Chapter 31 ― Zayn

“Harry, I have something for you,” I said as I walked into his and Louis’ flat. Both boys were playing FIFA 13 and I would’ve joined them if I didn’t have other, and more important, plans for that day. “Happy New Year, by the way,” I added taking a seat next to the Doncaster boy. They barely registered my presence in their flat as they were way too focused on their game. I didn’t blame them; that game was addicting.

“Happy New Year to you, too, mate,” Harry replied, his eyes locked on the telly. Louis just nodded, the only sign that he had heard me.

“Are you gonna pause that? I need to talk to you,” I said hoping they would hear me. For a couple of seconds, it seemed like a lost battle, but Harry sighed and pressed pause on the remote before turning to face me.

“Tell me,” he encouraged me to talk.

I took the bag I was carrying to handle him what I brought him as Louis stood up to and went to the kitchen. Harry took the present and he was serious until he saw the t-shirt with the words ‘Master Of His Bladder’ on it. The curly-haired boy laughed and looked at me with an amused expression, I just stuck my tongue out and shrugged. I always kept my promises.

“Thanks, mate,” he told me with the shirt still in his hands. “Now, what do you want to talk about?”

“It’s about Mila. We have a date tonight, a proper date, and I wanna do things right, you know? I think she’s not that into this, at least, not as much as I am. And I just hope I can change that, so I want this date to be perfect.”

In that moment Louis joined us again and he seemed interested in our conversation. “What do you have planned?” Louis asked and I quickly told him my idea. He nodded in agreement and so did Harry.

“Do you think she’s gonna like it?” I asked all insecure and nervous.

“Despite that appearance of tough girl, I’ve learnt Mila is cheesy as fuck,” Harry replied and Louis chuckled. “She likes romance but she doesn’t like to be suffocated. Do you understand?” I nodded and he smiled. “I think it’s gonna be fine, she’s gonna like it. Just make sure no one will bother you two, and by no one I mean some fan. You don’t want to expose Mila to that yet.”

“You must be careful with that, Zayn,” Louis spoke seriously. In our group, he was the one who knew best how harsh our fans were with our girlfriends. Between Eleanor, Alex and Danielle, the first was the one who had it harder. “If you are really serious about this, you must be even more careful. Whatever you do or say is gonna have an impact on her. The fans will read between the lines and find things that were never meant to be. If you are gonna be with her, you will expose her to a hard situation, therefore you must protect her well.”

“Louis is right,” Harry supported his best mate. “And if you don’t think you’re capable or don’t want to be that responsible, then don’t try anything with her. She’s my friend, I don’t want you to hurt her, whether intentionally or accidentally.”

Louis spoke from his own experience, Harry because he was the closest friend Mila had from our band. I wasn’t that close to her as Harry was, I just hoped to be like that. They just wanted the best for her and for me, I didn’t have to feel threated or anything remotely similar. I knew their intentions were the best.

Louis was right, I was putting Mila in a very hard situation with this, where everyone was going to believe they had the right to judge her. Probably she was going to be like Alex and she wouldn’t care, anyhow, I was going to do my best to keep her safe. I believed I could.

“I’ll keep her safe, I can do it,” I spoke out loud and both boys nodded with smiles. “Now, I need you to help me to plan this better.”

+ + + + +

She looked gorgeous that night. She was always beautiful in my eyes, but that night she looked even more precious and she left me out of breath when I went to pick her up. She was wearing black skinny jeans with a grey shirt with a delicate stamp that hugged her body perfectly and a black leather jacket. Her black curls framing her lovely features and her eyes were smiling as wide as her lips. She looked beyond lovely that night and with her next to me, I felt like the luckiest guy on the planet.

“So, where are we going?” She asked me, her eyes were shining in a special way.

“It’s a surprise,” I replied with a cocky smile and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re gonna like it,” I added and I hoped she would.

“And are you gonna let me drive this baby on the way back?” She inquired and I chuckled. I was driving my Bentley Continental because I knew she was going to love that.

“Who knows?” I questioned back and she narrowed her eyes a bit more. I loved when she did that.

I didn’t have planned something humungous and out of this world. I wanted this night to be special, romantic and private. I didn’t think Mila would appreciate if I did something crazy just to prove her how into in this relationship I was. I thought she would rather us to have time for ourselves.

I parked in the back of a building I could see the curious expression in Mila’s face as I opened the door for her and led her inside the building. I was anxious, I really wanted her to like what I had prepared.

“Where are you taking me, Malik?” She asked me and I just took her hand and tangled our fingers together. I kissed the back of her hand as I leaned in to whisper into her ear.

“Surprise.”

She giggled softly as we kept walking until we reached our destination and she was speechless. The place was a small and cosy restaurant, but that night was special. Every employee was waiting for us and no one else was there. I had made a reservation only for us two. The whole restaurant was all for us.

The lights were dimmed and there was a couple on a small stage, a man in a piano and a girl in a black cocktail dress singing softly and with a peculiar voice. There were candles everywhere and our table was in the centre, surrounded by five waiters that were there only for us.

She squeezed my hand and I was looking at her, waiting for a reaction from her to know if I had done right with bringing her there. She looked at me, her brown eyes meeting mine and I saw emotion shining there, and her smile was so precious I felt my own heart racing.

“All this… Just us?” She asked and I nodded without losing my smile.

“I thought we could use some privacy. Just you and I,” I told her and her smile grew wider. “No one here will bother us,” I added and she stepped closer, stood on her tiptoes and kissed me softly. I placed my other hand on the small of her back and pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.

When we pulled away, her smile was still adorable. She said, “Thank you. This is amazing.”

I smiled proud of myself. She liked it. “Come,” I told her as I led her to our table. One waiter pulled the chair for her. I sat across her, my eyes always locked on hers. “I know you’re not vegetarian, but you kinda like that style. That’s why I thought this restaurant would be good,” I explained to her as she nodded receiving the menu from one waiter.

It was a naturist restaurant with many options and I really hoped there was something in the menu she would love. Her eyes examined the menu and I saw her nodding at many options until she made her choice.

Whilst we waited for our food, we had a little chat. She told me more about her holiday with her family and the things that would come for her after these days in Uni. I told her about the projects we had as a band and after that we just talked about ourselves, and things we cared about. I loved how we could jump from one topic to another and how she always had an opinion about the subject. I liked how even when we were talking about something serious, she could make a silly comment out of just a random word and we could laugh a bit. Talking to her was always interesting and amusing. Her company was, most certainly, something I truly enjoyed.

The food was great and the service was incredible. They were all nice to us and it was so great to have the whole place for us. We tried different things just for the sake of trying new things.

“This has been great,” Mila said when the waiter took away our plates after we finished the dessert. “I’m having so much fun and this is one of my new favourite places in London.”

“I’m glad you liked it. But the date is not over,” I told her standing up and walking towards her. “Take my hand.”

She looked confused at the beginning but anyway, she took my hand and I helped her to stand on her feet. Smiling, I led her farther from our table as the couple on the stage started to play a bit louder. I knew Mila wasn’t particularly fond of R&B that was why I thought it would be better if the music wasn’t purely R&B but it also had a bit of pop.

I wasn’t a dancer, that everyone knew, yet I put my hands on her waist and pulled her closer. “Dance with me,” I whispered in her ear and I felt her shiver in my arms.

The song was slow and the voice of the singer could really get you, but all I cared about in that moment was that I had Mila in my arms. Maybe that night wasn’t a big deal, maybe I could have done something better for her, but for me it felt perfect.

I was falling so hard for her, I really felt she was special and unique.

We danced oblivious to the world, just the two of us and we didn’t even have the need to say anything. We were just embracing the moment. I loved how her head rested on my chest, her arms around my neck and our bodies moving in sync.

“Mila,” I whispered, we were still dancing slowly.

“Hmmm,” she mumbled looking up at me.

I cupped her face with my left hand and looked into her eyes, getting lost in the warm of her chocolate gaze. “I know this is cheesy, but…”

My stomach was made a mess. I hadn’t planned this, but I felt like it was the perfect moment. I didn’t even feel like I was rushing things. She looked intrigued but didn’t say anything, she was just waiting for me to continue.

“I really, really care about you and… and I want you to know that I wanna be with you. For real. I guess all I want to say is…” I really hated when my shy side took control over me, making me act like an awkward boy again. I breathed in deeply and I felt my heart beating faster due to the way she was smiling at me. “I guess what I wanna ask you is… do you wanna be my girlfriend?”

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Dedication goes to @IvanaLimairy because it was important for her. I hope you won't stop commenting now you got one ;)

Bel, xx