Zayn's POV

I don't want to rush things. It's been so long since I've actually dated someone. Starting fresh is scary. I was with Perrie for a long time, you get comfortable, you don't have to challenge yourself to impress them anymore because they already love you. You know what they like, what they don't like and vice versa. Starting over means making so many mental notes, hiding some of your terrible features until you've gotten more into the relationship.

But I like her. I know I do. Their is something about her that I just can't figure out, I've only been out of the building with her once so I can't really say I know her, because I don't. I don't know why that question she asked me yesterday shut me down, call it media training. You don't want to answer a question, you avoid it.

It wasn't a lie when I asked her to look at flats with me next Sunday. I just didn't have any plans to look for a place this early. I could do it myself but I thought that maybe it would be just another way for us to spend time together. But I wanted more time with her, I got back to my hotel and searched for things to do, I figured maybe she'd enjoy classical music in the park. I don't really know but I know she likes classical books. It's like the same thing.

I throw some more snacks in my back pack and walk to the park, we decided to meet at one of the main gates by the Delacorte Theater. I can already hear the music so I know we didn't arrive right when it started, I'm hoping she's okay with that. I wait at the entrance, looking around to make sure Nora isn't already there.

“Guess who.” Someone speaks to me, covering my eyes with their hands.

“Santa?” I ask, just being dumb, hoping to hear her sweet laugh.

“Good guess. Where's my cookies then?” She lets go and starts walking away. I've noticed that she doesn't wait for someone to walk with her, its keep up or stay back. She watches quickly as well, I think it's that New York blood she has, always moving.

“So have you been here before?” I ask, noticing that she's dressed differently today. A dark green sleeveless dress, hitting just above the knees. It matches her green eyes, not piercing green eyes, they're light, a little blue in them.

“Um, when I was younger, my mom used to take me if she wasn't sleeping or working.” She stops at the fork in the path, choosing left and walking on, clutching two blankets and a backpack. She looks like an unusual hiker, dress, sandals, blankets, and backpack. The music gets louder the closer we get. I know nothing about classical music, I'd rather listen to other things but it will be a nice change.

Their is quite a few people here, I don't want to sit in the front at all, way too loud so I just follow Nora navigate around people until she's more towards the back. “Here look good?” She gestures to an open spot and I nod my head, dropping our bags on the grass as she unfolds the blanket and fans it in the air, letting it fall perfectly on the grass.

“What did you bring?” I ask, I only brought some water bottles, snacks, and a few other thing.

“Um, sunscreen.” Of course I didn't bring that. “UNO cards, my favorite.” A card game player then, another mental note. “A book, sun hat, and of course my wallet, cell phone.” She shrugs and sticks her legs out, leaning back on the blanket. “God, I miss the sun when I'm at work.” She speaks, just loud enough for me to hear her. I know she doesn't like working so long but she never complains, it has to be a daunting task.

“You should take a holiday.” I suggest, she laughs slightly.

“I haven't taken a vacation in ages!” She tucks the extra blanket behind her head and leans all the way back, looking at the sky. “I went on two spring break vacations, one to Las Vegas, absolutely insane. I think I was drunk the whole time, I needed another spring break just to recover from Vegas, and I was only there for a weekend. The other I went to Virginia Beach with some friends, much more relaxed.” I think about all the times I've been to Vegas, how insane things can get there. I laugh at the memories I've shared with all the guys. I miss them.

We listen to the music for a little while, it's nice, the musicians are extremely talented. I've always wanted to learn to play something but their just wasn’t enough time and wasn't enough motivation on my part. I would have rather just been sleeping.

“You ever play an instrument?” I ask, out of the blue.

“Um, I played the violin for a while.” She takes a sip of her water and looks towards me. “You?”

“The violin?” I ask and she nods. “That's cool. I played the triangle.” I can see her choke back a smile. “But that doesn't really count.”

“Of course it counts! I only played the violin for like four years. I quit in eighth grade.” She uses the back of her hand as a shade to look at me.

“Why?” I get a sudden twinge in my back and decide to lay down.

“I wasn't really into it anymore. I didn't want to miss a study hall either. When I would have moved to high school, they used band as a study hall so if I quit, then I got two.” She laughs. “I was a little lazy in high school. I only wanted to take a few classes but you had to take so many so...” She lets her sentence linger in the air.

“So.” I start, suddenly swallowing air and coughing profusely.

“You all right Zayn?” She leans on one elbow and searches for my water, frantically opening it and thrusting it at me.

“Yeah, just went down the wrong pipe I think.” I make a fist and smack my chest a few times while I drink water. Always love when that happens. I wait until things settle down, the music stops and I notice the musicians moving chairs, switching things around. “So, this is probably sudden but I think you're pretty cool.” I don't know where I'm going with this.

“Yeah, I've been told that before.” She laughs at her own jokes. She's trying to make things light with my suddenly serious tone apparently. “But thank you.” She tells me as she calms down.

“I was just wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me sometime?” I scratch the stubble on my chin, I don't remember ever being this nervous to ask a girl out before. Like ever in my life.

“Zayn Malik!” Our attention is jerked to three twenty somethings standing next to me, smiling wide. I'll never get away.

“Hi.” I wave slightly, unaware with how things are going to play out with them. I'm not going to ignore them, fans are the reasons why I've gotten where I am right now.

“Sorry to interrupt, can we have a picture maybe?” The girl in the middle asks, seeming to be the leader of the group.

“Sure.” I stand, smiling and posing for the pictures. I hug them all and thank them for coming over and following them on Twitter. I'm hardly even on Twitter anymore but apparently people are still looking for follows. I'm just thankful them coming over hasn’t drawn a small crowd. I've noticed that Nora never got a chance to answer my question, making things a little odd. “So.” I linger in the air.

“Oh right.” She laughs. She's laid down and relaxed in the sun while I was taking pictures. She sits up carefully as to not show what's up her skirt. I'm trying to focus on other things other than whats up her skirt now. “Yes. Zayn. I'd like to go on a date with you.” She smiles. “But what is this then?” She asks and I'm suddenly realizing that I did ask her to meet up with me and it's just us here.

“Well I guess you could consider this a date.” I laugh at the fact that I've just realized that.

“So you want to go on another one then or just think of this as the only one?” I turn and lay on my stomach, turning my head to the side and looking at her.

“Of course I want to go on another one.” I ask like I'm offended she even asked me, I hope she knows I'm only kidding. I pull my bag closer to me and dig through it, the sudden inspiration to draw everything I see. I don't make perfect things, just crude lines at times, I could perfect my craft but I have my whole life for that.

I see her watching me as I take a black marker out and start drawling the trees and the sky.

“You know, that smile you had was fake.” She makes me pause, her words making me stall.

“What?” I look over at her, her hat has taken a spot over her whole face. She lifts it slightly and peeks over at me, eyes squinting.

“Your smile, it was fake. Was it not?” She's curious. No one has ever called me out like that.

“Um it was for the most part. I just like my space, I understand it comes with the job, I'll take pictures with everyone but I don't always like it. Was I that noticeable?”

“No, but I've just noticed your smile was different as it has been this past week. You're eyes don't smile with your lips.” She moves her hands to gesture with her face. “I like your face with a genuine smile.” She reaches out and touches my chin. The gesture takes me off guard but I don't pull away. She smiles at me again and pulls her hand back, resting it on her stomach and lets her hat cover her face again. I flip my paper to a fresh sheet and start drawling Nora.

Notes

Hello Hello!!

Hope everyone is having a great day. Thank you so much for all the comments, votes, subscriptions, and reads for this story!!! We're still just beginning so I hope people continue to read and join us for the ride! :)

So Zayn and Nora date, picking up on each others mannerisms already and learning just a little bit more about them. Let me know what you think!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.

xooxox