Mark My Words

Chapter 4: Promises

“Bienvenido a México!” The pilot translated. I spoke some Spanish, but not much. I knew enough to realize the pilot said Welcome to Mexico. Simple stuff.

Danielle and Liam were the first to get off the plane. They pushed through nearly everybody. I really hoped this wasn’t because of me.

“What’s his problem?” Harry asked nudging Niall. Niall shook his head and put on the pair of sunglasses dangling from his tank top.

“I’ve never seen him like this before, maybe it’s just a man period.” Billy laughed and then added, “Just wants to get it on with Danielle, y’know.” He punched Niall in the arm. They both “Ohhhhhhh”d. 

Louis shook his head. “Come on mates, you know he’s not like that. Maybe he’s just tired.”

Even though Niall and Billy made somewhat crude jokes about their friend, I had to laugh. These boys were funny! I could get used to this.

“Doesn’t really matter anyway,” Zayn observed. “We’re all taking the same limo to the hotel so leaving earlier than we do doesn’t give them any advantage. We’ll catch up with them.” He looked underneath my seat. “Don’t forget your purse.” What an awesome guy. Who else would tote around a lady’s handbag?

I have said it a million times before, but I’ll say it a million times more. Zayn Javaad Malik is, was, and always will be my best friend.

----

After arriving at our hotel, we split room keys by the boys of One Direction and their friend they brought along. When choosing rooms, Liam handed Zayn the key to 536, and took the key to 500. It was a real mystery, wasn’t it? I wasn’t going to let it bother me. I said what I had to and I meant it all. If he couldn’t accept it, that was on him.

I went into the bathroom of mine and Zayn’s room to change into a bathing suit. I wanted to head straight to the beach before too many others did. I pulled over a crop top and shorts quickly just so I didn’t waltz around the hotel practically naked.

Zayn was sitting on his bed staring down at his phone. “I’ll meet you down at the beach, Jordin, give me a little while.”

“Err, alright then. Are you okay?” I grabbed my beach bag with my name in calligraphy sewn into it. It reminded me of family. It reminded me of home- of my childhood.

“Yeah, I just have to do something. I have a promise to keep.”

I went down to the beach. The air in Mexico was so warm and thick compared to the places I’d been to back in the United Kingdom. The sand was soft and warm too, it practically felt as if I was walking on air.

Ten minutes after I started tanning, Liam’s girlfriend Danielle placed her chair next to me. I was astounded. Didn’t she hate me?

“I love your bathing suit.” She said applying sunscreen. I turned around to make sure she was talking to me. She was.

“Thank you,” I said. I looked up towards the sun and decided that wasn’t good enough. “I don’t know if you heard when I introduced myself at like six in the morning, I’m Jordin.”

“Yeah, I did. I’m Danielle.” She took off her sunglasses and unwrapped her towel revealing her bikini body. Damn, if I were Liam, I’d tap that, too. Her body was perfectly toned. Perhaps she was a dancer?

“I’m glad I’m not the only girl here.” I said. WHY WAS I STILL TALKING? It was so awkward.

“Me too,” she replied rather quickly. “Maybe we should stick together since boys can be so… strange sometimes.”

I nodded in agreement. “Definitely.”

Danielle and I chatted for maybe another half hour. We would’ve continued, but she wanted to feel the water. I stayed laying flat on my towel waiting for Zayn. Perfect timing.

“Jordin,” Zayn puffed. He was breathing heavily. “I need to talk to you.”

I stood up wrapping myself in my towel. “What’s up? Why are you all sweaty? Are you okay?”

He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and sighed. “I’m fine, I was running. I told you I had to keep a promise, right?” I nodded. He panted. “I told you I’d tell you something about Liam since you told me about your history.” Zayn unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing showing off his abs. It was a short-sleeved flannel, nothing like he would buy on his own. It looked good, though. Maybe it was one of the other boys’.

“Well?” I was so nervous. This could be anything.

“I have to tell you everything.” He sat down in Danielle’s chair.

---- The Story as it Happened in Zayn’s POV ----

Liam opened the door for me and immediately let me in. “Hey, Zayn. What’s happenin’?”

I shook my head. “Don’t pretend like everything is all good here. Be honest with me, okay?” He sat down on his bed confused. I stayed by the door, it felt safer there. “What’s the deal with you and Jordin? Will you get along or should I go home and take her with me?”

“Take her? Mate, if anything, you should take me home.”

Those last words rung in my head but I’m not sure why. “Why would I do that?”

“Because being here is the last thing I want, especially since I’m around Jordin. You don’t get it, do you? I’ll have you know that I’ve known Miss Jordin Heil much longer than you have. There was a time where I wasn’t so popular around school and I was picked on a lot. All I really wanted was someone to be with so I didn’t feel so alone and out of place in a world where I felt I didn’t belong. Jordin was perfect. She was one of the smartest girls in my year and by far the most beautiful. I asked her out twenty-two times. Do you know how many times she said yes? Zero. I knew what she was doing. She didn’t want to hang around with that sick loser who had a few friends. She didn’t see the real me. And guess what, Zayn? I FORGIVE HER. I am so totally over it but I don’t want her to know because I feel like if we were cool… if we got along, my life as I know it would be over. I find her extremely attractive to this day but I love the girl I’m with. I never go back on my word since my word is my law. Sure I’ll never ask her on a date ever again but I may just fall in love all over. Do you see why I need to stay as far away from her as possible? It’s not her. It’s me.”

---- Jordin’s POV ----

“I’ll be right back.” I got up and left Zayn there all by himself.

I walked down the beach. I didn’t stop. I walked for the rest of the day hoping I would disappear forever, but unfortunately I did not.