Friend Zoned

“Are you going to come and show me?” he asked from the other side of the curtain.

“No,” I squeaked back.

“Why not?” he asked sounding impatient, “I’m sure you look fine just come show me, please.”

“No way Zayn, it shows all me imperfections, I’m just going to get chan-“ I was interrupted by the curtain being drawn back by Zayn. His grinned cheekily as his widened eyes trailed over my body. “Zayn!” I squealed, attempting to push him out of the dressing room.

“Don’t lie to me, and more importantly, don’t lie to yourself.” I looked at him, confusion etched on my face. “Seriously Chels, you look amazing.” I could feel my cheeks flush so I looked down.

“Thanks Zayn.” I responded shyly.

“Ok get changed so I can go buy it.” I looked at the price tag and then looked at him like he was stupid.

“Do you know how many pounds this Zayn! It’s ridiculous for a dress and I can’t allow you to do that.

“Money is just a number, and a word, Chelsea. Now could you please just let me buy it for you?”

“Why?” My stubborn side was showing.

“Because I want to, and I want you to wear it to the lunch on the weekend if you’re still coming. Now, end of conversation, move it slow coach.” Well I guess it didn’t look to bad, and he was more than willing to buy the dress so I may as well let him. Although I did feel guilty about how much he had been spending on me during this few days of friendship, even if it felt like we had known each other forever I didn’t want him to think he had to buy my friendship. I pushed Zayn out of the dressing room and reluctantly gave him the dress and changed back into my previous attire.

We exited the shops and made it back to his car without too much bother from the paps, but it still bothered Zayn.

“God dammit, they’re everywhere. We are going to be all over the internet and magazine’s tomorrow. Not that I don’t want to be seen with you, it’s just all the hate will increase and rumours will start up and you don’t need that, I’m sorry.”

“Zayn, don’t apologise, it’s fine. I love spending time with you and I just have to accept and get used to everything that comes with it, because I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.” I placed my hand on his knee in a comforting way and I felt jolts of electricity run down my spine, weird. He grabbed my hand and shot me a quick smile before turning his attention back to the road. We were heading back to mine and I was praying that Piper was still out, she would still out, and she would flip out about the dress and many other things. She could be so annoying at times but I still loved her.

Zayn had just pulled into the driveway when his phone started ringing like crazy. He groaned and fished it out of his pocket.

“Hello,” he grumbled into the phone.

“Any why would that be necessary?” He looked to be getting annoyed.

“Are you sure that’s it?”

“Fine yeah, we’ll be there in thirty minutes, okay?” He huffed and ended the call.

“Guess what? It’s your lucky day, you get to meet management!” he exclaimed in a sarcastic way. From that conversation and his expression, I started panicking.

“What? Why? Have I done something wrong?”

“No, no, calm down. They just need you to sign a confidentiality agreement.” He rolled his eyes. “Just read the fine print okay, you probably already will though being miss-smarty-lawyer-pants.” He grinned at me.

“Damn right. Well I’ll just pop inside quickly and out this stuff inside before we go. Is Piper needed there as well?” I asked curiously.

“Yeah but she’s with Harry so they will go together.” I rolled my eyes and he laughed before I climber out of the car, grabbing the bags and dumping them inside. I ran back to Zayn’s car and realised that because Zayn had picked me up that my car was still at work. I’d have to get him to drop me back there after.

-------------------------------------------

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in the car park of Modest! Management.

“Well let’s get this over with. Half the people who work here are arses so just ignore that personality trait.”

I chuckled and hit Zayn on the arm. “They can’t be that bad Zayn, but I don’t need to worry, I can just woo them with my charms and good looks.” I flicked my hair over my shoulder and batted my eyelashes at Zayn who just shook his head and put his arm over my shoulder as we entered the building. He nodded to the girl at reception who just smiled and blushed back before she turned to glare at me. Woah, hold it love. Zayn continued leading me through the modern building before pushing open a door to a boardroom, which Piper and the boys were already seated in. They turned to look at us and smirked. We took the spare seats and soon were joined by the receptionist and a man in a business suit.

“Glad you all could join us on short notice. My name is Matthew Ellison for you girls, your new found friends already know.” He nodded at us and I beamed a smile back at him, he seemed like a stuck-up, cocky arsehole and I just couldn’t control myself.

"It was really no problem; it’s lovely to meet you.”

“I’m sure it is, but we should get down to business.” He shot me a smile and I saw a shocked look overtake Zayn’s face from the corner of my eye. “Now before we start, are there any relationships more than friendships going on here?” I looked over at Piper and Harry who seemed to be having a conversation with their eyes, even though I felt as if the question was being more directed towards me.

“There might be shortly,” Harry grinned cheekily at Piper and then Matthew who raised his eyebrows before turning to me and Zayn.

“Not that I happen to be aware of sir.” He shrugged his shoulders and nodded at the receptionist who produced two contracts.

“I hope you understand why this is necessary. I know the boys seem to trust you but we need to protect information about the boys from the media so this agreement will ensure that from happening.” He handed over the papers and I read through them thoroughly.

Don’t sign contracts with the media.
Don’t tell other people information on the boys.

Don’t do this, don’t do that. I read the papers completely and was relieved that I wasn’t being forced to date anyone but was also concerned about the complications through breach of contract. Zayn had also wanted to skim through it so I gave it to him and received it back with a shrug.

“Okay, this is fine by me. As long as I don’t have to hang around Zayn too much, he stinks!” I joked and everyone but Zayn and the nameless receptionist laughed. She glared at me while Zayn eyes widened and he raised his arm to smell his pits. “I’m just kidding Zayn, seriously.” I rolled my eyes as he sighed in relief.

“Okay, thank you that is much appreciated. And you Piper?” She had a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Do I really have to date Niall?” She asked. Harry’s eyes bugged out of his head before he angrily snatched the papers out of her hands and began reading. Niall just looked shocked and confused. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing followed by the others and eventually Harry once he realised she was joking. Once we had all settled down Piper replied properly to the previous question, “Yeah, everything seems fine for me.” She smiled at him sweetly.

“And you don’trequire any money for doing this?” the receptionist asked.

“Erh, no. I wouldn’t have said anything about them in the first place so money doesn’t matter.” Matthew nodded approvingly as he handed each of us a pen.

“Well thank you ladies for that. Boys, meeting in 30 minutes okay? “ We nodded and left the meeting room after handing back the paperwork. All the boys were looking at us weirdly.

“What? Why are you looking at us weirdly?”

“I wish our meetings with Matt always went like that, he normally is like ‘I control your every movement and if you think about it, I’m only 23 and I have so much money that your opinions on the matter aren’t important, shut the fuck up’,” Niall said, rolling his eyes causing me to burst out laughing again.

“I just have a special charm.” I winked and flipped my hair to which Piper scoffed at.

“Don’t kid yourself, its obviously my beauty.”

“If that’s what helps you sleep at night.”

“Girls, girls, girls, let’s not lie anymore. He obviously felt guilty for us having to hang around you.” I slapped Zayn in the stomach, but I think it hurt my hand more than it hurt him. Hello Mr toned body, mumma likey.

“Erm, so how long will you be here for?” I asked the boys.

“To be honest, I don’t know. It could be hours.” Louis explained and I nodded than realised I had no way home.

“Uh Piper, how did you and Harry get here?”

“Harry came and picked me up.” Damn, how are we going to get my car, it’s not safe. “What about you?”

“Zayn and I had just gotten back from the shops so it was just a turnaround in Zayn’s car.”

“So are we gonna catch a cab? I have marking to do for tomorrow so I can’t really hang around.” Harry pouted and before I could respond with ‘I guess’, Louis went running off somewhere and Liam piped in.

“We’ll all take one of the bans to wherever you need to go. We have 30 minutes so it’s not a hassle.” The others nodded approvingly and I just shrugged.

“If it’s not too much of a pain that would be lovely, thank you.” The boys all nodded again and we all exited the building and clambered into9 a black van and I told them to take us to my work.

“So Zayn said that we’ve got a costume party booked in for tomorrow night, is that right?” Liam asked.

“Yep, we have a burlesque party going on for my bosses 25th, thank you guys for coming.”

“S’no problem, sounds fun. Are you organising it?” Niall asked and I nodded, sighing.

“Yes and I have so much to do tomorrow, I’m just trying to get my stress levels under control. I have the day of tomorrow to make sure everything is in place. I’ve hired a club or at least part of it so that’s where I’ll be rushing around all tomorrow.”

“Do you need help? We could always stop by or pick some stuff up for you?” Louis asked.

“No, thanks guys but I don’t want you to be rushing around all day because of me. That’s really sweet though.”

“Nonsense. And anyway, you can’t stop us, we know where the party is so we will be there to help.” Harry insisted. I rolled my eyes.

“Harry, you know Piper is working tomorrow right? So she won’t be there til later in the day.” He just shrugged.

“I’m a pro decorator and you’d be lucky to have my expertise.”

“Oh, so you’re a gay party planner in your spare time?”

“No, I’m perfectly straight.” He scoffed.

“Prove it.”

“Fine.” He pulled Piper towards him and kissed her. “See?”

“No, I meant kiss a guy.” He looked at me confused and shocked while the others were just laughing nervously.

“How the hell does that prove anything?” he asked shocked.

“It just does, Harry.”

“And who am I going to kiss?”

“Well you didn’t seem to struggle locating one girl out of two and you have four options this time.” Now all the boys except Louis, who was driving, looked at me shocked and Piper was trying not to laugh.

“Fine, only to prove it.” And with that he grabbed Zayn’s face and kissed him, pulling away looking disgusted. “Now do you see?” He asked but I was too busy laughing to respond. Zayn was sitting there with wide eyes trying to piece together what just happened.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you actually did that? I couldn’t care less whether you were gay or not, my younger brother is. But whoa seriously, that was funny.” Harry crossed his arms and turned away. Zayn was wiping his lips and all the others were all trying to calm down from being in hysterics. We soon reached my work and said our goodbyes before we were on our way home.

Notes

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