It's Always You

Chapter 3

The week passed by in a blur for Alana and her friends. On the following Friday after her shift in the book store, Alana and Mia spent the night at her apartment watching back to back movies. It was at four in the morning that they went to get a little sleep.

Alana jolted awake to the shrilling sound of Mia’s ringtone. “God, make it stop Mia..” She grumbled and aimed a pillow straight to her head.

“Ouch..” Mia sat up, her palm impatiently dabbing on the mattress to get a hold of her phone. “You i***t Audrey.. Why are you calling so early in the morning?” She groaned as soon as she hit the accept icon on the screen.

“Early? Are you kidding me? It’s f*****g one thirty in the afternoon..”

“One thirty? Shit..” She began to get out of the bed which seemed to possess too much gravity at that moment. “I’ll call you back soon..” She ended up on him.

“Ala, I promised my mom to be back home by ten. She is going to freak out..”

Alana yawned and rubbed her palm over her face to wipe the last ounce of sleep. From where she was sitting on the bed, she could see her own reflection on the huge mirror. Her hair looked like a bird’s nest sticking out in all the directions, her face was imprinted with deep sleep marks while the corner of her lips were stained with dried drool and not to mention the morning breath, Jeez. In other words, she looked like s**t.

Her eyes shifted to her friend who still looked beautiful even when she had just got up from the bed. “How do you look so pretty even after a good night’s sleep?” She asked ignoring her pathetic whines.

Mia stared down at her in total incredulity. “Ala, I have wondered so many times before, are you gay?”

Alana let out a throaty laugh at her friend’s effortless sense of humor. “What gave that impression?”

“You keep complimenting of my beauty all the time and you don’t give a damn about the hottest of hot guys..” By that Mia was indicating to the smoking spicy guy who helped Alana. Both the girls had seen him sporadically after the first time.

Alana had to admit he was indeed handsome and charming beyond words. He was tall, with dark brown hair, striking pair of light blue eyes and a body which made him look like Adonis but at the same time he looked way too arrogant and haughty. He came with a big tag on his collar which screamed ‘Heartbreaker..’

“Can’t a girl admire another girl’s beauty without being gay? I compliment you because you are my friend and you are indeed very pretty. Also, it is not like I don’t like guys. I just don’t want you and me falling prey to them..”

“Whatever, I need to be home before my mom comes to drag me out of here..” Mia quickly straightened her already straight hair using her fingers and gathered her things into her backpack.

“Alright, just give me ten minutes, I’ll drive you home. Meanwhile call your mom and tell, you will be home in an hour.” Alana went to freshen up herself after which she drove Mia to her home.

“Audrey agreed on picking up us to the party. So, meet you in another five hours..” Mia said glancing at her phone to check the time.

“Sure, Bye…”

From there Alana went straight to the book store. She had promised Mrs. Dawson to lend her hand in arranging the books which were almost mixed up by some annoying high schoolers. She was supposed to be there at ten in the morning but she was late. However, she drove there since she believed the old lady might still need her help.

“I appreciate your help, dear.” Mrs. Dawson was talking to someone when Alana entered the store. She couldn’t see who it was since the person was turned away from her and he was helping Mrs.Dawson with arranging the books.

They both turned around when they heard the bell at the door jingle. “Oh there she is..” Mrs.Dawson exclaimed when she saw Alana standing at the door. “I was beginning to think that you stood up on me..” She mused.

“I wouldn’t do that, Mrs.Dawson.” I just slept in till one this afternoon..” Alana shifted her eyes to the guy standing beside Mrs.Dawson and she didn’t have to think too much to recognize him. He was the same guy from her college who helped her the other day.

“I envy you, young lady. I can hardly sleep throughout the night.. Oh and meet Zayn, he is here to help us today..” She gestured at the guy who raised his brow along with a curt nod at Alana. “Zayn, this is Alana and she works here..”

“Hey..” She waved back at him plainly.

“I’ll be at the counter. Call me if you guys need my help..” The old woman wobbled away with tiny steps when she heard new customers walking into her shop.

“You take the fiction section. I’ll take the Non-finction..” Zayn suggested.

“And why is that so? Why can’t I take Non-fiction?” She crossed her arms over her chest and challenged him.

“That’s because arranging fiction books are easier when compared to non-fiction..”

“Oh so you have come to the conclusion that I’m not capable enough to handle it?”

“What? When did I say so?”

“I have been working here for over three months now. It’s like I have a Ph.D. in arranging these books.” She said proudly. 

“You know what, help yourself. Take up whatever you feel like doing..” He shrugged and walked away to the fiction category.

“Conceited prick..” She mumbled then began to pick up the books that were lying around. “I hope this isn’t that big of a deal after all.”

She had been working in the book store only for a couple of months now and previously she had taken care of fiction shelves only. Craig, another employee was the one to arrange the non-fiction ones and since this was the first time she was arranging books after his resignation, she had no idea what she had to be doing..

“Let’s google the procedure for shelving books in a library. I haven’t done this before but everything has to have a first time. Let’s not give up..” She prepped herself and sat in front of the desktop to begin her search on google.

“Dewey decimal number? What the heck is that? I thought we arrange books according to alphabetic order..” She groaned in irritation.

By the time she was done arranging the top two shelves, she heard Zayn talking to Mrs.Dawson. She walked through the aisle and peeped a little to have a clearer view of him.

“Mrs. Dawson, I’m done arranging the fiction aisle. Call me if you need my help with anything else. This is my contact number. I’ll be happy to help you anytime..” He handed her a small piece of paper.

“That’s so nice of you, young man. Thanks for offering to help us today..” She got up and held his hand within her palms.

“I’ll get going then, bye..” Before going out he threw a last glance back but Alana was quick enough to hide herself behind one of the shelves.

Even after trying for three hours straight, to Alana’s chagrin not a single shelf was organized, “Why did I have to take this one? I should have listened to him.” She ran her fingers through her dense hair in frustration.

“Mrs. Dawson, I’m not done yet but I think I’ll have to take leave now. I’ll do the remaining work tomorrow, if you don’t have a problem with that.

“Oh you don’t have to, sweety. It’s your day off..”

 “That’s not a problem. I am free tomorrow anyway so, I can come and do it..” She offered.

“Alright. I’ll open the store at ten in the morning. You can come whenever you want..”

“Okay great! I’ll get going now.. Bye..”

She went home and took a relaxing shower. Mia had called her over a dozen times asking if she was ready.

“I’m almost done..” Alana said into the line but in actuality she was just wrapped in a huge towel. 

“Okay, we are on the way. We will be there in ten minutes..”

“Okay..” She ended the call and began to freak out. ‘Ten minutes, you just have ten minutes..’ She bellowed and began to run around to pick something decent to wear.

She wore a pair of black ripped jeans, white button up shirt and donned a black jacket over it. She quickly blow dried her hair and applied some lip gloss as a finishing touch to her look.

Just when she was done, her phone vibrated on the bed. She didn’t look at the screen and just pressed it against her ear, “We are here..” She heard Audrey on the line.

“I’m locking the door..” She picked up her clutch, threw her mobile phone into it and jogged out of the flat in her high heels.

“Look at you!! Aren’t you the most beautiful woman in the planet?” Audrey remarked eyeing her from top to bottom.

“You said the same to me a few minutes ago..” Mia hit on his head playfully before turning to Alana, “You look absolutely stunning, babe..”

“Thanks, you look good yourself guys..” She said getting into the backseat, even though she hadn’t got a chance to glance at them properly. She leaned back with a sigh of relief that she had managed to pull it on time.

It took them an hour to reach Ronny’s Lakehouse which was already blaring with loud music and party lights. The placed looked nothing less than a night club even while the party was being conducted outside the mansion, near the lake.

“Wow, I don’t understand how she manages to organize a party every weekend.” Audrey asked looking at the place in awe.

“She doesn’t know what to do with all the allowance that she gets from her parents. Lucky that we ended up being her classmate.” Mia commented with a snicker.

“I totally agree with you..” Responded Audrey with a nod.

“There are surely other ways to spend your allowances, partying isn’t the only way you know..” Alana hissed more to herself while staring at the guy who was throwing away an untouched slice of pizza into the garbage bin.

The night had just begin but Alana was starting to get bored. After moving to Los Angeles, she had attended to many parties, that now she hated them to the core. She wondered if this was the reason why her mom wanted to move out of Sovana where it was isolated, cold and most importantly peaceful. This was not the life she wanted to live in. Sovana was were her heart truly belonged to.

She was sitting on the sand, drinking a glass of mocktail and giggling at her crazy friends who were dancing their asses off around the bonfire when the music suddenly stopped, giving a relieving feeling to ones ears.

“Hey fellas, here is a special performance for y’ll. I hope you enjoy it..Ho ho..”  Someone from the crowd pushed forward his friend who was carrying a guitar in his hand. Loud hoots from everyone followed soon. As he walked close to the fire, Alana could see his face clearly.

Mia slumped beside Alana with such force that she was almost pushed to the side. If not for Audrey on her other side, Alana might have been lying flat on the ground “Hey, it’s the same hot guy from Dynamics class.” Mia exclaimed.

‘The guy has a name..’ Alana thought of telling her friend but decided to keep quiet instead.

“Looks like he can sing well..” She squealed in excitement.

“We wouldn’t know that until he begins..” Alana sneered mockingly. “Not everyone carrying a guitar can sing actually. I hope our ears don’t bleed..” She said for which she got a jab on her arm from Mia.

“Ouch.. You are being over sensitive for someone you hardly know Mia..”

“Whatever, now stop pestering and let me hear him sing..”

Zayn sat down and positioned his guitar in his hands, “Thanks everyone. This song is dedicated to someone very close to my heart.” And he strummed the guitar like a pro.

Without further delay, he began to sing Justin Bieber’s one less lonely girl.

Alright, let's go

There's gonna be one less lonely girl(one less lonely girl)

One less lonely girl(one less lonely girl)

How many I told you's and start overs

And shoulders have you cried on before?

How many promises be honest girl?

How many tears you let hit the floor?

How many bags you packed

Just to take 'em back tell me that

How many either or's (but no more)

If you let me inside of your world

There'd be the one less lonely girl

Saw so many pretty faces (before I saw you you)

Now all I see is you

I'm coming for you (I'm coming for you)

No no

Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you

And when you're mine in the world

There's gonna be one less lonely girl(I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you)

I'll show you what you're worth (that's what I'm gonna do)

If you let me inside your world

There's gonna be one less lonely girl

Christmas wasn't merry, fourteenth of February,

Not one of 'em spent with you

How many dinner dates set dinner plates and

He didn't even touch his food

How many torn photographs are you taping back

Tell me that couldn't see an open door

But no more

If you let me inside of your world

There'll be one less lonely girl

Saw so many pretty faces

(Before I saw you you)

Now all I see is you

I'm coming for you I'm coming for you

No no

Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you

And when your mine in this world

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you)

I'll show you what you're worth (that's what I'm gonna do)

If you let me inside of your world

There's gonna be on less lonely girl

I can fix up your broken heart (heart)

I can give you a brand new start (start)

I can make you believe (yeah)

I just wanna set one girl free to fall,

Free to fall (she's free to fall)

Fall in love

With me

Her hearts locked and nowhere to get the key

I'll take her and leave the world with one less lonely girl

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)

One less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl

There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you)

I'll show you what you're worth (that's what I'm gonna do)

If you let me inside your world

There's gonna be on less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)

One less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)

One less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)

I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you)

I'll show you what you're worth (that's what I'm gonna do)

If you let me inside your world

There's gonna be on less lonely girl

Even when the song was over, the crowd remained silent as if they were tongue tied because his voice had a narcotizing effect on everyone including Alana. It was only after a whole minute that they all cheered for him loudly.

“That’s it, he is the one. I have made up my mind and I’m going for him..” Mia declared to her friends.

“Me too..” Audrey joined in with her with a hi-fi.

“Just to refresh your brains, he dedicated that song to someone very close to his heart. Looks like your candy is already taken..” Alana taunted them with a smirk.

“May be he was dedicating it to one of us..”  Mia whispered with a dreamy huff while melting for Zayn’s look. “What’s his name, by the way?” She quickly turned to Alana as if she expected her to know his name.

Alana blinked back inanely like she was caught cheating with someone. “I-I don’t know..” She mumbled, unable to look into her friend’s eyes. She would have told them his name but she wasn’t prepared for the questions that she knew would follow soon. She didn’t want them both to be lurking in the book store with an expectation to meet Zayn.

“Of course, you wouldn’t know.” Mia stood up from the bark they were sitting on, “Audrey, he is going inside the house. Let’s go in and talk to him..”

“You coming?” Audrey asked Alana who shook her head negatively.

“We will be back with some drinks for you, babe..” Mia looked over her shoulder and assured her before disappearing into the crowd.

Alana kept humming the song which Zayn had just dedicated for God knows whom. She had heard the song a million times before but never felt it so catchy.

‘It’s the song that is catchy, not him..’ She reminded herself.

When it seemed like her friends were never returning, she decided to walk around but just when she was about to get up, she found Zayn walking towards her. She immediately looked behind him but Mia and Audrey were nowhere in sight. Weren’t they going to stalk him or something?

“Hi..” He tossed his eyebrows up to greet her.

“Hi..” She said. He didn’t give her a chance to praise his talent as he threw another question at her.

“Were you able to finish the job at the store?”

“Y-Yes, of course I did..” She swallowed hard and maintained a stern expression. “It was nothing actually..” She added to her pile of lies.

“Ohh?” He said with a teasing smirk. She thought she saw a small bit of arrogance when he did that.  

“Anyways, you were good out there..” She said.

“Just good? I thought I was great..” He countered with a grin.

“Do you have a pin?” She asked out of nowhere.

“A pin? Why?” He looked genuinely confused.

“So that I can deflate your ego which is as big as a hot-air balloon..” She rasped which made him let out a deep throaty laugh.

“That was a good one. See you around..” He said before walking away still laughing from her joke.

She was glad that her friends didn’t see her talking to him and sat back on the bark hoping the night would be over soon.

 A/N: 

Hey guys!! 

Sorry for adding the whole lyrics of the song into the chapter but I found it too apt for the situation that I couldn't leave any line behind. 

I know it's too soon to say anything but I would really appreciate your feedback on the story so far. 

Have a great weekend!! 

~SwaRam~