Ladies First (Zayn Malik) Book 4

Chapter 21

As soon as the show was over, we were shuttled to an office where we signed the paperwork for the 5 million dollar contract. They started to give us the details for the X Factor Tour, but they noticed we were too much in shock to fully pay attention so they let us go.

"So you and Nathan huh?" I ask Carmen, arching an eyebrow and she laughs, blushing but not denying it.

"You were a little too preoccupied with Chris AND Zayn," she says with a smirk. I laugh but don't deny it. Obviously I had been.

"We need to celebrate" I say, the rush of adrenaline still flowing through me. I doubted I'd sleep much this week from excitement, much less tonight.

"I might be able to help you with that" Demi says with a grin, coming out of the office and overhearing our exchange. "I'd like to take my winners out." She says with a grin.

"This is incredible! Thank you so much!" I shout to Demi over the music. She'd gotten us into the VIP section of one of the best clubs in LA.

"Anytime!" she calls back. "It was weird mentoring people my age. I hope that now we can be friends," she says. I nod my head, a grin splitting my face. I was friends with Demi Lovato. Four months ago, she hadn't even known I existed. I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and I pull it out, seeing I have an incoming call. I dismiss myself, and head to a corner where it was a little quieter.

"Hello?" I answer still having to shout over the sound of the music.

"I thought you might still be up" a velvety smooth voice responds. My eyes widen as I recognize the British accent.

"Hey!" I say, a lot more excited knowing it was him. I hear him chuckle slightly and I feel myself blush.

"I just wanted to call and tell you congratulations"

"Thanks! I can't believe it. I'm just... I can't" I rush.

"I know the feeling" he responds smoothly. "It won't sink in for a while"

"I don't think it will ever sink in. I just... a year ago, I'd never have thought this would be my life"

"At least you auditioned on your own accord" he counters "My mom forced me out of bed that morning." I let out a laugh. "Well I'll let you go celebrate"

"Wait" I say quickly before he can hang up.

"Yea?" he asks. I hesitate, my mind whirling as I try to figure out if I actually want to ask this question.

"Now that the X Factor is over... are we still... will we still talk?" The thought had been nagging in my head for a while now. If our communication was strictly because of the X Factor or if we were actually friends. I hear him laugh.

"Don't be silly," he says and I feel my heart drop. "Of course we will" A smile of relief fills my face.

"Ok, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a publicity stunt for the show" I say. I hear him laugh again.

"I promise it's not babe" he says "I'll talk to you soon" He hangs up the phone, and I'm left standing there grinning like a fool.

I groan, looking over the sight in front of me. "I'm too tired to do this," I say, collapsing on the pile of clothes I was trying to fit into my suitcase. Carmen snorts, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Too tired or too something else?" she asks with a smirk referencing last night's celebration.

"It's never going to fit." I complain. We were packing up our stuff to move out of the X Factor Mansion. We were renting an apartment in LA while we started rehearsals for the X Factor Tour and began working on our first album. Our first album. Even just thinking about it got me excited. Since it was our first, we wouldn't be doing much of the writing, having no experience whatsoever. But we'd be able to help a little, giving input on what type of songs we'd like to sing about.