Where We Want to Be

Jogging down the stairs with my ear buds in blasting whichever song came on after pressing shuffle I started my jog around the neighborhood leading into the park was one of my favorite things to do after a good night sleep.

I went to the gym in the building whenever I could, but running a machine was nothing like running out in the open air.

On my last lap before I could get home, I ran into Ed from the bar, “Hey Lilah, you run in the mornings too?” he grinned.

It was obvious he was checking me out as his eyes roamed my body. I nodded looking around the park looking for an excuse to get away from him and thanked the heavens when I saw Zayn.

I grinned, “Yeah, I usually run in the gym. But my boyfriend begged me this morning. I somehow managed to lose him through our race. But he’s right there” pointing over to Zayn who was on the phone and walking his dog, “Zayn! Babe I’m over here.”

Zayn looked around confused as I waved him over, sending him a pleading look when Ed wasn't looking. Chuckling he jogged over to us, pulling his dog along.

“Babe, this is Ed. Ed this is my lovely boyfriend Zayn.” I introduced them to each other as Zayn wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Well, it was nice meeting you Zayn. See you around Lilah” Ed muttered walking away quickly as I hugged Zayn.

“Thank you so much. I owe you one.” I thanked him.

“Was he that guy from the bar a while ago?” He questioned as I pulled away from him.

I nodded, “See you around.

Jogging home I showered, getting ready to go grocery shopping until I had to go to work at the bar.

I usually kept to myself when I went out, but I couldn’t help but notice how a few girls standing near the produce isle were giving me the dirtiest looks that any young thirteen year old girl could give. And honestly it was starting to creep me out.

Ignoring them I continued getting my shopping done, a nice nap before going to work would be nice. Looking down at my phone where my list was, I couldn’t help but look up when someone’s cart crashed into mine forcefully.

It was the same girls from the produce isle who had been glaring at me, who had crashed into my cart, “Can I help you?”

They continued with the glaring, “Stay away from him” they hissed angrily.

“Who are you talking about?” I asked amused, they must have had me confused with someone else, “Are you sure you’ve got the right person? Maybe someone that looks like me, a few inches shorter and a few years younger?”

One of the girls fumbled with her phone before pressing her screen in front of my face, “Is that you?” she pointed to a picture of two people at a park. It took me a few minutes to realize that was my blonde hair and the running shorts I was currently still wearing.

“So it is you. Don’t deny it” she pointed out.

“And your point is?” I questioned.

“That’s Zayn Malik. You two are dating and we’re here to tell you to back off. He’s ours” the other girl snarled.

I laughed, “You two can have him. I don’t like him” I muttered, “And now if you excuse me, I have to finish shopping before going to work. But nice meeting you.”

Pulling my cart away I finished getting whatever else I need, making my way to the cash
register and walking home quickly.

The run in with those girls at the grocery store was fresh in my mind, any nap that I had planned out wasn’t going to happen.

Putting away the food, I changed into my usual clothing for the bar. It was still a bit early, but I had the keys since I opened up and started with the inventory count.

Lately the bar had been getting more customers and I’d run out of glasses or napkins.

“You’re here early” James noted entering the bar with Matt following behind, Matt was his cousin who was staying with him until the end of the summer and offered to help in exchange for rent.

“Want to hear something funny?” I chuckled at Matt who was just sitting on a stool. “These two thirteen year old girls cornered me at the grocery store, claiming I stole their boyfriend”

“You’re dating a guy younger than you?” he asked amused.

I shook my head, “ I know this guy, who’s apparently in a band or something and they flipped out on me.”

Matt took his phone out, “What’s the band’s name?”

I shrugged, “One direction or something like that.”

He didn’t even type anything on his phone, setting it down and looking at me, “Did you say One Direction? Jesus Christ, no wonder they were ready to kill you. They’re huge right now, my sister’s in love with them, obsessed really.”

“Are you two talking that gorgeous arm candy Lilah here had the other day?” James.

“So Lilah here is dating some international pop star?” Matt teased.

“I’m not dating him, never have and never will” I retorted.

James shook his head, “You two went on that cute date the other night. You never told me how it went.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, “No thanks to you! You stole my phone and set me up on a date, you didn’t even warn me until he got here.”

Matt laughed, “James, nice job. Now I want details. Was he a good in the sack?”

Blushing I ignored them and continued with inventory, stocking up on more glasses and napkins and any other things I needed.

“Lilah! You have guest’s” Matt called over his shoulder as I served a load of thirsty jocks watching the game.

“I’m busy” I called back rushing around the tables near me and picking up the empty plates and glasses.

“Matt and I have the tables checked, you worry about the bar” Kevin assure me, taking the plates from me and pushing me back to the bar where Matt was waiting for me.

“Long enough” he muttered amused, “But these lads were asking about you” he nodded at a group of boys, leaving me alone as he went to help Kevin.

A loud Irish accent was the most noticeable as I went to their side, “Lilah!”

Sighing I realized if Niall was here, the rest of the group would be here, “What can I get you guys?”

“It’s guys night out, can we just all get a pitcher for ourselves?” he asked with a grin.

Nodding I counted the heads, trying to see if we had enough pitchers at the bar and if I needed to go in the back.

“Matt! Can you get me three more pitchers from the back?” I asked him as he walked past the bar with a few orders.

Stopping at the bar he leaned over looking inside, “What happened to the other pitchers we had back here?”

I pointed at Niall and his friends, “They each want a pitcher. For themselves.”

Laughing he promised to me get me the pitchers I needed from the back after he gave everyone their orders.

Handing Niall his pitcher he pulled on my arm, “Zayn wanted me to tell to wait for him; he’s stopping by until your shift ends.”

“Niall I’m working” I insisted finishing up a few customers that were ready to leave before urging Matt over, “Can we switch, just for the night? And you can keep the tips.”

“Why?” he laughed watching Kevin handle three tables.

“Apparently Zayn’s stopping by, I just don’t want to lead him on.”

“Uh no” Matt scolded, “A nice boy is showing interest in you. Accept and enjoy it.”

Glaring at him I pushed him away from the bar, it was a busy night and if we continued to argue over this I’d get behind all the orders and that was just leading to disaster.

“Lilah, can you get Harry here a pitcher?” Niall asked getting my attention.

I looked over at Harry who was grinning, “Can I see his ID first?”

Harry stared at me, “Are you really asking me for ID? I never get asked for ID” he whined.

“No ID no pitcher” I sang amused.

“Come on Lilah, just one pitcher” Niall begged.

I shook my head, “I’m serious guys. Either he shows it or he doesn’t get his pitcher. I’m not getting fired here.”

Harry sighed handing me an ID that I only looked at for a second,

“Nice try Styles, you forget I was the trouble child in the family. I know what a fake ID looks like” I reminded him amused, “But I admire your spunk, so I’ll give you a glass or two. Just don’t get pissed drunk.”

He grinned kissing my cheek and eagerly waiting for his glass, which I handed him right away.
I could feel someone’s eyes on me, turning my head slightly I breathed in seeing it was Zayn;

“Can I get you something?”

“I won’t need a pitcher” he chuckled, “Can I get a glass. I don’t want to drink much tonight.”

He didn’t specify which beer he wanted, so I went with what he ordered last time, assuming I was right he just smiled accepting the drink before chugging half of it and placing it down.

“Do you get off soon?” Zayn asked softly around one in the morning after the bar settled down a little bit.

“She does actually” Matt butted in, setting down a few pitchers, “Give her ten minutes to clean up the bar for me and you can have her.”

“So I met a few of your fans today” I murmured to Zayn who had insisted on at least walking me home after Matt took over the bar for me.

That was our deal, I opened up the entire bar and worked behind the counter for most of the night, and towards the end if I cleaned most of the place up he would take over and I would get to home a few hours early. It was only fair, I always opened the place up, checked inventory and made sure to keep everything cleaned.

“You did?” Zayn chuckled nervously.

I nodded, “A bit intimidating but I managed.”

“Are you hungry? You must, working all night. Do you want to stop for food?” he asked curiously.

My stomach growling was a clear give away of me starving, last I had eaten was around eight, which hadn’t been much. A few fries, the game had kept us busy all night, “Can we go to a
quick diner? I’m starving.”

“I love you so much right now” I grinned as we sat across from each other in a booth near the back, this was the kind of place I was craving, burgers and fries.

“Glad to be of service, but I have a question and be honest. The girls you mentioned, they weren't cruel or anything right?”

I shook my head, “You think a few little teenagers are going to scare me?” I had a point, after living with Greg for two years it took a lot to scare me.

We didn’t stay long at the diner, just eating and talking around less than an hour before we made our way home.

“So I’ve realized something” Zayn murmured getting my attention, “The only time you agree to go on a date with me is when I show up at your work.”

“This is a date?” I asked amused.

He blushed, “I was hoping it was.”

I ignored his comment as we continued to walk to my apartment building.

“You don’t like me, do you” he stated rather than asked.

Sighing I shook my head, “It’s not that, you’re a nice person. But like I said before, I’m not looking to be in a relationship or see someone.”

Throwing his head back, he looked around before looking at me, “One chance. That’s all I’m asking for, if I do anything for you not to like me I’ll stop insisting. Please Lilah? I don’t remember ever trying this hard for someone.”

I couldn’t help but smile softly, “One date” I nodded, “And we’ll see from there.”

Before he could say anything I hurried into my building, this was a big change for me, and I had no clue why I was doing it.