Bitter ⇒ zayn malik [au]

xxi.

•twenty-one•

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He’d remember holding her in his arms, bodies flattering each other. Fingers seemingly sewn together. It was like this that Zayn noticed something relatively significant. It had taken two months for him to realize that the love he had for Ellie was equivalent on both halves. But, it’d only taken him three weeks to fall completely out of infatuation and into love. This was their second day as a couple, and the moment she woke, was the moment she realized what Zayn meant to her. 

“Hi,” Zayn smiled down at the girl resting on the left side of his shoulder. The two peas in a pod were the first to wake up and last to fall asleep. Niall, Louis, Zayn and Ellie all watched Pixar Disney films. Every so often Zayn would acknowledge Niall’s cold stare whenever he would kiss Ellie romantically. The mere fact that Zayn didn’t stop made the blood in Niall’s body temperature rise by the second.

 “Hi,” she responded before leaving to brush her teeth that still tasted of pop and popcorn. Zayn stared at her leaving the room, but his imagination couldn’t drive him off the wall as the phone blared throughout the home—yet not disturbing Louis and Niall. Zayn obtained the responsibility to answering.  

“Good morning to you too,” Zayn said in the happiest tone he can muster.

“Hi, Zayn, you haven’t been to work in an ample amount of weeks, so if you can’t make it in today . . . I can’t continue to pay you. Hope all is well with the fam!” his boss hung up.

“I guess, I’ll be making coffee today,” he sighed.

+

Half of the day had gone by and Zayn was working faster than usual. He only wanted to spend the entire day, wrapped up in a thick blanket with the girl of his reality resting on his chest. And instead of convincing Ellie to accompany him at work, he held against it because he didn’t desire to force her to “wait on him.” Not to Zayn’s awareness, Niall had shown up, making Zayn use profanity­­­—words he wouldn’t usually use.

“What do you want Niall?” he barely got his words out before he was thrown out of the shop.

“You still asked her, even after I told you not to,” Niall used his fingers to pierce into Zayn’s chest.

“Yes, I did, and who do you think you are to tell me not to ask her. She has a mind of her own, okay? She can make her own decisions in life,” Zayn refused to concave to physically hurting the boy.

“What the hell, don’t you think I know that!? Just,” Niall controlled his voice, “Just, don’t do anything to her that will give me a half-decent reason to hurt you. I know she can make her own decision, but you saw what happened between her and Liam! I told her not to let that bastard in and she refused to listen to me! Don’t make the same stupid mistakes as Liam,” Niall decided that he would end the conversation as he did, and proceeded to walk away. He stopped as he heard Zayn call him back to where he stood at the entrance of the coffee shop.

“I don’t want you to think I’m some dick, I’m not. I’ve experienced enough shit in my life to know how to treat a girl, and you’re going to have to trust me on that. I know you wish you could always be around her 24/7, but you need to live your own life and stop trying to protect hers. She’ll be fine,” Zayn said, barely opening his soul to this somewhat of a stranger. 

“I trust you,” Niall spoke after several moments of silence, putting out his hand for Zayn to shake, but Zayn pulled him in a hug despite what Niall originally suggested. 

Zayn’s hour lunch gave the two a chance to bond, Niall offering to teach Zayn how to play the guitar.

+ 

“Honey, I’m home!” Zayn chuckled to himself as he opened the door with a few grocery items, Niall not too far behind. Niall had loitered around at a music shop two minutes from Small Batch; Zayn then travelled home in Louis’ car.

“Zayn, I appreciate you trying to hit on me at such a time as this, but really, in front of your girlfriend! It’s like you can’t understand that Niall and I are in a secret relationship, shame on you!” Louis laughed while sipping on tea. 

Ellie was napping on the same couch Zayn and her had slept on the night before. She wore his black sweater, making Zayn’s heart swelter with joy. He kissed the girls’ cheek notwithstanding Niall and Louis staring at him. 

“Ah, ain’t that just sweet Niall? He kissed her cheek . . . such a romantic,” Louis stepped down from his place on the countertop and went to his room before whispering to Zayn, ”Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” he continued to say aloud, “C’mon Niall, let’s go make love,” Louis laughed, leaving the room with Niall.

Zayn sat down next to the girl after placing away the groceries. He authentically loved her, and a thought ran through his mind that this could be the girl he could be with. He knew she could be. Zayn cradled the girl in his arms, lifting her body to his room, so she could sleep in a larger setting. 

Occasionally, he’d glance over to her body, drinking in her frame. She was perfect to him. Zayn would whisper promises in her ear, that one day he would fulfill. 

He’d marry her. 

+++++

READ VINYLS PLS OMFG. My eyes hurt, it is way too early for this. But, let me let you into my mind. I was basically going to do something terrible to these characters this chapter, and decided not to, so I hope you’re happy.  But here’s a cute little Zellie chapter, don’t get used to them being cute okay? Okay. HA TFIOS IS OUT TODAY I MIGHT GO SEE IT WITH SOME FRIENDS YES! All right, I’ll get going. OKAY I ALWAYS GET AFRAID BC I DONT KNOW IF PEOPLE JUST STOP READING THIS SO IF YOU STILL READ THIS idk PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF ALL OF THIS SO FAR IDK DO YOU WANT THIS TO ALL END IN A ZOMBIA APOCALYPSE??????????? DAT GIF THO

sotc: Benjamin Francis Leftwich // Atlas Hands (bc cute) 

dedicated to: cathartics bc she’s so rad. AND TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS OKAY I LOVE YOU IF YOU DO AND YEAH x

(but for zayn to want to marry her already lawd cheesus there is a fire bc he couldn't even ask her to be his girlfirend who does he think he is)