Epilogue ~ Mila

Several months later...

I was shaking, and that wasn’t funny, man. It was like the bloody floor was moving and I couldn’t keep my body still. My heart was beating so fast it could set free and jump out of my chest and I needed that to keep living, I couldn’t lose it. I tried to calm myself down, I most certainly couldn’t have a panic attack in that moment, but it felt like the room was getting smaller and I wanted to run away.

Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently and bringing me back to reality. “Babe, breathe,” Zayn reminded me and I had to take a deep breath, my eyes closed before answering.

“It’s hard,” I whispered and I hear him chuckle. “It’s not funny!” I whined looking up at him.

He was at my back whilst I was on my chair in front of the desk with many books on it. My books. We were at my first time ever signing after releasing my book, which had been a big success in the UK already. Terry, my editor, was with me, also Moni —of course, she would never leave me alone— and Zayn were there, giving me moral support.

I still couldn’t believe people were buying my book, that they liked it and were dying for the next one in the series. It was my dream and it had come true. It was so surreal and sometimes I feared it was just a dream and that I was going to wake up in any moment. But it was actually happening, I was there waiting for the doors to be open and the signing to start. Moni had told me there was a queue outside already, mostly girls but there were a few boys as well.

I was literally dying behind that desk, holding so tightly my sharpie that I was scared I was going to break it.

“It’s funny somehow. I remember I was just like that the first time we did a signing,” my boyfriend told me bending down to kiss my cheek. “It’s gonna be fine, it’s not hard and they are always nice. You’ll see.”

“Still! I feel like I’m going to melt in any moment!” I cried out and he chuckled again.

“If you do, I’ll clean the mess later,” my best friend supported from the other side with a big smile.

Her eyes were shining with pride and her smile was screaming ‘I told you so’. She never doubted me, she always knew I was going to do this someday and she was with me this moment. She helped for this to happen and she never left me get discouraged about my writing.

“That makes me feel better,” I replied with sarcasm evident in my voice. “That was all I needed to hear.”

“I know. That’s what friends are for, right?” Zayn chuckle as his right hand rubbed my back encouragingly.

“Are you ready, Mila? They are about to come,” Terry showed up to let us know. She was checking something on her iPhone, probably a mail or something. She was a busy woman, but always caring and helpful. She supported me to get here and helped me to make my work better. I was so grateful to her.

“I’m not, but bring it on,” I answered and she smiled at me amused. Hey, I was being honest.

Finally, she left with one of the employees of the bookshop and Zayn at my side gave me one last peck and encouraging squeeze before stepping aside where he wouldn’t call attention, next to Moni. Not too close, but not too far away either. People were starting to gather in front of the desk and I put on my best smile as I started to ask for names and signing copies of my book.

All my readers were amazing and it was so nice to meeting them at least. Many of them knew me from when I was still writing fanfics of Harry Potter and told me how proud they were and that the book was amazing and they couldn’t wait for the second. Some of them even shed some tears when talking about some scenes of the book and how I destroyed their hearts.

I loved every single one of them and slowly my nerves got manageable. It got easier and I started to enjoy meeting them, having a little chat and signing their copies. I got tired too, my hand was killing me and I wished to be able to use my two hands. Perhaps it would be a great idea to learn to use my left hand as well.

After a few hours, the last reader left and all the copies had disappeared. My cheeks hurt from all the smiling, but I was incredibly happy about it. It had been a great experience and I couldn’t wait to meet new readers —I couldn’t make myself call them fans.

The moment I rose to my feet, my best friend came running towards me and hugged me tightly. Yeah, that bone-crushing kind of hug so popular of hers.

“You did great! And they were so nice to you, they love you!” She exclaimed happily still hugging me and I laughed in her arms.

“It was so fun to meet them,” I answered hugging her back before she stepped back and pull apart. Her smile was even bigger. “Thanks for being here,” I added and she nodded, never losing her smile.

Moni stepped aside and my eyes met Zayn’s who was also smiling like that, with pride written all over his features. “I told you it was an amazing book. It’s my favourite of all-time.” I chuckled softly. When he read the edited version right before we released the book, he told me it was epic and that he loved it with all his being and that it had become his favourite book. He also asked me what he could do to get his hands on the second book sooner.

“Silly Zayn,” I uttered as he walked towards me and reached my hands when we were face-to-face. “But thanks. I know you have things to do——”

“Nothing is more important than being here with you. It’s your first signing and we have to do something now to celebrate! Alex, Belle and Phebs organised a get-together at their house so we’re going there later. Everyone is gonna be there, even Hannah! And also Grimmy,” he told me ever so excited and I smiled at his enthusiasm.

“Thanks,” I whispered wrapping my arms around him and burying my nose in his chest.

Many months have passed since Zayn and I got back together and many things had come to our lives. The world tour, a new album, a lot of promo and even more fans for him. Moni and I were about to finish our major, I published my first book and my best friend was working for the same publishing in which I was signed, hoping she would become my editor later. Things were going great, we had a lot of work but I was happy and my relationship with Zayn was stronger than before.

That time we were apart, those months when things were still shaky and we were kind of afraid made us stronger. I learnt to trust him again and he learnt to respect my life choices, to put some boundaries to the things in my life where he could have a say in. We couldn’t be together all the time, but that was okay. That gave me time to focus on my career as well and have my personal space, but every time he came back, we made it count.

We put what happened behind us and we were just living the moment and enjoying what we had. And I was really happy with that.

“But…” he said in a sing-sang voice. “I’m taking you to another place first and then I’ll share you with the rest of the gang.”

“The gang?” I asked fighting my laughter.

“Moni’s fault. She started saying it.” I couldn’t help it, I laughed in that occasion. “Anyways, I’m kidnapping you now.”

“You’re a lousy kidnapper. You’re not supposed to warn the victim,” I mocked him as he stepped back and took my hand entwining our fingers together.

“I’m new at this, I’m still learning,” was his excuse, and giving me only time to grab my purse, he dragged me out of the bookshop. I didn’t even say goodbye, but maybe Moni and Terry already knew about Zayn’s plans.

As I didn’t know where he was taking me, he took my new car, a Jeep Wrangler —yes, I was still drooling over my baby— and drove to our destination. Soon, we were in a nice restaurant. It wasn’t an extremely fancy place, but it was really beautiful and elegant yet it has this cosy air that made me feel comfortable the moment I put my foot on its floor.

Zayn had made a reservation and made sure to have a table where we weren’t really exposed and we could have our privacy. It was obvious it was a place where only adult people went and where we wouldn’t most likely meet with fans of his.

“This is a really nice place,” I complimented when the waiter took our order. It was a French restaurant, so I wasn’t sure if I pronounced it right, or what I ordered, but at the end it was delicious so I couldn’t complain.

“I wanted to try something new. We’ve never been in a French restaurant before.” That was true. “And this place seemed fine. A friend suggested it.” He remained silent for a few seconds, only looking at me and I started to feel a bit uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but then he spoke again. “I’m so proud of you, Mila. You really did it, you published your first book and it’s an amazing one. You have incredible fans that support you so much. I knew you could do it.”

The smile on my lips grew wider as I felt my own heart getting warmer. “Thank you, Zayn.”

“I know at the beginning I, unconsciously, didn’t believe you could do it alone and I wanted to help, but now I realise that this is even more amazing now that you’ve done it on your own. This is nothing but your talent, Mila.”

I felt a lump in my throat as I heard him. I wasn’t sure how to answer to that, I just knew I was beyond happy and I couldn’t stop believing that this was actually happening to me.

“And I know this is only the first book of many more. I just know it. And I don’t mean only the trilogy you’re writing, I know many more series will come. You’re just that great.”

“Thank you.” Those words felt so small and insignificant, they couldn’t express fully all what I was feeling inside, all the things I needed to say but I couldn’t find the right words to express myself. “Thank you so much,” I repeated reaching out to grab his hand and squeeze it over the table.

I couldn’t say anything else, but I hoped he could see it in my eyes, in my humongous smile and the way I was holding on to him.

“I love you so much,” he whispered and I didn’t believe my smile could grow wider, but it did.

“And I love you, too, Zayn. Thank you for being with me today,” I told him rubbing the back of his hand with my thumb.

“And every other day you need me. I’m here for you, babe.”

Without losing my smile, I leaned in and he did the same and we met halfway, our lips colliding in a sweet and soft kiss.

“And I’ll be there for you,” I promised when we broke the kiss but we were still close to each other. “And don’t worry, you’ll be one of the first to get the second book,” I teased and he laughed, which only made my heart fluttered. I loved when he laughed like that.

Dah, I just loved him. I loved every single part of him, all his virtues and flaws. When he was moody and cranky; when he was sweet and adorable; when his feelings overwhelmed him; when I showed him some unfairness in this world and he cried, desperate to do something about it; when he was silly and could only goof around; when he got jealous every time Harry sent me a picture of Rob Pattinson.

I loved Zayn Malik.

And even when we went through so many things, despite all the prejudices we had of each other, despite all those misconceptions we kept with ourselves for so long, we managed to make it work and we were happy. I was really happy with him.

le end..

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Remember that Misconceptions is only the second book in the series, there is Backfire (the first), Music Sheet (the third) and Bitter & Sassy is coming (the fourth) and Masquerade (the fifth). Also, there are bonus books of this series.

Bel, xx