stood at an empty table, waiting for Zayn to return with their drinks when her heart stopped and she choked on she air she was breathing. Because across the room, on the far side was Jay, his arms around a tall thin girk's waist, their faces just inches from each other's.  Ree quickly turned around and felt her palms begin to sweat. Thoughts from their earlier conversation came prancing back into her brain, trampling all rationality. Her blood began to boil and she closed her eyes. She felt hot tears form in her eyes when a warm hand stroked her arm. She spun around to to face Zayn. His eyes searching her face, instantly noting her wet eyes. His eye brow rose up in question.

"I.. It's nothing. I. Just somebody here who I don't want to see." her eyes shifted and sank to the floor.

"the bitch ex boyfriend who dumped you over text?"

Ree snapped her head up in surprise.

"How.. Oh lord Essie."

"She mentioned it briefly."

"Yeah.." her voice trailed off as she saw the approaching figure. She hadn't turned away in time.

"What? What happened? Is he coming here?" Zayn's eyes darted across her face searching for clues.

Ree slowly nodded her head,  her eyes transfixed at a spot behind his head.

Without thinking twice Zayn spun Ree around and slid his arms around her waist sensually. Before dipping his head and kissing her so close to her lips she could feel the edges of his pursed lips.

Her heart began to thrum excitedly in her chest, and her cheeks began to become hot. When Zayn pulled away, his eyes darted across the room. With a satisfied smile he looked down at Ree.

"He's gone, sorry for that. I.. I hope i didn't come on too strong? I'm sorry."

"no.. No that was. That was great, thank you so much." Ree replied hazily, her head spinning, even momentarily forgetting why she had been so worked up three seconds ago and still blushing so hard she was frightened he would say something.

"Your cheeks are firing up babe, do I already have such an impact on you?" Zayn winked at Ree before leaning down and brushing her cheek with his lips before slithering around her body to the bar to get more drinks. He turned around and winked at her, before melting into a crowd of girls.

As Ree watched, she saw the girls closing in on him pulling him into their little circle. Their hands travelling the length of his chest, to his waist line. Their legs parted around his body, hoping to seduce him. Zayn grooved uneasily with them, occasionally sliding his hand around their waists, but abruptly he stopped and backed up. His brown eyes glinting at her as he disappeared.

She didn't realise until he was out of sight how painfully her heart was throbbing. The prospect of kissing Zayn had arisen her more than the prospect of kissing Jay.  His hands still haunted her waist, and she felt the blood rushing to her face again and she suddenly blinked herself out of her fantasy, desperately trying to convince herself of the absurdity of it all. She'd known him what.. For five hours? Sure she'd met him before, Essie was always tagging around with new guys. But theyd never spoken. Or even met. Her rebound senses were playing up. Her mind was finding any excuse to forget Jay and his betrayal.

And at this, she settled. It was a mix of hormones and alcohol. She'd be over it in the morning.