CHAPTER 3 – SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW

Georgia's P.O.V

I was at work again, and typical me, hiding behind the shelf of coffee beans that we don't actually use, staring out between the little gaps made by the jars. He was there again, and I knew that it was because of me. Why couldn't he leave me alone? Sure, my heart melts every time I see his perfect hair and I die a little inside, of happiness, when I see those dark chocolate eyes, but really this is just ruining all my plans. How can I move on and forget my past when my past's band mate keeps showing up at my work waiting for me? Seriously, fate was making my life as difficult as it could, and I was not amused.

He was looking around the place, a little frown between his eyes beginning to appear as he scrunched up his eyebrows. He was just so perfect. And so dangerous too, he just didn't know it. I could see him tapping his foot against the table and, calling over Nancy, ask her something. She smiled and cocked her head to the side, listening as he explained elaborately. She nodded, and indicated she'd be right back. I watched her leave and make her way to the counter, looking around. I turned my attention back to Zayn, who was waiting expectantly and biting his lip in an oh-so-delicious way. I drew in a quick breath. It was unfair, how gorgeous he was.

"Whatcha doing?" a voice whispered behind me. I jumped and hit my head on the shelf, causing a few jars to rock precariously.

"Ouch! What's the idea, Nance?" I said, annoyed she had caught me spying and alarmed by the fact that I was what Nancy had been looking for.

"That really fit looking guy over there wanted to see you, and look who I find you spying on! I didn't think you were the stalker type, but what do I know, I just work here. Go on, he seemed pretty keen!" she said excitedly. I groaned, and she gave me a puzzled look.

"I don't see why you're complaining, I just did you the biggest favour ever. If I wasn't such a kind person I would have just said you weren't here and kept him all to myself!" she stated, fixing me with a searching gaze.

"I wish you did" I muttered under my breath, extracting myself from the tight corner and walking over to his table. As I walked I considered my options. I could just walk past and send him the message that I didn't want to see him. But that would be a total lie, because he was literally taking over my life with his gorgeous eyes and perfect face. But I couldn't exactly go up to him and be all chummy-chummy, because he will most certainly tell Niall, and any number of little details could give my game away and he would know I'm here. Biting my lip at my dilemma, I realised all too late that I had reached his table, and now would have to make the quickest decision in human history.

"Hello" he said, his accent making the word sound cute, not just like a standard greeting. Feeling a little speechless, I cleared my throat.

"Hi. You wanted to see me?" I said. I was going down the path of not recognizing him, and thinking that he just wanted to order something.

"Well yeah." He said, slightly turning his head and looking at me with an amused expression. I had the feeling that he was on to my little game plan, but I decided to stick to it anyway. Drawing out my pad, I looked at him expectantly. Chuckling to himself, he glanced at the menu and just ordered a coffee. As I took the menu from him, my hand brushed his lightly. I felt like I had been given an electric shock. He must have felt it too, but did his best to school his surprised expression. I did too, and walked off with the menu, his order, and a tingly hand.

Zayn's P.O.V

I watched her walk away from the table, her ponytail swinging as she walked. I decided that I liked the way her hair curled at the ends, but the rest was nearly straight. Disappearing behind the counter, I leaned back in my chair and waited for her to come back. I was getting some strange glances, and I thought I was better if I left sooner rather than later. The guys didn't know that I had come here every day for nearly a week waiting for her. They would just tell me what I already knew – I was being a crazy lunatic over someone that I had looked at for a grand total of 3 seconds. But here I was, day 7, waiting at the same table for the same girl to show up. Most days it wasn't her shift, and a few times I was told she was in but they couldn't find her. I knew she was avoiding me, but why she was I wasn't so sure. I chuckled as I thought about her trying to pretend she didn't recognize me. She was an open book – I read straight off her face that she knew who I was, but didn't want to show it. Something strange was going on, and for some reason I wanted to find out.

To my disappointment, the other waitress came out with my coffee, which I sculled quickly because I was getting too many looks from passers-by. The same waitress came and delivered the bill, so instead of signing it, I wrote my phone number down and paid, stressing to the waitress to give it to her. I realised that I didn't even know her name, but she most likely knew mine. Why was I being such an insane idiot for a girl whose name I didn't even know?

Georgia's P.O.V

Nancy handed me my tips for the day, and a bill as well.

"Nance, you gave me a bill. Here you go, it's probably for Mike." I said, handing it back to her and counting out my earnings for the day.

"No silly, it's for you." She pressed it back into my hand and winked at me, walking out the door to her car. Confused, I looked at the bill she had given me. Where there was meant to be a signature, a phone number was written down with two x's next to it. I knew who's it was instantly and nearly groaned aloud at my bad luck. Why did the most gorgeous boy in all of England have to like me? More importantly, why did he have to be in One Direction?

But as much as I wanted to chuck it out and run far, far, away, hoping he and the other guys would forget about the Starbucks and move on with their celebrity lives, I wanted to keep it, too. There was something special about him that I had never found anywhere else, and I desperately wanted to hold onto it. So against all my bodily instincts just to throw it away and be done with it, I kept it. I tucked it away in my purse along with my tips, and just walked out towards the bus stop like it was any other day.

When I got home, I ran to my bed and flopped down on it. I could feel tears beginning to come, and tried to hold them back unsuccessfully. Even though I had left my old life behind, never wanting to have anything to do with it again, Niall was the exception. He was the little ray of sun-shine in my life, but if I was to get rid of all the bad I had to get rid of the good too, and make a fresh start. The majority of me kept Zayn's number because for some strange reason I wanted, needed, to see him again. But there was a part of me that wanted to see Niall too. To know that he was ok, and that I hadn't completely ruined everything by running away.

Suddenly, I had the uncontrollable need to hear Zayn talking to me. Something about his voice just made me feel calm and warm, like I was home somehow. I quickly dialled in his number on my phone and waited patiently as it rung.

"Hello?" a low, accented voice said. I nearly sighed out loud.

"Um, hi. Its Georgia. Wait, you don't know my name. Uh… well, I'm the girl from the Starbucks, yeah?" I said, suddenly awkward and unsure if the number really was meant for me, and maybe Nancy had just been playing a trick on me. Compared with his perfect British accent, my Australian one sounded too bogan and loud. I cringed at the sound.

"So your name's Georgia, huh? Pretty." He said, chuckling at my timidness.

"Well, yeah. My friend said you left this number for me, and I just wanted to call, so…" I trailed off, not knowing how to explain that I wanted a complete stranger to talk to me so I could feel safe and normal.

"So I did. Really, it was my sneaky way of asking you if you wanted to see me again. I kind of got the vibe that you were avoiding me, so I took a chance with the number. I'm guessing because you called that you want to, right?" he said. I could have melted right then and there. I realised I had been holding my breath the whole time, so I exhaled quickly and tried to gather my muddled thoughts enough to form coherent sentences.

"Yes. Yes of course I want to see you. It's just… well…" I couldn't find a way of telling him that no one else could know that we were seeing each other without seeming like a bit of freak.

"Yes? Trust me, it's not like it would be high profile. If the paps get one whiff that I'm seeing someone they'd be on you like a pack of dogs." He stated, and it instantly made me feel better. He didn't want it to become public knowledge, either.

"I just can't have anyone knowing about it, you know? It would be… well disastrous to say the least." I said, and immediately regretted it. Without my knowledge my mouth had just spitted possibly incriminating words. Why why why! I'm such an idiot! Now I'll have to explain without explaining… ah I hate my brain!

"Of course. Wait… you mean no one? So I wouldn't even be able to tell the guys?" he asked, obviously more than a little confused.

"Well… maybe just not our first meeting, you know? I'll explain when I see you" I could have bitten back the words as soon as I said them. Why was my mouth so willing to bury me in a pile of my own stupidity?

"Sure thing. I'll text you the address. Is Monday ok for you?" he asked, clearly pleased. It made me smile to hear the light-hearted tone of his voice. I must be completely insane, to be so happy because of the voice of a near stranger.

"Monday's perfect. I'll see you soon, then." I said, barely able to contain my excitement.

"Bye, Georgia" he said, and hung up.

"Bye, Zayn" I whispered into the silent phone. Hugging my phone to my chest, I flopped back down on the bed. Allowing myself to finally feel the joy that had spread through me since I first heard his voice at work, I laughed out loud. I was determined not to think of the possible disastrous consequences of meeting Zayn – I only wanted to focus on the absolutely giddy excitement I was feeling. It was Sunday afternoon, so that meant I had mere hours to have at least one meltdown, and to decide what to wear. I highly doubted my sleep would be sound tonight.