Mia
Mia texted Izzy the moment she walked in the door of the apartment. Her phone rang about five seconds later.
"So? I've been dying over here! I want all the deets. Is the pop star as gorgeous in person as he is in his picture?"
"Oh, god, Izzy," Mia sighed, throwing herself onto the couch. "You have no idea. It was everything I could do to keep my hands off of him."
"Well, why did you then? What are you waiting for?"
Mia laughed. "Because I'm not you. I don't hop into bed with people I just met."
"Oh. Right. Well, that's your loss, isn't it?"
"In this case, I would have to agree with you," Mia admitted. "Definitely my loss."
"Start at the beginning and tell me everything."
"First impression? He's very, very tall."
Izzy snorted. "Everyone's tall compared to you, short stuff."
"Thanks for that. But even compared to normal people, he's tall. Over six feet."
"Tall is nice."
"Yeah. Very nice. He's got gorgeous eyes, and such a cute smile. He even smells good - except he smokes."
"Yuck."
"Definitely yuck. Other than that, he's sweet. And talented. He's kinda perfect."
"Oh, boy. My girl has it bad. And he didn't try to put the moves on you?"
"He did." Mia blushed just thinking about it. "But I stopped him."
"Oh, sure. Because god knows you wouldn't want to be kissed by a perfect guy?"
"Maybe he's too perfect. He's so open about what he wants."
"Namely, you? That just means he has good taste."
"It just seems too good to be true. He's either being honest, or he's a super player. Either way, it's kind of scary."
There was a brief silence as Izzy considered what Mia had said. "Look, I can't guarantee that this guy isn't full of shit. God knows that most of them are."
"Right?"
"But I just want you to understand that it's possible that he fell in love with you as soon as he met you, because you fuckin' rock, and any dude who's not a total numbskull would know that. You are beautiful, and badass, and such a genuinely good person that it makes me want to vomit sometimes."
"Gee, thanks."
"At the risk of sounding like a ridiculous motivational poster - 'Mia, you are worthy of love.' And I'm not just saying that because you're my best friend in the world."
"Thanks. I love you, too."
Izzy sniffed. "Okay, enough mushy shit. Now give me more info, because my love life is drier than the Sahara, and I need to live vicariously through you."
The friends chatted for a while longer until Mia got a text. Glancing at the screen, she said, "Oh! Zayn just texted me."
"What? Didn't you just leave his house?"
"Yeah."
"That poor boy's a goner. No playa is texting a girl this soon."
"Really?"
Izzy laughed. "Go. Be pathetic together. Text me later."
"K."
They hung up, and Mia read Zayn's message.
Z: Is this too much, me texting you so soon?
M: That's okay. I actually think it's kind of cute.
Z: Oh, so you take pity on the pathetic? Good thing for me, I guess.
Z: I've lived here alone for months, but the house seemed so empty tonight once you left.
Z: How is that possible?
M: Zayn…
Z: So, tell me…what was it like seeing me in person today?
Z: Did I live up to your expectations?
Z: Because you were nothing like I expected.
Z: But the reality was so much better.
M: Oh yeah?
Z: You're so tiny and adorable. But the tattoos and piercings make you seem a little dangerous.
M: LOL. I don't think dangerous is a word most people would use to describe me.
Z: I think my heart would disagree.
Z: You have more tattoos I haven't seen yet?
M: Unless you have x-ray vision? Yep.
Z: God, I wish. Something to look forward to, then.
M: Aren't we confident?
Z: More like hopeful?
Z: You have beautiful eyes. When you look at me I just…melt.
Z: Is this too much?
M: Yes, please…stop complimenting me.
Z: Ha! I could go on and on, but…tell me something you liked about me?
M: So shameless.
Z: I need to repair my ego after a certain sexy lady shot me down earlier today.
M: You already know how attractive you are.
M: You don't need me to tell you that.
M: But I think the thing I like best about you is how brave you are.
Z: Brave?
Z: How am I brave?
M: You know what you want, and you just go for it. Whether it's your career, or that house…
M: Or me…
Z: For all the good it did me…
M: Maybe it doesn't always work out the way you hope, but at least you always know that you tried.
M: I think that's fucking awesome.
Z: I…thank you. No one's ever said anything like that to me before.
M: You're welcome.
Z: But I don't really think of it as being brave.
Z: How else do you get what you want if you don't pursue it?
M: But that's just it. A lot of people are too afraid of failure to even try.
Mia didn't want to state the obvious - that she knew firsthand how crippling a fear of failure could be.
Z: If that's true, then that's really sad.
Z: But I think you're brave, too, Mia. You joined the RFA on a whim.
Z: You went to a stranger's house today and wrote a song!
Mia's fingers hesitated over the keyboard.
M: I think maybe being around you makes me want to be brave.
Z: I…I don't know what to say. That makes me feel so good that you feel that way.
Z: I really wish I could see you right now.
M: Yeah. Me too.
The text fell silent, both of them lost in their own thoughts and a bit overwhelmed by all that they had revealed. Finally, Zayn said:
Z: I'll let you go. Get some sleep, okay?
M: Yeah, you too.
Z: I'll text you tomorrow. Sweet dreams! Xoxo