The More I Try (An One Direction Fan Fiction)

Epilouge (Chapter Thirty Six)

The music started softly, a hum that quickly built into the soft music that automatically make Thalia sway from side to side, her loose red dress swishing at her knees.

She opened her eyes slowly, taking in the calm gala. It was a big party filled with fancy dressed people, more formal than any party most teenagers went to. There wasn't a dance pit with grinding teens, and any time fast music played people would just listen and cheer. The most dancing was these awkward little shifts from side to side.

But it was good thing it was so muted. Thalia had been to real parties, and real raves filled with alcohol, drugs and sex. She probably wouldn't have been able to handle that.

But know she was just sipping at bubbly water, meeting famous people (half of whom she had no idea who they were) and listening to the live performances. She was pretty much the place holder at the One Direction table, since they were all off socializing for fun and publicity.

Louis had described her as the eye candy. He said she, along with Eleanor (who was socializing) and Julia (who was with Liam, also socializing) were the female part of the male to female ratio- not making the band look completely gay.

Thalia had laughed at the time, but now she was bored- sitting where she wouldn't get in trouble. Where other celebrities couldn't look bad for standing under five feet away from her.

"Hey Thalia." Someone spoke, startling Thalia out of her daze. It was a voice that Thalia would recognize anywhere. Deep, but always full of some sort of emotion that made you smile without realizing it. His hand rested on the back of the chair she was sitting sideways on, and she glanced over her shoulder to smirk at Zayn.

"Hey Zayn." Thalia replied, turning herself around so she faced him more or less. He looked quite handsome in his suit, his hair done up just right. You could see he was content with how he looked, confidence emitting from him every time he smiled.

And he was smiling a lot.

"Would you like to dance Thalia?" He asked softly, holding out a hand for her to take.

Thalia smiled, her hand automatically going out to grasp his. But she stopped mid-way, her hand dropping to her lap and a thoughtful look crossing over her face.

"What's wrong?" Zayn asked, a concern look crossing over his face as he pulled up a chair so he could be at her level. She was looking down at her lap, and Zayn patiently waited for her to answer what was bothering her.

Finally, she spoke.

"It's just that.. I don't know, I feel... As if, you know- how I and you..." Thalia started, stumbling over her words and stopping herself halfway through sentences- still not meeting Zayn's gaze.

Very slowly Zayn's hand went up, softly grasping Thalia's chin and pulling it up so she'd actually meet his sympathetic eyes. He spoke slowly and deliberately, repeating his question.

"What's wrong?"

Thalia was silent for another moment, studying Zayn's face with ashamed looking eyes.

"What will people think if we're dancing together? People will see, and they'll know that- that we- you know." Thalia groaned, her voice filled with frustration. "I mean, I give you bad publicity by just living with you, what will happen if-"

"I don't know." Zayn interrupted, his face serious. He took a deep breath, as if accepting that what Thalia was talking about was true. Then, he broke a soft smile, not showing any teeth. It was a tired smile, but a proud smile.

"I don't know, but I don't care." He finished, standing up and extending his hand once again. He didn't say anything, just waiting for Thalia to make a decision between taking his hand or not. For a moment she didn't do anything, and Zayn's face almost fell.