Arrogance | Z.M

One

Anastasia Carras

The rest of my afternoon was spent cocooned inside my room. I tried to read the novel I brought up here, 'The Help', but my mind kept mysteriously wandering to the encounter I had with Zayn prior.

What is up with you Anastasia, he's just Zayn, I thought to myself.

I took a deep sigh, falling back onto the numerous expensive decorative pillows that were cluttered on the head of my queen sized bed. Closing my eyes, I tried to remain positive and shift my thoughts to something else, anything else in fact.

Amarni....

Oh god, I haven't talked to her all day, and knowing Amarni, she would be fuming if I didn't message her to tell her that I finally made it here.

I reached for my phone from my bedside table, dialled her number immediately and sat back up. Taking a piece of my caramel locks, I wrapped my index finger around it, waiting impatiently for Amarni to pick up.

"Ana! Oh my god I already miss you, what are you doing?" Amarni screeched on the other end of the phone, I cringed at her high pitched enthusiasm, but chuckled lightly at her energetic tone. Amarni was my best friend, and we've remained best friends ever since kindergarten when I pushed Sadie Green off the swing because she stole it from Amarni and took one of her school snacks. Ever since then, we've been practically sisters.

"Honestly nothing, just waiting for dinner" I replied, the thought of food made my stomach churn a little. I hadn't eaten all day, besides the quick green juice Valentina left me for my trip.

We began to catch up, talking about Amarni's day which usually consisted of going shopping down Oxford Street and then attending an annual weekly high tea brunch with her parents at the Cellarium Café down in Westminster. I proceeded to tell her about my unfortunate encounter with Zayn, and not surprisingly, Amarni gushed at the thought, considering she thinks that Zayn is a 'hunk', her words not mine.

10 minutes had passed, both Amarni and I were talking about nonsense, laughing away and somehow I felt a little bit homesick without her. Finally, Trisha and my mother called me from downstairs, I acknowledged that I heard and told Amarni that I would call her later.

Placing on my slippers, and untucking my loose satin top from my matching set of pyjama shorts, I hurriedly hopped downstairs, quickly smelling the aroma of fresh pasta sauce and basil.

———

Zayn Malik

Lazily sitting at the dinning table, I tossed my fork around my pasta. Going on a trip with the Carras family was the last thing I wanted to commit to this summer, considering I could be out with my friends down by the alleyways back home and making some money on the side.

I hear a soft patter of feet come from the doorway on the left and I knew it was Anastasia because not only was she as light as a feather and but I knew she was wearing those ugly slippers with dog ears on them. Besides the point however, I looked up and noticed something different about her.

Her soft, caramel hair cascaded to the right side of her body, it was much longer than last summer. Her light pink satin pyjamas hung perfectly off her tan skin, and you could lightly make out her nipples in a certain light.

Anastasia looked at me, with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, probably realising I was staring way too long at her.

Fucking hell Zayn

I looked back down at the bowl of food Mrs Carras prepared alongside my mother, the last thing I wanted tonight was to have a pathetic 'family' dinner and answering questions about what I'm doing with my life currently. Once everyone arrived to the table, we all began to eat cohesively.

I couldn't help but look at Anastasia, every time she would look over at her father or my mother, she would do that annoying pursing of her lips, something she usually did when she was concentrating on something.

"So Zayn, what are your plans for after the summer" Mr Carras chimed, everyones attention now turned to me, I furrowed my eyebrows whilst biting on the inside of my cheek obviously not wanting to talk, however I could see my fathers 'encouraging' look to answer.

"Not much I guess, I don't know..." I trailed off, I looked up at my father and he turned his attention Anastasia this time. I looked up at her, and I could tell she was staring at me the whole time because her cheeks turned a light crimson, and she became overwhelmingly flustered.

"I'm hoping to go back to college after break with Amarni, i'm doing teaching" Anastasia stated proudly. I could hear her father sigh, but my mother encouraged her and gave her words of support, that was something my mother always did best.

Still sitting there quietly, I slurped the last of my pasta noodle and took my plate to the kitchen, rinsing it off and putting it into the dishwasher. I felt a presence behind me, expecting it to be Anastasia, I plastered a smirk on my face but I was instead met by my mother, who had a worried look in her eyes.

She placed her bowl next to the sink and rubbed my left bicep, supportively. She knew my father was harsh on me a lot of the time, heck most of the time. I've always had to meet a lot of exceptions from him, considering he's one of the best businessmen in London. I've never been good with numbers, only literature, music and art. The things that my father considered wasteful in life.

My mother embraced me tightly, she always knew what I needed and I appreciate her for that. I gave her a kiss on the cheek in return.

"Zayn, just try and make the most of this summer. Maybe you might enjoy it" my mother chimed, pushing back a strand of my hair that had fallen in front of my face, her eyes were soft and her lips were turned upward into a smile.

I smiled back at her, giving her a look of assurance that somehow I would try to make this summer somewhat decent.