Playing With Fire || z.m

"I love you."

This last chapter is dedicated to @BmaieF for writing a lovely review on my book! Thanks for your kind words!!

ELLIE

I watch as Louis, Liam and Niall scoff down 5 takeout pizzas between them as I chew my finger nails, nervously waiting for Zayn and Harry’s return. If Harry even agrees to come back with him. What if they’ve killed each other?? I hear the key in the door and I jump up off the sofa, rushing to the hall.

I can hear laughter on the other side of the door. Laughter. They’re laughing together. So that must be good, right? The door swings open to reveal a still kind of drunk looking Harry and a beautiful Zayn. They both glance over at me as they enter the house, looking away again quickly.

“There is pizza in the lounge. You may want to get involved quickly before the other three eat every thing.” Harry gives me a shy smile and Zayn plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek. I can’t help but notice he smells of weed so I’m guessing they’ve had a cheeky spliff on the way home.

I stand in the door way and watch the five lads all sit around the coffee table stuffing their faces with greasy food and can’t help but smile at them all being able to sit in a room together again.

I decide to leave them to it and go and sit in the garden to chain smoke. Not forgetting a large glass of wine!!

I don’t want to get in between them any more, I’ve done that enough already and seeing them in the lounge together makes me realise the bond these 5 men have together. Luckily, I’m pretty sure it’s unbreakable but I do not want to test it anymore than I already have done.

A nagging feeling tugs at my mind. What if Zayn chooses them over me? I’ve done nothing but complicate this band so what if he suddenly decides it’s not worth the hassle anymore?

“We’ve been wondering where you got to.” A low, raspy voice pulls me out of my stupid thoughts making me jump.

“Just getting some fresh air.” I comment quietly. Harry sits down next to me on the step looking straight ahead into the dark.

“Yeah cigarettes make the air really fresh, don’t they?” He chuckles lightly.

“Why are you out here with me?” I ask him, cutting the crap.

He shrugs. “Zayn was wondering where you were so I said I’d check outside.”

“You know what I mean, Harry.”

“Alright, okay. I just thought it would be a good chance to just talk.” Well I’m stumped. Why would he want to talk? “I still have feeling for you, you know. That shit doesn’t disappear over night. I was really into you and even though you broke my heart I still can’t shake off those feelings. Especially seeing you with my best mate.”

“Harry, please don’t.” I can’t cope with this.

“I handled it badly. I did a lot of shouting, and I said a lot of horrible words.”

“It’s okay.” I whisper, lighting another fag.

“I wasn’t apologising.” He snaps. “I just feel like we need to clear the air because we haven’t really got a choice, have we? I mean I work with Zayn and we have several contracts that say we can’t stop working together. So that means we all have to get the fuck on with the situation whether we like it or not. I took it badly, yes, but I’m sure anyone else would have been the same. I said stuff, I did stuff. Like tonight. That’s one thing I am sorry for, I shouldn’t have pushed you back tonight.” He blushes slightly.

“I deserved it Harry.” I interrupt. “I’ve been a cow but I’ve had my comeuppance. Trust me. Karma has already come round a bit me in the arse.” I smirk at him because if I don’t smirk I don’t know what will happen. Tears, probably. “I can’t even tell you how sorry I am. I didn’t mean for all this to happen, I didn’t think. I was being stupidly selfish and didn’t think about the consequences.”

“So he got you pregnant, huh?” He suddenly changes the subject. I don’t say anything for a moment.

I take a long pull on my cigarette. “Yeah.” I say as I exhale. We sit in silence for a little longer.

“Want to draw a line under it and start again?” He suddenly asks me.

“More than anything.” I reply. “But you don’t have to do this, Harry.”

“I do, Ellie. I do. Because other wise things will be shit. Zayn is a big part of my life so I have to draw a line. I’d much prefer to make voodoo dolls and stick pins in you both but you know, starting over would be a more sensible option.” He stands up and offers his hand out to me so I quickly take one last pull on my fag and flick it away, taking his hand and standing up. “I mean, I’m still going to secretly hate you both for a while longer but I’ll get over it.”

“Thanks, Harry and I’m sorry,”

“Don’t. Stop saying you are sorry. It’s done. Don’t talk about it anymore.” I shut my mouth instantly and he opens to door, guiding me back inside.

“We ordered more pizza!” Niall grins at us as we join the rest of the boys in the lounge again and Zayn pulls me into his arms on the sofa.

“Everything okay?” He murmurs in my ear, pressing a kiss to my temple. I nod, not wanting to let the others hear us and pull myself away from Zayn a little. I don’t want his friends feeling uncomfortable and also, I don’t want to upset Harry. It isn’t fair to rub it in his face.

“I get to choose the film because it’s my birthday!” Niall grabs the Sky remote for the TV out of Zayn’s hand and begins searching through the channels, quickly signing into Zayn’s netflix account and settling for ‘Step Brothers’ which luckily we all agree to. As soon as Niall hits the play button the doorbell rings indicating the pizza has arrived. This makes me feel incredibly happy as I didn’t get a single slice of any of the other pizzas I ordered earlier.

We all stuff our faces and watch ‘Step Brothers’ without another word until Zayn suddenly wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him again and kisses me on the cheek. He smells like cheesy pizza and beer and it’s actually a strangely comforting smell.

“I love you.” He whispers, making my heart pick up speed.

“I love you, too.” I whisper back, giving him a peck on his cheek.

And finally, after months and months of making mistakes and trying to put everything back together, I feel as if everything will be okay. Everything will slot together eventually, simply because I, Average Ellie, have the love of Zayn Malik.

-The End-