Mia's POV:

My mom sets out the spaghetti and garlic bread then proceeds to ask Zayn what he would like to drink. "Water is fine." He replies, smiling at her.

She soon comes back out with a glass of water and insists he dishes up first. "I know I'm your guest, Mrs. Clarke, but I am an old-fashioned type of guy and believe the ladies should dish up first."

I can't help but have a wave of emotions hit me harshly. God, he was way too perfect.

This dinner the arrangement was different though. I sat by my mom and Zayn sat by my dad. I couldn't help but hope he wasn't uncomfortable.

As soon as my mom and I dished up, Zayn and my dad did. "Zayn, I am in favor of your morals, young man. Lots of boys these days don't treat woman like they deserve to be."

He looks over and smirks mischievously at my dad. "I've noticed, but I was brought up right by my father. I have been told by many I seem to come from a different era."

My mom laughs and takes a bite of her garlic bread. But I can't help but take some caution to his words, just a feeling in my gut made me do so.

I must've not been smiling, because my dad breaks me out of my thoughts. "Mia, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Mia. Are you alright?" Zayn asks, looking me right in the eye with a smirk.

"I-I'm fine," I laugh, fakely. "I was just thinking."

"Thinking can be a very dangerous thing." He replies, eyes suddenly dark.

The table goes quiet and after we are all finished, my mom heads into the kitchen and brings out a strawberry cheesecake. "Homemade, just for you."

"You shouldn't have."

"I wanted to." I tap my fingers as my mom cuts a piece for each of us.

"Would your aunt like some for home? I would think she wouldn't feel up to cooking in her state." My dad concludes, taking a small bite of cake.

"I don't see why not." He replies.

My mom makes her a plate and sets it on the table for when Zayn decides to leave. We sit at the table talking when Zayn looks at me with a hint of admiration and smiles. Unfortunately, I can't help but smile back and blush a bit.

We leave my parents to talk and head into the living room. "Any possible way we could escape to your room?" He asks, looking at his lap.

"No way. That's my parents number one rule, no boys in my room." I laugh at their over-protectiveness.

"Eh, I'm sure they won't mind. Let me go ask them about it." Zayn stands up and starts walking to the kitchen.

"You're setting yourself up for failure!"

There is no way in hell my parents will agree to Zayn. Seriously, it took Niall three years to be able to persuade them to let him up there and they knew we were just friends; nothing more!

A few nerve-racking minutes later, he comes out with a smirk on his face. "Zayn Malik never fails."

"Are you kidding me?" I gasp, my jaw dropping. "There is no way my parents agreed to this. How did you do it?"

"Well, they did. And I just used some persuasion, my trick to getting anything I want in the world."

"I can never persuade anyone." I pout, laughing afterwards.

"I have the upper hand though, Mia."

"How so?"

"I never kiss and tell." Zayn winks, running up the stairs. I groan at his response and chase after him to my room. "I like your room."

"Thanks." I grin, falling onto my bed as he checks my room out.

As he looks all around, admiring my book collection, he asks me some questions. "Have you lived here your whole life?"

"Yes, my parents lived here when they were young." I reply, watching his every move with curiosity.

"Have you ever wanted to leave and move somewhere else?"

"Absolutely not. Everybody hates it here and claims that they want to move to Los Angeles, or some place like New York when they're older, but not me. I love everything about Longdale."

"You're different." He looks over his shoulder at me. "I like that."

"I'm different?"

"Like me, kind of. We have a lot in common." Zayn picks up a single book and looks over it. "What's the deal with Delila and Harry? I sense tension between you guys."

"Between all three of us? Maybe so. Between just Harry and I? Not that much anymore." I stand up and look over my collaboration of photos; mostly Niall and I.

"What happened?"

"Delia liked Harry, and apparently he liked her also. Until I became his partner and "stole him" from her. I don't understand her logic, because if he truly liked her, why drop her for me?"

"He found someone better." He replies, walking over to my window and peering out.

"You know, I can't believe your aunt lived a cross the street from me for this long. I've never even seen her leave the house. I would like to meet her one day, could I?" I ask, instantly his body stiffens.

Instead of answering, he turns around and looks at me. "You know, I only talk with Delila to make you jealous."

My question to him slips my mind and I look at him in disbelief. "Really?"

"Absolutely. I started to become interested when you invited me to sit with you. I was a bit concious at first, but I feel like I know you much better now."

"Oh." Suddenly, I feel the urge to kiss him. But I deny the urge and occupy my mind with other things.

Zayn leaves shortly after our talk and he's all that is on my mind. He's so unpredictable, and I never expected to see him tell me he was interested in me also. But at the moment, I realize now that I never got any answers from him.

The next morning, I wake up with one agenda; which is to impress Zayn. I hurry and pick out my outfit and throw it on. Afterwards, I get everything else ready.

At lunch, Zayn sits right next to me and we talk non-stop. Delila comes over, and I mentally groan. "Hey, Zayn. Would you like to go...tour the field?"

"Delila, I appreciate the offer; but it was quite rude to intrude on Mia's and I's conversation. Now if you don't mind." He smiles rudely, and shoos her off with his hand. She scowls at the both of us, and stomps away angrily.

I smile at Zayn widely, and then look down the aisle and see Harry walking over to his group of friends. "Harry!"

He turns his head and grins at the sight of me, "Hey Mia!"

"Would you like to sit with us?" I ask as he walks towards where Zayn and I are sitting.

Zayn cuts in, "He would love to, Mia. But the thing is, Harry has somewhere else to be. Isn't that right?"

Harry clenches his jaw, "Supposedly."

He walks away, and I look at Zayn with a surprised expression. "What was that about?"

Zayn shrugs, "I overheard him talking with his teacher, he has to retake a test."

School seems to drag on the rest of the day, but the upside is Zayn being in my last period class. I walk in and see him consulting with our teacher who just nods, and he turns to me when he see's me. "Hey Mia!"

"Hey Zayn." I grin, setting my things down at my seat.

Class starts soon and my teacher storms over to my desk, angrily. "Explain yourself, Ms. Clarke!"

"I-I don't know what you are talking about, sir."

"What the hell is this?" He growls, slamming my most recent assignment on the table.

I jump, and look over it. In black pen, sprawled over the whole page is large
letters that spell out, "MR. TALIHONE CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF!"

My whole body starts shaking, and I shake my head in denial. "I didn't do that, Mr. Talihone."

"Who did then?"

"I-I don't know."

"I am going to call your parents and report you to the principal, and get you suspended immediately!" He screams, right into my face.

"But sir, I didn't do it!" Tears fall down my cheeks in waves as my whole body shakes uncontrollably.

But it's too late, as he's already at the phone on his desk. I let out a loud cry and grab all my stuff, running straight out of the room. As soon as I step out, I trip over my own feet and fall to the ground, my stuff going everywhere.

"Sir, that is not necessary!" I hear Zayn say. "If she says she didn't do so, she didn't!"

I just sit on the ground, my stuff thrown everywhere as I cry. I didn't know what else to do, I didn't know how to prove I wasn't guilty. Who would want to do this to me?

Suddenly, I feels arms wrap around my waist and comfort me. "It's okay, Mia."

"N-No it's not, Zayn! This will go on my permanent record, and I'll never get into a good college!"

He sighs, and helps me up to my feet. "Honey, everything will be okay. I promise."

I hiccup as I try to calm myself down, "But-"

I'm cut off as Zayn presses his lips to mine. Everything seems to slow down, and I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach. My mind goes blank, and for that while, I forget why I was crying.

He pulls away, and smiles caringly. "Now let's ditch this place. My place?"

My stomach flips, warning me. But about what? Zayn was nothing but kind to me, and I had no reason not to trust him. Zayn must've seen the look on my face, because he just nods. "Okay, how about a diner?"

I nod, smiling sadly. He picks my things up, and we leave the school premises with nobody but each other.

As I get home, I just smile uncontrollably. I walk through the door, and the first thing that greets me is an angry mom. "Seriously? Being late home without a text, and ditching school?"

"Mom-" I try to explain, but she just points up the stairs.

"Just go to your room, you're grounded." I groan and haul myself up to my room, dropping all my things and hopping onto my laptop to log onto FaceBook.

From: Mia Clarke

Great news :/

From: Zayn Malik

And what is it?

I sigh, getting slightly irritated at my mom for not even letting me explain.

From: Mia Clarke

G.R.O.U.N.D.E.D

From: Zayn Malik

Shit! Did I do that? I'm so sorry. I can come over and explain how it was my idea

From: Mia Clarke

No, I wanted to go with. I'm to blame also (:

He doesn't reply, so I go and message Harry, wondering what the hell happened earlier between him and Zayn.

From: Mia Clarke

Okay, you and Zayn aren't letting me in on something. What the hell happened today?

From: Harry Styles

I had something to do, like he said. I just forgot is all.

I roll my eyes and groan. He is lying to me, and I didn't appreciate it.

From: Mia Clarke

You're one shit liar, Styles >:(

----

Is it just me, or is Zayn getting a bit shadier each chapter? (;

Legit, what is going on with Harry and Zayn? They obviously have something against each other...but what?

What are your theories so far? Comment them down below!