Between the Pages

five

Playlist -Too many pretty faces by Linneaa

(A)

Zayn arrived in front of my house right on time, alerting me of his presence with a honk of his horn. I open the door of his jeep, mumbling a greeting as I struggle with the seatbelt. Zayn returns my greeting with a nod and starts the car, tires squealing as he pulls away from my curb. He stays quiet and I figure he's still upset over our disagreement earlier. I clear my throat expectantly but Zayn doesn't acknowledge it in the least. Annoyed I glare at him from the passenger seat, waiting for him to talk to me. Zayn didn't change his outfit from school, only replaced his soccer jacket with a leather one, other than that it didn't seem like he cared to put any effort into his appearance. Not that he particularly needed to, Zayn was undoubtedly attractive - something he knew all too well - it just seemed like this bonfire was a big deal to him.

"You really have to stop staring at people like that babe," Zayn cracks a smile, shaking his head at me mockingly. I laugh lightly, smiling myself mostly since I wouldn't have to suffer a silent car ride.

"Sorry you're just such a sight. I have to take it all in," My words are dripping in sarcasm and Zayn laughs, winking at me jokingly. He reaches over and turns on the radio, putting it on some R&B station playing an Usher song.

"I know sweetheart, I'm just irresistible," I roll my eyes and pretend to gag at his words. Zayn chuckles lowly before continuing. "About earlier-"He starts but I cut him off. I don't feel like arguing at the moment, maybe later.

"Not tonight pretty boy, we can talk about it another time. You dragged me out I want to have fun," Zayn frowns at my words and I can see him growing irritated. Sighing mentally, I realize the arguing will be happening now not later. Zayn can be such a buzzkill.

"You should be happy I'm going out with you. Girls would be thrilled to be where you're sitting, they'd do nearly anything. Trust me," His signature smirk is on his face at the last part of his statement. I laugh at his cocky attitude, you'd think he'd realize I'm not other girls.

"Feel free to give it to them I won't mind. I can have any guy I want. Trust me," I repeat his words and I see the switch between annoyed and pissed go off. "I'm not looking to be claimed by a guy, I'm looking to be entertained by one. It's how it works. Sorry babe," I wear a smirk of my own now at Zayn's reaction. He doesn't say anything the rest of the ride which luckily, isn't very long. We pull up at a small river, it's probably less than ten miles long, with a teenage crowded shore. Smoke is rising from the far right, indicating where the literal bonfire must be. Zayn wordlessly pulls me along in that direction, stopping when we reach his friends just a few feet from the fire. I listen to the conversations around me, my mind drifting off every now and then, laughing or nodding when necessary. Eventually I lose all interest and lean against a tree, hoping someone interesting will talk to me at some point. I'm not sure how much time passes before I hear my name being called out.

"Andy over here!" I look for the person calling my name and see Louis waving. Zayn had left a while ago with some his friends so I made my way towards the waving brunette.

"Hey Louis," I smile at him in greeting. He returns it with an even bigger smile of his own.

"Did you come here by yourself?" He asks when I reach him. He has a beer in his hand and judging from his slightly slurred words, it isn't his first.

"No I came with a friend but they went off a while ago," I figure it's best to leave out that I came with Zayn. Louis nods at my answer, and it looks like he wants to ask who but he doesn't.

"Oh well come on everyone is just around the corner," Louis leads me to a small circle of rocks where I see the familiar faces from lunch today. I take a seat across from Niall, who shoots me a friendly wave. I'm offered a beer but I declined, not in the mood to drink. Niall comes over and we talk for a while, mostly me laughing at how utterly wasted he is. He rambles on and on about anything and everything, pausing every minute to catch his breath from laughing so hard. Apparently drunk Niall found everything absolutely hilarious. Niall leaves to go find another one of his friends, and I'm left alone again. Everyone is engaged in their own conversations while I just sit, enjoying the starry sky.