Friend Zoned

“Why does this have to be so difficult?” I complained to Zayn. We were all just lunging around Zayn’s parents place as we were having dinner with them as it was easier and gave Zayn some more time to catch up with his family, however he also decide now would be the perfect time to work on my presentation. I was beyond frustrated by it to say the least.

“Here, just let me reword it.” I huffed, pushing the computer towards a calm looking Zayn before sinking back into the couch. He let out a chuckle at my reaction before focusing on my presentation, making changes where he thought necessary. I was so grateful that he was helping me otherwise I’d sit there procrastinating by cursing life. “There, is that ok?” he asked, sitting back and allowing me to peer over his shoulder and read it. I sighed in relief after reading his work, it was better than I could have ever done.

“Thank you so much, that’s so much better Zayn!” He grinned and I continued to work on it.

“What?” I asked him, turning to face him with a shy smile on my face as I could feel his eyes on me as I worked.

“Nothing,” he replied and Harry, Louis and Lia cracked up across the room, mocking Zayn causing him to glare at them. “Idiots,” he mumbled only loud enough for me to hear while he shook his head. I laughed, drawing my legs up beneath me and leaning on him a little. He wrapped an arm around me and began drawing patterns on my arm. I was finding it increasingly hard to concentrate which Zayn happened to find funny. “Am I distracting you, Chelsea?” he whispered hotly in my ear and I involuntarily shivered, probably just the reaction he wanted.

“N-no,” I managed to stutter out nervously as he chuckled at my anxiousness. He extracted the computer from my tightening grip and continued to edit my work whilst the other arm still traced patterns on my arm.

“So Chelsea, tell me about your family.” Trisha asked and I pulled my attention away from the MacBook screen.

“Oh well, I’m a twin. I was born three minutes after my sister Bridget. We don’t look alike though, which we find pretty funny. I have two brothers. My older one, Michael, is married and his wife, Sarah, is pregnant with their second child. My younger brother Sam is graduating school this year. Bridget is dating an American football star so she travels with him a lot whereas Michael and his family still live pretty close to our parents and Sam in Westminster, well mainly just where my mother lives, dads in hospital a lot for cancer treatments. That’s about all there is to it,” I shrugged.

“Well, someday it would be great to meet them, especially if they are as lovely as you.” I blushed lightly and Zayn pulled me even closer to him.


“I’m sure we could arrange something, it would be lovely we could.” I told her sweetly as Zayn nodded to my left. “How’s it coming along?” I asked him.

“Read it.” I scanned through the document and beamed at Zayn.

“You’re my hero, it’s perfect Zayn. Thanks,” I said and saved the document. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before I got up to put my laptop away and unless I’m delusional, I’m pretty sure he blushed lightly. I settled back into his arms as his mum came back into the room, bearing our dinner and someone else put a movie in.

“Thank you for having us, we will see you tomorrow,” I thanked the remaining people at the Malik household as we were leaving. I had a really enjoyable time with them today and I was very excited to be spending time with them tomorrow. I could tell Zayn really enjoyed today and didn’t want to leave for the hotel but he didn’t really have much choice, plus we would be back tomorrow. It saddened me though, how little he saw his family and it reminded me to be grateful that my family weren’t that far away and that I should make an effort to see them more often. All our goodbyes and thank you’s were said before we took the van from earlier back to the hotel. The boys had booked out a whole bloody floor, the top one at that. The whole floor was one connected room with doors leading off to certain areas. There were five bedrooms with king beds in each so Liam, Louis and Harry all got one and Niall offered for Luna to join him, leaving the other room for me and Zayn. Truth is, and don’t tell anyone, I really like sharing as bed with Zayn, I feel safe there, like I belong. After a few more drinks, which I seriously questioned after the state the boys were in this morning, we were all ready for bed. We all said good night before heading off to our own rooms. I found my usual position in Zayn’s arms and we drifted off into what I hoped would be a peaceful sleep.

--------------------------------------

“My head kills,” Zayn complained as we sat around after breakfast with his family.

“I advised you against drinking, and you’ve had food and Advil so just wait for it to kick in.” I told him, patting his leg as he pouted at me like a little child.

“Make it stop,” he almost begged so I couldn’t help myself from getting up and removing his head from his hands. He was irresistible to me and I needed to work on that. I ran my fingers through his hair, massaging all the areas that needed relief. He let out a soft moan causing me to chuckle but continue anyway. I looked up to see everyone, all his family included, giving me shocked and confused looks. I just shrugged and continued working my fingers as Zayn hummed in appreciation, leaning back and to rest his head on my stomach. He opened his eyes for a split second and smiled up at me, causing me to return the gesture. He shut his eyes and I observed the faces of everyone else again. Nothing had changed, why are they staring at me like that?

“What?” I asked them with a slight chuckle, feeling a bit awkward and nervous under their stares.

“You’re touching…” Doniya trailed off, astounded.

“His hair.” A bewildered Trisha finished. I nodded, feeling confused as to why it was such a big deal.

“No one touches his hair,” Liam announced and they all nodded. “I don’t understand.” He sighed and passed a hand through his hair.

“How are you doing that?” Waliyha asked.

“Um…”

“Feels good,” Zayn grunted. My cheeks heated as the boys chuckled and Trisha and Yaser shared a somewhat knowing look, shaking their heads with a smile on their face. I smiled shyly down at Zayn when he opened his eyes again. “You should feel privileged, no one touches the hair. Perrie didn’t even.” He told me, causing my eyebrows to raise.

“Is that so? Well than I sure do feel privileged. Are you enjoying it?”

“Fuck yes.”

“Zayn Jawaad!” His mother exclaimed although she wasn’t angry. I could tell she loved having him around. He sent her an apologetic smile and I decided to reside in my original seat. He pouted at me.

“You weren’t instructed to stop.”

“Well I’m not your personal masseuse.”

“I’m sure I could make you be.” He said with a cheeky smile and I rolled my eyes.

“Good luck, honey bunch.”

“Thanks but, I won’t need it.” He winked.

“Well then, break a leg.”

“I know you only want me to do that so you can help me around.”

“Yeah, I’ll definitely be keeping your fat bum a prisoner at my house, news flash.” Was that sarcasm I detect?

“You love it-”

“Enough, the pair of you!” Yaser broke in with a laugh. I shot Zayn one last look before turning to smile at his father.

“What time are you leaving, love?” Trisha asked Zayn. He let out a sigh.

“Probably just after lunch. We don’t want to be getting back too late because we all have work tomorrow.”

“You’ll come back soon right?” Safaa asked almost desperately and I saw pain flicker through his features.

“As soon as I can, I promise. It might just be me though, not all these idiots,” he tried to lighten the mood.

“Will we get to see Chelsea and Luna again too though?” It warmed my heart that I was included.

“Absolutely, I might even be able to organise for you to come and visit us, you too,” he gestured at the other girls. “But it will have to be before tour rehearsals kick in.” Tour? What tour? I don’t know nothing about no tour. His sisters faces lit up any way as they nodded eagerly. “That’s a while away though so we’ll have plenty of time, and then there’s also Christmas.” Oh thank god, I understand now, it’s next year. His mum shot him an appreciative look and in return received a sad smile. I rubbed his arm in a comforting manner and he grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. Safaa ran around the table and threw her arms around his neck, Zayn returning the hug with his free arm.

“Thanks big brother,” she whispered to him and my heart ached for all of them.

I guess fame isn’t all it’s made out to be.

Notes

Aloha, long time no see!
So this chapter is way way way way way overdue but it's here anyway, and it's short and unedited but shhh
The following chapter will be up within the next week and it should be back to normal mostly - I have been away and sick and everything has been messed up so feel privileged to have even gotten an update!
Anyways I'm just gonna thank you all like 5000 reads for someone like me is a big thing so thank you so much, I love you all! I'm super happy right now!
Let me know what you think of the chapter and Comment/Rate/Subscribe
Until Next Update <3
xxg