The Story of us

Chapter twenty-two: Giving

All the love and adoration i received from my family in my childhood... I wanted to pass it on to him. I wanted to take away the loneliness and emptiness he felt in his heart and fill it with the warmth that he'd rarely experience. 

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" I told you so." 

I was prepared for these words that came in the form of angelic and innocent Danielle Peazer, but that still didn't lessen my embarrassment as she grinned smugly at me from across the table. I ducked my head saying, "Alright,alright... you were right all along. Which is actually a little frightening."

Danielle looked perfectly at peace with the world. All suffering might have ceased. 

"I'm brilliant," she stated blissfully. 

I had to snicker, "but of cource." 

"so... when's your official first date?" Danielle wanted to know, looking rather devious. She was enjoying this far too much and completely at my expense. 

My cheeks reddened without my consent and I muttered, "I dont know. It's... it's kind of embarrassing." The words came out before I could stop them and a nervous chuckle escaped. I leant in towards her, allowing my dark hair to hide my face. Danielle frowned and leant in as well. 

"What? Why?"

"Well... because... it's..." I was tripping over my words, my face heating like a beacon; I couldn't help it, it was so embarrassing, and even more so because I found it this embarrassing.

"He's my boyfriend, Danielle," I finally blurted out, "It's weird. Zayn Malik. Boyfriend. Zayn. Malik. Zayn... boyfriend... how did we even end up here?"

Danielle cracked up laughing in the middle of my rambling. "Oh, young, first love," she said fondly, "Young, stupid love. Don't tell me you're avoiding him now."

"Of course not," I answered at once - perhaps too quickly, by the look on her face. "What makes you say that?"

"Because that would be such a typical Layla Hennessy response," Danielle replied candidly. She fixed a scrutinising look on me and I blinked. "I know you very well by now, LaylaBelle. You have a ridiculously low opinion of yourself. Despite how much you detested Zayn in the beginning, now that you know him better, you don't think you're good enough for him, do you?"

I stayed silent, a little unnerved by this observation. It touched on corners too delicate for my liking. "And that's why it's embarrassing and uncomfortable for you," she continued,"And that's why I think you're avoiding him now."

"I'm - I'm not avoiding him!" I protested, waving my bread for emphasis, "Look - I saw him yesterday - and the day before that - and the day before that. Clearly, I am not avoiding, evading or eluding him in any way, shape or form." I gave a nod of affirmation, hoping to assure her completely.

It was true; I had been seeing Zayn a lot lately. Of course. He usually drove me to school in the morning and then took me back home in the afternoon. Sometimes we spent time together after school. It was all very normal, except for the time he pulled me out of English to go fishing with him.

Danielle grinned, "I don't believe you." "That's because you're stubborn," I returned delicately. "Oh really? Hey, look, 1D's coming in," she said suddenly, looking over my shoulder. But I wasn't fooled. Smiling, I took another bite of my sandwich and said calmly, "Nice try, Danielle Peazer." 

"No, really," she persisted, and I knew she wasn't kidding when I heard the familiar feminine outcry and applause. Sucking in my breath, I craned my head to behold five very familiar figures - the one with jet black hair standing out particularly in. I was prepared for the spasm in my chest when I saw him; it had been happening very often as of late, and I wasn't sure what to attribute it as. Did I simply like him too much or was terrified of seeing him or embarrassed about meeting with him?