Complementary

thirty two

home - edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes

zayn

Carlie wears a large hat around the airport. She claims she is having a bad hair day, though she still looks very pretty, wearing ripped jeans that show off some of her skin. I wonder why she has not dressed comfortably considering we will be sitting on a jet for hours, but to each his own.

"This is going to be a long plane ride, just warning you." I speak up as we find a seat to wait for our flight to be called.

She sits down and leans back, stretching her legs out in front of her. "How long?"

"About six and a half hours. Maybe less, if we're lucky."

Carlie scoffs. "That's nothing. Have you ever flown to Tokyo?"

I feel myself smile with amusement. "No, I do not think I've had the privilege."

"Almost fourteen hours," she tuts. "Imagine sitting next to my father in a cramped space for that long."

"Why did you go to Tokyo?" I decide to ask.

"I had always wanted to go because I really love Japan's culture, so when I turned 16, my father took me. Nicest thing he has ever done for me, to date. But that's because he only knows how to do good with his money, of course."

I frown. "Maybe that's the only way he knows how to show affection, Carlie."

Her lips form a tight line before saying, "Then that is horribly sad."

I open my mouth to reply but the sound of our flight being called resonates out through the intercom, and the two of us stand abruptly. I reach for her hand to hold and she accepts graciously, shooting me a reassuring smile.

"You sure you have everything?" I ask as we stand in line. "Medication, license, condoms?"

"That's quite an odd combination of things to make sure I have packed," Carlie snorts. "I have all of the above, except for the condoms. That is your job to remember, sir."

I exhale deeply. "I thought you were bringing them. We can just buy them when we get there."

"Guess we're not joining the mile high club, then."

"What a travesty."

-

Though it is not surprising, Carlie claims the window seat once we board the plane. She seems to enjoy this spot by the way she stares out into the sky, gaping incredulously at the clouds as we soar above them. I cannot help but to take a photo of her when she is not paying attention. It is beautiful; one of her legs pressed against her chest as she looks to her right. Her face is not visible but the image is still quite nice.

"You're a creep." She comments, catching me staring at the picture on my phone.

I laugh, looking up to face her. "I am not."

"Yes, you are," she presses. "You always take photos of me when I'm not looking."

I roll my eyes. "Need I remind you, I am an aspiring photographer and you are my photogenic girlfriend."

She blinks, stilling. It is then that I realize the slip of my tongue.

"Um," I backtrack, stuttering. "I didn't mean that. I didn't, uh - sorry."

Her lips curl upward at the ends. "You're cute."

"No, I am not." I groan, running my hands over my face and shaking my head. "I'm embarrassing."

Carlie laughs. "Calm down, Zayn. I'll be your girlfriend if you want."

It is my turn to freeze. "What?"