Malik's Girl Yet To Be Named
There it is again. His name in big bold letters on another article of the same gossip blog, although many others have already followed suit. I groan loudly and pout. This is worse than the first time.
Zayn's little lady still has no name, but we now have a face to show.
The words are written below a blown up picture of me and Zayn walking to his car, his hand firmly wrapped around mine.
"I hate you for doing this to me." I say to his face on my screen.
I was shell-shocked when he grabbed my hand then. By doing so, he was starting up the rumour mill. When I asked him about it in the car, he shrugged and said, "They want something to talk about. Let's give them something."
I didn't say anything then, but the more I thought about it, the more I was sure that I did not want to take part in this side of his life.
"Oh, you two look cute together!" I jump in my seat at the shrill sound of my mother's voice. I hurriedly switch to a different screen, but she prods me to switch it back.
"Why is your picture on the internet?" She asks when I show her the page. She skims the article for a bit then asks if we really are going out. When I tell her we aren't, she points to our clasped hands.
"The camera people were bothering me." I simply say and shrug.
She studies our picture more while I sit beside her studying her face. A smile creeps up her face every few seconds, but they are small movements that I think I imagine them.
"Okay. That's enough." I turn off my monitor and face my mum. "I'll make him do something about this. I promise."
"Well, alright." She starts to get up. "I just think you look good together. The picture proves that." She gives me a small smile and leaves my room.
I turn my screen on again and look at the picture closely. Zayn is a few inches taller than me and he looks strong next to my slightly slumped structure. His hands are wrapped, not only tightly, but reassuringly, around mine. Looking back now, it was comforting knowing that he was so sure of what he was doing.
The week was a quick blur of the rowdy and harsh world of celebrities. The day after the article was up online, someone sent in my name anonymously. The next few days, One Direction fans, especially Zayn's, were keen on letting their thoughts be known. Girls of all ages were either for or against me.
I've heard about celebrity girlfriends getting death threats. Now, I am not in that level, but I'm scared everything is leaning into that already. What's ridiculous is that we aren't even really together.
After about two weeks of the whole thing picking up speed, the One Direction management call us in for a meeting. It's their way of controlling the fire that the press keep fueling. Zayn being in the meeting with me helps a little bit.
Kristin drives me to their office right after our last period. She's an avid fan of this debacle and supports anything and everything related to it. She doesn't even really care whether we screw it over or come out alive.
One thing's for sure though. She cares about me, and when I need saving, she's just around. That's basically why she is driving me to the meeting.
"Good luck." She wiggles her eyebrows when she sees Zayn stepping out of the building. He gives her a nod and waits for me near the door.
"Are they inside already?" I sigh heavily and give him a small smile.
"Yep. Ready to give you a good beating." He lets out a hearty laugh at my horrified expression. He links his arm with mine and pulls me inside the building saying, "Relax. They will be helpful about this."
The meeting is surprisingly helpful. Despite the very serious setting, the people are very laid back. They give Zayn a proper scolding for not being careful, but they don't do it in a scary way. Then they move on and pep talk us about what could possibly happen and how we should handle everything.
"Are you really dating?" The manager surprisingly turns to me. When I realize this, I sit back a little, before turning to Zayn.
"No." He turns to me with a shrug.
"Then why go through all this? You're not thinking straight, Zayn. And you're dragging Coleen into this." His manager says.
"I know." He looks thoughtful for a second, but his face immediately turns determined. "It's going to be hard to explain to the press, but what if we could pretend this happens for a while, then we could have a clean, mutual break-up and then we're back to normal." He looks around, like he just said the brightest idea. "Come on, Cole is an ideal girl for this. She wouldn't disappoint."
I turn red at his comment and bow my head. I am so sure they will kick his ass for this. He sounds ridiculous.
"Are you up for this, Coleen?" My head snaps up and my eyes connect with his manager's straightaway. My mouth opens and closes for what I feel like full minute.
They give me a brief summary of the pros and cons of going through with the said "relationship", and by the sound of it, the pros are far more beneficial. We both get to keep our reputations, their team will be able to back me up, and it will be easier for them to monitor my safety.
"Well?" Zayn pokes my arm.
I find myself nodding slowly, but then I turn to his manager and give her my verbal consent. They all shake my hand and tell me they will be in touch soon.
Zayn walks me out of the building. He's quiet, but when we are out, he turns to me with a childish grin. "You're my girlfriend now." He hugs me tightly and I just stand there like a stone.
"Oh God." I mutter.
Continued.
Note: A little hesitant about this part, but there it is anyway. :) Drop a REVIEW. xx