Cheshire Cat [[EDITING]]

14

A text from Maddie letting me know they were ready to go interrupts my conversation with Zayn. He had been explaining to me what led him to draw, and even to his graffiti style art.

"Oh, that's the girls. I better go get them." Zayn and I took a seat, side by side and had been talking for over an hour and a half and I hadn't even realized.

He was quiet and reserved at first but once I opened up about taking a few drawing classes, which I knew was a common interest, he spilled. He reminded me of a lost puppy, wanting of attention but not trusting. Once I revealed a bit about myself I saw a whole new side of him, a side I get the feeling he doesn't let out too often.

We stand and brush ourselves of the dust and gravel from the pavement. Zayn holds the door for me and follows behind; the warmth of the building is a nice greeting, much more welcoming than the brisk air outside.

"Feels so much better in here." I announce trying to shake the cool air from me.

"It was a little bit chilly." Zayn closes the gap between us, rubbing his warm hands against my arms in efforts to remove the chill from outside.

"Yeah, I don't know how we sat out there so long." I half laugh and look up to see Maddie walking up with Liam, Lindsay, Bryn, Harry and Louis.

I can feel my heart stop the moment my eyes meet with his. His expression fades from playful to stern faster than I can process what is happening. I feel a burn in my throat as we continue to walk, closing the space between the two groups. Do I say hi to him? Do we talk now? I felt so comfortable and at ease about five minutes ago, and now just the sight of him has sent my mind into frenzy, my heart suddenly has forgotten how to work properly, and I am in shock that I have managed to keep walking with jello legs.

"Alright love, I'll see you around sometime. You have to show me your sketch book." Zayn pulls me into an embrace but my eyes remain on Harry, although his gaze has dropped as he rubs the back of his neck, his body language revealing he's just as uncomfortable as I am.

"Of course." I whisper against Zayn's ear, wrapping my arms around his back loosely.

"It's going to be alright." He whispers as he pulls back.

He holds me at an arm's length, looking into my eyes warmly, and I offer a weak smile that I am sure he knows is forced.

"You have to pull up on this lever here Payno." I look up to see Louis and Liam fidgeting with the fire extinguisher on the wall while the girls giggle and mock their efforts.

"I'm impressed with your increasing dedication to get an extinguisher." Maddie says in a cool sarcastic tone.

"They usually kind of just-" Liam grunt as he manipulates the safety gear.

"Here, look at this right here." Zayn dips down and releases a small latch freeing the desired object.

"Simple as that. All along." Louis belts and I can't fight the smile tugging at my lips, until our eyes meet once more.

I inhale sharply, trying to feed my brain as much oxygen as possible so I can form a coherent thought.

"On that note, we better call it a night." Bryn announced, hinting at her desire to leave.

"Yeah, better get going." Lindsay says in agreement.

Everyone erupts into conversation as good byes are exchanged, hugs are shared, yet I stood frozen, locked under Harry's gaze. We stood opposite; everyone bustling between us yet all we were focused on was one another. No one seemed phased though, they continued as if we weren't even there, not bothering to interrupt the non verbal communication Harry and I were entranced in.