Chapter 4: Zayn
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
I groan and roll over to demobilize the annoying tone of my alarm. Why the fuck do I have an alarm set anyways? It's not like I'm actually going to get out of bed. I finally get the alarm to stop going off and wrap my duvet tighter around me. I'm almost out again when....
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
"What the fuck is so important that I have to get up this early for?" I mumble very irritated. I'm obviously not a morning person even though it's only around ten in the morning. I read the name of the alarm which reads, "Lagoon date." That's all I need to get up and start getting ready. I totally forgot and I have to get her in about four hours. Is it four hours? Yeah, that sounds about right.
I turn the alarm off and drag my feet to the bathroom and start my daily routine. I take a piss and wash my hands. I then proceed to clean my face and brush my teeth. I know that it seems weird that I like clean my face, but guys need to do it too. I then hurry over to the part of my room where I'm keeping my suitcase. I grab out some black jeans and a black band tee that Harry so generously cut the sleeves off of. I don't even understand why he wanted them, but he did so I let him take it.
I put on some deodorant and hurry back to the bathroom so I could do my hair. I decide to go with putting a smile beanie on it and styling it down so I won't so easily be recognized out today. I then spray my signature cologne on and head over to the main room to call for some food. I impatiently wait for my meal, shooting Monica a quick "Good Morning" text when I finally hear a knock on the door. In comes one of the house cleaning ladies with my food followed by Louis and Liam. Okay. I wasn't expecting them to be over today. They don't seem to notice my surprise and make themselves feel at home. Louis sprawls across my unmade bed while Liam takes a seat in a chair across the room.
"So what's on the agenda for today Malik?" Louis asks sitting up. I just take a bite of my cereal, unsure of how to respond. I kind of just want it to be Monica and I today because I'm thinking of this as a sort of date, but I don't want to lie to my best mates.
"It must be important if you're up and ready this early," Liam jokes, but I hear the truth that is ringing through his words. It's just a well-known fact that I usually don't get up before noon. We don't get much sleep when we're on the road and when we have the opportunity to, we abuse it, especially me.
"I was just going to call me mum and then go to an amusement park downtown, do some sightseeing ya know?" I inform them. They seem pretty shocked, but I just ignore them as I take another bite of my breakfast. Soon enough, another knock is heard at my door and Liam gets it. In comes strolling Harry and Niall who also make themselves feel at home.
"What's up?" Niall asks eating some of my food. I frown at him, but he truly doesn't seem to mind.
"We're going to an amusement park today," Louis announces to the other lads and I nearly choke on my food. I quickly hide it though and act like his words didn't affect me.
"Oh cool. When are we leaving mates?" Harry asks.
"Well I am now so I can get us some food beforehand. I'll see you boys later," I say wiping my mouth off and walking to the door. They furrow their eyebrows confused and I don't blame them. I just want some alone time with Monica before they show up. It'll be impossible for us to not get noticed when they show up and I don't want her to endure that.
I walk down the hotel stairs and hurry quickly to where the tour bus is. I walk in and grab my disguise consisting of a fake lip piercing, a marker to give me a weird mole that I don’t normally have, and a fake eyebrow piercing too. I look totally punk and that's okay. I also cover up some of my tattoos with concealer so I look "wannabe" almost except for I didn't cover them all. I almost don't even recognize myself.
Perfect.
I hurry over to the rent-a-car I got last night, checking to make sure I have my phone and wallet. I hop in and start the ignition, heading towards the little supermarket that I'm so grateful I found yesterday. I just needed to get away and while I was driving, I had a serious case of the munchies. I pulled into the nearest town and asked for directions to the nearest supermarket and viola. I got my munchies and found Monica.
Monica.
I have no idea what it is about her, but I'm just so drawn. I don't know if it's the cute way her glasses lay on the bridge of her nose or the way she has such a passion in fighting for what she believes in. I have no clue and at this point I don't even care. I fancy her even though I barely know her.
I find myself pulling into that same damn super market. I can't help the stupid grin that takes over my features as I put the car into park and get out. I quickly get out my phone and shoot Monica a text, telling her that I'm here. I then enter and make my way through the aisles by myself, glad my disguise is already on. I grab some food such as water, sandwich stuff, fruit, granola bars, leaving the chips for last. I begin to make my way over there calmly, glad I haven't attracted attention yet. I enter the aisle to see her almost panting, clutching onto herself.
Her brunette hair is tied back in a high ponytail, allowing me to see all of her features entirely. She's wearing a pair of high waisted shorts, showing off her tan legs perfectly. She has on overlapping tank tops, covered by an orange t-shirt that allows her breasts to concave the front, almost falling out. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the view, even though her gray shoes don't go to well with the outfit.
"Hey," she says readjusting her glasses. She then moves her bag that's on her shoulder a bit. I wonder why it's so big?
"Hey," I respond casually, wrapping my arms around her. She's obviously surprised at first, as am I, but returns the gesture. I pull away after a moment and smile at her, "what kind of chips do you want?" She almost laughs at me, making me want to laugh myself. God I love this.
"Flaming hot Funyuns," she responds almost immediately. I'm surprised that she actually answered cos most girls would be like, "you pick" or "i don't know. You decide." I like that she's not afraid to speak her opinion. I smile, grabbing a bag. We then head to the register where I proceed to check out. Afterwards, we make the short walk to my car.
"I uh brought this bag so you can add your food in it with mine if you don't mind. Walking back out to retrieve food is a hassle really," she speaks up by saying and I nod, and we put the food in, making small conversation. We're just getting to know each other and it's a nice change compared to the usual girl throwing herself at me.
We get in the car and I have her give me directions to the amusement park as I avoid calls from my mates. I've explained to her the situation pretty well I believe.
"So I get to meet the boys again?" She questions with a smile on her face.
"Maybe, we'll see," I tell although I really want to be selfish with her. It's not an easy thing to share for me. I chuckle a bit. Soon enough, I've paid for parking and go to find a spot. I put the car in park and we get out.
“You ready?” I ask her.
“Only if you are,” she smirks in response.
~
“That was my favorite one!” she shouts as we reminisce about our day so far. We’ve rode a few roller coasters and kiddie rides, having a blast the entire time before the lads show up.
“Here you go sir,” the woman at the cashier says, waving at Monica. I’m assuming that they know each other by the way that she’s blushing.
“Bye Macahl,” she says quickly taking the caramel apples from her. Hers is covered in M&M’s, something that seems a bit extreme to me, while mine is just plain old normal.
“I don’t know how you liked that one so much. I’m practically drenched now,” I tell her as we walk away, her waving at her friend. We then take a seat at a deserted table under an umbrella. I’ve been enjoying my time with her a lot. This is the most fun I’ve had in a while even though I’m drenched to the point where my ass is probably a pit wrinkled. Never a good idea to wear jeans on a water ride.
“That’s the fun in it. You can cool off. Plus we got there before rush hour,” she tells me, taking a bite of her delicacy. I’m glad that she’s enjoying it. They really do have the best caramel apples here.
“But then you’re wet the rest of the day,” I point out.
“That’s another good thing. It keeps you cool and people don’t know that you were sweating,” she points out, blushing at her words and looking away. I like her forwardness, it’s not a quality that you find in very many people. I’m about to respond to her when my phone starts ringing playing a normal boring ring. I haven’t decided what song to put for my ringtone yet.
“Hello?” I say into the receiver.
“Hi mate. Where you at?” Louis says and I know the time has come. I can hear the screams in the background on his side causing me to groan a little bit.
“I just stopped to grab something to eat. I’ll meet you at the…teacups,” I tell them noting that that ride is pretty close.
“We’re right over there. See ya soon,” he says disconnecting. He obviously still isn’t in a good mood. He just needs to call Eleanor and get this whole mess sorted out ‘cos I’m sick and tired of this. I think we all are, fans and management included.
“Who was that?” Monica beams at me. I smile just at the fact that she is smiling at me.
“Louis. He wants to meet me by the teacups,” I tell her.
“Oh okay cool. Let’s go then,” she says standing up, but I grab her hand, forcing her to sit down.
“I don’t think the time is right, right now for you to see them again,” I tell her. Her frown is prominent as she tries to comprehend what I’m telling her.
“Why not?” she asks.
“It’s just that I like you, a lot and I don’t want you getting pulled into our world of cameras and hate. They’d tease me and you and I don’t want that to happen that yet. Once I know that you’re ready to handle my world, we’ll tell them, okay?” I ask her. I’m just looking out for her safety. I’ve dated girls before who have just left me because they weren’t prepared for what they would go through. I just want to keep this our little secret until I know for sure that she’s ready.
“Can I tell my friends at least?” she asks me and I frown, knowing that this question would come up eventually.
“I just don’t know what they would say to everyone else and I don’t want you to get hate for being a ‘liar’,” I air quote. She doesn’t seemed pleased with this at all, but she nods in understanding, something that I’m thankful for. I’ve known for a while that the next girl that I get with is going to have to keep whatever we have secret and I know damn well that she could leave me the moment she found out, something that I was very afraid of.
“I’ll meet you at the colossus, yeah?” I ask, remembering her saying that that was her favorite from earlier. She smiles at the thought of that.
“Yeah. I’ll see you then,” she says and I reach over to peck her check before we both part our separate ways.