Little Louder Now (Harry Styles/One direction fanfic)

Chapter 30: Tampons are off limits

Chapter 30:  Tampons are off limits

*Thalia's POV*

I felt his hand squeeze my upper thigh firmly and he leaned his head in towards my ear.  I could smell his breath reek strongly of expensive vodka as he said "Wanna take this somewhere else?"

Instead of answewring him verbally, I made a snap decision and hopped out of the tub and dried off with one of the fluffy towels Club Aquarium so conviniently provided for their customers.  I didn't need to check to see if Zayn was behind me because in his enebriated state, he was making quite a racket.

"OW! oh, shit!" he cursed as he stubbed his toe on the corner of the tub.

We headed for the exit but were met by a big surprise.  Photographers were everywhere, taking phictures of the two of us in nothing but our skivvies.  In our drunken haze, we had completely forgotten our attire and I was mortified to not only be seen in just my underwear, but to have photographic evidence taken of it.  Plus I was with a guy.  A hot famous guy.  A hot famous guy with a hot famous girlfriend.  If my mother saw this, she'd kill me then bring me back from the dead just so she could have the satisfaction of killing me again.

"Quick," Zayn said as he grabbed my hand, dragging me to a que of taxis and shoving me into the closest one.  "What's your adress?"

I gave the cabbie my adress and payed him once we had reached our destination.  At least I had had enough wits about me to grab my purse before I left the club.  Things were awkward as I silently unlocked my front door and let Zayn and I in.

"Now where were we?" Zayn asked with a cheshire grin, leaning in to kiss me.

I wanted to hook up with him so badly, but the incident with the paps had sobered me enough to know that what I was doing wasn't right.  I knew who this guy was standing before me and I also knew that he was Taken witha capitol T.  I had been cheated on a multitude of times and I refused to be the other woman, making someone go through what I had.

"Zayn, you have a girlfriend," I reminded him.

He padded his way through my entryway and into my den and flopped onto my couch.  He rested his elbows on his knees and plced his face in his hands.  "I know," he mummbled in a resigned fashion.

After a few long moments he looked back up at me.  "But I can't be with her anymore.  She wants things from her that I just can't give her.  She's been different lately.  Selfish, vindictive, and jealous.  She isn't the same girl I fell for and I don't want to be with her anymore.  I  think it's time I moved on.  I want to move on," he said with obvious upset and frustration painted on his face.  His eyes were so dark right now.  It was like looking right into his soul and if you weren't careful, you'd get lost there inside them.

I was losing control of myself around this lad and I had to be careful.  I'd fallen for his type of guy before where they would say anything at the time they need to so they could get what they wanted.  I take that back.  I think that they honestly believed what they were saying was the truth at that moment in time, it was just the follow through that they had the problem with.

I wanted to kiss him so badly.  Zayn had a slight five-o-clock shadow going and I couldn't help but wonder how it would against my sensitive skin as we kissed for hours and hours on my couch, but I kept reminding myself of the word girlfriend girlfriend girlfriend to keep my hormones in check.

My breath caught in my throat as he got up and siddled up close next to me and placed a gently kiss on my jawline.  "I want to move on.  Will you help me with that?" he said in his best seductive tone.

I could only get out "Y-you... gir-girlf-friend."

He laughed at my awkwardness.  It wasn't a cruel laugh but more of an 'awe you're so cute when you're too flustered to be coherent' laugh.

"Can I use your house phone then?" he asked.

I just pointed towards my small kitchenette.  He'd have no problem finding the wall mounted phone because my appartment is tiny.  As a struggling designer, this tiny hovel is all I can afford.  I could normally never have afforded to go to Club Aquarium either but it was a treat from a client. I had designed a dress for red carpet occasion that turned out amazingly.

Zayn was gone for several minutes.  Once I started to hear shouting, I moved my way into my bedroom to give him privavcy and also to get decent.  It wasn't really proper of me to be standing there water logged in nothing but my underwear. 

I ran a hot shower and stepped in, letting the warm water and steamy air work their sobering magic.  After getting out and toweling off, I tied my long red hair into a messy bun and threw on a pair of pink and purple flannel shorts and a wife beater.  Since it had gone quiet a while ago, I had assumed Zayn had left.  I didn't think I needed to impress anyone so I had changed into one of my more comfy outfits, looks be damned, comfort a priority.

I went to go to do my prehangover ritual: a big glass of water and prophalactic paracetamol but was shocked to see Zayn standing there, leaning against my kitchen counter.

"FUCK! you scared the SHIT outta me!" I screamed as I jumped about a foot in the air.  My heart was beating abouta mile a minute but I can't guarentee it was just from being startled by Zayn.

He repeated himself again.  "Now, where were we, Thalia?"  This time it was said with less of a smile though.

"But your girlfriend?"  This conversation on my part was starting to get old and repetitive.  I didn't know how much longer I could turn him down.

"I called Perrie.  That was the shouting match you heard.  It's over and I think it had been for a while, but now it's official.  Turns out she'd been screwing some drummer so really it's no skin off my nose.  And to think she wanted me to get Little Louder Now fired and have me take time off my tour to go and see her.  What a fucking hypocrit," he scoffed.  He tried to hide the hurt he was feeling inside but I could tell it ran deeper than he was letting on.

"As much as I'd love to get you out of those boxers and get busy with you here and now right on my kitchen floor," he smild wildly at my words, "I don't think that's the best of ideas."  His smile dropped.  "You've been drinking and you just got out of a serious relationship.  I'd feel like I'd be taking advantage of you," I said with smile.

"Isn't that usually the guy's job?  Take advantage of the vulnerable person, i mean," Zayn asked funnily.

"Yeah, completely ironic, I know.  I have some clothes my brother left here that you can borrow so why don't you go take a shower, get changed, and we can talk... and then maybe if you feel up to it much MUCH later, we can have a little bit of that fun you were thinking about earlier.  Sound like a plan?" I suggested.

"You're brilliant, Tal," Zayn said leaning down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"So I'm told.  Now go get ready and help yourself to anything in my bathroom.  Except my tampons.  The tampons are off limits!" I yelled after him since he was already on his way towards my bathroom.

After he had gotten showered and changed, we got comfy on my couch, cuddled together, our legs mingled and entertwined so that you couldn't tell who's limb belonged to whom.  It was comfortable and peaceful.  We talked about everything and nothing.  Very generic sounding, I know, but that is the best way to get to know someone.  Nothing happened romantically though, much to my dissappointment, but it was good enough that we fell asleep snuggled up together in each others arms.