.14
The mall is crowded and it's entirely too loud. The only thing I particularly enjoy about it is the way Zayn holds my hand the whole time, and runs his thumb over my knuckles from time to time.
I go into a few stores to get applications. One is a clothing place, the other is the Apple store, and the last one is at a restaurant, as a waitress. The last one wasn't my idea. Zayn said his friend was the manager and I would be guaranteed a job. I figured if none of the others worked out I'd pick that one.
"Do you want to grab lunch?" Zayn asks as we leave the restaurant. My stomach growls as he mentions food, and Zayn chuckles. "I'll take that as a yes."
"What about Subway?" I suggest as we enter the food court.
He agrees and we make our way over to the line, which is only a couple people long.
The guy in front of us turns. "Zayn?" He asks, a British accent lacing his word. Was everyone Zayn knew foreign to America?
"Harry?" Zayn asks, and they both erupt into laughter, giving each other a hug.
"I haven't seen you in forever, mate," Harry says, running a hand through is long, curly hair. He's wearing all black, tattoos littering his arms, similar to Zayn's.
"It's been awhile." Zayn agrees, grabbing my hand in his again. "This is my girlfriend, Chandler."
Harry's eyes fall on me, and a kind smile tugs at his lips. He sticks out his hand. "Nice to meet you love, I'm Harry."
We shake, and I try to work up a smile. It feels funny. "So, are you still with Michael?" Zayn asks.
Harry nods, motioning towards a table behind us. There, with his back towards us, was a boy with bright pink hair. "Two years next month," Harry says, smiling.
"That's awesome, mate. Happy for you," Zayn says. The line moves, and Harry's up next.
"Yeah." Harry smiles at the boy lazily. "Have you talked to Gemma lately?"
Zayn's mouth turns down, just a little bit. A millisecond later he smiles again, as if it had never happened. But I noticed. "Uh, yeah. Last week. I heard she's coming here for some artist apprenticeship?"
Harry nods, "Yeah, in a few weeks. She'd love to see you."
The conversation tapers off and they exchange numbers before Harry's finally up.
I feel like I had been holding my breath the whole time, ever since Zayn introduced me as girlfriend. Is that what he thought we were?
We get our sandwiches in silence. Zayn picks out a table near the exit.
"Are you okay?" He asks after I've taken a bite.
I shrug. I sucked at lying.
"What's wrong, love?"
I look at him, biting my lip whilst setting the sandwich down. "You called me 'girlfriend.'"
Zayn sighs, putting his sub down too. He rubs his forehead, looking down at the table. "What are we, C?" He finally asks.
I squirm in my seat. I didn't want to be around this Zayn. He seemed.. tense. "I don't know." I answered truthfully. "I can't be... You can't.." I felt myself shutting down. It was almost foreign now. Almost.
People around us blurred. Conversations were muffled. I wiped my hands on my jeans. Swallowed.
"I think it's time for me to take you home," He says. Quietly. Like I'll burst.
I hated myself for doing this. Upsetting him. Hurting him.
But I barely knew him.
Except I did. Too much.
I threw away the sub. My appetite was gone.
It's cold outside. I huddle into myself. Cough a little bit.
I wanted to be alone with a bottle of Oxy. To let whatever this is leave my mind.
"I'll call a cab," I finally say, as I see Zayn's car. No way could I get in. Be surrounded by his scent.
Zayn looks at me, scrunching his eyebrows together. "That's absurd, just let me take you home."
I start walking away, towards the bus stop. "Chandler, stop!" He calls. I hear his foot steps behind me, but I start running, my sneakers slapping the pavement in a rushed hurry. I can feel Zayn catching up to me, but soon I'm at a bus stop.
I look behind me. See Zayn almost here.
The bus comes then, a big chunk of blue metal rolling down the road. As the doors open, Zayn reaches me, grabbing my hand. I don't look at him as I yank it away.
very short chapter! sorry it's been so long since an update. writers block haha. but next chapter will be a lot longer :) vote/comment
