Chapter 42: Realization Hits Hard(Mia)

Its been three days since Zayn came back and left and you have got to pull yourself together Mia,"Liv says gently. I've been pretty moody and crying and feeling very guilty indeed.(Damn my hormones to the deepest pits of hell). And I look a mess. My hair's sticking out in places and looks like I got myself electrocuted or something, my face is oily and shiny and my eyes are bloodshot from crying, my skins all chappy and my head hurts.

I don't want to,"I answer back emotionlessly.

Well why not?"Liv demands impatiently. She gets very impatient very fast.

Just leave me alone will you?"I say, turning over so I don't have to look at her.

Amelia Vance you do not turn your back on me,"Liv says, grabbing me by my shoulders and pulling me back to face her. Just then my iPhone rang and Liv glances at it.

Who is it then?"I ask hopefully. Maybe it was Zayn. I didn't want to call him because my ego prevented me from it. Ego. Try and beat me as the worst friend of the year.

Its Leo,"Liv says.

Tell him I'm dead,"I answer back dully.

You tell him you're dead then,"Liv says, thrusting my phone onto my hand.

No I don't want to talk to anyone right now,"I say tiredly.

I don't care,"Liv says with a smirk. Its your life, your boyfriend, your iPhone,"

Oh alright,"I say, getting up and press the 'accept button'.

Hello?"I say slowly in to the phone.

Mia are you alright?"Leo says urgently in to the phone. Liv told me your back,"

I shoot Liv a very dirty look and make a rude hand gesture.

Er yes I'm home, I er, needed a break,"I lie, gritting my teeth.

Oh well when did you get home then?"Leo asks. Wanted to come to New York to see you but since you're here I'll see you then,"

I got home on a couple of days ago,"I say with a yawn.

Well shall we meet today then,"Leo says. I have a little surprise for you actually,"

You do?"I ask blinking. Well you shouldn't have then,"

Hey a little something for my girlfriend and I'm sure you'd like it very much,"

Well alright then,"I say. Where do you want to meet?"

At Restaurant Gordon Ramsay,"He says and my eyes nearly pop out. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay was one of the most expensive and most popular retaurants down Chelsea, London and you'd be made not to splurge at least £200 there. They had the most fanciest and most poshest of dishes.

Good Lord how did you even make reservations for that place,"I ask. Its always booked solid,"

I have my ways,"Leo says shortly. I'll see you tonight then?"

Er yeah,"I say shortly. What time?"

I booked a table for 7.30 so meet you there at around that time then?"he asks.

Sure sure,"I say and say goodbye and cut the line.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay?"Liv says slightly stunned. We have to get you all dressed then,"

I know,"I say groaning. Leave a girl be when she has her period cause I am most certainly not in the mood to skip around in skimpy dresses and dominatrix heels,"

Well just look nice,"Liv says. Make an effort for the dude, he's making some serious effort for you,"

So then Liv insisted we get facials and I get my hair done and everything. It was nearly three by the time we left the house so when I had my hair and my nails done and my face looking very much healthier than before, it was almost 6. So then we went home and I got dressed into this .com/cgi/set?id=49401657 and then I did my face up. And then when I looked at myself, I felt like crying. I didn't want to go and meet Leo and as unfair as I sounded I didn't want to go anywhere. All I did want to do was apologize to Zayn for being a complete douche, for ignoring and not talking to him like this.

Hey you okay?"Liv says, from the door.

I nod as convincingly as I could.

You sure?"she says. You don't have to go if you don't want to,"

No he's made such an effort I ought to go,"I say.

Hey its going to be okay,"Liv says. Everything's going to be alright I promise,"

I hugged and then cried a little(Once again credit goes to my hormones for making me cry) and then Liv redid my make up. She insisted I take her Porsche and then I hugged her and she kissed my cheek.

Have a good evening Mia,"Liv says. I was already running a little late, it was already 7.30 so I stepped on the accelerator and drove straight to Chelsea. When I reached the restaurant, it was already 7.40, so I hurriedly parked the glossy Porsche and then hurried in.

Leo?"I say into my iPhone. I'm here are you?"

Yeah, I'm waiting for you in the front,"he says. I see him and then wave at him.

I am so sorry I'm late,"I say bracing myself for a dissapointed look from him but it never came.

No its alright,"he says with a smile. Let's go have dinner,"

I frown a little. Maybe I was expecting something that Zayn would have done. He would have lectured me for a good five minutes and then would have said hello to me. I'm not saying that Leo not lecturing me for being late is a bad thing but it doesn't feel genuine.

Stop comparing Leo with Zayn, Mia,"I tell myself, forcefully. We were seated in the middle, in the midst of the noisy chatter in the restaurant. It seemed more pack that it usually was with kids chattering about and women gossiping about and men taking swigs of their drinks. So then the waiter came to our table and then we ordered. I hardly looked at the menu, thinking hard and I can't remember what I'd even ordered. I was just doing things very absentmindedly and it wasn't very fair to Leo.

What's wrong"he asks. I shook my head.

Nothing,"I say quickly. So how are you?"

I'm good,"Leo says brightly. Business is doing very well, I got a promotion and everything and I was thinking of getting a new place,"

I nod. That's nice too know,"I say. We talk like that about business and Leo's life and then he asks me about my trip to New York but I was thankfully saved by the food that arrived. When I took a good look at dish, I realized I'd ordered some sort of steamed salmon and I literally could eat cooked fish let alone steamed. So I died trying to eat it and then in the end Leo switched courses with me. I had his salad and he had mine. Then I said I was full from the appetizer and skipped out on the main meal and watched Leo eat. Then we ordered dessert and this time, I made sure to look at what I was ordering.

I ordered a burnt caramel orange souffle and Leo had gone with Crème Brûlée. Then we have the dessert and Leo pays the bill. Then we stand up and I'm about to thank him for the lovely night out when he does the complete unthinkable.

Mia I've been meaning to ask you something,"Leo says. I know its a bit too soon for all this but I...,"he says and trails off for a minute. He pulls out a ruby red ring box and my heart beats faster.

Oh my good lord please no,"i think desperately. Please let it not be what I think it is,"

But of course it turns out to be what I'd expected. And Leo is standing up. I look down at him in alarm and anguish.

Bloody hell where the fuck was Liv when you needed her? Oh my god Leo's going down on one knee,"I think. I look around the room and people are staring at us in a most attentive manner. The restaurant is so quiet you could hear a pin fall and it would be loud enough for everyone to hear. I'm breathing heavily, sweat rolling down my forehead like crazy. For gods sakes, Its too soon for something like this.

Its not an engagement ring but a promise ring,"Leo says with a soft smile.

Its still a goddamn ring and you're technically still proposing,"I think to myself and I'm thinking hard. Think, Think Mia,"

Amelia Arianna Vance, will you do me the honour of accepting this promise ring and by making me a very happy man by moving in with me?"Leo says and I feel like fainting.

Its far too soon for even moving in with him let alone a promise ring. For God sakes, we've only been together for about a solid three months and we haven't even spent half of that time together. The entire restaurant is looking us and Leo is looking back at me expectantly.

Zayn would have never done something mad like this,"I think desperately. He knows what I think of marriage and proposals and moving in to fast in a relationship. And then it hits me. I Love Zayn. I love Zayn. Oh my God, I love him and I've been so bloody blind and idiotic.

Mia?"Leo says, breaking me out of my thoughts. I look down at him.

Leo?"I say softly. Could you stand up please?"

He stands up and then looks at me. What's wrong? Is it the place? I could do it somewhere else,"he says quickly.

No its me,"I say, closing the ring box. I can't take your lovely ring,"

Why?"he asks softly when a round of gasps fly around the room.

Because I'm not ready for all that like that too early in a relationship and I...,"I trail off but Leo already knows the answer.

Is Zayn involved in this, Mia?"he asks softly. I'm about to shake my head in denial when I realize I should give him the truth.

Yes I'm so sorry Leo but I...,"I say and trail off again, hoping he'd get it.

You love him don't you?"Leo says and I nod.

Go then,"Leo says surprisingly. Go tell him you love him then,"

I'm taken aback. I hug Leo and then kiss him on his cheek.

Thanks so much Leo, I really am sorry,"I say, feeling guilty.

Mia go get him,"Leo says impatiently but he was still smiling. I kiss him again on his cheek and then I turned around on my heels and walked out to my car. I have to go back. Tell Zayn I love him. I pull my phone out and dial Liv's number.

Liv get ready,"I say. We're going back to New York for good if you don't mind,"

Finally realized you love Zayn huh?"Liv teases.

Yeah and I have to tell him,"I say with a smile.

Lets do it then,"Liv says brightly. I smile. Wait until I tell her the drama that happened with Leo.

(Leo)

It didn't work sir?"the waiter beside me asks as I watch Mia walk away from me for that complete arsehole.

Nope the douche bag got the girl,"I say, tucking the ring box in to my pocket. I loved her, I did with all my heart but I was rash and we hardly spent time together. She knew Zayn for so long on the other hand and she spent a fortnight with him in New York.

I sighed as I looked at the picture of Mia I had in my wallet. I wanted her to be happy and that's all. Nothing's far in war and love is it?