{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.13

I had just gotten out of the shower the following afternoon and I went into my bedroom and slipped on shorts and a tanktop. "Lauren! Door!" my sister, Taylor called out. I ran my fingers through my damp hair and headed down the stairs. I expected to see Camila or Ally and Troy, or all three, but it was Zayn.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Just wanted to talk," he answered. I nodded and cleared my throat. "Okay then uh, I guess let's talk?"

Taylor was standing there, staring at us. "Somewhere that my little sister isn't."

Zayn followed me to the backyard and we made our way over to the hammock. "Thanks again for bringing me my phone," he said. "I know it was out of your way." I nodded, staring straight ahead at the pool water rippling.
"It honestly wasn't a problem at all," I said.

Things got quiet and this time it was an awkward silence. "Selena didn't say anything to you last night.. did she?"

"She did actually, but it's fine. I'm fine," I reassured him.

"What'd she say?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter. What was said was said," I shrugged.

"It does matter. I don't want her lessening your worth or putting words into my mouth."

"She just said that you and her were a forever thing and that you said I mean absolutely nothing to you, which okay.. I get it."

"You believe that? I never once told her you meant absolutely nothing to me. Those were her words. She kept asking me if you and I had something going on and I said no, and she said tell me she means absolutely nothing to you and I wouldn't say it-- You know what, I don't even know why I'm explaining myself against her. I've told you stories. You've seen first hand how crazy she is."

"You're right.. I don't know. I'm just- I'm a little confused."

"About what?" he asked. I turned to face him.

"If she's so crazy and you don't want to be with her, why do you allow yourself to fall into her traps?"

"I don't fall into her traps," he defended.

"Yes you do. You do, Zayn. She cried, you felt bad. You said you were taking her home and she ends up at your apartment. Even your friends see it."

"Right. Well what am I supposed to do? Just let her cry, knowing that I'm the reason why she is crying?" he asked.

"Crocodile tears," I said.

"What?" Zayn asked.

"Crocodile tears. It's when you fake cry just to get your way. I was a pro at that when I was little.. She knows you'll feel bad since that's something you've always done throughout your relationship with her.. Her tears are all for show. And I don't want to seem intrusive on your personal life but she knows that's how she'll get you back."

"Alright.. let's just set the record straight that her and I are not getting back together. We are not a "forever thing" as she enjoys claiming. I don't see a future whatsoever with that one," he shrugged. "And I know what it looks like but nothing happened with her and I last night. She said she lost her keys and asked to crash at my place. I slept on the couch. She slept in my bed."

I had my mouth open ready to speak until my mom appeared in the doorway and called out to me. "Lauren! I brought home some lunch! Oh hello Zayn!"

"I'll see myself out," Zayn said.

"Don't be ridiculous, you can join us," I said. "And I have some things to say myself."

"Oh really?" he questioned. I nodded carefully getting off the hammock. Zayn followed.

I pulled the sliding glass door open. "Hey mom, do you mind of Zayn stays for lunch?" I asked. My brother grabbed his cheesesteak and bag of french fries and headed up to his room. Taylor was out front with Katie and my dad was at work still. "Not at all. There are always extras. Help yourselves," she said.

"Do you like cheesesteaks?" I asked Zayn digging through the bag. Zayn nodded and I handed him a bag of fries and an aluminum foil wrapped cheesesteak. "What do you want to drink?" I asked.

"Anythings cool," he answered.

The two of us headed out back again but sat at the picnic table. "Thanks for this," Zayn said gesturing to his food. I nodded unwrapping my foil.

"It's not a problem," I said.

We were eating in silence until Zayn popped a crispy french fry in his mouth and said, "So what were you about to say earlier?"

"What do you mean.. earlier?" I asked.

"Earlier. Before your mum came out and told you that lunch was here. You had your mouth open like you wanted to say something and you even said you had something to say."

"Oh..." I shook my head bowing my head to face my food. "It was nothing, really."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Positive," I quickly said clearing my throat.

I could tell by Zayn's expression that he knew it certainly was something but he didn't bother to push any further. There was definetely some tension in the air and things piled on when his phone started ringing and a picture of him and Selena popped across the screen as an incoming call.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" I gestured. Zayn looked at me then the phone and then back at me. "It can ring," he said. "I'll just answer it later."

"Nice picture.." I said faking a smile at the kissing couple.

"I've been meaning to change that." The call became missed and Zayn picked it up probably changing it.

"You know, Lauren.. I don't know why but I'm sensing a bit of jealousy," he had a smirk on his beautiful chiseled face. My heart was beating faster than normal as I shook my head no.

"Are you sure that you're sure?" he questioned. I nodded my head.

"I'm more than sure.."

I was usually up front and honest about everything so I figured why the hell not?

My heart was racing fast and I looked down at my chest to see if it was visible through my shirt. I wiped my oddly sweaty palms on the fabric of my jean shorts and let out a sigh.

"Okay... as you can probably tell.. I'm into you and I know you think that I am nothing more than a cutesy little stalker but I'm not at all, and I know you don't want a relationship and I feel absolutely pathetic telling you all of this but I've already got the ball rolling so I better just finish." I couldn't bare to look at Zayn's face. "I didn't choose to have these feelings whatsoever and I know it's just a measly crush, but crushes suck, especially when it's unrequited. Selena is probably always going to be there and I need to just accept that and maybe it will make it easier to rid these stupid butterflies in my stomach at the mere thought of you.. You don't--"

My words were cut short by my frantic mother running out of the backyard.

"Camila's been in an accident!"