Under the Willow Tree (Zayn Malik Fan Fiction) *on hold*

Chapter 09: Nightmare on Main Street

I lay still in my bed, restless, puzzled, and confused. I can't seem to wrap my head around what Carmen said to me last Friday. She had told me all about Zayn's misadventures in his old town and Darling... How he stole his ex-girlfriend’s car and drove it off the back roads into a barn, how he spray painted all the benches in the park of where he used to live in bright pink, how he'd get high with his friends and go around smashing people's things outside including the windows of his school.

It seemed completely unrealistic yet in a way, it kind of made sense. I mean, why else would he always be alone? Why would nobody talk to him? It’s not like he wasn’t good looking, on the contrary. No, Zayn would never do those things. Not the Zayn I know. As much as I do not want to admit it, there should be a reason why people stay clear of him.

No matter, it’s a new day. For what reason should people have to dwell on Zayn’s past actions? He’s a better person now. Besides, I was with him yesterday and I didn’t bother mentioning what Carmen had told me the day before. It was as if it never happened. Maybe it never did and Becky is full of bullshit. Either way, I’m not worried. I like Zayn and he likes me regardless.

* *  * *

I have to sleep. I have to sleep. I have to sleep.

For the past few hours, I’ve been restlessly tossing and turning in my bed. Glancing at my clock every now and then, praying that either I fall asleep or the sun rises.

… 2:08… 2:14… 2:21…

The night seems endless. I take action and pull my quilted comforter off my bare legs despite the cold morning air and make my way downstairs for an extra early morning snack. I shield my squinting eyes from the incredibly bright refrigerator light as I open its stainless steel door. I quickly browse up and down the shelves and drawers without luck.

“Ugh.” I moan before closing the door. I’m not even that hungry, I just want to eat. I open the fridge back up like any other teenager would and pull out half of a honey dew melon. I’d prefer cantaloupe but this works too, I guess. I place the melon on the grey tiled counter and pull out a sharp steak knife. I go to turn the kitchen light on before cutting the honey dew and hesitate, will this wake somebody up? The creaky stairs could have already lightened their sleep. I decide to slice the melon under the simple light of the crescent moon and country stars. I soon realize that that was a bad move on my part. The melon slips causing me to slice my index finger. I let out a small cry. I drop the knife and rush to the sink to rinse my finger off in cold water. I look back at my now blood covered melon, my non-existing appetite is long gone.

“Megan?”

I turn my head to see Carmen at the foot of the staircase letting down her hair straightener and her guard once she realized it was I making all the noise. She seemed relieved. “I thought someone took you and robbed the house or something.” she whispered violently. “I was ready to kick some butt.” Her blond curls are bunched up into a messy bun with small loose hairs floating in every possible direction.

I chuckle, my finger still under the freezing stream of water. “What were you going to do with a cold hair straightener, bed-head? Tong the criminal to death?”

“Whack them on the back of the head, then kick them in the shins and save your ass.” she smirked and glanced down at my bloody melon. “What happened here? Why is your melon bleeding?”

My friend places the iron on a chair, grabs a bunch of paper towels and wipes up the mess for me. “I couldn’t see anything and misguided my knife. I cut my finger and bled all over my midnight snack. Could you get me a Band-Aid?”

Carmen couldn’t hold back from laughing at me. “Sure thing, melon head.”

She brings back some disinfectant and a bright orange Band-Aid. “You couldn’t have gotten me a more subtle colour?” I say sticking the luminescent coloured Band-Aid on my wound.

“Nope, you know how I like to stand out. Besides, Zayn will dig it.” she winks.

“I’m sure he’ll find it very sexy, thank you, Car. Maybe I should get you a similar one and stick it to your forehead. Will would totally be turned on.”

We laugh then head back upstairs and slide under our covers. “I’m not even tired.” I whisper to Carmen after a few seconds.

“Me neither.” she answers. “Wanna sneak out? It’s only like, 2:30.”

Sure enough, we made our way out the back without a sound. We couldn’t just leave it at that though. Knowing us, everything had to be a little more interesting and challenging. Carmen and I ended up sneaking out of the house in our bras and underwear. Mine, a lacy navy blue and hers, a bright pink.

For the rest of the night, the two of us ventured around town, continuing our little dare war like we used to as kids.

“I dare you to knock on this person’s window and not get caught.”

“I dare you to jump into the lake.”

“I dare you to walk by that bar’s window without being seen.”

“I dare you to climb onto that car and do the Macarena.”

We never failed to accomplish any of the dares, no matter how crazy. Carmen’s face suddenly lit up. A devious smile formed on her face.

“Not too harsh.” I warned, knowing exactly that she had the perfect challenge to throw at me.

“I dare you to run butt naked down Main Street.”

My eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You gotta do it, Megs!” she giggled. “Besides, you have nothing to worry about.”

“Really.” I scoffed sarcastically.

“Really!” she insisted. “Darling is a tiny town and Main Street is completely lifeless at 4 a.m. C’mon, don’t be a chicken.”

Carmen actually has a point. It’s not like people are driving through Darling like it’s New York City, and nobody will see me besides her, which didn’t bother me at all. She's basically my sister, when we were younger we'd even bathe together to save water.

I sigh, “Fine.”

We make our way down to Main Street, still in our underwear and flip flops. While most people find that the streets of Darling give off an eerie Nightmare on Elm Street feeling with the dimmed lights and dead silence, I find it peaceful and serene with the moonlight beaming off the stillness of the lake.

I take a deep breath in and let it out exaggeratedly next to Carmen, emphasising my discomfort. She couldn’t care less.

“Let’s do this.” she smiled.

“Let’s? I don’t see you running commando down the main street of Darling.”

“Oh suck it up and honor the dare.”

I sigh once more, “I’ll get you back, you little turd.”

I quickly slip out of my underwear, undo my bra and let them drop to the floor. I take off my flip flops to avoid making any unnecessary noise that could possibly draw attention to my naked self.

Here we go.

So this is it, huh. Me, running and twirling around pathetically, butt naked down the main street of my best friend’s grandmother’s hometown with her watching me in tears of laughter. I do a few pirouettes and one or two cartwheels. 

Good times.

“Yeah!” I hear Carmen call as I run back to her. “You did well, my friend.”

“Shut it.” I snapped before breaking out in hysterical laughter with my best friend as I got dressed and slipped into my shoes.

It’s moments like these that make Carmen and I such amazing friends. They bring us back to when we were little kids and all the crazy things we’d do. Darling had that effect on us. I guess these are the days we’ll remember forever. I just hope nobody saw me…