January. // z.m. au

Chapter 20

When I'm With You | Best Coast

I think I was falling so much harder for Zayn. Whatever nerves he had before seemed to disappear into thin air the more relaxed and comfortable he got. He was so kind and smooth with his words. He made me laugh while we waited for our food, he always had something to say -- he was great.

Everything felt so much different with him right now. It was like a whole new layer was peeled from him. I couldn't really explain it, but I didn't think that I'd be getting over Zayn at all anytime soon. Not that I wanted to anyway.

Things were going so well; the mood was light and I was having a lot of fun with him. I could get so used to these one on one dates -- just me, Zayn, us. I could get used to the way his eyes would crinkle at the sides when I said something that wasn't even remotely close to being funny, but he laughed anyway. I could get used to the way Zayn would recommend his favorite meals on the menu, how he swore on his life that they were the greatest dishes of all time, how he'd reach over to point at the items on my menu...

I could get used to the way he'd randomly drum his fingers across the table or how he'd stir his straw in his soda just because. I could get used to the color of his eyes as they shined even under the dim lights; the way his eyelashes would just barely brush against the top of his cheekbones. But, most of all, I could get used to Zayn and everything about him. I'd never want to be without him.

"Um," he cleared his throat nervously. "I forgot to mention, Jan, that, um, you look great."

His eyes didn't meet mine for a good five seconds after he let the compliment out into the air. And when they did, I could tell that he was nervous, hell, I'd be too. But he wore a smile on his mouth and that was enough to make my insides melt like ice cream on a hot sidewalk.

"Thank you," I blushed, of course. It was in my nature. "I don't think I mentioned that you do as well."

"Don't think I could compare," he shrugged and I fought the urge to jump across the table and smack my lips onto his. That would be rather inappropriate, though. "Might have to keep a close eye on you tonight."

Was he implying that he wanted to keep me all to himself? Why can't I ever get used to the things he says?

"Well then I guess that makes two of us."

***

Zayn was right. The food was amazing, but you know what was better? Him. It was a bit quiet the first few minutes after our food was brought to us, but that was because we just started eating. It was always that way. But then after a while we fell back into the routine of conversations again and it all went perfectly.

And then my cheekiness came out as I would steal little pieces of chicken from his plate when he wasn't looking or when it seemed like he wasn't really paying attention. Then I'd glance up at the ceiling innocently like I hadn't done anything at all. Each time Zayn would laugh a bit more and I'd die a little inside.

Eventually we just ended up switching plates all together because he happened to like my dish better than his and vice versa.

"Now I see why this is your favorite place," I beamed, following Zayn out of the restaurant. I had a feeling that I'd be saying this was my favorite place too soon enough. We'd already finished dinner and paid the bill -- well, Zayn did, really, he insisted -- and now we were walking side by side back to his car, and I really had to fight the urge to reach over and link my fingers with his. I would, I should, but I couldn't. I couldn't find the guts. "The food was amazing."

"Yeah?" he raised his eyebrows expectantly, looking quite proud of himself for bringing me here. He was perfect. "We should, um, I know some other really great places we could try out another time. I mean, if you'd want, or you could, like, pick or something..."