another love || z.m.

Zayn

I woke up with my arms holding something. I opened my eyes and saw Payton in front of me. I looked her over, her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted. Her hair was fanned out behind her, some of it draped over my chest. Her hands rested on my hands that were on her stomach and her legs were touching mine with just our ankles entwined. The duvet was rolled up at the bottom of our feet. Somehow, we had managed to kick it all the way down the bed.

I placed a soft kiss to the back of her head out of habit from waking up with Cassie, and her eyes popped open. She turned around in my arms and looked up at me. I wiped the sleep from her eyes with one hand.

"Good morning," I whispered.

"Good morning," she replied.

"Hungry?" I asked and she nodded. "What-"

She stared at me while I checked the clock.

"Shit!" I pulled my hands out from around her. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. I grabbed her jeans out of her bag and ran back upstairs. I threw them at her and they hit her face. I laughed and ran to my chest of drawers. I pulled out a red paid flannel and threw that at her, which hit her face also.

I looked at her and she was just watching me run around.

"Payton, sweetheart, we have school." Her eyes grew huge and she jumped out of bed and pulled off my boxers and t-shirt. I looked away so that I didn't see her exposed skin and underwear. She pulled on my flannel and her jeans. She walked to the bathroom and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She walked out and saw I had changed into jeans and a Kiss tee.

"I need a toothbrush."

I laughed at her panic and just walked to my desk. I pulled a piece of gum out of it and threw it at her. "That should do the job."

"Thanks." She shoved the gum in her mouth and threw the wrapper in the trash on her way out of my room. I walked behind her downstairs and we grabbed our bags that were by the door.

"I walk, come on." I took her hand and showed her my shortcut to school, and soon enough, we were entering the building. We rushed down the halls hand in hand. We walked into Spanish, still holding hands. I looked around and, thank goodness, everyone was standing around, socializing. We hadn't been late.

But then all heads turned toward us and people started whispering. I looked down at our entwined hands and let go of her immediately. I leaned down to her ear and whispered an apology. She nodded and begun to maneuver her way through the aisle. She sat down in her previous seat and so did I.

Spanish was slow, but I kept busy. I was throwing little balls of paper at the back of Payton's head, which she would pick up and throw at my face, missing each time.

"You cannot aim for your life, Payton," I whispered after one had sailed over my head.

"Malik!" Mrs. Huertas yelled.

"Hm?" I looked at her.

"What is the answer?"

"What is the question?"

"See me after class, Malik," she said and moved on.

I picked up a paper was beside my foot and hit Payton's head. I saw her start shaking from laughter and I started chuckling, too.

The bell rang, I gathered my books, and walked to the front of the room where Mrs. Huertas' desk sat.

"Malik, what were you doing?" She rested her chin in her folded hands.

"I was... uh-" I scratched the back of my head.

"You were uh, uh, flirting?" She mimicked me.

"Oh, no, I wasn't." I shook my head.

"Zayn, I'm not stupid, I saw you walk in with Ms. Greene, holding hands."

"Well, we are just really good friends," I assured her.

"Isn't that how Cassie was?" She looked at me and my lips parted. "You may be excused." She waved me off.

I walked out of her classroom with my mouth slightly open and an astonished look on my face. How does she know about Cass?

"Zayn!" Someone yelled. I looked around and saw Lena dragging Payton toward me. I laughed at the sight.

Payton's hair was flying behind her, a dark brown wave of hair. Her eyes looked alarmed and she was shouting things at Lena.

Payton was beautiful.

I didn't mean to snap at Cassie yesterday, but it triggered some nerve I had that was reserved for Payton. A nerve that I didn't even know existed until it was attacked. And I felt protection over her.

What really shocked me is that I sided with my new friend instead of my ex-girlfriend whom I still loved. Because I didn't have feelings for Payton like I did for Cassie. I love Cassie, and Payton is nothing more than a peer. I don't feel anything for Payton. Except that sense of security I had when I held her close to me last night. Except the happiness she gives me when we spend time together. Except the anxiousness that takes over my body when she's near me.

Besides that, I have no feelings for her.

"Sorry," her voice shook me from my daydreams as she was thrown into my chest.

"It's fine," I grabbed her shoulders and helped balance her.

"Lena," Payton scowled.

Lena shrugged and walked off.

"I'm really sorry, she's a bit of a romantic."

"Really, it's fine." I shook my head to dismiss the subject. "What next?"

"Art."

"Okay, let's go." I walked her to her art class and proceeded to my free period.

~~

"Hey," Payton said as she sat in front of me in American Lit.

I waved at her and smiled.

"What's wrong?" She turned around after hanging her bag over the chair.

"Nothing."

"Really?" I nodded.

"Not buying it, love." She remarked and turned around to start flipping through her folder.

"Payton, I need the notes from yesterday." I tapped her back. She turned around and handed me her notebook as the bell rang.

We didn't speak or joke around this block. It was eerily quiet. Which made the class pass slowly. I was relived when the bell unexpectedly rang through my ears. I stood up and walked to Payton's side.

"Come over?" She whispered. I nodded and walked off to my locker. I exchanged unwanted books for my homework and slammed my locker.