Change Your Ticket

You really are a klutz, aren't you?

Harry's POV

I can't believe I managed to completely make a fool out of myself in front of Zayn. If there has been even the slightest chance of him liking me, it is now gone. And the fact that I have actually told him about never having been kissed is also driving me crazy. He probably thinks that I am just an uptight and childish boy, who can't help but mistake flirting for already being committed to one another. Although, not to just blame entirely myself, Zayn is irritating me on a high level. At first, he gives me the impression of not liking me at all, and then he starts flirting with me, but only to make out with another girl at the club. In all honesty, maybe me not getting him is already a sign that I should just forget about him.
After all, I would only need to endure him for a few more days.
Content with my plan, I finally open my eyes. Immediately, I am taken back by the bright light, which is starting to give me a small headache.
"Hungover, I see", the person who I have just decided to avoid chuckles deeply. I ignore him and get up without saying a word. To my surprise, Niall, Louis and Liam are not in our room. Groaning out loud, I can't help but wonder if the universe is messing with me. Like seriously?
Now I am stuck with Zayn?
Brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower I already feel slightly better. And after having put on my Gucci perfume, I am satisfied enough to go face Zayn again.
Sadly, my best mates have still not come back from wherever they went to.
"Ehmm", I hem, striving to get his attention.
"Yes?", Zayn quirks an eyebrow at me. He is lying topless on his bed, his one hand folded behind his head, while his other is holding up a book. Trying to avoid staring at his upper body and admiring his various tattoos, I glance at the book cover instead. The Hotel New Hampshire the title says and I unavoidably smile as some form of endearment because I literally have just finished reading that book two weeks ago.
The thud of closing the book is snapping me out of my train of thoughts. Zayn is slowly sitting up now, gazing expectantly at me.
"Ehmm", I nervously start speaking again, already feeling embarrassed from zoning out in front of him, "I was wondering where everybody went?" Feeling a bit weird to be standing in front of him, I slowly start to step back, placing one foot after the other, until I suddenly slip on what must be a t-shirt. Not a second later, I have not collided with the surface of the floor, but I am being held by to muscular tanned arms.
"You really are a klutz, aren't you?", Zayn states clearly amused. I don't even know how to respond to that. Because, yes, maybe I am a klutz. But right now, all I can think about is how close our bodies are and how I have never felt so safe and protected in anyone's arms. I wish I could just freeze this moment and stay like this or put it in a frame and keep reliving it. It feels so good to be held. It feels so good to feel his body heat through the fabric of my shirt. It feels so good to have his hair tickling my neck slightly. It feels so good to breathe in his scent.
So, for a short second, I further allow myself to sink into Zayn's hold, pressing my body closer to his.
"Harreh", his voice is almost makes me jump up. Rapidly, I untangle myself from him and walk straight to my bed. After having sat down and taking in a deep breath, I face him again.
"Yeah?", I almost crook out.
"I asked if you wanted to head out for breakfast together, since the others already left around an hour ago."
"What", I ask dumb founded, feeling like I am in some parallel universe. After the way I behaved yesterday, I have not expected Zayn to be so chill about it.
"Sure", the words leave my mouth before I can prevent them. There goes my plan to start avoiding him.

"Oh and thanks", I mumble, to which he gives me a confused stare, "for a catching me."
"Always", he smoothly retorts and if I wouldn't feel attracted to them, I would have laugh about him constantly flirting.
This makes another thought occur in my head, maybe Zayn just always flirts? Maybe, it's not specifically directed at me. Maybe, he is just always being flirty towards others and it's just in his nature? When I had been younger people used to tell me I was quite the charmer. Not in terms of constantly flirting with people, not but in the sense of always making smooth and light conversation which made the other person feel more opened up and like they mattered to me. So, naturally people seemed to like me.
And who says Zayn can't  be the same? Although, I am not really that guy from back then anymore. At least not around Zayn.
"Okay, let's head out", he says and holds out the door for me.
I quickly grab my purse and phone and follow him.
"Do you know a good place around here?", I hesitantly ask, keeping my focus on the traffic.
"I actually do. If you don't mind me choosing the place", he kindly responds, all former cockiness and his flirting tone gone.
"I don't mind", I speak a bit more confidently now.

We walk together in silence. But somehow it doesn't feel awkward and I don't get the urge to break it by saying something irrelevant. I just blindly keep following him through the crowded streets.
"Harreh", he sighs, when I have to wait at a traffic light, while he is already on the other side. I stare at him apologetically.
As soon as I have crossed the street, Zayn does something unexpected, he simply intertwines our hands. And if I would not be so shocked, I might have pulled away.
"Wouldn't want you to get lost, would we?", he whispers into my ear before staring back ahead of us.
Frankly speaking, I don't know how to respond to I keep quiet and let myself be pulled by him.
And maybe, just maybe, I also enjoy him guiding me through the city.