Lacey

“Where are you going?” My mother asked as I opened the front door.

“Out,” I shrugged at her.

“You can’t, I have stuff for you to do today.” She said annoyed. I huffed.

“Like what?”

“We have to figure out how we’re going to decorate the invitations for your wedding. We need to mail them out next week.” My mother said sternly.

“That’s ages away mum, do we have to do it now.” I whined.

“You’re wedding is in four months Lacey!” my mother scolded. My face paled slightly and my heart rate increased as I mentally thought about it in my head. It really was only four months away. I felt sick.

“Now come on, you can follow behind me to the store and then go wherever you were planning to go, afterwards.” My mother said sternly before walking out the door first. I stood there stunned for a moment before numbly following my mum out to the car and climbed into my own.

The whole time I followed I felt dazed and lost. How had I not realised it was only four months away. How had I not realised that I would be married in four months. I swallowed with trouble as I tried not to vomit. I felt the tears prick at my eyes. I didn’t want to marry him, I didn’t want this.

I spent the next three hours of the morning staring blankly at colours and patters as my mother discussed how she would like my invitation. I did not include my input nor did my mother ask for it. We were both merely content with allowing her to make all the decisions.

I watched curiously the couples that came and went that chose their own invitations. The way they held hands and leant towards each other like there was a magnetic pull between them. They would smile at each other often and every now and then the bride to be would glance towards her ring and smile thinking that her fiancé wouldn’t notice. Yet every time I watched him take notice. I watched him stare at her lovingly, proud and happy to know that he was the reason why she was glowing.

I would never get that. I wouldn’t get to marry a man because I wanted to. I wouldn’t get to have a man who knew every little working detail about me, who cared about, who wanted to see me be so happy that I practically glowed. Instead, my happily ever after, ended in a business deal. A business deal that was said to be the wedding of the year. Little did they all know that there was in fact no love in our relationship. There was barely a relationship at all.

“Lacey we’re done.” My mother said suddenly snapping me out of my trance. I glanced towards her to see her already standing and waiting. I quickly grabbed my bag and flashed the sympathetic worker a smile before leaving the place.

“Well you’re free to do whatever you want now.” My mother said staring down at her phone and waving her hand at me before walking over to her car. I sighed and walked towards my own car, throwing my bag across the seats and falling into mine. I breathed in deeply as I rested my head backwards before turning the car on and pulling out onto the London streets.

I had every intention of heading towards Tamzyn’s house. I had every intention to spend the rest of the day sitting in her room, whining to her about how terrible my day and life is. I looked up in surprise however as I parked my car out front of Zayn’s complex.

I bit my lip and debated whether what I was doing was the smartest option right now. Sighing I grabbed my phone out of my bag and locked my car before heading up. I stood in front of his door for awhile before deciding that this was a bad idea. I turned around ready to head back the way I came when suddenly Zayn, Tate and Niall came out of the elevator. My eyes widened as I froze on the spot waiting for them to notice me.

“Lacey!” Tate was the first to exclaim in surprise. I smiled at her softly and waved awkwardly. I watched as Zayn’s eyes travelled from me to his door that I was standing out front of still.

“So what are you doing here?” Niall asked smiling at me and pulling me into a hug. My eyes went wide and my face reddened as I hugged him back. As I stepped away Tate smacked him in the back of the head instantly as Zayn glared at him.

“What?” Niall asked Tate confused.

“Are you serious?” She hissed at him my eyes searched for Zayn’s who seemed to have found an interesting spot on the ground that called his attention.

“Honestly. I’m surprised how you have very little people skills. I think that bleach has finally seeped into your brain.” I heard Tate telling Niall as she pulled him towards his door. He shot me a smile before walking into his flat. Tate waved and mouth sorry to me before disappearing inside the flat shutting the door behind her.

I stood staring at their door for a moment until Zayn cleared his throat.

“Did you uh want to come in?” Zayn asked. I glanced towards him while biting my lip.

“Maybe I shouldn’t...” I trailed off suddenly unsure. Zayn moved around me and pushed his key into the door opening it up wide.

“You’re choice,” he muttered, standing to the side. I bit my lip and glanced back down the hall before sighing and making my way past him into his flat. I heard the door shut behind me and I turned around and watched awkwardly as Zayn kicked his shoes and jacket off, throwing them into a corner.

“Want a drink?” He asked and headed into the kitchen without waiting for an answer. I gently placed my own shoes and jacket in a corner and began to head in the direction of the kitchen where Zayn was already pouring a drink for both of us.

“I would offer you food, but Liam hasn’t done the shopping for me yet...” He trailed off. I eyed him amused.

“Does he do your washing too?”

“No, my mum does when she visits.” He winked at me. I blushed slightly and laughed as he handed me my drink. I took a sip of the cool liquid and closed my eyes enjoying the normalcy of our actions in this strange circumstance.

“Was there a reason you came here other then what Niall and Tate thought? Because if it was what they were thinking then I’m all up for it but I have a feeling that’s not what you’re here for.” Zayn commented. I stared at him surprised that he was able to tell that.

“Honestly, I don’t really know why I came here. But I just ended up here.”

“Sounds like maybe you just need to talk.” Zayn suggested. I sighed and shrugged.

“I don’t really want to complain and ruin you day.” I told him placing my cup down on the bench and deciding that I should probably just leave.

“I don’t mind listening.” Zayn said quietly making me stop and look up into his dark chocolate brown eyes. I chewed my lip thoughtfully.

“Let’s go sit down.” Zayn suggested, walking out into his living room and making himself comfortable on the couch. I hesitated a moment before grabbing my drink and sitting on the opposite end of the couch. I felt Zayn’s eyes watch me in amusement.

“So what did you do today?” Zayn asked lightly obviously trying to get some information out of me. I groaned and threw my head back against the couch.

“Designed wedding invitations.” I told him. I heard him shuffle on the couch as I continued to stare at his ceiling.

“How did that go?” He asked me. A chuckle escaped my mouth.

“Brilliant. Bloody brilliant. I sat there while my mother chose everything.” I grumbled finishing the rest of my drink. “While loved up couples walked in and out rubbing their love in my face.”

Zayn laughed at my wining. I shot him a glare before sinking further down in the seat.

“If you don’t want to marry the him, then don’t. Tell your parents you don’t want to.” I looked at Zayn incredulous. “I don’t understand why you can’t just say no to them.”

“If you’re parents had forced your religion on you against your will, would you tell them no?” I asked him seriously. He looked at me for a moment, obviously debating what to say next.

“That’s different,” He eventually said. I shook my head at him.

“Not it’s not. My family doesn’t have a religion, we don’t believe in a higher being or whatever. However we do have our own way of doing things. If I refused my parents and told them I didn’t want to marry him, they would be so disappointed in me probably end up disowning me in the end. Right now what I’m doing is making them proud. I may act like I don’t care about what they think but I do a lot.”

“You just want them to be proud of you.” Zayn said softly. I looked at him in relief, glad that he understood. “I get it, I just don’t think it’s fair on you.”

“You get used to it,” I shrugged before we fell into an awkward silence.

“I should probably go.” I said standing up, Zayn nodded and stood up as well.

“Are you coming to Harry’s birthday party tonight?” He asked me as we walked to his door.

“Yeah, I’ll see you there. Thanks Zayn for listening.” I said softly as I picked up my stuff. He smiled at me before opening the door. I stood in the doorway awkwardly for a moment not sure what to do as he stared back. I eventually shot him a quick smile before walking out and down to the elevator without looking back.