Chapter 33 ― Zayn

Lucas was a nice lad and it was obvious he totally loved Phebs. The way he treated her put that very clear and when they were together… well, it was like in a movie when the couple was finally together. He was fun and easy-going and in a matter of minutes, he got the approval of everyone. Liam was the one who looked the happiest about the whole thing, finally having a face for a name. My band mate really cared about Phebs and he wanted the best for the blonde girl, and he knew Lucas was the best.

It was great to have some time with friends after weeks when we barely saw each other. The girls started Uni again and we were busy promoting our new single, with interviews, photoshoot sessions and little performances, it was really hard to find time to get all together like that day.

Nevertheless, Mila and I always found a way to see each other during the past few weeks, even for a little while and things between us were going more than great. I was crazy about her and everything seemed perfect in my life. I was happy, completely happy. Nothing was awkward with Alex anymore and our friendship was finally restored.

A relationship with Mila was easier than I ever thought. We kept it secret for obvious reasons, though. She never cared about my fame and she was always so thoughtful. She gave me my space and always told me that I had to have a life without her, as well. She always told me that I was a part of her life, not her whole life and that it had to be the same in my case.

She wasn’t clingy. She was funny. She wasn’t needy. She was just great.

We had our fights sometimes when we couldn’t agree on something. Sometimes it was because I was too jealous, but how couldn’t I? She started showing me pictures of Rob Pattinson, or Channing Tatum and Tom Hiddleston… how could I compete against those? And she always told me about how much she loved them, oblivious to the effect of those words on me. But later we talked about it and apologise if we were wrong. Making up after a fight was always the best part.

Once we had a fight because I couldn’t understand her point of view. And still now it was rather hard to comprehend, and it was about her writing. I told her I could help her to get published, sure with my fame and contacts I could get a deal for her with a publisher, but she refused plainly.

“I don’t wanna be known as Zayn’s girlfriend who also happens to write. If I’m ever going to get a deal and get published, I want it to be by my own work. I don’t want any help to get that,” she told me but I still couldn’t understand it. Why didn’t she want to use all what she could to get what she wanted?

“But I could help you and it would be faster,” I insisted. I knew she deserved to be published, why couldn’t she let me help her?

“I want to do it by myself, why is it so hard for you to understand?!” She exclaimed walking away a few steps.

“I just wanna help you!” I replied back raising my voice, too.

“I know! But I don’t need your help on this. I wanna do this on my own!” She cried out almost infuriated. “You know? It’s obvious you’re not getting this. I’m leaving and we’ll talk about this when you finally understand that this is different for me. I wanna be myself and I want people to know me for me, not because you helped me. I don’t want my name attached to yours when it comes to my writing.” And after that, she left my flat. I spent hours trying to understand her point. I knew she wanted to be herself but maybe we could do it without everyone knowing I was helping her, yet she didn’t even consider that option.

After that fight there were a few tense days until I gave in and told her that if she didn’t want me to help her in that matter, it was okay. After all, I respected her and her decisions. Her convictions were a big part of her that I just loved.

The moment when Mila saw the news on the telly I thought we were going to fight again. I thought she was going to yell at me for letting that happen. I knew that despite how well she took my fame, letting the rest of the world knowing about us was too much for her yet. It was too soon and I was ready to tell her that we were going to be fine, that I was going to protect her and things like that. But I didn’t have the time.

“We look great in that picture,” she said still with her eyes locked on the screen. I knew everyone in the room was looking at us, expecting for the bomb to explode. “It could have been a worse one,” she mused and I just blinked.

Where was the rage? The concern?

“Pardon?” I asked, confused.

“Yeah. I mean, it was impossible to keep this as a secret, right?” She replied sitting on my lap as there wasn’t room on the sofa for her. “Sooner or later someone was going to see us. At least they took a nice picture. And look, it’s really great. You look so cute!” She said and I was still blinking confuse.

That was it?

“Aren’t you mad or something? I thought you didn’t want to be known as my girlfriend,” I told her and I felt Niall and Alex standing up and walking away to leave us alone, and so did the rest in the room. Soon, Mila and I were alone.

“Don’t be silly. I’m your girlfriend, I just don’t want to be only known for that. To be your girlfriend is not the only thing about me, that’s all. You still can’t get that point, right?” She questioned in a sweet tone. She was acting sweeter just so I wouldn’t freak out for the truth coming out.

“I might still have some troubles understanding,” I confessed and she giggled softly. Mila leaned in and kissed me slowly, her little hands cupping my face and I just kissed her back, my hands on her waist.

“It’s not that hard. It’s like in the movies when the son of the billionaire doesn’t want to be only known for his father, he want to be known for who he is. It’s something like that. Being your girlfriend is part of who I am, but I’m also Moni’s friend, a Uni student, and a writer in her free time. See? I’m many things and I don’t want people to know me just for on of those. Plus, I don’t want your fans believing I’m taking advantage of your fame to become a writer. Do you get it know?”

“I think… it’s just that I wanna do all what I can to help you to fulfil your dreams,” I told her still brushing my lips against hers, our foreheads were touching.

“I understand and it’s very sweet of you, but it’s better like this. Let me do this alone, okay? I don’t need you to go and get me a deal with a publisher, I can do it.”

“You can,” I agreed on the matter with a smile playing on my lips. I honestly believed she could do it, I just wanted to help her to get it faster. But if she wanted to do that on her own, I was going to support her. “And what are we going to do about this?” I pointed at the telly where they had changed to another gossip.

“Management already told you that it was your decision if you wanted this public or not, but I think you can’t do much to deny that picture, which by the way, I want. Probably Moni already got it,” she trailed off and I chuckled. “What do you want to do?” She asked me later.

“I don’t wanna lie. If they ask me I’ll tell that you’re my girlfriend. I’m still gonna protect you, though. You know that, right?” She smiled and nodded. “Good, then it’s gonna be completely official that you’re my girlfriend.

“Is it weird that I get all giddy when you say ‘my girlfriend’?” She inquired brushing her lips against mine and I gave her a cocky smile.

“Not weird at all,” I replied sliding my right hand to the back of her neck to pull her for another kiss.

“Okay, no more snogging in the living room. We were watching a game, you know?” Louis popped up in the room interrupting us before we got carried away in the kiss. Mila pulled away blushing but she stayed on my lap and stuck out her tongue at Louis. “You’re worse than Alex and Niall. Always trying to make babies in front of me. Disgusting!”

“Louis, I’m gonna kick your bloody arse, you know?” And that was Moni coming from the kitchen with the rest of our friends closely behind. “I thought everyone had learnt already that no one can interrupt a Zila moment.”

“They were full snogging on the sofa! I had to do something. They could, at least, get a room,” the Doncaster boy protested and the brunette just slapped him playfully.

“It’s okay, Moni. Don’t kill him,” Mila intervened still with one of her arms around my neck. She was smiling and her eyes were shining.

I was damn grateful that she had taken everything so well. It was a relief that I wasn’t going to need to lie or hide my relationship anymore. I could finally say I was taken and bloody happy about it. I could finally say in public that I had the most amazing girlfriend ever. I knew there were going to be fans saying that she didn’t deserve me, that she wasn’t for me, that she was using me and so many other dreadful things, but they didn’t know Mila and how amazing she was, how happy she made me. No matter what they said, I knew the truth.

“Everything fine?” The brunette asked taking a seat next to me and looking at us both.

“Everything’s perfect,” I replied looking at Mila, right into those chocolate eyes I loved so much. “We have everything figured out already.”

“Yeah, we gonna say that I’m an vampire who is only using him to keep herself alive.  Do you think they are gonna believe that?” Mila asked her best friend who just smiled.

“Sounds completely normal to me. It’s a great story. Can I have a part? Like the archenemy or something like that?”

And that question led to a whole conversation about how vampires were going to take over London. Those two girls had a huge imagination and it was so easy for them to get carried away with their ideas. From a single word they could make up a whole story. It was something fun to watch.

Whilst they were having fun creating possible scenarios for their story, I took my phone and checked twitter just to see how everyone was taking the news. I had tons of mentions asking if it was true and who Mila was. Many mentions were saying that whoever it was, it was a whore; however, there were so many other saying that they were happy for me and they loved her already because it was obvious I was happier than I was before.

I knew there was a reason for him to be so happy! Whoever she is, I love her for making our Bradford bad boy that happy.

That tweet made me smile and I had to re-tweeted it and I even followed the girl. I showed that mention to Mila and when she saw it, she smiled and blushed.

“Everything’s gonna be fine,” I whispered in her ear and she nodded with that precious smile of hers.

-:-:-:-

Dedication goes to @Gurlbukwurm because I truly loved her comment. Thank you, love.

Bel, xx