The Wanted Girl

Zayn's POV-
"Zaynnn!!!! Helppp meeeee!" Sophie squealed, nearly falling to the ground.

I grabbed her arm at the last moment and pulled her up and into my chest. She was hammered, three inches exactly away from my face. I could've easily pulled her a little closer and we would have kissed. But that's not how I want our first kiss to be. Her drunk, me supposedly 'helping her'. I couldn't push her away. She was beautiful even when she was drunk. Disheveled hair, makeup running, alcohol filled breath. She was perfect. I steadied her and raised my eyebrows at her, asking a silent question of if she was okay for me to let her go.

"I think I got it." She said breathlessly.

I stepped back from her and we began walking towards the door when she grabbed my hand. At first I thought she was going to fall again, but then she intertwined her fingers with mine. As stupid and cliché as it sounds, I had butterflies. Man butterflies of course. More like wasps. Stinging at my heart knowing that this would only last a moment and she'd go back to being unattainable.

We walked out of the club and I saw tons of flashes. Shit. Our fucking hands. I quickly removed it and put my arm around her shoulder instead, pulling her close. She buried her face in my neck and I guided her out to the car. Luckily, in the US they know who I am but the screaming questions are left to Harry only. Sometimes Niall. But Louis, Liam, and I pretty much get left alone. She rested her head on my shoulder and the driver pulled off.

"You alright, babe?" I asked.

She chuckled, "Yeah BABE. I'm fucking faaaabulous."

I shook my head and smiled, looking out of the window over LA. The last two weeks had been crazy. No partying, no sight seeing, no fun. Concert. Interview. Appearances. Sleep. It's been busy for everyone. Sophia had never been to LA so I promised her that I'd take her out. All the other boys had come with us but left. Harry had to go because now that he and Brielle were officially together (according to him) and she was sick, he needed to go back and check on her. Niall was being all weird because Serena had been hanging out with Nathan and Max back home per Sophia's request. Apparently she thinks Serena is lonely and needs someone to be there for her while her and Bri are away. I get it. I mean her two bestfriends and boyfriend are all together hundreds of miles away touring the world while you're stuck at school? Must suck. Liam convinced Louis to leave, giving me and Sophia alone time. Louis freaked out saying there was no way he was leaving us alone but Liam told him that Niall needed him to be there right now and worrying about an exgirlfriend isn't a priority. Liam's always been good with guilt tripping. Best double agent ever.

We pulled up to the hotel and I saw the 12 or 15 paps waiting out front.

"Shit.." I mumbled, looking at the sleeping beauty next to me.

"Mr Malik, would you like to go around back?"

"That would be great, thanks."

I rubbed circles softly on Soph's arm, trying to politely wake her up.

"Mmmmmm." She whined.

"Sophia we're here. I'm taking you back to your hotel room, alright?"

She nodded sleepily, reaching out for me. I smiled to myself before picking her up, allowing her to wrap her legs around my waist and rest her head on my shoulder. I got up to her floor and realized I needed her room key.

"Soph. Key?" I asked.

"Back pocket." She mumbled.

I slipped my hand into her tight black leather pants and I felt my breath hitch. When I said every part of her was perfect, I meant EVERY SINGLE PART. I slid the room key into the door and opened it. She had empty alcohol bottles and cigarette packs laying all around the room. I laughed quietly at how similar it looked to my own. I rested her back on the bed and looked around for comfortable clothes for her to sleep in. I couldn't find ANYTHING. All of it was nice dresses and jeans.

"I sleep naked, you're not going to find anything." She mumbled, eyes still closed, smiling.

I laughed, "Of course you do. You're Sophia George!"

I tucked her into the bed and leaned down, pressing my lips against her forehead, allowing them to linger a little longer than necessary. I turned around and walked towards the door, stepping over the catastrophe that was her room.

"Where are you going?" She asked, sounding frantic.

I turned around to see her sitting up, covering herself with the comforter, "I was gonna go back to my room. Why?"

She stared at me for a minute, contemplating whatever she was going to say next, "Stay with me?"

Stay with her? Here? In her hotel room? Just us? I'd love to say that I said no. To say she was drunk and that's inappropriate. That I waited until she fell asleep then left her a sweet note saying that I went back but she was safe and to call me when she woke up. I'd love to say I played the good guy in the situation. But I didn't. What would anyone else have done in my place? The girl your head over heels in love with finally gives you a small, subliminal chance. Do you take it? Yes. You fucking take it. Because you're selfish and she's the best thing that's ever happened to you.

I walked back over to the bed and climbed over top of her, grinning, "Fine. But you're wearing my shirt because I can't sleep next to you naked and not touch you."

She pulled her hands out from beneath the covers and brushed her fingers up my jaw line before settling them on my neck, "In that case, I'm definitely sleeping naked."

I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. My heart rate went from 75 to 160 in one sentence. She pulled on my neck, bringing me impossibly close to her lips.

"Sophia..." I whispered.

"Do you want me?" She asked.

It was then I realized the tears forming in her eyes.

"Of course I do."

"Then kiss me." She said, making it sound simple.

I sighed, resting our foreheads together, "Sophia if I kiss you, I don't think I'll be able to stop.."

"Good." She replied.

I felt myself getting frustrated, "No. Like ever. If I'm going to 'get' you. I want all of you,"

I traced my hand lightly around her left collarbone, "Your heart included. I can't do this if it isn't real."

She looked up at me and finally let a tear fall from her eyes, "Why does everything have to be so complicated."

I pushed myself off of her, sitting next to her, "It's not complicated Sophia. I want you, you want me. We need to figure this out."

She shook her head, "It's not that simple. You say you want me. I don't know what it is that I want. Louis wants me. Connor weaseled his way back into my life. My brother is so far away. Everything with Nathan is complicated. Serena's alone. Niall's miserable. Harry and Brielle are in love and perfect but everyone know's that'll only last so long. Liam's lonely being single. And then there's us... what about Perrie?!"

I sighed, "Perrie's gone Sophia. I've moved on, you need to as well. You've taken your time to grieve. Move. On."

"To GRIEVE! Not steal her soulmate!" She screamed.

"I'm not her soulmate Sophia! If I was then I wouldn't be feeling this for you! Dammit can't you understand that I love you more than I ever loved her!" I yelled back, trying to beat it into her head.

She shook her head in disbelief, "You don't mean that."

I took her hand in mine, pulling it up to my chest, "Do you feel that? That hasn't ever happened with any girl ever."

She pulled her hand away from me, moving as far away on the bed as possible, "You should leave."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You need to go. This was a mistake."

She wouldn't even look at me. She just stared past me, hugging a pillow to her chest. She was rejecting me all over again. Just like at the bar in London. Just like everyday I've seen her. Boston was the one step forward and this was the twenty steps back.

I just shook my head, "I'm sorry. I'll go."

And I did, I left. Knowing it would take months to get even remotely close to her again. I caved in too easy. She didn't want me. She just didn't want to be alone. And I took advantage of that.

Notes