This Isn't Happening

Chapter 12- So Much for That

     There was something about that smirk on her face that made me want to cry and run away and slap her at the same time. I didn’t need this. Not from her.

     Instead of causing a scene, I turned to walk inside, but Zayn opened the door to come out. He looked like he just saw a ghost. If I hadn’t been fighting the urge to cry, I would have laughed. He was busted and he knew it.

     “Perrie? What are you doing here?” Zayn asked his ex girlfriend. But after my small encounter with her, I wasn’t so sure “ex” was accurate.

     “Don’t play stupid, Zayn.” I said, glaring at him.

     “Yeah, Zayn. Don’t play stupid. You know why I’m here.” Perrie’s high pitched squeal rung in my ears. She twirled a piece of hair around her finger and flashed her stupid little phone in my face and sure enough, there was the text message from Zayn, inviting her over. 

     “Ellie, you have to listen to me.” But I didn’t want to listen. I wanted to go home and have my mom hug me and tell me everything was going to be okay.

     I stared into Zayn’s eyes, looking for something that would make me stay and listen to his side of the story. But from my experiences with Chase, I knew that listening to his side would only cause me more pain.

     “Zayn, it took three months for you to win me over, and it’s going to take you three seconds to watch me leave. I knew better then to get caught up in some stupid relationship.” I glanced at Perrie. “And by the way Miss-I-bleach-my-hair-so-much-it’s-about- to-fall-out, it really wasn’t necessary to cause a scene. But on a higher note, you could always go out for acting instead of singing.”

     I turned to go inside. I could feel the warm tears streaming down my face, and as soon as I got inside, Taylor had her arms open. I cried and cried until the birthday guests got the hint and left.

     Ryder was in his room for an afternoon nap, and Taylor still had her arms around me on the couch. I really should’ve seen this coming. I knew it was too good to be true. Zayn was just like any other celebrity.

     “Taylor… He invited her over!” I don’t know why I was screaming. “Why would he do that? Was one girlfriend not good enough?”

     She hesitated. I could tell she didn’t want to answer me. “I don’t know, Ellie…”

     Without waiting for any other comments that didn’t really matter, I dried my eyes and stormed off to my bedroom. She knew better then to come and talk to me. A few seconds later, I heard the front door shut and then a car drive away.

       The rest of Saturday and Sunday, I spent lying in bed with Ryder. We watched TV and cuddled, and did anything else that kept me distracted.

     Monday was not a fun day. I did not want to get out of bed. I did not want to take Ryder to daycare. I did not want to go to work. But I had to, so I sucked it up and put a smile on my face.

     I was typing away on my laptop, when my phone chimed. It said “Zayn” so I clicked declined. I didn’t want to talk to him. Even if he wasn’t the cheater that I thought he was.

     A few minutes later, the text messages began. “Answer me please?” or “We need to talk.” or “Let me explain.”

     And each time, I didn’t reply.

     It was about two o’clock in the afternoon when I thought music would cure my small case of depression. When I clicked “shuffle” on my ipod, the song that came on distracted me.

     It was a song that I hadn’t paid much attention to before. The lyrics now meant something to me, something that hit home.

“Looks likeyou do the same, with all your other girls.

Except you bought her flowers and you bought me pearls.

When you’re going out tonight, I know you’re seeing her again,

Saw your picture together, now you’re kissing all your ‘friends’.”

 

     I was really absorbed in the song. These lyrics explained exactly what I was thinking.

     About the third time it came on replay, there was a knock on my office door.

     “Come in.” I mumbled, pausing the song when Taylor came storming in.

     “Um what are you doing?” she asked.

     Was I missing something? “Um listening to music?”

     “But not on the radio! Hurry! You gotta listen!”

     “Taylor, you’re confusing me.”

     She was across the room, playing with the radio. “Here it is! Listen!” I honestly regretted listening.

     “And now, we have One Direction’s Zayn Malik here with us to answer some fan questions.” The radio interview said.

     I listened as that familiar accent answered questions to millions of people who loved him. “Why are you doing this to me, Taylor?” She shrugged.

     The next question caught my attention.

     “Okay, last one. What’s your biggest regret in life?”

     Zayn waited a minute before answering, like he was in real deep thought. Finally he spoke.

     “Probably ruining things with the girl that I absolutely love. Her name is Ellie, and she is the sweetest person I’ve ever met. But, being the jerk I am, got my ex involved, and I shouldn’t have. I know it hurt her, and Ellie, I’m sorry.”

     The interview went off, and I heard the click of my radio being turned off. When I looked across the room, Taylor was grinning.

     “What’s your problem?”

     “What’s my problem? Ellie! He just confessed he loved you live on the radio.”

     “So?” I asked, not amused at all.

     “He loves you.”

     “He’s lying.”