My Light

Zayn POV

I want to see her again. I talked to my mum a little last night, I didn't say anything about Nora because I don't want to get her hopes up, I mean, I just officially just met her yesterday. She's been wanting me to move on with someone since everything happened with Perrie. I bounced around with different women here and there but it's not what I ever want. Nothing ever seems right, something is always just a little bit off with other women. I could even say things were off with Perrie too but I was blinded by love so I thought that was what I wanted, that was what I needed.

It's getting a little bit later in the day, I'm assuming she's already eaten lunch, I've decided today I'll pretend I'm getting flowers for Safaa. At least I'll have a plan so I don't look like a complete idiot when she asks. My palms are so sweaty just thinking about her, it's quite stupid, to still feel this way about her but it's just something about her. I just want to soak up as much knowledge about Nora as I possibly can.

The door chimes when I push it open, another sweltering day here, the cool air from the shop makes me feel better instantly.

“Hi Nora.” I see her frantically whipping her face and standing to brush her clothes off. “Am I interrupting anything?” I look around and see no one, she looks a bit shocked as she swallows and shakes her head.

“No, no, sorry, busy day, I was just finishing lunch.” She takes a drink of her water and smiles at me. “What can I help you with today Zayn? Something wrong with your mom's flowers?”

“Oh no, she loved them, thank you. Just finishing lunch? What were you eating?” I get closer to the counter and see a hardly eaten sandwich in the trash.

“Oh just something light. Shelby can't come in till four today, I didn't have time to make anything proper before I left this morning.” She shrugs as if it's nothing. I take the opportunity to notice her what I would call a banana figure. She's wearing those skinny jeans again, blue flats and a black shirt. She has a little curve in her hips, slight dip in her waist. She's still wearing minimal makeup, I know she's wearing some but it's not over powering, just simple and clean.

“Aren't you starving?” I ask before I can think about it.

“Oh no.” She waves her hand like it's no big deal. “I've got some candy bars in my desk drawer.”

“Well that simply just won't do. What would you like? I saw a deli down the street. Let me buy you lunch.” I offer, not quite knowing how she'll take it.

“Oh, you don't have to do that Zayn.” She tucks a stray hair behind her ear. I think I make her nervous.

“I insist.” I tap the counter with my fingers. “I won't take no for an answer.” I lean against the counter and point to her. Sometimes I have moments where I pretend I'm suave. I probably come off as a complete moron but at least I'm trying.

“All right. I have a menu from that place somewhere.” She smiles and bends down, searching in the four drawers. “Here it is!” She pops back up and puts it on the counter, studying it. “Oh, I'll take the chicken salad on marble bread, without the sprouts.” She points to it quickly and I whip my phone out to take a picture of it so I won't forget. “Just stay right here, I'll go grab some money from my bag.” She holds a finger up.

“No, Nora, I've got it.” I smile slightly, to think she wants to pay for it.

“Oh come on Zayn, I can pay for my sandwich.”

“Nope, sorry.” I smile at her and start to walk away. “Besides, you can't leave so you can't chase me down.” I speak over my shoulder. It's a little flirtatious and I enjoy it.

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I love her laugh. I bought some food for us to enjoy and it seems like we've had a little picnic here in the lobby of her business. We still have the counter between us, she's fished out a stool from the back and now we're just relaxing. I've since finished my sandwich. I've noticed that Nora is a painfully slow eater. She likes to speak as well. But she has me in stitches most of the time.

“So, do you want to see the shop?” She asks, I can see her cheeks slightly blushing, almost as if she's embarrassed that she suggested it.

“Yeah, I'd love to.” I stand, pulling my pant legs down and grabbing my trash to ball up and throw away.

“Come on back.” She waves her hand to me and moves down to the counter, lifting the piece on hinges and allowing me follow her.

“Can we leave the front area?” I asks.

“Oh yeah, we have cameras, video screens are in the back and I have a trained ear for that bell. I'm usually always in the back if I'm alone, arranging pieces.” She speaks to me over her shoulder as we round the corner and take just a few steps down, I can already feel the temperature change, getting a little colder. “Sorry, we keep it colder down here so the flowers last longer. I have extra sweaters if you want on.” She points to a coat rack and picks up a red cardigan, slipping it on with ease. I try to be the manly one and refuse it. It will bite me in the ass later as I've already got arms covered in goosebumps. She flicks on the lights and I see what looks like a throw up of vases, flowers, and all things floral. “So this is it. This is where the magic happens.” She touches some flowers as she walks past. You can see her passion and love for them.

“It's.” I stall my words and look around. “Unorganized.” I laugh at my word choice, hoping she doesn't get offended.

“Yeah, you could say that. I try like once a week to clean it up but sometimes I get in the zone I guess you could say and everything just looks like a tornado. I'm sure that makes no sense but I just can't stop myself when I get an idea. Life is too short to be organized.” I laugh internally, tell that to Erica. I still can't believe they're married.She sits at a stool and looks up at me.

“I get it. I'm kind of like that with spray paint.” I walk around, looking at all the tools and containers full of ribbon, cards, lace, other things I've seen before but don't know their proper names. Some of it is organized.

“It's nice to get lost sometimes.” I turn back to her and see her pulling her sleeves over her hands.

“How much do you work?” I ask her, curious to learn everything about her. I pull the stool across from her, a huge table like structure between us. I don't want to creep her out, things between us have been fairly natural and I don't want to make her uncomfortable.

“Um, it depends. If I have a wedding or a funeral, sometimes just busy days, I can work anywhere between fifty to eighty hours a week.” She taps at the pen on her book.

“Eighty hours a week?” I'm flabbergasted. That's insane. “Nora that's insane, early grave insane.” I scold her like I've known her for years.

“It's exhausting. I've tried to cut back. I have an older woman come in Fridays at noon and she works on Saturdays so I can get things done and actually have a weekend. I just can't do it all.” She admits and I'm actually happy to hear her say it. “You guys used to work all the time.” She points out, I've been waiting for something like that to come out.

“That's different. And when we were on tour the biggest thing we fought besides the sometimes crazy fans was the jet lag. Adjusting to different times does a beating on your body.” I twist a ribbon around my finger and take it off, twisting it around again, suddenly nervous that maybe she noticed me following her. “So you know about me?” I ask.

She laughs, practically snorts. “Oh come on Zayn.” She pats her knee and looks at me. “You couldn't have thought I didn't know. I'm a year younger then you, my whole high school was in love with you. I couldn't walk down the hall without seeing your picture in someone's locker. It's kind of surreal that you're here. I know so many girls that would kill to be in my spot.” She leans both of her elbows on the table and looks at me. I'm not even phased by her admission.

“So we're you a big fan?” I ask.

“I mean, I liked your songs. I never went to a concert though, I wasn't about to travel to New Jersey and I usually spent my nights here, helping Nonna and Nonno.” This really has been her life. It's charming to know that she's done so much for this family business.

The door chimes and we both jump, lost in the moment we've created. “Gotta go!” She smiles and walks quickly up the steps, I follow behind her.

“Nora.” I call after her as she turns around, “Can I bring you lunch tomorrow?” She smiles sweetly and continues up the steps.

Notes

Hello Hello!!

I'm starting to really enjoy these two, I hope you are too! How did everyone like their "lunch date?" As you can see Zayn is finding it difficult to start anything again after being in a relationship for so long but he's trying. :) Hope you all like it!

Thank you for all the comments, I love reading them!

Have a fantastic day!!

xoxox