Forever Young

It had only been a week since my holiday with Zayn, but I was already itching to relive it. So, in a desperate attempt to recreate some of the memories, I decided to Google “Los Angeles authentic Greek food” and found this little hole in the wall type of place that was a good forty minutes away (including traffic) from my house. It was supposed to be the only spot in Southern California where people could get “food just like Yaya made it.” So, I slipped into the same pink sweater, the same denim shorts, and the same oxfords that I wore in Greece and rushed over to the place. The overly dramatic plastic Athena statue in front of the restaurant should’ve given it away that this food would not satisfy. Still, I trekked on in and ordered something off of the menu.

I frowned at the gyro in my hand. It was nothing like the gyros that Zayn and I had munched on in the village of Fira. My disappointment in the gyro made it tempting for me to just throw it out, but the ever-present voice of my mom reminding me of all the hungry children in the world forced me to do otherwise.

When I finished, I walked out of the place and decided to just sit in my car so I could decipher my feelings. I felt a little sad, a little frustrated, a little disappointed, and a little lonely. And then I realized, even if the food was as amazing as the real thing, I would still have not been satisfied just because Zayn wasn’t with me.

I realized that things were different with Zayn. Different in a good way, of course.

- - - - -

I shoved my belongings into my messenger bag, in hurry to get home to my Skype date with Zayn (a daily thing we began about two weeks after the Greek holiday) when I was approached by one of my classmates. I looked up and met the gaze of a sandy haired, beach-tanned individual.

“Hey there,” he grinned at me and extended his hand, “I’m Noah.”

Politely, I shook his hand, “Keiko. Nice to meet you.”

Keeping his eyes on me, he nodded his head and smiled, “Yeah, listen, I’m just going to say it. I don’t mean to sound like a creep anything, but I’ve been working up the courage to talk to you ever since the first day of class. My boys tried to help me find an excuse to get your number, like asking you to be in our little study group. But, I just thought that would be kind of lame.”

Noah paused to see my reaction, but I just stared back at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to get to his point. His brow furrowed a little and his arm reached out to scratch the back of his head, “Yeah, so what I’m really trying to say is, a few of my friends are going out to try out that new burger joint and I was wondering if you’d like to join us.”

I was taken aback. Since I was living at home, I wasn’t really involved in campus life. For the most part, I thought I was invisible to everyone as I just went to class and went straight home afterwards. I didn’t expect anyone to have to “work up the courage” to talk to me.

Noah looked at me with an expecting expression. I snapped out of it and just smiled, “That’s really nice of you, Noah. But, I actually have plans. Sorry. Maybe some other time?”

He looked a little deflated, but he managed to respond optimistically, “Oh, ok. Yeah, that’s fine. It was short notice, and this is the first time that I actually talked to you,” He laughed nervously, and I just continued to smile.

There was a brief moment of awkward silence, and then Noah spoke again, “So, can I get your number so, you know, next time I can let you know ahead of time?”

I hesitated a little. Would it be wrong if I gave him my number? Would this be classified as flirting? But, I needed friends. But, is this guy trying to be my friend or…? I reached for my phone slowly. But just as I began to rattle off the digits in my phone number, my phone buzzed with a text:

”Are you home yet, babe? I’m falling asleep and I don’t want to miss our date! Aha x x – Zayn”

- - - - -

Zayn fell asleep before I got home at 6 pm, Los Angeles time (2 am, London time). I didn’t mind so much, though. He needed as much rest as he could get, as the boys and Zayn were busy doing promo work for their upcoming sophomore album. And, as for me, I needed to finish this huge sociology paper. Before sitting down to attack the paper, I took a much needed brain break and refueled with my mom’s delicious home cooking. I overdosed a little on my mom’s seafood pasta and gave into a food coma, knocking out on my bed.

When I woke up, it was almost nine at night. I silently scolded myself for falling asleep for so long, when I could have been finished my paper. I groaned as I pulled myself out of bed, knowing full well that I was in for an all-nighter. Still, when I situated myself in front of my laptop I didn’t get right to my paper. Instead, I flipped through the pictures from Greece.

I sighed deeply. It was nearly a month since Greece, and I was getting lonelier and lonelier.

- - - - -

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud clang.

“Ooh, sorry babe! I didn’t realize how hot the pan was. Fuck.” On my computer screen, Zayn rushed over to his sink to run his hand under ice-cold water.

I just grunted and drummed my fingers as I tried to recall my train of thought. When nothing came, I exhaled in frustration and looked up at the time. It was already past three in the morning. On the other side of the world, Zayn was preparing brunch for himself. He was really adorable, with his little apron, meticulously plating his scrambled eggs. A pang of sadness hit me when I realized how much I just wanted to be in his company again.

“Zayn,” I muttered, “I’m going crazy.”

“Come over then, babes. Brunch is ready,” He held up his food, moving his eyebrows suggestively.

I pouted at him, “I wish.”

Zayn put the food down and moved towards his computer, giving me a kiss through the screen, “I miss you, Keiko. But, I’m okay with this for now.”

- - - - -

I squealed in delight when I saw two familiar faces waiting for me at a table at my favorite restaurant. Alison and Shay were back home for spring break, and I could not have been any happier. Their presence served as a much-needed distraction from my absent-Zayn-woes.

We had a lot of catching up to do, so we wasted no time getting right into everything: Alison’s floormate from hell, Shay’s new array of piercings, and, of course, my relationship with Zayn.

“He took you to Greece? That’s major!” Shay had exclaimed when I pulled up pictures on my phone. I just nodded bashfully while they looked on at all the pictures.

Alison looked at me, “So, are you guys like official now?”

I stared back at her, thinking of a way to skirt the answer, “We haven’t labeled it yet.”

I must’ve forgotten that these two individuals in front of me knew me better than myself. The two of them looked back at me with incredulous expressions. Shay spoke up, “Oh my God, Keiko. You don’t know if you two are official yet?!”

Alison didn’t even wait for my answer, “Listen, Keiko. You need to find out. This guy is taking you on romantic vacations, and you don’t even know how he really feels about you?”

I tried to get a word in, but Shay cut me off, “Seriously, Keiko! You can’t be like this. We don’t want a repeat of London.”

I shuddered, remembering my drunken night.

“Shay’s right, Keiko. It was like your soul was sucked out when you came home from that trip. You were so confused about whatever was happening between you and Zayn, and then I thought you were over it. But, then you went to Greece with him. And now… ugh!” Alison threw her hands up in disgust, “Honestly, Keiko, Zayn’s a good looking dude but this rollercoaster he’s put you on is really annoying.”

My face twisted in confusion.

Shay’s expression softened, “Just find out. What’s the worse that could happen?”

- - - - -

Zayn’s hair was pulled back underneath a beanie. I could see the sleepiness in his drooping eyes. He was humming to himself, trying to keep himself awake. I was chewing the inside of my bottom lip out of anxiety, trying to think of the best way to phrase the question.

“What’s on your mind, babe?” he slurred.

I shrugged, “Nothing. School. Work.”

He propped his head up on his pillow, “Tell me the truth, Keiko.”

I sighed, “What… Am I…” I struggled to find the best way to ask him, “I just need to know what you think of you and me. If you get what I mean.”

Zayn looked at me with concern, and this time it was his turn to stutter, “I thought we were… You know, like… We’re dating, right?”

I felt myself relax.

- - - - -

The next morning, I woke up to a text: ”Check the twitter trends! – Alison”

Curious, I reached for my laptop and logged on. There were a number of random trends: #ReasonsWhyImHigh, #GamerPickupLines, and #IfIHadAGun, just to name a few. But, there was one that caught my eye: #BeHappyForZaynAndHisGF

As if they had a mind of their own, my hands typed in the URL for Zayn’s twitter account.

”@zaynmalik: To put it simply, yes I’m in a relationship! xx :)”