One Direction: A Hot Mess

Chapter 9

Zayn's POV

I cut up the tomatoes and threw them on top of the salad. Then I went over the oven to check on my bread. Whoever said I can't cook is delusional.

"I got the pizza," Niall said, strolling in with three large cheese pizzas in his arms.

Speaking of people who can't cook.

I sighed and put the homemade salad on the table next to the grease-stained boxes. "Dinner's ready, boys," I yelled.

There was the sound of pounding feet, and Harry flew into the room. He slammed into one of the wooden chairs as he sat down and threw the box open, shoving a piece in his mouth immediately.

Louis came in just as fast as Harry, but when he went by the oven, he stopped short. "Mmmmm," he inhaled. "Bread."

I pushed him over to the table. "Bread's not ready yet, Lou." But he was already concentrating on something else.

"What the hell is that?!" he shrieked pointing to the salad. Harry and Niall covered their ears, and I just shook my head.

"It's salad," Liam said, entering the room, "And it looks delicious. Thanks, Zayn." He smiled brightly at me, and I returned the smile.

Lou was still looking at the bowl with fear. Liam took it away from him to put some on his plate, and Lou visibly relaxed and sat down. After getting the bread out of the oven and a stick of butter, I sat down too. It looked like Niall and Harry were both on their third piece of pizza already, even though Niall seemed to have managed to have some salad too. Louis was eating pizza, and Liam was eating salad. I took a little bit of each and then passed around the bread. I took a bite. Good job, Zayn, I thought to myself.

"So what's everyone doing tonight?" Niall asked with his mouth full of food.

"We're still on to see that movie, right?" Liam said. Niall nodded his head. "Does anyone else wanna come?"

Louis shot Harry a look and then said kind of loudly. "I can't. I'm too tired."

Harry nodded. "Me too." That's...fishy.

What could I say?! I couldn't let them know what I was doing! "Can't," I stated. "I...I...That show that I really wanted to see is premiering tonight."

"Oh really?" Liam asked, sipping his water. "What show is that?"

"Ummm that one with the dogs...and the supermodels...it like a dog show...and a fashion show... It's...Rover Runway." Rover Runway?! Seriously?!

"Yeah, I've heard of that," Lou said. I turned to look at him like he was crazy. Whoops, I mean of course he knew what show I was talking about. I stared down at my plate and shoved another piece of bread into my mouth. But no one really seemed to notice.

"Well, if we want to see the movie, we better get going," Liam announced, clearing his plate. Niall did the same and waved goodbye to us.

"See you tomorrow for the interview!"

Once they were gone, Louis spoke up too. "Yeah, we better be going too, Zayn. Thanks for dinner." Harry just nodded. They put their plates on the counter top.

I waved and then ate a little more, but the second they left, I jumped up. Racing across the room to where my phone was charging, I quickly unlocked it and clicked create new message.

"They're gone. You can come now."

Send.

Flashback

I woke up disoriented. Where was I? Certainly not my bedroom.

Oh right the hotel, I remembered. After Lights last night, I'd come here with Nicole. I fell asleep in her bed with her. Then, when I woke up at three, I was too tired to go back home. So I'd just trudged down to the lobby and gotten a room for myself.