I appeared expressionless as I walked into the apartment. Emerson had made her way back in her room, THANK JESUS.


She had betrayed me.

Well, it’s not like we ever said we wouldn’t sleep with Zayn but it still felt like a betrayal. She had lied to me. And when I had found a condom on Zayn’s bed that day—OH GOD!

My thoughts began to consume me until Emerson busted into my room.

“Hey!” Her perky voice resonated, filling the room. They felt like daggers, going through my ears- was that possible? I imagine it would hurt like bloody hell.

“So I just thought I would let you know first that me and Zayn… we’ve been shagging, kind of behind your back but I just thought I would let you know. Thanks by the way for getting me off the hook and stuff.” I had no words for her.

She was so forward and it was irritating.

Why had Zayn forced me to come over tonight if he had Emerson?

When had this even happened?

Was that why he was in his car? Coming to see her?

What was going on?

How did I not see this? Damn I’m stupid.

“Okay, well. Talk later.” She bounced out.

I watched as she did so, it made me sick to my stomach. Emerson knew nothing about Zayn. I mean I doubt she did. I doubt he opened up to her like he did with me. He had opened up to me that one time and I know it was only one time but still—I’m more than positive he has never done that with her.

Probably to busy fucking her brains out.

I forced my legs from the bed and walked after Emerson in hope of getting my questions answered. “I thought you hated him?” I blurted out walking into the den.

Her head of perfect curls flopped towards me. “I do.”

“Than why?” Was all I managed to get out.

“Oh, sweetie. Spenc, Zayn is a beautiful creature. Ever heard of hating someone so much all you want to do is tackle them and get in them?”

Yea, actually I do.

“Well, that’s kind of like Zayn and I. I know it may be hard for you to understand but we are in our twenties and we get horny. I think it’s just easy to say Zayn is amazing in bed and that’s all he’s amazing at.” She finished her thought in such confidence.

She was acting like Zayn was a good for nothing. It pissed me of that she could be so shallow. I know Zayn can be a dick (no pun intended) but he was still good at other things I’m sure.

I curtly nodded not wanting to know anymore. I had to get out of this stupid apartment.

It was only eleven in the morning and I already wanted to go back to sleep.

Not wanted to be around Emerson for another minute, I picked up the keys to the company car and my wallet and left.

+

The warm coffee in my hand sent a wave of relief in my hand. What was I supposed to do about this situation? I was supposed to be handling Zayn. I was supposed to be managing him.

How is one supposed to do that when he’s shagging my only friend here?

I mean, if you consider Emerson and I friends, which after the events of this morning I would question it.

My point being.

My friend + my client= BIG PICKLE FOR ME.

With a shaky hand I pulled my coffee towards my face and finished off the remains in the bottom of the cup. The coffee wasn’t enough to wake me from my daze.

It pissed me off more that I couldn’t even figure Zayn Malik out. FUCKING ZAYN MALIK. He was so difficult—he was basically impossible.

He made extra rude comments, he yelled, he acted like a jealous crazy person and he kissed me.

He had opened up to me once, about his family and friends of all things. About his his dads problem, his anger towards Zayn’s mother, and about his friends and how rude they were, trying to use Zayn.

I guess I could vouch for him with that one.

It must be hard to be so famous, not knowing who your real friends are. Major trust issues man.

That’s exactly it!

Trust Issues!

Zayn Malik had major trust issues.

I went with that in order to clear some of my confusion.

He had opened up to me that night, then he kissed me because he felt close to me, than he pushed me out and began to yell because he was afraid to trust me. It shocked him that I had so effervescently pried into his life.

Yea, we will go with that explanation for now, it beats the utter confusion that coursed my mind. It was better than just labeling him a crazy bipolar boy who was helplessly lost.

I rolled my eyes to the clock, it was only 12 o’clock and I had nowhere to go. I suppose I could go back to the apartment to pack but I really just needed to be away from that place, away from Emerson.

The single other place I thought of going was too Zayn’s. He had told me to come over later— I’m just wondering how later he meant.

He probably wouldn’t mind if I stopped in now. You know, to check up on him.

I was seriously starting to feel like an assistant to Zayn.

I pulled my phone out and gave him a ring—it couldn’t hurt to ask if it was okay for me to head over early.

“Yeah?” Zayn’s voice cut through on the other line.

“Oh-I-I- was just wondering if it was okay for me to come now?” I awkwardly asked, even over the phone Zayn’s voice was rugged and deep.

“Yeah, that’s cool.” He deadpanned.

“Alright-thanks-I-I-just don’t want to be at my apartment…Did you want me to get you anything while I’m out?”

Now I really felt like his assistant.

A role I wasn’t too foreign too.

Did I not mention it yet? Oh well. I have a little sister, she is seven years old and a little slice of heaven— but I didn’t get to see her very often.

“Nah, I’m good- erm- thanks though.” The line went dead. It was almost lunchtime he was bound to be a little bit hungry.

I quickly got a simple blueberry muffin from the counter and headed out.

By the time I got to Zayn’s house I was still exhausted, the coffee hadn’t hit me at all. I think it actually had the opposite effect because I was feeling more tired then I did earlier.

I shoved the car door closed with my things cluttered in my arms—A blueberry muffin, my water bottle, my purse and my laptop.

I knocked lightly on the door hoping Zayn could hear it and hoping I wouldn’t drop anything.

The door soon opened and I slowly walked into the kitchen—Zayn followed. I set everything on the counter.

“Hey, I brought you a muffin. I know you said you didn’t want anything but I just thought-“ Zayn’s large hand grabbed the bag that I was still grasping. “Thanks.” He mumbled.

He looked as if he’d been sleeping, his hair was astray, eyes where glassy and he walked slowly. Black sweats clung to his lower half and a deep plunging v-neck graced his upper half.

The sexy sleepy thing was making me tingly so I forced myself to look away.

I followed Zayn into the living room with my laptop and water in hand. He switched the television on and began chomping down on the muffin I brought him.

He usually started with the snarky remarks when I walked in the room so this silence was throwing me off.

“So…Emerson…”

Zayn’s glance faltered on me briefly—followed by an eye roll and a sigh. He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume, to drown me out was the goal.

Oh no Mr. Malik, you aren’t getting off that easy.

“ZAYN!” I yelled but he continued to raise the volume. “Zayn!”

Easy fix. Zayn turned the volume down.

“What about it?” He snarled, crossing his arms as he finished up his muffin, he had little crumbs on his face. I found myself reaching across the way and whipping them from his face.

The room fell into a pit of silence.

The tele was still on but it didn’t seem like it was.

Zayn’s eyes glued towards me as I knocked the crumbs from his face.

AWKWARD. AWKAWARD. Stop looking at me Zayn Malik!

“Please just be careful.” I sighed, what was I even supposed to say?

Zayn FREAKIN Malik was always leaving me at a lost for words.

“Oh…yea.” His head dipped in agreement and his eyes turned back towards the screen.

We sat in silence for thirty minutes till the thought of him and Emerson just disgusted me and made me want to vomit everywhere.

And that’s just what I did.

Well not everywhere but I did vomit.

I rushed towards the closest bathroom and threw up in the toilet.

Large steps followed behind only moments later and as I whipped my mouth from throwing up in Zayn’s fancy toilet he was standing there with a wide eyed stare.

I stood up from my knees, keeping my eyes locked on Zayn’s dark orbs.

“What was that?” He asked as I flushed the toilet.

“I’m sorry, I just- must have had some bad food or something.” I shrugged. Truth was, I hadn’t eaten anything all day.

His face snarled up and his eyebrow furrowed. “Have you even eaten today?”

“What? I-I just said it was probably something I ate.”
Zayn wasn’t convinced.

He viciously grabbed my arm and drug me into the kitchen—this was getting somewhat of a habit for him, he was always pulling me and I didn’t enjoy it.

It made me feel inferior in a way.

“Could you stop that?!” I spat out as he released me.

“What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

“Grabbing me like that!” I protested in a fit of anger. There he was.—the bickering crazy annoying Zayn.

“I told you I’m not going to let you fucking starve yourself.” He growled walking towards his pantry. What the hell was he even talking about?

A large bag of chips was thrown onto the counter. I eyeballed them expecting an explanation from Zayn.

I quickly caught on to what he was talking about. Too tired to argue, I grabbed the bag and moved back to the couch in the den. After stuffing them into my face I feel asleep in the corner of the couch.

+

My eyes opened lazily as I tried to push out my dreams of Zayn Malik. I was dreaming of him more and more lately and it was unacceptable.

Zayn was nowhere to be found, the television was off and the chip bag I had been eating from had disappeared.

I forced myself to get up and search for him, just to make sure he hadn’t slipped out of the house. Complete panic raced through my heart but I tried to keep calm.

I went upstairs and towards his door. Before knocking I paused in front of his door. The sound of a sweet sensual voice sang behind the wood as a guitar strummed harmoniously along with it.

I pushed the door lightly and it flew open.

The music stopped as I walked in Zayn scanned me with his eyes.

He was sitting on the bed with a guitar in his hand, I sat on the bed and observed him observing me. Quiet strange actually.

“Keep going.” I urged unsure if he would actually heave to my request. “It sounded beautiful.”

A soft smile pulled at his cheeks whilst he drew his attention back towards his guitar. The guitar made little plucking sounds before his sweet voice began to ring over it.

“My heart would fall apart if someone said your name. Truly, Madly, deeply I am, Foolishly, completely falling. And somehow you caved all my walls in.”

The wholesome melody died out just as soon as it began.

There was no denying Zayn had talent.

“It’s all I’ve got so far. Needs work.” He exclaimed.

“It was incredible.”

I was able to catch his eye for a brief moment, but he took the initiative to kill it with his words like always. “Yea, you would say that.”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb. You just want to get something from me.”

“And what exactly is it that I want from you?”

“I don’t know… sex, money. It’s the same thing every time.” The anger in Zayn’s voice just made me feel bad for him. Here he was yet again putting his walls up, thinking every person in the world is out to get him.

“Zayn. Stop.”

His brow furrowed at me.

“Stop playing the victim. Stop feeling bad for yourself. Believe it or not but some people actually care… not saying I do.” Too many feelings coming out but I couldn’t stop myself and once I was on a roll it just kept coming.

“You need to stop acting like everyone is out to get you! I am trying to be here for you and help and all you do is push and push! I can only do so much, you have to meet me halfway or something because I can’t just keep doing this!” I placed my mouth over my hand to get myself to stop babbling.

As I put my hand over my mouth, Zayn pulled it away.

He had gotten strangely close to me as I lectured him. His eyes were shining a little to much for my liking, I had to suppress myself from grabbing his face.

On the other hand, he took no effort to stop himself because before another word was said his lips encapsulated mine. I instantly wrapped my hands around the back of his neck and twirled my fingers around in his hair. His breath felt warm making me want more of him so in an attempt to get closer I tugged at his neck.

Thoughts of Emerson flooded my mind, I roughly pulled my lips away from Zayn’s perfect plum ones.