Interlinked

Chapter 23

“What if I didn’t want you to come over?” I tease him, and a few seconds after that, he chuckles lowly upon replying.

“You don’t have a say in this, Krouse.” He returns the tease and I roll my eyes at him before they come across with the mirror again and the smile immediately fades away.

 “What if... I scare you? What if I scare everyone who’s going to see me?” I wonder, fear clutching onto my throat.

“The only thing that you will do to people is dazzle them, and that is no fib.” He changes his tone upon reaching the last few words, and I chuckle a bit before walking to my dresser and pulling out a beanie from the first drawer.

  “What time should I be there?” I ask him, fixing the beanie careful on my skin.

“Where?” He quickly asks and I roll my eyes at him.

“You’re stupid sometimes, you know that?” I shake my head and then continue. “At your place.”

“Oh!” He gasps. “Did my sweet words sweep you off your feet, Madam Krouse?”

“Just answer the question and stop playing around.” I laugh under my breath and mentally groan because I can feel the hand that I’m holding the phone with is getting warmer and sticky because of this awkward yet amusing conversation.

“I like playing around,” he jokes and I groan aloud this time, allowing him to laugh out loud as I impatiently tap my foot on the floor.

“Zayn?” I warn him, getting impatient with his foolish behaviors.

“Right, just be here whenever you can.” He says and I confirm that I will be there shortly before I hang up and put on my coat afore reaching downstairs.

“Mom?” I shout in the empty house, and she immediately pops her head out from behind the kitchen’s door.

“Here!” She exclaims and I walk closer to her. “Are you okay now?” She asks me, eyeing me carefully and I nod, affirmative.

 “Can you drop me off somewhere?” I nervously ask her and she raises an eyebrow at me.

“Where to?” She wonders, a smirk drawing her lips.

“Uhm, Zayn’s?” I grit my teeth together in distress and speak again before she tries to declines. “He called me, and I need the company and that’s all.”

“Am I not a good companion anymore?” She asks and I can’t figure out whether she is joking around or she’s actually serious.

“I, uh,” I stutter and pause for a second, trying to find something to say that might comfort her.

“Relax,” she chuckles and I sigh out in relief, “I’ll drop you off, just let me get my coat.” She announces and a wide smile lures on my face.

“Thank you,” I say and then bite my lower lip anxiously whilst turning on my heels and rushing outside, impatient.

  After reaching his house, I wave a hand for my mom and take careful steps formerly reaching the sizeable house. I ring on the door bell before locking my hands together.

  “Hey,” Zayn welcomes me after swaying the door open. He's wearing the regular basketball shorts he wears to practice, with a grey hoodie to go along his casual outfit.

 “Hey,” I nervously reply, leaning my head to the side, still waiting for him to invite me.

“Come in, please.” He scratches his head awkwardly, and I shake my head in delight before placing a step inside his beautiful house. I really don’t know what to do, but when I notice Zayn going upstairs, I follow him without permitting a sound or questioning him under any circumstances. “I have something for you,” he says, turning back to stare at me and I nod at him while a million thoughts rush inside my head.