Mona Lisa | Fondness

"Hey Nurah," Zayn was smiling widely with his hands behind his back. Heart thumping out of his chest as he stood in front of the woman who's skin was just glowing so elegantly. It was crazy for him to think that he was actually nervous, but trust this he was.

"Hey Zayn," Nurah gave him a smile before she closed and locked her apartment door. Turning around, she cleared her throat and smiled again. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah but um..I got you a little something," Zayn told her, a shy smile making a way into his face as he looked down at his feet.

"Really? You didn't have to Zayn," She spoke getting all gushy while she bit her bottom lip.

"It's an apology gift for acting like an asshole to you," Zayn pulled out a short cut red rose and placed it in her bun. "See? You look even prettier now."

"Thank you," Nurah was blushing mad hard right now, and kept her composure when he locked her arm with his as they walked down the streets of Florence.

The museum was actually walking distance which was really nice. Zayn had showed her some cool places on the way there. Her eyes were just everywhere and she couldn't keep track on how many pretty things she had seen. Everything here was so pleasing to the eye, very aesthetic she must say. Zayn had explained that he loved living here and that he didn't regret moving to Italy either. He wanted her to see the beauty in simple things like the architecture of buildings to the exotic patterns of the clothing that people wore. And Nurah was almost in love with it.

Once they walked into the museum Zayn had stopped talking for a moment and fell into a strong trance. Surrounded with beautiful art and high ceilings above his head. Even though he has came here about a thousand times by himself it always had him in aw.

Nurah noticed how his pretty eyes would gaze at the different types of paintings that were on the wall. With their arms still looped together she took note of how his body relaxed. They haven't spoken a word since they walked in. But the silence was cut short when Zayn spoke up.

"No one really supported me when I said that I wanted to become a professional artist," he had said, looking at the painting in front of him and not at her. "They pretty much like..laughed at my face. Saying that it wasn't an actual career and such things. I became really insecure about it even though it was my passion and I loved art."

"Maybe those people don't understand the values of art the way you do," Nurah pointed out looking at the same painting he was.

"Those people were actually my family and close friends," Zayn chuckled bitterly, walking them to the next painting.

"I'm sorry," she quietly says.

"Nah, don't be," he assured shrugging.

"Are you still in touch with them?" Nurah cautiously asked, not wanting to cross the line..but she was just curious.

"Yeah, my family came to an understanding that I was in love with art and that it meant more than pretty colors to me. They got the message when I actually moved to Italy without them knowing. As for my friends..they kinda just forgot about me and moved on with their lives. And I don't really mind because I have moved on too," Zayn had briefly explained.

"If it makes you feel any better I won't forget you," Nurah looked at him and gave him a pretty smile to at least lighten up the mood.

"Thanks," he chuckled swiping underneath her chin, proceeding to walk down the hall.

"Well at least you have the guts to follow your dreams. Me on the other hand is too scared to put myself out there," she had confessed.

Zayn looked at her with a soft frown, "Why is that?"

"I don't know if I'm gonna be supported," she simply shrugged, telling him one of her many insecurities that she had. "Like, what if they don't like me or my music?"

"Have you heard of 6ix9ine?" Zayn questioned raising a brow at her.

Nurah laughed softly, nodding, "Yes, I have, and he's like really coming up."

"Well, you never know what that guy was thinking—which I highly doubt he was—when he put his songs out. Maybe he didn't know how much recognition in he was gonna get. But look at him now," Zayn pointed out trying to give her a funny reference so she wouldn't feel as shy to hold back on her passion. Even though he didn't know her that well he wanted to see her prosper in every way.

"Okay, I get you," Nurah told him with a loopy smile on her face.

"And if it makes you any feel better I would be more than happy to be your first fan," Zayn smiled.

"Thanks, it's means a lot," Nurah hums resting her cheek on his arm before they turned a corner.

The art museum was just great. Nurah hadn't been surrounded in so much art in her life. Seeing how Zayn went on about the aspects of each painting was absolutely cute. Nurah had herself.

"Have you ever tried Italian ice?" Zayn asked with their arms still looped together—you couldn't blame him. It felt nice walking close to her with her arm around his and plus..she smelt like fresh fruits.

"Italian ice?" She questioned, curious to know what the hell that was.

"It's like a snow cone..but Italian made," he paid for the frozen ice by the stand, saying thank you in Italian before he handed her the frozen dessert. "Here try it."

She took the cup and looked at him with squinted eyes, ready to give him a warning if he kills her, "I swear if you poison me I'll—," and next thing you know a spoonful of Italian ice was in her mouth which had shut her up.

"It's good, huh?" Zayn asked with a teasing smile.

She nodded, allowing the ice to melt on her tongue. Damn that was good, she thought to herself.

"Mmh, and you think I was going to poison you. Wow, how rude," Zayn scoffed walking away.

"Oh Zayn, you are something else," Nurah smiles nudging his side playfully.

They had walked down the streets of Florence to return back from the art museum. Nurah had a good time and he was very happy to know that. They had joked around and even flirted a bit while they devoured the frozen treat. As the sun was starting to go down they neared Nurah's apartment.

"You know since you said that you want to learn Italian I could maybe teach you?" Zayn offered.

"Oh word? You gonna teach me the lingo?" She asked with wiggling her eyebrows at him.

"Yeah," Zayn chuckled, then began really serious all of a sudden. "And by the way..don't ever say 'lingo' again."

"Shut up," she groans nudging him again.

"I kid, I kid," he chuckled bumping hips with her.

Nurah rolled her eyes, but ended up smiling, "But are you being forreal though?"

"Yeah, you wanna come over to my place? I can show you some of my painting and maybe you can sing to me," he suggested with a cute smile on his face.

So irresistible, she thought to herself, smiling even harder, "You're real cute, ya know that?"

Zayn blushed, fiddling with his fingers in a shy manner.

"I would like that. You know..artist to artist. Ya dig it?" She says making a goofy face at the end.

"Yeah I 'dig it' you cornball," Zayn laughs, he really couldn't get enough of her already.

When they finally approached the steps of her apartment it suddenly got quiet and kinda sad. They secretly wished that they could spend more time together. But they had to hold it back and just wait till next time.

"I had a great time with you Zayn," Nurah tells him with a sweet smile. "Thank you for taking me out, it means a lot, really."

"It's nothing, like really," Zayn shrugged rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

With a leap of faith Nurah cupped his jaw and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek. He blushed intensely and bit his bottom lip to hold back a smile that was ready to break. She had told him to have a good night and he did the same before she walked into her apartment.

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- BookOfBandz