Friend Zoned
Partner Work
*Chelsea’s P.O.V.*
Wednesday was always busy. I liked to work all day and get most of my jobs done then so I didn’t have to work as much over the next four days. Plus I have work at my other job on Wednesday night so it all made more sense to me. Work had been almost painful today, I don’t even want to think about it. My phone buzzed just as I was pulling into my second job for today.
Z: where are youuuuuuuuuu?
I quickly responded back telling him I was working and not too long after I got a response.
Z: I drove past your office and you weren’t there and you’re not at yours cos I’m here right now so where are you Chels? Actually don’t worry about that. I’ll talk to you sooner or later ;)
So that wasn’t strange or anything. I shrugged it off as I unlocked the building and headed to the back room to change out of my work clothes and into something more appropriate. I set up all my things and waited for the girls to arrive, texting my sister that she should come along like she used to before Chris. We had quickly gotten past the whole sleeping-with-Liam incident and the two of them worked out something, allowing us to get past everything that had happened and life was moving on. I’ve spent the past few nights at mine, sharing with my sister. Zayn was fine with me staying with him but I didn’t want to be a bother to him or be caught leaving the flat block in case there were any paps and their imaginations.
Bridget turned up shortly after, allowing me some time to explain to her the rundown of tonight before telling her to go hide just before the first few students finally entered. As well as modelling, Bridget and I also did acting, dancing and music – mainly singing but instruments as well – lessons. I still love acting the most but I’ve never really had the opportunity to continue my acting further but I do teach singing and dancing, it’s an all-round package and the girls come on Wednesday for my lesson. This term the focus was on street dance and hip hop, both really similar concepts, and songs to suit. Bridget would always come to help out when she was in town which was great but it was mainly me teaching a bunch of teenage girls how to dance and sing. Good thing I enjoy it right?
“Hi girls,” I received a cheery hi back from them all. “So I have a surprise for you tonight, someone is here to see you. And yes, you know this surprise personally, they have been here before.” A few of the girls pouted probably thinking I brought one of the guys with me but their faces soon turned back into smiles. “Do you think we should bring them out here?” I got a lot of head nods so Bridget came skipping into the room, literally.
“Hey guys, I’m back! Did you miss me?” Bridget asked excitedly and I rolled my eyes at her before telling the girls to get in their lines and starting the lesson.
It was about halfway through the lesson when it happened. The girls weren’t quite getting what I was trying to teach them and Bridget suggested they should all sit down and watch me do the whole thing. Part way through my routine the girls started whispering, turning around to look at something then turning back around giggling. Bridget caught on to whatever it was and a huge smirk had formed on her face. I was getting increasingly frustrated. I wasn’t doing this for my own benefit.
“Girls, for the love of God can you please pay attention, I don’t care what’s going on outside. I’m not the one who has to perform this routine so I shouldn’t even care if you get up and don’t do it properly.”
One of the girls raised her hands and I sighed, nodding at her to say whatever she wanted to say. “Miss, I think there is someone here for you.” She said with a grin, much like the one that adorned the majority of my other students faces, although some held looks of shock and excitement.
“Oh for god’s sake, who could want me at this time of day?” I asked more to myself than anyone as I headed for the hallway that lead into the building. “Zayn, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked gobsmacked about his appearance. How did he even know I was here?
“You’re good you know, like really good, it’s amazing to watch. Is that what you meant by doesn’t everyone want to make it into the big league?”
“Not really, but that doesn’t explain what in the word you are doing here, how did you even know I worked here?”
“Piper told me-”
I held my hand up to cut him off before he could continue, poking my head back through the door to where all the girls and Bridget were seemingly listening intently to our conversation. “Bridget, could you please say, continue the lesson. I’ll be back in a second.” She winked at me before jumping up and addressing the girls. “Continue,” I told Zayn.
“Yeah, I went by your house to see if you were busy tonight in case you wanted to grab something to eat or something and then we could have headed back to mine, I missed my personal heater.” I raised my eye brow at him although a blush was adorning my cheeks. “Anyway you weren’t there, nor where you at your work which I had driven past before arriving at your house so I texted you but then Piper got home and she was more than willing to tell me where you were. There was some guy with her, I don’t really know. So I went home for a bit, I wanted to talk to Liam about something and now here I am.” He had a shy little grin on his face and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“I guess we can go grab something to eat afterwards.”
“Sounds good to me,” he almost whispered, leaning in to me more.
“Zayn you can’t kiss me here.” I mumbled as a cheeky grin spread across his lips.
“I can’t help it that you’re hot, especially when you dance like you were in there. Speaking of which, you probably should get back.” He smacked me on the bum.
“Oi Zayn! Yeah, now that you’ve finished distracting me.” His arm wrapped around my waist as I was heading for the door, halting my movements.
“Do you really want me to distract you? Because I’m sure I could arrange something.”
“Oh my god, Zayn stop,” he chuckled at me. “I really have to keep teaching, I’m getting paid for this time.”
“Can I watch?” He asked almost innocently.
“Should I even bother to stop you? Just try not to distract me or the girls.”
“And dinner after? I guess I can try to not distract you.”
“If you don’t distract me I’ll come, but nothing too fancy because well,” I gestured to myself. “We really have to go back in there now, I’m not even joking.”
He let out a sigh. “Fine, but you better be putting on a show for me.”
We left the hallway to head back to the class where the girls were all talking and giggling. “Sit in the corner over there.” I pointed to the front corner of the room and he nodded and obediently strolled over and slid himself onto the desk that was set up there. “Ok girls, now that I’ve sorted our unexpected guest out, I would really appreciate it if we could get back to class. Now, could you show me what I just showed you?”
“Miss Chelsea, I don’t believe that you finished the routine. I think we need to see the rest of it.” One of the girls said, the other girls nodding in agreement.
“Actually, could you start it again so we can get the proper feel for it?” I let out a sigh before I hit the play button for the backing track and started again. I finished the routine to the sound of applause before the girls finally got their act together and got up, completing the routine to a much better standard from before.
“That was great girls, really great, go grab a drink of water and we will run it again.” I turned around, reaching into my bag to grab a drink as well when I felt a tapping on my back. It was Hannah, one of the more popular students. And she was wearing a faux innocent grin.
“Miss Chelsea, can Zayn dance?” Well that wasn’t what I was expecting.
“I actually don’t know, I think he can from what I saw at the concert but you would have to ask him. Or I can do it for you.”
“I think you should do it,” I shrugged and nodded.
“Oi Zayn!” he jumped up from his seat, strolling over to me. “Can you dance?” his eyes widened in alarm and he slowly started backing away from me.
“Why?” he asked cautiously and I shrugged. “Not really, no, definitely not.” I raised an eyebrow at him, what is going on. “Maybe I should leave,” he muttered and Bridget cackled.
“What no, Zayn I think you should join in on the class, Chelsea is a great teacher.”
“Um, I actually have to call my mum… management… No, Liam. I have to call Liam.” He stuttered out.
“Liam told me he had a date with Macy so I don’t think you do Zayn, come on, you’ll have fun. I’m sure Chelsea will help you.” Is it okay to kill your sister?
“It’s really okay, I think my corner is alright, yep. I’m sure of it actually.”
“Miss Chelsea, I know we are doing street dance this term so is there any partner dance you and Zayn can demonstrate to us?” what is with these people, I don’t understand.
“I think Zayn is right just watching…” I trailed off and he frantically nodded in agreement. And then there was a lot of pressure, a whole lot of pressure, and then some threatening, and somehow, for some reason, Zayn agreed and of course, I just had to follow. “Are you going to be right with this?” I asked Zayn and he nodded, a slightly worried, slightly amused look on his face.
“The question is, are you going to be alright with this?” he murmured and I nodded almost shyly. This man has the strangest effect on me.
“Do you each want to find a partner, if necessary I am sure Bridget will join in, so I can teach everyone this instead of wasting time.” They all assembled and I began to teach everyone one of the easy couple dances I know, it looked pretty complex but all the movements were basic.
“I’ve had an idea,” Bridget announced bounding over to me as I told the girls to run through again. Zayn leaned against the mirror with his arms crossed over his chest while I waited for Bridget’s revelation with a raised eyebrow. “Well you can put it into the dance!” She almost squealed.
“Ok, ok, calm down, I’ll check with the girls, I know where to put it I just wanted to check with them if they want to put it in and then I will have to get them to show me. We still have 30 minutes left so we could get them done right now. Girls,” I called them and they stopped talking seeing as though they had already finished their routine practice. “Would you guys like to add that into the dance? Right okay, I think we will only need one couple doing it so I am going to have to audition them and sorry to spring it on you but we need to do that right now.”
“Why can’t you two just do it, like for the concert?” Hannah asked and I sighed.
“Because Hannah I’m your teacher. The concert is for you to show off your dance skills not me.”
“But Miss Chelsea…”
“Don’t pull that with me Hannah, and even if we were to do it, Zayn would probably be too busy.” Hannah turned her attention to Zayn and I sighed.
“Zayn, what are you doing on Saturday the week after next?” Zayn, who hadn’t been focussed on our conversation, unfortunately, just shrugged.
“I’m not really sure, I don’t think I have anything on. Maybe an interview in the morning but that’s about it. Why?”
“See Miss Chelsea, we could do it. It would be awesome.” I looked over to Bridget for help but she just smiled at me, turning back around to talk to some of the other girls. “I’ll think about it, we might do it but I would just have to plan more around it. I’ll let you know next week. Now stop asking questions, we’re going to move on and finish with a run through of each song without the routines before we warm down girls.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I can’t believe how talented you are, why didn’t you tell me.” I rolled my eyes at Zayn before taking a sip of my wine. We had had dinner at a Teppanyaki style restaurant and had now resorted back to Zayn’s flat, lounging around and enjoying some of Zayn’s expensive wine. “I’m serious.”
“I’m not that good, I teach them for the joy of it.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so insecure about yourself and the things you’re good at?”
“It’s out of habit I guess.” I mumbled, snuggling more under his arm as he kissed my temple.
“Well, we need to change that then.” I hummed in agreement burying my head in the crook of his neck and closing my eyes. His arms tightened around me and I sighed in content. We must have sat there enjoying each other’s company for about five minutes, the sounds of a bustling London and our breathing the only white noise before Zayn’s phone started ringing causing me to move from my position in his arms..
“’ello?” He mumbled tiredly.
…
“She’s what? Why the hell is she here?” He was sitting up, a whole lot more alert now.
…
“She’s not getting up here, tell her to go home and leave me alone.” He ran a hand through his hair, whatever his conversation was must’ve really been stressing him out.
…
“I don’t care if she wants to talk to me or not. I don’t like her nor do I trust her.”
…
“Fine, since you seem to know what ‘s best for me.” He growled angrily before hanging up. “Perrie’s here.” He must have noticed the questioning look on my face. What the hell could she want?
Wednesday was always busy. I liked to work all day and get most of my jobs done then so I didn’t have to work as much over the next four days. Plus I have work at my other job on Wednesday night so it all made more sense to me. Work had been almost painful today, I don’t even want to think about it. My phone buzzed just as I was pulling into my second job for today.
Z: where are youuuuuuuuuu?
I quickly responded back telling him I was working and not too long after I got a response.
Z: I drove past your office and you weren’t there and you’re not at yours cos I’m here right now so where are you Chels? Actually don’t worry about that. I’ll talk to you sooner or later ;)
So that wasn’t strange or anything. I shrugged it off as I unlocked the building and headed to the back room to change out of my work clothes and into something more appropriate. I set up all my things and waited for the girls to arrive, texting my sister that she should come along like she used to before Chris. We had quickly gotten past the whole sleeping-with-Liam incident and the two of them worked out something, allowing us to get past everything that had happened and life was moving on. I’ve spent the past few nights at mine, sharing with my sister. Zayn was fine with me staying with him but I didn’t want to be a bother to him or be caught leaving the flat block in case there were any paps and their imaginations.
Bridget turned up shortly after, allowing me some time to explain to her the rundown of tonight before telling her to go hide just before the first few students finally entered. As well as modelling, Bridget and I also did acting, dancing and music – mainly singing but instruments as well – lessons. I still love acting the most but I’ve never really had the opportunity to continue my acting further but I do teach singing and dancing, it’s an all-round package and the girls come on Wednesday for my lesson. This term the focus was on street dance and hip hop, both really similar concepts, and songs to suit. Bridget would always come to help out when she was in town which was great but it was mainly me teaching a bunch of teenage girls how to dance and sing. Good thing I enjoy it right?
“Hi girls,” I received a cheery hi back from them all. “So I have a surprise for you tonight, someone is here to see you. And yes, you know this surprise personally, they have been here before.” A few of the girls pouted probably thinking I brought one of the guys with me but their faces soon turned back into smiles. “Do you think we should bring them out here?” I got a lot of head nods so Bridget came skipping into the room, literally.
“Hey guys, I’m back! Did you miss me?” Bridget asked excitedly and I rolled my eyes at her before telling the girls to get in their lines and starting the lesson.
It was about halfway through the lesson when it happened. The girls weren’t quite getting what I was trying to teach them and Bridget suggested they should all sit down and watch me do the whole thing. Part way through my routine the girls started whispering, turning around to look at something then turning back around giggling. Bridget caught on to whatever it was and a huge smirk had formed on her face. I was getting increasingly frustrated. I wasn’t doing this for my own benefit.
“Girls, for the love of God can you please pay attention, I don’t care what’s going on outside. I’m not the one who has to perform this routine so I shouldn’t even care if you get up and don’t do it properly.”
One of the girls raised her hands and I sighed, nodding at her to say whatever she wanted to say. “Miss, I think there is someone here for you.” She said with a grin, much like the one that adorned the majority of my other students faces, although some held looks of shock and excitement.
“Oh for god’s sake, who could want me at this time of day?” I asked more to myself than anyone as I headed for the hallway that lead into the building. “Zayn, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked gobsmacked about his appearance. How did he even know I was here?
“You’re good you know, like really good, it’s amazing to watch. Is that what you meant by doesn’t everyone want to make it into the big league?”
“Not really, but that doesn’t explain what in the word you are doing here, how did you even know I worked here?”
“Piper told me-”
I held my hand up to cut him off before he could continue, poking my head back through the door to where all the girls and Bridget were seemingly listening intently to our conversation. “Bridget, could you please say, continue the lesson. I’ll be back in a second.” She winked at me before jumping up and addressing the girls. “Continue,” I told Zayn.
“Yeah, I went by your house to see if you were busy tonight in case you wanted to grab something to eat or something and then we could have headed back to mine, I missed my personal heater.” I raised my eye brow at him although a blush was adorning my cheeks. “Anyway you weren’t there, nor where you at your work which I had driven past before arriving at your house so I texted you but then Piper got home and she was more than willing to tell me where you were. There was some guy with her, I don’t really know. So I went home for a bit, I wanted to talk to Liam about something and now here I am.” He had a shy little grin on his face and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“I guess we can go grab something to eat afterwards.”
“Sounds good to me,” he almost whispered, leaning in to me more.
“Zayn you can’t kiss me here.” I mumbled as a cheeky grin spread across his lips.
“I can’t help it that you’re hot, especially when you dance like you were in there. Speaking of which, you probably should get back.” He smacked me on the bum.
“Oi Zayn! Yeah, now that you’ve finished distracting me.” His arm wrapped around my waist as I was heading for the door, halting my movements.
“Do you really want me to distract you? Because I’m sure I could arrange something.”
“Oh my god, Zayn stop,” he chuckled at me. “I really have to keep teaching, I’m getting paid for this time.”
“Can I watch?” He asked almost innocently.
“Should I even bother to stop you? Just try not to distract me or the girls.”
“And dinner after? I guess I can try to not distract you.”
“If you don’t distract me I’ll come, but nothing too fancy because well,” I gestured to myself. “We really have to go back in there now, I’m not even joking.”
He let out a sigh. “Fine, but you better be putting on a show for me.”
We left the hallway to head back to the class where the girls were all talking and giggling. “Sit in the corner over there.” I pointed to the front corner of the room and he nodded and obediently strolled over and slid himself onto the desk that was set up there. “Ok girls, now that I’ve sorted our unexpected guest out, I would really appreciate it if we could get back to class. Now, could you show me what I just showed you?”
“Miss Chelsea, I don’t believe that you finished the routine. I think we need to see the rest of it.” One of the girls said, the other girls nodding in agreement.
“Actually, could you start it again so we can get the proper feel for it?” I let out a sigh before I hit the play button for the backing track and started again. I finished the routine to the sound of applause before the girls finally got their act together and got up, completing the routine to a much better standard from before.
“That was great girls, really great, go grab a drink of water and we will run it again.” I turned around, reaching into my bag to grab a drink as well when I felt a tapping on my back. It was Hannah, one of the more popular students. And she was wearing a faux innocent grin.
“Miss Chelsea, can Zayn dance?” Well that wasn’t what I was expecting.
“I actually don’t know, I think he can from what I saw at the concert but you would have to ask him. Or I can do it for you.”
“I think you should do it,” I shrugged and nodded.
“Oi Zayn!” he jumped up from his seat, strolling over to me. “Can you dance?” his eyes widened in alarm and he slowly started backing away from me.
“Why?” he asked cautiously and I shrugged. “Not really, no, definitely not.” I raised an eyebrow at him, what is going on. “Maybe I should leave,” he muttered and Bridget cackled.
“What no, Zayn I think you should join in on the class, Chelsea is a great teacher.”
“Um, I actually have to call my mum… management… No, Liam. I have to call Liam.” He stuttered out.
“Liam told me he had a date with Macy so I don’t think you do Zayn, come on, you’ll have fun. I’m sure Chelsea will help you.” Is it okay to kill your sister?
“It’s really okay, I think my corner is alright, yep. I’m sure of it actually.”
“Miss Chelsea, I know we are doing street dance this term so is there any partner dance you and Zayn can demonstrate to us?” what is with these people, I don’t understand.
“I think Zayn is right just watching…” I trailed off and he frantically nodded in agreement. And then there was a lot of pressure, a whole lot of pressure, and then some threatening, and somehow, for some reason, Zayn agreed and of course, I just had to follow. “Are you going to be right with this?” I asked Zayn and he nodded, a slightly worried, slightly amused look on his face.
“The question is, are you going to be alright with this?” he murmured and I nodded almost shyly. This man has the strangest effect on me.
“Do you each want to find a partner, if necessary I am sure Bridget will join in, so I can teach everyone this instead of wasting time.” They all assembled and I began to teach everyone one of the easy couple dances I know, it looked pretty complex but all the movements were basic.
“I’ve had an idea,” Bridget announced bounding over to me as I told the girls to run through again. Zayn leaned against the mirror with his arms crossed over his chest while I waited for Bridget’s revelation with a raised eyebrow. “Well you can put it into the dance!” She almost squealed.
“Ok, ok, calm down, I’ll check with the girls, I know where to put it I just wanted to check with them if they want to put it in and then I will have to get them to show me. We still have 30 minutes left so we could get them done right now. Girls,” I called them and they stopped talking seeing as though they had already finished their routine practice. “Would you guys like to add that into the dance? Right okay, I think we will only need one couple doing it so I am going to have to audition them and sorry to spring it on you but we need to do that right now.”
“Why can’t you two just do it, like for the concert?” Hannah asked and I sighed.
“Because Hannah I’m your teacher. The concert is for you to show off your dance skills not me.”
“But Miss Chelsea…”
“Don’t pull that with me Hannah, and even if we were to do it, Zayn would probably be too busy.” Hannah turned her attention to Zayn and I sighed.
“Zayn, what are you doing on Saturday the week after next?” Zayn, who hadn’t been focussed on our conversation, unfortunately, just shrugged.
“I’m not really sure, I don’t think I have anything on. Maybe an interview in the morning but that’s about it. Why?”
“See Miss Chelsea, we could do it. It would be awesome.” I looked over to Bridget for help but she just smiled at me, turning back around to talk to some of the other girls. “I’ll think about it, we might do it but I would just have to plan more around it. I’ll let you know next week. Now stop asking questions, we’re going to move on and finish with a run through of each song without the routines before we warm down girls.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I can’t believe how talented you are, why didn’t you tell me.” I rolled my eyes at Zayn before taking a sip of my wine. We had had dinner at a Teppanyaki style restaurant and had now resorted back to Zayn’s flat, lounging around and enjoying some of Zayn’s expensive wine. “I’m serious.”
“I’m not that good, I teach them for the joy of it.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so insecure about yourself and the things you’re good at?”
“It’s out of habit I guess.” I mumbled, snuggling more under his arm as he kissed my temple.
“Well, we need to change that then.” I hummed in agreement burying my head in the crook of his neck and closing my eyes. His arms tightened around me and I sighed in content. We must have sat there enjoying each other’s company for about five minutes, the sounds of a bustling London and our breathing the only white noise before Zayn’s phone started ringing causing me to move from my position in his arms..
“’ello?” He mumbled tiredly.
…
“She’s what? Why the hell is she here?” He was sitting up, a whole lot more alert now.
…
“She’s not getting up here, tell her to go home and leave me alone.” He ran a hand through his hair, whatever his conversation was must’ve really been stressing him out.
…
“I don’t care if she wants to talk to me or not. I don’t like her nor do I trust her.”
…
“Fine, since you seem to know what ‘s best for me.” He growled angrily before hanging up. “Perrie’s here.” He must have noticed the questioning look on my face. What the hell could she want?
Notes
It's okay if you hate me, I hate me too
This has been too long but don't worry I've already written the next chapter so it'll be up in the next few days
I'm sorry it's taken so long I've been sick and busy with school and other commitments and it's just been so annoying, I didn't mean to leave you all for so long
Please let me know what you think of the chapter, it's great to get your feedback :)
I hope you're all doing well, you are all amazing I now have over 11 000 reads, I never expected to get this far so I have to thank you all for that. It really means a lot to me
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Until Next Update,
Much Love,
xxg
Love this so much!!! Extremely happy you've decided to keep it going. Love you! Hope to see more soon. x
4/12/15