*One Month Earlier*

Food became tasteless no matter how much salt was added. Thirst was never quenched no matter how much water ran down her throat. Regardless of how much people were surrounding her at this very moment, she was swimming in her own lonesome. She was isolated. Isolated at her own husband's party. The party to celebrate his success with his four best friends.

Another achievement to add to the One Direction history.

Standing alone with a cup full of fruit punch tightly gripped in her hand, she studied everyone's behavior closely. She didn't want to - seeing as she could care less about everyone else -, but she had nothing else to do. Melinda didn't know anyone here and most certainly didn't have the energy to create friends.

These people weren't really her crowd.

Gharram hadn't been there to keep her company seeing as it was fashion week in Milan and then the Victoria's Secret 17th Annual Fashion Show back in America - where she would be handed her wings. In the modeling world, that was something huge to receive. Nonetheless, she needed her more than anything right now.

People were talking amongst each other about their days - job and life in general - beside her, behind her and in front of her. The music was blaring from the speakers as she watched some people on the dance floor jump and gyrate against one another. She could feel heat radiate from the guest's bodies as they all jumped and swayed in unison. Melinda wasn't use to these parties or parties in general - ones consisting of both male and female.

The guys had rented a whole venue to celebrate their tremendous accomplishment. They were dubbed the number one most successful boy band in the history of the music industry and history in general - Reaching heights The Beatles only wished they could've held.

In the distance, Melinda could see that Zayn was talking to a brunette closely - nothing wrong with it of course. He couldn't hear over the speakers causing him to move in closer.

Melinda and Zayn's marriage hadn't been bad, but it wasn't safe to say that it was necessarily good. Zayn showed his affection and care yes... But not like how he use to. Not like how it had been in the beginning. The cute romantic gestures and luxuries of being a newly wed ceased soon after a good four months of the marriage. Melinda was aware that it would eventually happen and that they would've gotten comfortable with each other's habits, but she hadn't expected the fluffy side of Zayn to end so soon.

Most of Melinda's nights consisted of cold pasta and warm fizz-less soda. Then there would be the times that she cherished the most. The time where Zayn was fully aware that he needed to be with her. Moments they shared together were... intimate. Not in a sexual (most of the times), but just by holding onto one another closely on the couch watching a classic Bollywood film that they have watched more than ten times. Her head would be nuzzled into the crook of his neck listening to the thumping of his heart. Zayn's arm would be wrapped around her securely as if protecting her from the world and inhaling the beautiful scent of her hair.

But lately...

Lately, things have been taking the wrong turn. Lately, Zayn has been coming in late, kissing her lips without so much as a small amount of passion, patting her back when he'd lazily hug her before leaving for work and sometimes not even realizing she had been staying up waiting for him. It was to the point, where she'd just lie down in her bed (not their's anymore, but her's) staring at the ceiling until she'd fall asleep. Melinda would try to hold back the ache in her chest and just ignore the lonely feeling, alas it was no use. Alienation entered her heart and made itself comfortable.

Some nights she could catch herself tearing without knowing why. Melinda would be watching reruns of childhood cartoons and just...tear. She wouldn't notice until her vision would blur.

Looking back at the brunette decreasing the distance between Zayn, she gulped down the red liquid that had been resting in her cup for almost an hour. She had also noticed how comfortable she was getting with her husband - touching his arm and laughing flirtatiously. Melinda let it go seeing it was harmless, until the brown-haired vixen whispered in his ear. Melinda squinted her eyes getting a better view. Zayn's face turned red which made Melinda's blood boil. She couldn't even make her husband blush anymore. Who the hell was she to?

Melinda didn't appreciate it at all.

Walking over to him pushing past people and trying not make it that she was jealous, she coughed causing Zayn to glance at her. "Uh Zayn.", a faint smile made its way on her face. Melinda smiled at the pretty woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail. "I'm not feeling too well.", Melinda peered up to him from her curly lashes holding the side of her head.

Zayn's eyebrows furrowed with concern and slight pang of disappointment, "Ok, lets go home."

"It's ok.", Melinda said noticing the change in his facial expressions. "You can stay and enjoy your night.", she grinned faintly at the brunette assuring her that she wasn't a threat. "I'll...I'll just meet you home."

"Are you sure?", his eyebrows still knitted together. "Because I'll just-..."

"No...no no. I don't want you to miss this because I have a minor headache.", she reassured him curling the sides of her lips up into a smile.

Zayn budged just a little more to make sure. "Come on, I'll take you home...", he put his arms on the small of her back attempting to guide her through the crowd.

"Zayn...", Melinda put her hand on his squeezing him a bit. "I'm good. I have to finish the laundry anyway.", her hand still on his as she easily slipped her's away from his.

He quickly grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers. Zayn brought it up to his lips and lightly kissed the back of her hand making Melinda's heart flutter. This was the Zayn she had fallen for. This was the Zayn she knew... "Be careful please...", he whispered into her knuckles.

Both disregarding the girl as she walked way, they stared into each other's eyes.

"Promise.", she whispered even if the music was annoyingly loud.

Harry then jumped on top of Zayn causing his fingers to unlace from her's. "COME ON, ZAYN! WE HAVE TO PARTY!!!", he screamed causing Zayn to wince. Harry then looked at Melinda who's expression was in pure shock. He fixed his shirt kissing her cheek, "Hello Mrs. Malik."

She lightly blushed at his sudden movements, "Hey Harry..."

"You look...", he observed her up and down. Her form fitted black lace dress reached past her knees that were covered with black patterned pantie hose and heels at the end extended the length of her long legs. "Sex-oof...", he held his stomach as Zayn nudged him in the abdomen. "Beautiful.", he coughed. "You look beautiful.", he smiled still wincing.

Melinda rolled her eyes chuckling at the two, "Thank you..."

"Call me when you get home!", Zayn shouted over the music.

"Wait! You can't leave yet!!", both Melinda and Zayn stared at the curly-haired drunk questioningly. "We haven't gotten wasted yet!"

"We don't drink.", Melinda chuckled at him. "Anyways...", she said rolling her eyes at Harry's pout towards Zayn. She always did admire the Zarry ship. "I'll see you later Zayn. Love you.", she kissed his cheek.

"Love you too...", he stared into her eyes leaving a lingering kiss on her forehead.

Melinda stood there by herself watching the clock on her wall tick in a steady beat as the small hand moved closer to the number 12. Listening to sound of the TV in the living room, she decided to watch it as she folded the clothes. The scent of Zayn lingered into her nose when she picked up his black wool sweater. Holding it up to her nose - as she did every time it had been washed - she inhaled him. The smell of him brought back memories of the times when they were just engaged. When she had gotten her first kiss...

She lifted her head off of him and looked him in the eyes in annoyance, "What?" Her voice more stern than he expected. "You try planning a wedding in under a month. I forgotten that I had to do that. I called the florist, the bakery, the hotel and the DJ. I'm currently still working on my sari and fitting it perfectly to my body. I don't even know how to put it on...wrap it around me...whatever it is that they do with it. I'm a mess. I went under wear shopping and left because of how uncomfortable it is, so now Gharram is doing that for me. I can't do something as simple as shopping for panties and bras. I can't stand being around anyone for more than six seconds. I feel irritable. Nothing I do, is turning out how it should be and I'm getting so fucking exhausted. The hate tweets on Twitter aren't making it any better and I'm just fucking done with everything and everyone. I don't know what the fuck to think or feel. I'm just tired and stressed and..."

She felt a force push against her knocking the wind out of her. Her words stopped and her eyes widened when she seen where the impact had come from and where it came from especially. Her eyes fluttered closed instantly to the soft touch of skin against her lips. Her heart soaring so high she felt as if she had been lifted into the clouds above. Zayn's mouth smashed against hers and on point of impact, made her body turn into a pile of mush. Melinda couldn't speak, breathe or move a muscle.

Shock waves ran up and down her spine. Goosebumps trailed from her shoulders to the tips of her fingers. She felt the stubble of his jaw graze her soft skin which made her lift her hand to his face and pull him in closer. He pushed against her again, but softly leaving her breathless, motionless and defenseless to everything that was going on around her. She could feel the stress exit her body with just one slick movement of his lips against hers. Soon she had forgotten what it was she had complained about.

His hand was under her chin and her lips moved upwards slightly pressed to his instinctively as she moved in sync with him. Zayn tucked her hair behind her ear and moved his lips from hers gently while a sudden rush of cool air replaced the heat of the impact. He pressed his lips against hers lightly once more and released. Once more lightly and his eyes opened to see a weak Melinda in close vicinity of him.

Melinda smiled to herself still staring at the sweater in her hands. Crazy how he still held the same aroma for so long. She could recognize him from anywhere. She huffed happily and then groaned at the clock hanging on the wall above the plasma screen TV. Zayn had been late, which wasn't really a shocker to her. She expected this from him. Zayn and her relationship was getting rockier by the weeks that would pass. Melinda thought nothing of his absence seeing as she trusted him with every bone in her body. He hadn't really given her a reason as to why she shouldn't.

She placed the piled clothes into the basket and forced herself off her comfortable position on the fluffy tan carpet. Melinda walked over to her bedroom placing the each item in the correct spot. She turned her head to the side seeing that the shoes had been crooked. Crawling towards them, she reached for her side first fixing each pair correctly.

That was how Melinda was. If there was something on her mind and tried ignoring it, she would go around her flat fixing any small out of place furniture, picture or clothing in the flat. She cleaned things that hadn't been needed to be and cleaned out the fridge more than three times making sure that nothing rotten was stored near clean food.

She felt exhaustion wash over after cleaning the remaining dishes in the sink. Walking over to the bathroom, pulled her tank top over her head placing it in the hamper. The bathroom soon was fogged with the heated water. Melinda slid her shorts down her legs along with her panties. She held the back of her neck cringing at the slight ache. Melinda flinched at the sudden feel of a cold touch meeting her warm skin.

"I'll help you with that...", Zayn whispered into her ear sliding his hand around her bare waist.

Melinda closed her eyes taking in his delicate touches. He always knew how to softly handle her as if she was fragile glass. Zayn easily untied her hair letting the huge waves fall down her back in black waves of fine silk. He moved her hair from her shoulder leaving light kisses trailing up to her neck and to lower region of her ear.

Melinda would soon forget why it was she slightly distraught at Zayn just by one touch...

Notes