More Than This

Let’s get one thing straight, I am not in love with Zayn Malik. I mean, I was in love with him, but that was before he kissed me then ignored me for the last two years of high school. See, I had a crush on Zayn since seventh grade, before he even knew who I was. I was the new girl in school from the States. Zayn and I didn’t even cross paths until freshman year of high school when we had the same art class together. We became best friends almost instantly.

The day before junior year, I had gone over to his house to watch movies and play monopoly (that was our favorite game to play… I always cheated and I always won).

“Nora?” Zayn said as I moved my piece three spaces more than I was supposed to, hoping he wouldn’t catch it.

“Yeah?” I looked up at him and his face was less than three inches from my face.

“Can I kiss you?” His breath hit my face and I nodded before he closed the space between us and placed his lips gently on mine.

“Nora, your mother’s here to pick you up.” Zayn’s mother walked in the room and I instantly parted to grab my purse and jacket.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” I smiled as he pecked my lips one more time.

“See you.” He smiled back.

And that was the last time I ever really spoke to him. It’s been nearly three and a half years now, he’s famous, and I was late for a job interview.

“I’ll call you and let you know how it goes, babe. I promise.” I said to my boyfriend as I pushed through the crowd of girls in downtown Manchester. “I love you!” I yelled and hung up, stuffing my phone in my purse. I couldn’t believe I had a job interview for a receptionist position at ITV! The girls around me started screaming as a door opened a few feet away. I looked to see what all the fuss was about when I saw him. Zayn Malik. “Don’t see me, don’t see me, don’t see me.” I said to myself as I covered my face and made my way through the sea of people. If it weren’t for the heels I was wearing, I’d be going much faster.

I looked over at Zayn who was now watching me intently. Shit, he saw me. I ducked my head down and watched my feet… but that didn’t stop me from tripping. “Damn heels!” I quickly took them off and stood up. Bad idea. “Ouch! Hot, hot, hot!” I quickly put my heels back on before the hot asphalt could melt the bottom of my feet and ran smack into Zayn himself.

“Nora?” His Bradford accent was still as thick as I remembered.

“Yes, Zayn?” I looked up into his light brown eyes and tried to push past him.

“How are you?” He smiled and tried to embrace me. I quickly ducked to avoid his hug and looked at my watch.

“Late.” I said shortly and ran the next block to my interview.

~*~

“No, I didn’t get the job.” I sighed as I told Jake what had happened. “I was ten minutes late for my interview and they didn’t give me the job.” I walked over to a bench and sat down to take my heels off.

“Why were you late?” My boyfriend asked.

“There was an insane crowd of girls downtown and the taxi dropped me off a block from where I was supposed to be so I had to fight my way through them, and then I ran into Zayn.” I rolled my eyes and sat back. “I even wore heels for this interview!”

“I’m sorry, Nora. Why don’t you come home, and we can relax tonight. Watch some Elvis films, drink hot cocoa… whatever you want to do.” Jake promised.

“You hate the Elvis movies, though.” I smiled.

“Well, I thought it would be a nice gesture for my lovely girlfriend.” I could almost see him shrugging on the other end of the line.

“Sounds like a date.” I said and hung up.

“Excuse me, miss, but I believe you dropped this earlier.” I looked over and saw someone handing me one of my earrings.

“I didn’t even know it had fallen out.” I smiled up at the man who handed it to me, but my smile was instantly gone when I saw who it was. “Thanks, Zayn.” I said and put the earring back in.

“What were you in such a hurry for?” Zayn asked as he sat next to me and casually draped his arm around me. What did he think gave him the right to try and be all ‘buddy-buddy’ with me?

“Erm, I had a job interview.” I moved his arm and turned to face him. “Which your fans made me late for, so now I definitely don’t have a job.” I sighed and crossed my arms and looked around for a taxi. “I’ll see you around.” I said and climbed in the first cab that pulled up.

~*~

“Nora, is that you?” I heard Jake call from the kitchen when I walked into my apartment.

“Yeah, babe.” I answered and sat my purse down on the couch before sitting on the recliner. Jake came out with a tray that had two ginormous cupcakes, two cups of hot cocoa, and three Elvis Presley movies.

“I told you we would do all these things.” He smiled and kissed me. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the job.” Jake apologized, handing me my cupcake and cocoa.

“It’s okay.” I shrugged. “If it wasn’t for Zayn and his fans I would have been there sooner and probably would have gotten the job.” I sighed and took a sip of my drink. Speaking of Zayn, what gave him the right to act like my friend again? Trying to start up a conversation when he kissed me then ignored my existence.

“Hey, Zayn.” I smiled as I walked up to him in the school hallway.

“Oh, hey Nora.” He shrugged me off as if nothing had happened the day before. Did I imagine the kiss? Even if I did, there’s no way he would ignore me like this. We’re best friends. Zayn opened his locker next to mine and piled his books in.

“Do you want help with that?” I asked as three notebooks fell from his hands.

“No. I got it.” He snapped. Did I say something wrong? I sighed and opened my locker so I could put my stuff in. “Hey, mate!” I looked over and saw him talking with a few of his other friends, back turned towards me.

“Anything good happen this summer?” One of the boys asked.

“Nah. It was really boring. I did the same thing every day.” I slammed my locker shut and ran off to my first class. Boring? We hung out nearly every day! I thought we were having a blast…

“Nora?” I snapped back to reality and saw Jake staring at me with confusion in his eyes.

“Sorry, I was just thinking…” I took a bite out of my cupcake and waited for Jake to put one of the movies in the DVD player to watch.

Halfway through the movie my phone buzzed.

Unknown: Hey, I hope this is still Nora’s number. It’s Zayn. If this isn’t Nora, then I’m terribly sorry for bothering you.

Nora: How do you have my number, Zayn?

Zayn: I memorized it back in 10th grade. Glad to know it’s still your number aha : )

Nora: Do you need something?

Zayn: No, I actually kind of wanted to let you know that we have a job opening in wardrobe if you want it. It pays really well and all you have to do is make sure our clothes are in order before we go on stage every night and make sure they’re clean. You’d have to go on tour with us, but it’s definitely worth it. Everything but food and whatever you want to buy is paid for. Sound okay?

I looked up at Jake who was falling asleep right as Elvis was serenading one of the girls. Would Jake be okay with me being all over the world with five other guys? He knows that I love him…

Nora: Sounds great! I owe you big time. Thank you so much.

Zayn: No problem gorgeous ; ) x

I rolled my eyes and put my phone away. How was I going to tell Jake? Would he absolutely freak out? I sighed and walked over to Jake and shook him awake after turning off the movie. “Jake… wake up.”

“What is it baby? Are you okay?” He asked as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine, love.” I smiled and he sat up, kissing my temple. “So, remember how I told you I ran into Zayn today?” Jake nodded and yawned. “Well, he kind of offered me a job as a wardrobe assistant. It pays really well, and pays for nearly everything except for food and any extras that I want to buy.”

“This sounds like an incredible opportunity, babe!”

“Before you object, I know that there are five other guys but- wait, what?”

“Yeah, there may be five other guys there, but I’ll be the one you’ll be coming back to, and I know that.” I smiled and kissed him.

“So I can do it?”

“Of course! Just make sure they all know that you’re mine.” Jake tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and pecked my lips. “Now, I think I’ll head home. You have some packing to do to get ready.” I smiled and walked him to the door. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” As soon as the door shut behind Jake I ran to my room and started throwing clothes in a suit case.

Zayn: Do you still live in your old house in Bradford? I need to swing by and make sure you’ll be ready to leave by tomorrow afternoon.

Nora: No, I live in those apartment buildings about three blocks from there. The ones Mr. Perkins lived in. Number 106

Zayn: Alright, be there in a few. : )

I was beginning to pack some shoes when there was a knock on my front door. “Come in!” I yelled

“I could have been a rapist, you know.” I heard Zayn say around the corner as he searched for me.

“I had a feeling it was either you or Jake, so there was nothing to worry about.” I rolled my eyes and finished packing my stuff. Zayn picked up my magic 8 ball and began to twirl it in his hands.

“Jake?”

“Yeah, my boyfriend.” I shrugged and zipped up my suitcase.

“Jake… Martin?” I nodded. “Really? That guy!” Zayn cracked up.

“Hey, just so you know he’s changed since sophomore year, okay?” I rolled my eyes.

“How do you know?”

“We became really close during junior year when you were too busy ignoring my presence.” I shot at him. I saw the sting on his face. “Sorry.” I said, putting my suitcase by the door.

“Yeah… well, the guys and I will be here at twelve to pick you up.” Zayn put my magic 8 ball back and headed for the door. “Oh, and Nora?” He looked back at me. “I’m sorry.” And with that, he was gone.

“Your apology is a few years too late.” I said under my breath after I heard the front door close. “Asshole!”

~*~

The next day Jake showed up thirty minutes before Zayn and his friends were supposed to. “Jake! I thought you were Zayn here early.” I smiled and stood on my tip toes to kiss him.

“Now what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t say goodbye to my beautiful girlfriend?” Jake smirked.

“The kind that doesn’t get fired from their job! Did you sneak off or are you on a ‘lunch run’?” Jake always pulled those kinds of tricks on his boss. I’m surprised he hasn’t caught on, yet.

“I told him I was running back to your flat to have lunch with you before you left, and when he said no to that, then I told him I was making a quick lunch run.” I playfully hit his chest.

“You will get in so much trouble when he finds out!” I laughed and kissed him before I heard a subtle cough from behind Jake. “Oh, hey Zayn. You are here early. You remember Jake, don’t you?”

“Zayn Malik? Man! Long time no see!” Jake smiled and stuck his hand out to shake Zayn’s.

“Good to see you, man!” Zayn said, putting forward his best effort and took Jake’s hand. “You ready to go, Nora?”

“Yep. I’ll call you every night, Jake. I promise.” I pecked his lips before grabbing my suitcase and heading down to the bus that was waiting. “I love you!” I called up before getting on the bus.

“I love you, too!” Jake waved and Zayn helped me get my bag on the bus and introduced me to everyone.

“Guys, this is Nora. Nora, this is Liam, Louis, Harry, and Niall.”

“Hi, Nora.” The four guys said in unison.

“You never told us that she was so hot.” The one with curly hair and green eyes said with a wink. I rolled my eyes and took a seat across from them.

“You can just ignore Harry. We usually do anyway.” The blonde one said and stuck his hand out. “I’m Niall.”

“I’m Louis!” One of the remaining two chimed in, raising his hand.

“That must mean you’re Liam.” I smiled and shook everyone’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

“It’s nice to meet the woman helping us undress between sets.” Harry winked again.

“In your dreams, curly.” I joked and pulled my phone out.

Jake: Love you! Have fun and tell me how everything around the world is! See you sooner than you think! Xx

I smiled and replied quickly before Zayn showed me where my bunk was. “Thanks again, Zayn. This really means a lot.” I smiled and climbed up into my bunk.

“No problem, love. I hope you enjoy your time with us. I know I will.” He smiled as walked back out to the boys.

“I’m sure I will.” I smiled after him. I went from having no job, to having a job that pays for me to go around the world in less than twenty-four hours. I guess having an old friend who was now a celebrity had its advantages, I suppose. I sat in the bunk for a few minutes before deciding to sleep until we got to where we needed to be.

Notes

So, the first chapter is a lot freaking longer than I remembered, but yay! Zayn story!
Lots of love!
Let me know what ya think!
X