Lucidity

Two

"(Y/n)?" Zayn repeated. I couldn't believe this. Zayn was here. Which meant he probably was too.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"They guys and I are here to record some of the new album with a producer that lives here. It was the only way he would work with us". Zayn told me.

"Wow... that's nice." I mumbled not really knowing what to say.

Damn this was awkward.

"Are you going to stand there or give me a hug?" Zayn asked as he opened his arms.

"Oh sorry!" I laughed. He pulled me into his arms and it felt nice. Warm.

"The guys and I have really missed you." He told me as he squeezed me a little.

"I've missed you guys too." I replied as he let me go.

"We are staying at a hotel nearby. Why don't you come with me to see the guys? They made me come on a Starbucks run." Zayn smiled.

I shook my head, "No, I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Well, why don't I take you out tomorrow? You could show me around. I've been dying to do some sightseeing. I won't tell them where I am going." He said referring to the guys.

I knew that I would feel bad if I turned him down.

"Sure," I smiled, "why don't we meet here at noon?"

"You don't want me to meet you at your dorms?" He questioned.

I shook my head, "My roommate would maul you if you showed up. She's a huge fan."

Zayn laughed, "Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow." Zayn hugged me one last time before he left.

I was still in shock at how I ran into him. Out of all of the people I could've ran into, it had to be one of them.

Well at least it wasn't Harry.

The next day around eleven, I was in my closet trying to figure out what to wear for my day out with Zayn.

That's when I heard Torrance's door open. I turned to look at her. She looked like hell. Her hair was a mess. She had mascara marks under her eyes. I knew instantly what happened.

She was hungover.

"What the hell happened to you?" I asked her as she sat on my bed.

"That party last night was freaking epic."

I laughed, "I'm surprised you are even up right now."

"I couldn't sleep anymore for some reason. Are you going somewhere?" She asked me.

I nodded, "I ran into a friend from home. He wants me to show him the city."

"He?" She pressed on.

I took a deep breath before I told her, "it's Zayn."

I didn't need to look at her to know what reaction she was having.

"Oh my gosh! Zayn Malik?!" She squealed.

"Yes, Zayn Malik. I ran into him at Starbucks yesterday and he wants to hang out today." I grabbed a blue blouse from my closet. I held it up against my body and Torrance shook her head. I put it back and started to look for something else.

"What do you think Harry will say?" She asked nervously.

"He doesn't get to chose who I hang out with now." I answered.

"Don't you think he'll be mad when he finds out?"

Torrance was asking way too many questions.

"If he does, oh well." I replied.

At noon, I walked into Starbucks and Zayn was there already. He had on a SnapBack and RayBans but I recognized him easily. Maybe he needed a mustache or something to help. That would be hilarious.

"Your tour guide at your service." I joked when I walked up to him. He handed me a drink, "I got your favorite to start our day."

Hot chocolate. He knew my weakness.

"Thank you. So, where do you want to go first?" I asked him as we walked out of Starbucks.

"What's nearby?"

"Well Times Square isn't too far from here." I suggested.

"Let's go!" He smiled.

The rest of the day was filled with laughter. I showed Zayn everywhere he wanted to go. From Times Square to The Empire State Building and The Statue of Liberty. We had tons of fun. I was a little hesitant after the past Zayn and I had to go hang out with him. But, it was like none of it ever happened. It was like we were two friends reconnecting after a few months apart.

Zayn told me about everything that I missed. How the guys were gearing up to start recording their third album. They wanted to stay here to record it as sort of a vacation, but management hasn't approved it yet.

Then he told me about Harry.

"He was really shut off at first. Everyone can tell he hasn't been himself since you guys broke up." Zayn said.

I looked down at my hands, "I don't really want to talk about this."

I felt Zayn place his arm around my shoulder, "It's gonna be okay."

"I just... talking about him makes me so upset." I whispered.

"I know it does. What he did was wrong and we all were angry at him for it. I'm just glad you didn't shut me out when you saw me yesterday." Zayn smiled.

"Of course I wouldn't have." He have me a hug which I gladly accepted. Who knew that one hug would cause so much drama.

Little did I know, a couple of photographers had been capturing pictures of Zayn and I all day.

And Harry was about to see all of them.