My Light

Nora's POV

“So she just punched him?” Shelby all but drops the bouquet of flowers she's working on, mouth wide open, completely surprised. “Your mom. Punched Piero?” She asks again for clarification slowly.

“Yes, can you believe it?” I ask.

“No. I'm sure I'm still sleeping and this is all a dream.” She waves her hands in front of her face as if to wake herself up. “What did he do?” She leans against the basement counter.

“He just let us walk away. Zayn and I left right after but she said that he had told everyone that he went outside and someone hit him with the door.” I laugh at the thought of him having to tell everyone that.

“Wow. Go Angela.” She smiles at me, laughing just a little bit. “So is Zayn coming over to your place for the weekend?” I tighten my lips and command myself not to blush, because you know, that works.

“Yeah.” My mom and Nonna stayed in Vermont a few extra days because Nonna had a few important doctors appointments upstate, so it's just been Albert and I together. It's been bliss but I'm craving some human company at home.

“So are you two finally gonna, you know.” She raises her eyebrows over and over again.

“Shelby!” I chuck some ribbon at her that doesn't even come close to her but it's the idea of it that counts. “I don't really know.” I pause to think about it. He's never pushed it, we've never even talked about it but we've known each other for three months now and even exchanged I love you's so it's kind of a natural path for the relationship. Wait, what relationship? I'm sure my eyes are wide as I realize that we've never really talked about it.

What if he only loves me as a friend? What if he's never going to define us? Is there an us? Of course there is an us. Their has to be an us.

“Quit thinking about everything, maybe this weekend you can talk about your relationship. When does he leave?” She sits on her hands and sways a little back and forth, her super long blond hair swaying just slightly.

“Um, in two weeks.” I look down, I really don't want to think about it but he's had these plans set up forever, he wants to spend Christmas with his family and spend as much time with them as possible. I can't blame him, we didn't plan on meeting, we didn't plan on staying whatever we are.

“Well you have two weeks to figure things out then!” She's so cheerful, it makes you sick sometimes to be honest. One of those perpetually happy persons that you hate at times but you just love her at the same time. “What if you end up marrying him?” Her eyes grow wide, I can see all the plans running through her head.

“I'm not going to marry Zayn Malik.” I roll my eyes.

“You never know Nora! You could be Nora Malik in a few years. Oh I can just see it already. God, he'll look absolutely perfect in a black tux and you'll be wearing a beautiful fitted dress and I'll of course be your maid of honor. And you'll get married outside!” She just starts rambling off detail after detail and I just end up tuning her out and looking at my phone.

To Zayn: Save me from Shelby.

I type quickly and wait for his response. I love when he instantly responds.

From Zayn: When can I come over?

I'm not even shy about smiling, I know I have a hug smile on my face. I mean, things are weird between us, we haven't made anything official yet we're already exchanging I love you's and we act like we're together. It doesn't bother me until people ask me because I don't know what to tell them. We're more then friends with benefits because feelings are there but it's difficult to explain to other people.

“So now you're avoiding me and texting with Zayn? I see how it is.” Shelby teases.

“How do you know I'm texting him?” I ask, pretending to hide it.

“You have a huge ass smile on your face, you're blushing. It's obvious. I want a boy that makes me feel like Zayn make you feel.” In that moment right then I realize how lucky I actually am.

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

“So what are we doing?” Zayn drops his bag at the entry way to my apartment and rubs his palms together.

“Camping!” I exclaim.

“Camping?” He parrots me but with a question.

“Well, not really camping. I just want to sleep outside, I do it every once in a while but we can sleep on the roof.” I suggest. I love being outside and even if you're in the city and it's loud and crazy, you're still outside. We can't get out of the city for the weekend but this is close enough to the same thing.

“We can't just sleep in your room?” He laughs awkwardly as he follows me down the hall to my room. “This is your room?” He asks, looking around. I haven't really decorated it since high school. I haven't really had time since then to do anything with it, I've just been living in it.

“It is.” I look around, not at all embarrassed by it's bright yellow walls, purple and white comforter and white furniture. I've got pictures hung up all over the place, dirty clothes mounting in my laundry basket in the corner, posters of beautiful flowers all around.

“Your bed. It's small.” He studies it.

“And now you know why I was amazed at the size of yours.” I only have a double bed, when it's just you and a cat it doesn't really make a difference. “Besides, if I got anything bigger then this bed it would take up the whole thing.” I really do have a small room but it doesn't bother me. I have the flower shop, the living room, the kitchen, the roof. I don't know why people want places that are so big anyway. I'd just rather be outside.

Zayn drops his bag and it suddenly feels awkward. I mean, I feel like its a high school sleepover but with boys. If that makes any sense. You get so excited to go to your friends house but then when you get there, you totally know it's not your home. But this time it's my house and Zayn is my guest. I shake the thoughts from my head and unlock the window to the steps and open it, the New York air drifting in.

I turn back to see Zayn watching me, I laugh to myself and look away as the pink in his cheeks come out a little. I'll never get used to seeing that. “Coming up?” I don't give him time to answer as I climb out and take the steps to the top.

It's a little chilly up here, it is October. I'm quite surprised it hasn't snowed yet, but I probably just jinxed myself with that thought. My mom's herb garden has been picked clean, a heavy frost a few nights ago killed any chance of more. But thankfully nothing is suppose to happen tonight.

“So what are we doing?” Zayn asks as I look back at him, he hasn't let go of the railing to the steps.

“You can step onto the roof Zayn.” I promise him. “It won't cave in.” I bounce a little bit to show him that it will in fact hold everything. I watch as he's a little shaky to let go but finally does, taking small steps to meet me at the raised garden. “You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah. I'm fine.” He shakes off my concern like it's nothing. “So is this roof just for you guys?” He asks, looking around. It's not much. The raised garden, the small shed in the corner to hold some storage and mom's garden tools, and some outdoor furniture. I usually can't wait to get out the hammock out of storage and just lounge every day with a good book.

“Yep. We have a basement that has some storage, but it's mainly like extra parts for kitchens, bathrooms, paint and things. Plus we have room for the other two apartments to have small storage so we get the roof.” I explain to him as I lead him to the outdoor furniture, plopping on the couch. The sun is still out, I'm catching all the warmth from the rest of the day.

“So where are we sleeping?” He asks, looking around.

“I have a blow up mattress we just have to inflate and we can sleep under the stars. But first, pizza.” I smile as he does, quickly pulling up his phone to find the closest place.

Notes

Can you believe how many chapters we have?! I just can't thank you all enough for everything. The messages, the votes, subscriptions, and all the wonderful comments. You are all absolutely amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy May Day. :)

xxoxox