Fool For You (Sequel to Awakening) >> z.m ✔

Chapter Seventeen

[ Double update! I felt guilty for being so irregular about updating. That and I have a really bad head cold and have some free time. Looks like I'll be sitting around for the next couple of days. ]

~Rachel's POV~

Zayn taking me to the Rock n' Roll Diner was so considerate. Corny as it may seem, he made my problems disappear. 

Every time he smirked, my heart fluttered. Every time he held my hand, my stomach filled with butterflies. Every time we kissed, I felt like I was melting. Everything was new with Zayn. I had boyfriends in the past. Freshman year with a couple guys -Sean and Tyler-, then sophomore I had dated a guy named Zach, who dumped days before homecoming, and finally Louis, but we were never really more than friends and I should've realized that.

Zayn held my hand over the table, until the girl at the counter, Kristina, served us our drinks. Zayn had ordered a diet coke, while I had ordered a sprite.

"How are you holding up?" Zayn asks me. I realize how he was being careful saying this, as he knew he was treading on thin ice. 

"You know. I'm okay, for the most part. I'm trying to be strong," I tell him, honestly. He cocks his head, knowing I'm telling him the truth, but not all of it. "... I'm struggling. I mean, he his my childhood friend after all."

"I know, and it's completely understandable. You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm always here for you." He says, giving my hand a little squeeze. I smile, but let go of his hand, wiping it on my jeans. Zayn gives me a worried look.

"Of course I know that. I'm just going through a rough time right now," I tell him, trying my best not to sound harsh. I stare down at the table, wishing he would change the subject. 

Luckily, he does. "So, do you know what you're going to get?"

"No," I say, still not meeting his gaze. I hadn't even began to think of opening the menu. I take it in my hands, knowing how bipolar I must be right now.

"Rachel?"

"Yes, Zayn?" I ask, continuing to skim over the menu. The "Virginia Style Hamburger" catches my attention, and I fold the menu again and set it down. I keep trying to avoid his gaze. I'm trying anything to keep myself occupied. I take a sip of my sprite.

"Are you-"

"Can I take your orders, please?" The waitress interrupted. I take this as my chance to look at Zayn, but he was still looking. I turn my head towards the waitress.

"I'll take the Virginia Style hamburger with a side of curly fries and coleslaw," I order. Hopefully Zayn was done giving me a stare down, So I take the risk of looking at him. 

And he's still looking. 

He orders while still staring contently at me, and I could feel my wall begin to break. Once we're done ordering, and Kristina walked away, Zayn opened his mouth to finish his sentence. 

"Can we please change the subject?" I begged, interrupting Zayn before he could get a word out. "We came here to get our minds off of Louis and Harry." 

"Okay," he says, leaning back and nodding curtly. "Okay."

An awkward silence settles over the both of us, and I start to play with the bracelet on my wrist. The tension was high, and I didn't want to make it any higher, and apparently, neither did Zayn. So we just stayed quiet for a couple of minutes.

"You still wear that?" He asks, making me jump. I raise my eyebrows, before following his gaze to my bracelet. 

It was the one he gave me before I went off to Berkeley, with the series of photos on it. I had remembered finding it in my coat pocket and slipping it onto my wrist. It was very special to Zayn and I.