CHAPTER 4 – SLEEPING BEAUTY

Georgia's P.O.V

I stood on the sidewalk, my arms wrapped around me and biting my lip. This morning I had woken up having completely forgotten about my 'date' with Zayn until he texted me.

I'll pick you up at 10, be waiting outside – xx

I had been slightly confused, seeing as I didn't recall once blurting out my address to him. But he had assured me he knew, just saying that he had 'connections'. I felt a little bit exposed knowing that he probably had someone investigate me. What if they found out something about my life in Australia?

I rose up on my toes and slid back down again slowly. I was nervous and excited, and that made time seem to go super slow. Plus, it was really cold and despite the year that I had lived in London, I was still unused to the extremely cold winters. I had on dark blue skinny jeans, suede boots, a chunky cream knit top, plus a beanie, scarf, and a pair of gloves and I was still freezing. I hoped that Zayn had powerful heating in his car.

Hearing the sound of a car engine coming around the corner, I stepped back of the curb and chose to stand a little bit away from it, checking my phone. There was no need to look too excited. The car rounded the corner and slowed to a stop in front of me. I glanced up and saw the gorgeous face of Zayn looking at me through a wound-down window.

"Good morning Georgia" he said lightly, giving me an easy smile. I blushed and half ran to the car, my eagerness to get warm overstepping my obligation for politeness. Only when I was settled in the car with multiple heating vents tilted to my direction did I turn and look at Zayn. He was biting his lip, trying valiantly to contain his amusement at my display.

"Good morning Zayn." I said, my voice a little shaky from the cold. I seriously needed to get warmer clothes, or a thicker skin. He just shook his head, covering his mouth trying not to laugh at me.

"I'm cold, ok!" I said indignantly, swatting him with the gloves that I had just taken off. Apparently that was just the icing on the cake, for he then proceeded to give up on containing his laughter and just laugh at me for nearly 3 minutes straight. I didn't even care, I was busy warming myself on the vents.

"Sorry… sorry!" he exclaimed, still gasping from laughing so much. I just turned and glared at him, a little amused by his reaction.

"It's just… I've never seen someone… do that… before! Ha!" and he was off laughing again.

"Just drive" I retorted dryly, folding my arms as he drove away from the curb, still chuckling. When we reached a red light, he turned to me, a smile still playing around his lips.

"So I take it you don't like the cold too much." he stated, looking at me with his chocolate eyes. Still facing the front, I shook my head and rubbed my arms, still feeling a bit chilly.

"I lived in Australia until about a year ago, and our winters were definitely not this cold." I said. I didn't see the harm in telling him I was Australian – he had probably already found out through his investigating.

"I see. Wait… how old are you? If you moved here a year ago…" he trailed off, a confused frown on his face.

"I'm 19, so I left when I was just 18. I would have thought you knew that, investigating me and all" I said slyly, looking sideways at him with a smile on my face. His cheeks reddened, and he looked ahead again, driving away as the light turned green.

"Yes… well… didn't want to pry too much, did I?" he said, embarrassment clear in his voice. I just chuckled, shaking my head. I could sense that he was still worried that I had been offended, so I laid a hand on his arm.

"It's fine, really. I don't mind. Just so long as you don't do it again." I said sternly, but still smiling. Inside I let out a humongous sigh – he hadn't look to far back, which means he knew nothing of my family or my past in Australia. I saw a smile spread across his face, so I withdrew my arm and curled up in my seat, leaning my head on the window. I was content to just sit there and warm up for the rest of the drive. He stayed silent, concentrating on getting us to the destination. Suddenly the car stopped, and looking out I saw a beautiful park with a pond right in the centre. I looked towards Zayn, but he had already gotten out of the car, rummaging in the back seat for something hidden under a dark blanket.

"What are we doing?" I asked, a little worried. I saw no buildings, and certainly no heating whatsoever.

"We," he said, coming over to open my door and stick out his hand, "are going on a picnic!" He announced grandly, revealing a packed picnic basket and a blanket in his other arm. Laughing slightly at my devastated expression, he pulled me out of the car and we walked down to the pond. I had started shivering already, so he put his arm around me to keep me warm. I leaned in gratefully, and together we found a spot under a tree and set up our picnic.

Zayn's P.O.V

I watched her as she finished eating her sandwich, looking out over the pond and shivering slightly. It amused me how much she felt the cold. Her nose had turned slightly pink at the end, and she looked so adorable all rugged up in the blanket I went and got from the car.

"You look cold" I said, regarding her with a slightly tilted head. She looked at me and shook her head.

"No shit, Sherlock" she chattered at me, showing me her blue fingertips. It hadn't even snowed yet in London, yet she was shivering like she was lying naked in a bed of frost.

"Come here, you goose" I said, beckoning her to come over. She wormed her way over on her knees, trying not to upset any of the food laid out on the blanket. When she reached me she collapsed heavily next to me, and snuggled up on my side. I wrapped my arm around her shivering frame and stroked her hair.

We sat like that for a long time, so long that she fell asleep. She breathed in deeply, her breath coming out in shudders. Deciding that it was time she got into some warmth, I picked her up bridal style, carrying her towards the car. I laid her down on the passenger seat and went and got the picnic things, stowing them away in the backseat. Climbing back into the driver's seat, I turned on the heating to full blast and laid my jacket over her like a blanket. I then pulled out and drove back to her flat. It was a long drive, and she stayed asleep the whole time. I guessed that she hadn't slept well the night before – she was probably too cold.

When I reached her place, I leaned over and gently shook her shoulder. She slowly woke up, looking at me with sleepy eyes.

"Did I fall asleep?" She asked, mumbling into her scarf. I chuckled; she looked even more adorable in her sleepy state.

"Yes. Would you like me to carry you to your flat?" I asked her softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yes please" she whispered, smiling self-consciously, her eyes drooping closed. I bit my lip and shook my head, walking round to her side of the car. Opening the door, I leant in and picked her up, kicking the door closed with my foot. I walked up to the front desk, smiling at the lady who was at the counter giving us a disapproving look, past her and up the stairs to number 14. I did have a little snoop around in her past, but not much. Just the past couple of months, so I knew her address.

The door was locked, so I whispered in her ear, "Where are your keys?" She mumbled indistinctly and pulled them out of her pocket, handing them to me with a grumpy expression on her face.

"Sorry, sleeping beauty" I chuckled softly and unlocked the door, finding my way to her bedroom and placing her gently on the bed. She smiled faintly in her sleep, and rolled over hugging a pillow to her chest. I pulled the blankets up around her, removing her scarf, beanie, gloves and shoes. I scribbled a note to her and quietly left the flat.

When I got home, Louis was waiting for me with a smug expression on his face.

"What?" I asked innocently, walking to the kitchen and dumping my keys on the bench.

"What took you so long, hmm?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows like a lunatic. Sighing, I rooted around in the fridge looking for some food.

"If you must know, we went for a picnic at that park Niall told us about, she fell asleep so I drove her home. It was a long driver from her place." I said, closing the fridge and turning to look at him defiantly.

"Sure, sure… she was asleep." He said, winking and walking out the door