{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.12

I felt weird in my surroundings all of a sudden. I didn't want Selena to think that I was a "homewrecker" in a lighter aspect of the word, but this is her second time seeing me with Zayn so even if I went out there, she had no right to believe me even if I protested my innocence.

Zayn came back inside moments after the food arrived and Selena wasn't with him. I glanced out the window and saw that she was now sitting on the curb. "What was that about?" Harry asked. Zayn was standing up next to the table digging in his wallet. "You know, just Selena being Selena," he said tossing money down onto the table. Zayn looked at me. "That should cover you and I," he said. I didn't say anything, I just nodded.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Normani asked.

"To take Selena back home. I'll see you guys around," he waved us off and walked away.

Camila looked at me with a sad expression and Ally whispered, "You okay?" to which I nodded because of course I was okay. I was just sort of bothered by the events that were positive turning negative.

"We should have a sleepover at my place one of these days," Normani suggested suddenly.

"That sounds splendid," Liam rubbed his hands together. Normani made a face at him.

"Girls only," she sneered.

"That'd be awesome," Ally said. "I'm here for a few more weeks, so I have all that time."

"We can have a guys sleepover," Louis said. "A bros night. Troy, mate, you are invited."

"Anyways," Dinah laughed. "It'll be cool since it's usually just Mani and I. I'm glad we have three new friends. I felt that instant connection."

"I felt like I was the only one," Camila chimed in.

"Lauren? Are you down?" Normani asked. I looked up from the bacon, sausage and cheese omelet I was once so excited to devour but since then just took three bites. "Yeah, sure," I said.

"Great, Zayn left his phone here. How do you leave your phone?" Niall questioned pulling it up from under a napkin. "Just bring it to him," Louis said.

"I can't right away. I've got plans with a lady friend," he winked at us.

"I could take it to him," I said.

"You can? Like as soon as possible, you mean?" Niall asked.

"Yeah. We go sort of in that direction to get home. It's not out of our way," I said.

"Here you go then. It's dead," Niall clicked the home button. "He's probably freaking out trying to call it."
-
"What do you mean that this isn't out of our way? We live in the complete opposite direction," Camila said from the backseat as I instructed Troy on where to make turns. "Camz, I'm handing him his phone and then leaving. It's not like you have anything to do once we get home anyway."

"I was going to facetime Harry," she said kind of quietly.

"Well aren't you two just the newest lovebirds," I said.

Troy parked in front of Zayn's apartment complex and I told them I'd be back in a few minutes. I climbed out the car and headed inside and up the stairs. I knocked on Zayn's door and stood there patiently.

Moments later, the door opened to reveal Selena. "What the fuck are you doing here?!" she sneered. I glanced past her but didn't see Zayn. "I-" I was frozen. I was in shock.

"Look," Selena said in a serious tone but a smirk on her lips. "I don't want to be the one to disappoint but.. Zayn and I are one of those forever type of things. He told me you mean absolutely nothing to him." I could feel a lump in my throat. I however wasn't going to cry. I was just going to loose my chill.

"I was just- I came to return his phone." I held the phone out toward her, and that's when I saw Zayn come from the hallway wrapped in a towel, fresh out the shower.

"Sel, what are you doing?" he questioned coming closer and then he spotted me. "Lauren? What's going on?"

"You uh, you left your phone at the diner and I just was returning it.. I'll go now," I said handing it to Selena who snatched it from me and handed it to Zayn.

"Thanks," he said. I nodded and started turning around. Just seconds later I heard the door shut.

I went back into the car, feeling crumby about things. "That was quicker than I thought," Ally said.

"Yeah, I thought you would've sat down and talked," Camila added on.

"Selena was there," I said buckling my seatbelt and crossing my arms over my chest. "Selena is always going to be there."