Stress was what put me in the hospital for two days. Apparently I was only knocked out for an hour or so before just continuing on in my dreamless sleep for the next day and a half. The drugs they prescribed helped.

Now I was back in Mom's silver Van driving along the highway towards the dorms. Elizabeth was in the back and country music was playing very very softly. It felt like my face was screwed in a permanent scowl.

What Zayn said earlier was really fucking with me. His son was coming to visit him and he wanted me to him? How would he introduce me? Hi Son, this is a girl who I've fucked three times and our relationship is really weird. I'm sure that would go over well.

"That boy was very sweet." Mom's voice was loud to my ears. I stared ahead out the window. The weather was still wet and cloudy but it refused to rain today. "Which boy?" I asked, tired even if I've been sleeping for days. Mom chuckled soundly, shaking her head a bit. I gaped at her from the corner of my eyes.

"The young man that sat with you. What was his name again, dear Elizabeth?"

I looked over my shoulder at my friend, giving her a sharp look not to answer. Zayn Malik was a dangerous topic and bringing him up with my Mom would cause more drama and fire to the already dim situation. Elizabeth obeyed my wish by shrugging.

"I don't know."

Mom slumped in her seat and frowned. "Too bad. He was very handsome." She smiled at me and I nodded. "He obviously likes you." She continued. I sighed and leaned against the head rest, closing my eyes and enjoying the smooth driving.

"Zayn Malik is his name!" She cried out. Her hands lifted in the air in triumph, causing the van to swerve to the left. My eyes bolted open but before I could register what had happened, we were straight again. My eyes found Elizabeth in the rear view mirror to see her face pale and eyes peeled back.

"Grace, I don't think I've raised you right! You mean to tell me that you don't remember the man who's stayed with you since you passed out! It's meant to be-"

"Mom, shut up. He's not important."

She scoffed at this. "Grace, I don't like you with men, but this one seems whole-hearted." I choked and Elizabeth scoffed lowly. Luckily Mom just tapped my back completely oblivious.

"You need to forget him. It was one time."

"I don't believe it. In fact, I asked for his number and invited him for dinner."

What?! The color drained from my face. "What have you done?!" I groaned. This was a disaster. Fate was really just wanting us together. I would refuse it. I still had fucking issues with Calum Hood and I had to deal with this mother of mine.

"It'll be a good opportunity to get to know him better." She defended, sounding slightly offended. "He agreed almost immediately." She said again, pulling up into the guest parking spaces. The country music had stopped and was replaced with ads. "He'll be here in four hours. Let's get you girls ready."

I never trusted my Mom. I don't think I ever will.

She hauled me out of the van and dragged me to my place, setting me in warm showers and plucking my brows and tripping my hair and curled the strands, did my makeup. It was a most dreadful experience that brought me back to my first homecoming in 9th grade and my last prom in 12th.

By the time I was done, we had thirty minutes to get to the expensive location Zayn had reserved. "Be nice." Mom hissed at me, grabbing my wrist and standing in front of the doors.

The restaurant was elegant; dressed in warm browns and dark greys. Lights toppled from the ceilings, creating evasive glows and the decorations were sophisticated paintings of local and national artists depicting the city. I looked around in awe, suddenly feeling out of place in my long blue ankle dress and white heels.

The waiter who leads us to the table and gives us menus smiles politely at us. He's dressed in a vest and long sleeved white shirt underneath, dark low-waist jeans hanging from his hips and black boots. "Do you have a reservation?" He says smoothly, fingering the menus below him. I look up to my mom who nods once and then goes on to look for Zayn.

As if on cue, he walks in from the side door. Its like all lights are directed on him. He's magnificent. Black all over. Black dress pants. Black jacket. Black tie. Black hair. Black sunglasses. The only white is the shirt tucked underneath. His suit was slim-fitting and accentuated his facial hair and profound bone structure. His hands were pressed down in his pockets and he walked casually towards us- knowing all eyes were on him, even married women stared with lusty features. Our eyes met even if he was wearing sunglasses.

He stopped besides my Mom, her attention locked on him with an open mouth.

The waiter- who I found dazzling before- now seemed impossibly dull next to Zayn Malik- super model looks. Did he dress himself?

"Reservation for Malik." He spoke smoothly, shooting a wonderful smile at the waiter. He stumbled with the computer, nodding once to confirm, and led us to our table in the back.

It was a smoky part of the room, darker than the other areas, much more private. I narrowed my eyes on him as we sat. No doubt he was doing this on purpose, to impress my Mom and to dazzle me. To remind me how much I could be having if I was his. Though, he hasn't asked me to be.

"This is wonderful." Mom says once the waiter hands us our menus and leaves. Zayn smiles sincerely at her, tilting his head to the side slightly. "My father once owned it." He smirks but its quickly wiped away when he sees my dead-pan face. He clears his throat and flips open his menu.

Just this morning he was all moody and depressed and now he was the stud and disgustingly rich. Never mind his money, Mom would fully approve if he complimented her and was as smart as she believed him to be. I was just here because I was being forced.

Mom rushed through the menu, idly chatting with Zayn and me about what was the best dish and the new diet she was trying. "You look fine Mom. You can afford one night of indulgence." I rolled my eyes at her whining. She placed her cold hand over mine. "Good word choice."

Oh fuck it.

"Grace is right, Miss Matter. You look perfectly healthy."

"Oh hush, Zayn," But the rush of color to her cheeks meant she was affected and now there was no way I would get away from this dinner. I could practically seeing her force us to marry. I bit my lip and looked away. Marriage was too serious a topic. Marrying Zayn? Well, that would be another time.

Despite my best efforts, I looked up. Zayn had removed his glasses before and tried making eye contact with me but I had looked away. Until now. Now it was different and the pleading in his eyes took me back to a month ago. When we first met and he begged me to stay with him. It made this small dinner almost seem normal- like we've been doing it the past year.

His lips perked up and I found myself waiting for him to say something.

"You look beautiful tonight." He said confidently- if you ignored the slight shake of the first word. My mouth dried and I felt the beaming smile of Mom, trapping us in a moment that would never be forgotten.

Thank God for John, who interrupted us for our orders.

Notes

I'm sorry for the long waits. But I started school so it might be awhile before I update :S anyways comment where you're from. :) I'm curious. And also should I post a selfie? Cuz I wanna know who you guys would ship me as I know people ask that a lot but omg o.O