Too Close To Love

Too Late To Realise

No POV

"Elle, please". With his pained eyes fluttered close, the rain danced around Zayn as Elle stood boldly in front of him. Red lips pressed into a firm line, Zayn stared plainly at her, struggling to work out he was doing. There was no doubt that she was gorgeous, and he had definitely once loved her. Where had that gone? He had Loved her with everything, given her anything that ever meant anything to him. But he'd never completely given her his heart, and he was positive that was what had pushed her away, confused her feelings with reality. Thats what Zayn told himself, and he was sure he was doing the right thing.

It was a hard thing, giving your heart to someone when you knew you loved someone else. Love. Zayn winced as he brought himself to think of the reason behind all of this. Lily. Her and Niall loved each other, needed each other, deserved to be with each other. But whether or not they wanted each other, that was another thing. He knew he himself would fall in love with Lily, that was why he had brought himself away, solely because he feared that they would begin to love each other. He saw the way she looked at him, and he couldn't help but look at her that way too. But to turn it around, he didn't want to love her. He knew he shouldn't, because her and Niall truly were destined to be together, and he couldn't play destiny, as cheesy as it sounded.

He could bring himself to love Elle, after all, he once had. With a sad smile, he knew that the reason was because he'd been saving his heart. He wanted so much to give it to Lily, but by doing that, he'd take away Niall's. He'd crush his best friend, possibly Lily aswell. And to put a little bit of burden on himself, for his best friends to be happy, it seemed easy. Elle loved Zayn, there was no doubting that. She just had a funny way of showing it. But once she saw that he would give her it all again, doubled, she would be there.

"You mean it? You'll really love me?" she breathed shakily, as a crack of the warm and loving girl she used to be shone through. This is what he had been hoping for, and a genuine smile passed his face as he stared into her glistening eyes.

"I.. I will".

Her elegant arms wrapped around his shaking frame as he pulled her out of the rain, faced with a blinding light. Cameras flashed brightly as questions were shouted. Elle merely clung to Zayn, desperately trying to act sweet and loving. She'd been hurt too many times, she didn't know how to love. Flashes grew brighter, and questions grew louder. One question was flowing round Zayn's head all the while, even as he answered a few questions. He was positive he had done the right thing, but who for?

As the quiet pitter patter of their feet tapped on the marbled hospital floor, Elle's arm linked through Zayn's, both of their faces flushed from the quick dash inside. The walk through the lower level was silent apart from the occasional giggle from Elle at something silly Zayn was doing. There was something about the way they were together that made Elle a better person, but on her own she was miserable...and plain nasty. They both knew that, and were working on it as they playfully shoved each other out the way and tumbled through the glass doors. Elle fell into the surprised arms of a weary lady, who's face was drained and eyes gleaming with tears. Zayn rushed to pick her up, as she brushed herself down and muttered a quick sorry to the lady. He couldn't take her eyes of the lady as she tried to insert money into the machine, frowning at it deeply.

"Are you alright miss? Shall I help?" he whispered gently, prodding the lady's arm as Elle shuffled behind his back, inspecting her reflection in the mirror.

"No darling, I'll cope". She carried on pressing the buttons on the coffee machine, clearly not wanting to bother the two. She seemed to be in her mid thirties maybe early forties. Her short blond waves fell down to her shoulders, blue eyes brimming with tears. It was when her heart shaped face turned around to face his that he took a double take.