{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.8

I hadn't been to Pacheco's since the day my mother embarrassed me, and so I had not seen nor heard from Zayn. I was partially fine with it because he made me giddy. I'm not a giddy person when it comes to guys. I'm very easy-going, and I couldn't understand why Zayn made me like this. I could not process why I would sit up at night thinking about that accent and that chiseled jaw and.... oh god, what's wrong with me?

"Hello.. earth to Lauren." Camila's hand waved in my face. I blinked my eyes and saw she was holding two bottles of different red nail polishes in her hands. "You completely zoned out on me."

"Oh.. sorry," I ran my fingers through my hair. "I asked what color do you want your toes? Blood red or ruby red?"

"The blood reds fine."

"Of course," she laughed. "In usual Lauren Jauregui fashion."

My phone started ringing and I picked it up. My eyes widened when I saw Zayn's name flashing across the screen as an incoming call. "It's Zayn!" I gasped. Camila's eyes widened as well, and her mouth fell open. "Shut up."

"What do I do?!" I tossed my phone like a hot potato between my hands.

"Answer it!"

"I refuse."

"Answer it, oh my god."

It was too late. It became a missed call. "Maybe he accidentally called me?" I thought. Camila made a face.

"And it would ring for that long? I don't think so."

My phone beeped. "He left a voicemail!" I squealed. Camila got even closer and I placed my phone on speaker. "Hey Lauren. It's me Zayn from Pacheco's, but you know that... stalker," he laughed. I rolled my eyes but continued to listen intently. "My co-worker Dinah is having a party for her birthday tonight and she told us to invite anyone, so on behalf of Harry and I you and Camille are invited. Just text me if you're up for it."

"He called me Camille but I'll forgive him. Are you going to the party?!"

"I don't know..."

"You pressured me into going to that party last time, so now I'm making you come to this. In the wise words of Lauren, 'oh c'mon it'll be fun.'"

Camila took quite some time to persuade me but I gave in. "Is this it?" Camila asked parking her car. There weren't really any signs that a party was going on. I looked at the address that Zayn had sent. "Says so." Camila nodded and pulled her keys out, climbing out the car. "Wait!" I grabbed her arm. She turned her head and raised an eyebrow. "What if it's a set up and nobodies here?" Camila started laughing.

"Did we switch brains or something? Come on Lauren, it'll be fine." I took a deep breath and unbuckled my seatbelt.

As we got closer to the house that's when I could hear the music from inside. "Do we knock or just walk in?" Camila asked. Usually at parties there were a group of people outside on the porch charging guys as they went in and allowing the girls to just saunter in.

I texted Zayn and waited for a response. A few moments later, the door opened and Zayn stood there with a smile on his face. "Welcome to the party ladies." We followed him inside and it wasn't the typical party that I'm used to seeing or being at. There were maybe twenty people total, and they were all inside the living room sitting gathered around. The table in front of them was full of liquor bottles and chasers and they were playing what looked to me to be taboo.

Harry waved to Camila and patted the spot next to him. I watched how intense the game was getting and just stood on the sideline. "Hey, I recognize you from Pacheco's!" Dinah pointed.