Give Me Love. Sequel to Nobody Compares

22. One Step Closer

ZAYN:

    "Do you have a minute?" Lauren rubbed her hands together, which is something she sometimes does when she's nervous. I looked over to the boys, they had smirks on their faces as if Lauren just asked to have sex with me right here, right now. I turned back to Lauren and nodded. "Uh, yeah, yeah... of course." Lauren mumbled "okay" and started walking away from the crowd and over to a small stone bench.

    I sat down beside her and waited for her to say something. "So, what'd my dad talk to you about?" I nodded, knowing that this was all she was concerned about. "Uh, he just told me that he trusted me enough to not break your heart, and that I let him down..." Lauren sighed and shook her head.

"Don't listen to anything he says Zayn."

"But is it true what he said? About how you were crying hysterically and said, "I woke up crying and clutching my chest because my heart actually hurts. I feel it"?" I asked. Lauren nodded, "It did hurt, I wasn't joking about the pain. My parents brought my friends over and they tried to give me an intervention because of my manic behavior. They thought I was on drugs or something...." she shook her head, and waved her hand. "Look, I don't even want to talk about that. I just wanted to see what my dad said so I could apologize on his behalf, because I know he could be too prideful sometimes." A trait she developed from him. "So, I am sorry on behalf of my father."

    I felt a lump form in my throat. I learned something new about Lauren's perspective on our break up everytime. I had to say something. "I didn't want this break up to happen Lauren. I still don't understand how we went from being insanely in love to sitting here like this.. stumbling for words to say." Lauren laughed, but it was just full of pain. "I still can't wrap my brain around it."

"Do you think if we didn't madly break up with one another, and that the events that happened after.. happened, that we'd still be together?" I suddenly asked her.

"I'd like to think so.." she shrugged.

"You were happy with me, right?" I asked.

"Absolutely without a doubt." she nodded. "I could ask you the same thing though."

"Of course I was happy with you." I turned my head and saw Niall approaching. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get our luggage, our flight departs in an hour." I sighed but told him I'd be over in a minute.

    I turned back to Lauren. "You better get going." she said. But this look flashed across her eyes that told me she wanted me to stay.

"Right.. Are we... are we on better terms?" I questioned curiously. I didn't want to jump to conclusions. Lauren nodded with a small smile. I wasn't sure if I should hug her, so I just stood up, ready to meet up with the guys. "Oh and Zayn," I turned to her.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck at your show. Knock em dead." I let out a breath. This is the girl I needed to be with, the one I always wanted, the only one my heart should desire. Those are the only green eyes I want to look into. "Thank you."

*

    "So that's it? You said "thank you" and just walked away?" Louis gasped. I nodded and then shrugged. "What else was I suppose to say? We had to catch our flight." I said staring out the aeroplane window at the puffs of clouds. "You're ridiculous. I don't understand you two. You were right there in front of her, you had your oppurtunity to tell her, "hey Lauren, I am miserable, but famehungry Madison helped me THINK I wasn't, but really I am because you are the one that I want with every fiber in my body, but I thought for a while that you hated me because of this whole Madison situation; and I'm just making it harder on us to fix things, because I'm a fuckwad and agreed to a sign a contract for extra money, and a distraction from you, and I ended up finding comfort in another set of green eyes and long brown hair, but then I was FINALLY face to face to the green eyes and long brown haired beauty, who is you, who I really truly love, so let's try to work things out... oh wait I cant because due to me being a FUCKWAD I can't speak a word of this contract, so here I am, just made to let you think what you want." Louis ranted quickly.

    It was interesting how much our friends were invested in our relationship, and only wanted us to strive and be happy. "Look, the contract is damn near over. I'm going to tell Madison that I don't see a future between two of us because my future is probably still sitting at a cook out in the spot that I left her."

"You better snatch her up before time runs out." Harry said from behind me.

    I hadn't talked to Lauren since the cook out, and I knew that I needed to talk to her, but I needed to man up and set things straight with Madison first. After the show, I ran backstage and grabbed my phone from the dressing room. I could still hear the muffled screams of fans. "Zayn! Hey!" she answered, it sounded like she was at a party but snuck away somewhere quiet. "Hey."

"How was the show?"

"It was great.."

"I really need to be up there, your fanbase would love me." Then it hit me, Madison was truly only obssessed with having herself be seen and heard. That's why she suggested being my distraction, because while I am distracted, she's doubling her publicity. I mean, yeah I know I'm apart of this contract to be seen out with her to help her ep sales, but she didn't really want a friendship. She just wanted to inch her way to the top by being Zayn Malik of One Direction's rumored girlfriend.

    "Hello.. Zayn?" I cleared my throat. "I'm still here. I have to go catch our flight back to LA, but I just want to meet up with you tomorrow afternoon."

"We can meet up at the Ivy for lunch, one last shebang before our contract ends. I'm so close to inching my way to number fifteen on the itunes chart." The Ivy, of course where the paparazzi practically live. I can't believe I even signed up for this in the first place. What the fuck is wrong with me? I'm actually ashamed of myself for just fully realizing all of this. "No. I was thinking something more lowkey, like my house." Then I remembered her social climbing friends who would sneak pictures of Madison and I and post them online. "Okay then.... I guess I'll see you then."

   I hung up, and when I turned around Harry was there eating a banana. "Madison?" he asked. I nodded. "I'm ending whatever it is that we had. I need to."

"The PR life not for you?" he teased. I laughed and shook my head.

"Definetely not. I thought that I'd run out if chances with Lauren, but when I was with her at the Cabello's cook-out, I just know that this can't be the indefinite end of us." Harry dropped the banana peel and began slow clapping. "You go ahead and get your girl back. The way you ran after her at the meet and greet is how you need to run to her now,"

"I can run after her when we're in different states."

"We've got a private jet, make use of it." he patted my arm, and turned away.

LAUREN:

   "Thank you Los Angeles, and good night!" Zayn shouted into his microphone trying to be louder then the outpour of screaming fans. "What are you doing?" Camila asked walking into her bedroom. I shut the laptop, and stared at her in silence, as if I were a toddler and I got caught sneaking in the cookie jar. "Huh?" I tried to act clueless. She snatched her laptop and balanced it in her hand. "Really? You were watching One Direction concert videos, and interviews?" she accused.

"I watched like... two." I lied.

    Camila made a face, and sat next to me. "Really? Just two? The history says you've been on youtube the entire length of my twenty five minute shower watching their videos, and to think you used to not be a fan." she teased me. "Really Lauren? Why were you watching Madison Beer videos?"

"Because I enjoy torturing myself." I sighed, sinking my head into my knees.

     "You miss Zayn a lot, don't you?" she questioned. I rolled my eyes but she couldn't see. "Yes Camila, I miss him a lot." she answered herself doing her best mock impression of me. "Yes, Camila. I miss him a lot." I repeated finally looking up at her.

"Then get your man! You guys need each other."

"He has Madison. I am not much of a factor anymore," Camila slapped my leg.

"Don't you dare say that! You know, I support you in all your descisions, and I hate seeing you bummed out. Madison isn't dating Zayn and you know that. He told you; and you should believe him. But I'm not going to sit around while you torment yourself. You and Zayn need to do something about this, because Harry and I helped once, but if you guys really miss each other, then you need to make your move this time."