the stars above us | ZAYN MALIK

My head rests against his chest, the damp grass cool beneath us. The rhythmic sound of ocean waves fills the quiet night, and above us, the stars scatter across the inky sky, glowing like tiny promises.

"You know," I whisper, my face nuzzling into the crook of his neck, "stars don't need to be seen all day to matter. When they finally appear, they light up the darkest rooms-just like you. You don't have to fit in to shine."

His arms tighten around me, his warmth chasing away the night's chill.

"You're my star Zarah," he murmurs, his breath brushing against my temple.

"And you're mine Zayn," I reply softly.

He presses a gentle kiss to my cheek, and for a moment, the universe feels smaller, as though it's just us, the stars, and the endless sound of the waves.

**

Zarah Ahmad never wanted this life. When her mother, a renowned stylist, is hired to work with the world-famous boyband One Direction, Zarah is forced to leave behind everything she knows to join them on tour. Trapped in a whirlwind of screaming fans and endless travel, she's determined to keep her distance from the chaos-and from the boys themselves. But one of them, with his quiet charm and knowing glances, might just change her mind.

Zayn Malik isn't sure who he's supposed to be anymore. Thrust into fame as part of a global phenomenon, he struggles to keep up with the fast-paced lifestyle while battling the constant weight of being different-the racism, the expectations, the loneliness. Then he meets Zarah, a sharp-tongued, unapologetic Pakistani girl who makes him feel seen in a way no one else ever has.

Two people, caught in a world neither of them chose, might just find something real.