Strings and Schemes

Chapter 23

The next morning comes quickly, and easily. I wake with a renewed feeling of hope in my chest. Knowing that I've broken the pattern, at least once, on my track record. A sense of relief washes over me, knowing that I have everything I've ever wanted - not a house, a home.

Not strangers clad in family lines, but friends who became chosen family. And not, a political marriage or a political relationship, but one for me. I finally feel like I can relax.

Zayn stirs next to me, taking me in before rolling over to kiss me passionately. Our morning breaths mending together.

"Good morning," I pull away gently, before he pulls me back in an attempt to crawl into my skin.

"Good Mornin," He says in a gruff, made in part by his face being tucked deeply into my chest. Cuddling.

I giggle, "Zayn," How lucky am I to finally get to feel this? 

Not only after the past two weeks, but ever. I never once thought I'd get to feel the joy of waking up next to someone who I wanted to wake up next to, or to have a relationship with someone whose not a tool for political gain for my parents or the American government.

He looks at me with the kindest of eyes. Sparkles everywhere.

We spend most of our morning cuddled like that in bed, shifting only when necessary. If I could crawl into his skin I would. When I've finally felt like I've held my bladder long enough to risk explosion, I climb out of the bed - not without difficulty as Zayn tries to wrestle me back in until finally I warn,

"If you hold me in here for one second longer, I will pee all over you."

He screws up his face, "I'm down for literally anything you want to do, besides that. Water sports have never been my thing."

I laugh and break free of his grip before he decides to try to pull me back again and I make a mad dash for the bathroom, getting there just in the nick of time. After I relieve myself of my annoying human needs, I run back to the bed and jump on it. Prompting Zayn's fake surprise scream.

"Fuckin' 'ell, Rain." He laughs. "You really can make almost no noise when you want to."

I smirk, "I don't think you get to see much of that, hmm?"

He grins cockily before pulling me in and pressing a hard kiss on my lips.

"Now that we've had a proper lie-in," I start, "Whats on the schedule for today?" I hum

Zayn pulls me into him, kissing him again. "I don't know, you tell me."

I smile, "I was kind of leaving things open ended actually."

"So unlike you to leave things up in the air," he grins knowingly.

I play bite his arm, "Shut up, I didn't expect you to be here right now and I've been doing this self-pity, self-loathing thing for the past few weeks."

I avoid saying anything else of meaning on the subject, instead saying, "I do need to figure out what to wear to my graduation, and it may involve a shopping trip."

He smiles, "Is this you inviting me to your graduation?"

I laugh, "do you want me to invite you?"

He feigns shock, "do you not want me to go?"

"Jaan," I laugh, "we're going around in circles."

He deadpans. A slow, but wide smile creeping across his face. "Jaan?"

I flush, "did I say it wrong? I feel like my accent isn't that bad, it's been a while since I've really spoken Hindi or Urdu, but I think they're close in nature, right?"