✮ ☾one direction & 5sos imagines☽ ✮

"Him."

( for and dedicated to: (imagine for sophiatay_ )

"Can you hurry up?" I said, my hands fidgeting in my lap as my eyes were locked on the airport to the right of us.

"Soph, there's crazy traffic right now. Calm down, will you?" My best friend Brianna told me, her fingers tapping against the steering wheel impatiently. I've known her since sixth grade and we just clicked; we've been close ever since.

"Bree, I've waited two years to see him, and it's finally come. God, I hope he hasn't met anybody else. What if it's like some Dear John crap?" I tapped my foot against the ground nervously, finally averting my gaze from the window back to her.

Bree just laughed and rolled her eyes, glancing over at me before starting to drive forwards just slightly. "Soph, there's no way he could meet anyone else. And in Dear John, didn't the girl ditch the guy, not the other way around?" A small, knowing smirk crept across her face, and I scoffed.

"Whatever. Oh my god, we're almost here. Is my hair okay? What if I overdid it? I know it's just an airport but it's been so long since I've seen him, oh god what if he thinks I'm ugly now? He's been gone forever, he sure could have changed his feelings by now. What if he doesn't even love me anymore? Brianna oh my gosh he's so not in love with me anymore, I can't take thi-"

"Soph! Will you please relax? You look stunning, it's understandable you dressed up to see him. Now stop worrying and go find that guy of yours, will you?" She smiled widely and we exchanged a quick hug, me whispering a thank you into her ear, before I opened the car door and darted out as fast as my legs could carry me. They dragged me through the doors, up the stairs, past the stores, and near security- where all of the other drivers and couples and families were waiting for their loved ones.

I hadn't seen him for twenty three months. Twenty three slow, painful, agonizing months where I was constantly in worry or anxiousness just waiting to hear something from him, something about him. We had exchanged exactly 8 letters back and forth, and I read them over every day. We last talked six months ago, besides the quick phone call he was able to give me a few days ago informing me that he would be home soon, and boy, was I happy. Happy doesn't even begin to describe the emotion I felt- ecstatic, joyous, elated, over the gosh damn moon.

I found a nearby bench and sat myself down, my fingers tapping against the chair handle and my foot nervously bouncing against the ground once again. Oh God, what would I say? Will it be awkward? No, it could never be awkward with him. Or can it? A lot can change in two years.

Calm yourself, my mind told me in Brianna's voice. She was right- I'm worrying for nothing. He's mine and I'm his, that's how it's been and that's how it always will be. That's something I'm absolutely sure about.

My gaze flitted among the families and couples waiting around the airport. A family had just reunited with their daughter, who looked about fifteen, and they were exchanging long hugs and kisses to the forehead. A driver was waiting for an apparent "Mr. Jones", who had just arrived, talking into his earpiece and giving his driver a stern look.

And then there was a couple. A boy, about 20 or so, and a girl, maybe 18. The girl had short-lengthed, silky straight blonde hair that shook back and forth as she bobbed her head. Her hands were moving in all different gestures as she spoke, clear passion being seen in her face; but that wasn't what I was looking at. I was watching the boy. His eyes were glued to her as she spoke, and his lips were turned upwards in a wide smile. His hand rested on hers, and his gaze searched her face, the look of absolute love and lust in his eyes. The way he stared at her as she spoke, and held her hand- it was magic. I could only hope that's how it would be with him and I.

I finally got the courage to look away from the couple, my nervousness growing with each breath I took. His plane should have landed about 30 minutes ago, but he was nowhere in site. I took a deep breath and glanced down at my lap, before slowly looking up, and my heart did a flip in my chest.

There, about a hundred feet away, stood he. He wore a jacket, the different shades of green, brown, white, and black splattered across in a neat pattern, his pants looking the same as the jacket. A matching hat sat perched upon his jet black hair. He had a dark blue duffel bag in his right hand, as he licked his lips, his head looking around the airport almost eagerly. I was speechless as I stood slowly, my knees wobbling, before whispering something in the best voice I could manage.

"Zayn," the name escaped my lips.

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, his eyes found mine. His lips twitched upwards slowly, and by a few seconds, they were in the biggest smile I've ever seen on him, and mine did the same.

Before I knew it, my feet were carrying me across the airport, slowly- then quickly. I ran and ran, and Zayn dropped his duffel bag against the tile floor as I crashed into him, his arms immediately finding my waist. I couldn't help the tears that flooded from my eyes, and the loud noises that came out of my mouth, my face burying into his neck.

"Oh, Sophia," he whispered, his hand stroking my hair as his other clutched onto my side, squeezing it tightly.

I sobbed into his shoulder and hugged him even tighter to me, before pulling my head back and grabbing his face in my hands, my eyes immediately looking into his. And then I saw it.

The look. The same look that the boy gave to that girl a few moments ago, the same look that I wanted so desperately, was sitting right in front of me.

My lips pressed against his, in the most passionate kiss I've ever experienced before. Our lips moved perfectly in sync, not to the point where it was sexual or hungry; but rather full of love, and the kiss made up for the words we both wished to say, but couldn't find them releasing our thoughts.

Our lips moved for what seemed like forever until I finally pulled away, the taste of him and my salty tears on my tongue, as my forehead rested against his.

And with a loud breath, I managed to croak out a few, simple words.

"Welcome home, soldier."

(a.n.// IM LITERALLY SOBBING THIS IS AO CUTE OH MY GOSH I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ZAYN FEELS BYE)