White Christmas [One Direction]

Mistletoe ~ [Zayn Malik]

I was following behind Zayn. My hands firmly holding the sides of my dress to keep it from dusting the floor. I lifted my gaze to find as passing by the busy sleek kitchen, professionally designed with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, utensils on hooks. It was spotless and well equipped. He lifted his hand up to wave at one of the workers. Passing by a black man that was concentrating on cutting the carrots, Zayn placed his hand on man's shoulder greeting him. He was way too cheerful while leading me. As he turned around I couldn't take my gaze away from his eyes. They were midnight and ravens wings. They were the type of darkness that wasn't dark. They were sweet silence before dawn and responsibility. Dark eyes aren't always a bad thing. ''Come on.'', Zayn broke me out of my thoughts. He had a way of walking that made him seem perpetually in a hurry. His steps weren't long but they were rapid. Like a speed-walker without that odd twisting motion they make.We finally entered the restaurant. It was full. I looked around at the busy tables. An old couple eating side by side, one glass of wine each, studiously bent over their meals. A group of young women in their thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman dining alone nearby looked on and frowned. Businessmen in their gray suits lighting up cigars. American tourists, trying to decipher the menu. A family and their teenage children. The noise level was high. The smoke level, too. But it didn't bother me. He walked us over to a man. His black uniform neatly ironed and tucked in, red tie around his neck suffocating him like a python wound around him.His cheeks were milky white and bulging, like two fat water balloons just waiting to be popped. They were ready for a good poke or pinch. Zayn's mouth twitched, and I was pretty sure he was fighting a smile as if he just read my mind.

''Welcome, Miss. Julia. Will you please follow me over to your table.'', we followed him 

The waiter stood with what looked like a mini touch screen computer ready to take our order. As we spoke he deftly tapped the screen to transmit the order straight to the kitchen, then he beamed at us with the enthusiasm of someone new to the job and asked if he could get us any drinks.  ''A glass of water will be fine.'', I spoke watching Zayn agree with me. 

From nowhere came the sound of a delivered message from a cell phone. Zayn pulled out his phone and typed a message while apologizing for it.

The rich aroma of the dish wafted down and beckoned me. I could not resist the delightful sensations that whipped up inside my memory at the mere thought of delving my teeth deep and fast into the pulpy texture of the pizza. Cheese spread atop in copious amounts and the wide assortment of condiments sprinkled in the perfect amounts mingle to produce a taste unlike any other: salty, peppery, cheesy with a whiff of Italian cuisine and a tinge of Greek taste.  

Zayn took a piece and stood up a bit to put it inside of my mouth. I giggled a bit taking a bite of it, he sat back and folded a napkin and extended his hand towards my face. He started wiping away what pizza left on the corners of my mouth. There was that static again, that crackling in the air that always happens whenever he touches me.  It's amazing what this man could do to me with only a piece of his touch.

He talked more with his hands than his mouth, the words existing as an explanation to the movements. When he was happy, you could see it from across the room. But if he was nervous, the gestures would all but cease. It was only apparent if you knew him. 

Taking a deep breath and standing up from his seat. Zayn walked over to my side pulling me up on my feet. ''I love you Julia. That means I would defend you with my life even if the odds were insurmountable. It means I will comfort you in the difficult and painful times. It means I will dance and rejoice with you when times are good. It means I will never betray you, never give up on you. It means finding my fire when you, my loved one, is threatened, yet never waging war, only doing what is necessary for a noble defense. That means though life may test me I am yours into eternity and I will never abandon you. It means I will never put you in danger no matter how noble the "cause" may be. Love is not a concept for sheep, for sheep run at the first sign of fear; it is a concept for lions, so be brave my love and know that I am here.With words, I can draw you close, soothe you until the cage around your heart snaps as if it were made of thin caramel strands rather than rusting iron. With words, I can paint you a life you want to live for, a life that your subconscious approves of. With words, I can take what is broken inside of you and make it willing to walk the hard road of recovery, not just to wellness, but to thriving and embracing each new day. I know that unless my words are backed up with consistent love, the kind that money can't buy, they will all be as valuable as the print on the newspaper that is charring and burning in the hearth. So I will be there each and every day to talk about the little things, to make you breakfast and watch silly movies with you. I will be there to wrap you in my arms when the bad memories threaten to pull you under again, every time, for always. You don't have to believe me now, I'm not even asking you to, I will prove it every day because I love you.'' 

He knelt down in front of me and opened a box to reveal a ring inside of it. This wide silver ring. It is set with a large opaque vivid red, orange, dark blue, and black octagon cut gem. It was beautiful. ''Will you marry me?'', I stood there and let the happiness soak right into my bones. ''Yes!'', I hardly answered as a single tear slid down from my warm, butterscotch eyes, followed by another one, and another one, until soon, a steady stream of salty tears flowed it's way down my pale cheeks, releasing not the sadness and sorrow, but happiness and so much love I felt for him.