I've got somebody else just to keep me on my toes again

I can barely stand when you're coming too close

I get caught up in your heartstrings

Way up, where all of the sky hangs.

- "Where The Sky Hangs" || Passion Pit

_______

"Sorry about this."

"For what?

"Umm, where do I begin?" Anais sighs. "From, one, making people believe that we're dating. I've definitely got to take the fall for that," she mutters, as she and Zayn trail behind Louis and Soo Joo to wherever the hell they're going. "And now, for practically dragging you out tonight to go on this date with Thing 1 and Thing 2..."

"Heard that!"

Zayn laughs, as Louis turns around and faces Soo, rolling his eyes.

"It's fine."

"But see, I feel like it's not."

"It's okay, Anais," Zayn says, offering her a small grin. "Really."

She huffs, blowing her hair from her eyes.

He's been quiet, tonight.

Too quiet.

Way too quiet for Anais, who is actually really very nervous and she actually thinks she's going to throw up in a trash can on the way to wherever the hell Louis isn't telling anyone where he's taking them.

Maybe this is a sign, she thinks. Maybe tonight will be such a disaster that it'll force her to never interact with Zayn again after Astronomy is over.

Maybe she'll just save herself the trouble and switch classes, now.

Okay, she's definitely being overdramatic, but she can't even really explain why she's so nervous. She's never felt this way around Zayn before-I mean, she had the balls to kiss him-but now, tonight seems different and she can't quite understand why.

It took nearly three hours for her to get ready.

"Look cute but casual," Soo had said, and Anais had combed through her closet for a good hour and a half freaking out over what to wear. She'd curled her hair and put on makeup and red lipstick and still, she couldn't find the right outfit. It took Soo to come in and pull out ripped black skinny jeans and a form fitting black top and ankle booties for her to actually get clothes on so they could go.

"Y'alright, love?"

She snaps her head to attention. "Huh?"

Zayn is staring at her, a small smirk on his face. "Are you alright, Anais?"

She nods. They're standing at a light and Louis and Soo are deep in conversation-Louis is laughing. Soo is smiling.

"I'm okay."

"You're sure?" He asks, and Anais is hyper aware of the way he steps towards her, bringing her even closer by placing his hand on her hip. "You're never this quiet."

She folds her arms. "What're you saying?"

He lifts a brow. "You're never quiet," he say smartly, laughing as she rolls her eyes. "In fact, I can count on you to always have something entertaining to say."

Anais sighs. "Tonight must not be my night."

Now, Zayn frowns. "What do you mean-?"

"Nothing," Anais replies quickly. "Just kidding..."

She's not kidding.

And Zayn isn't an idiot, nor did he meet her yesterday, so he knows she's not kidding. Sure, they kind of got forced into a date, but in ways, he was quite happy about that. First of all, it takes the pressure of asking her out off of him, and secondly, a real date with Anais was kind of, sort of, possibly something he'd been thinking about a lot, lately.

The only problem was Anais.

He had no idea where she stood after she'd kissed him in front of Perrie, and he had no idea if she had done it solely to help him out of a ridiculous situation, or because she might have, sort of, possibly liked him, too.

And before, as he readied for this double date, he was excited. He'd wanted this, and here it was. He'd wanted it too much, possibly, because he didn't want to say the wrong things and had been, quite possibly, too quiet and now for some reason Anais seems unhappy and so now he's second-guessing her feelings for him and that is pretty much not the way he's trying to have this date go.

Now a few blocks later, they arrive at the necessary destination, and as he leads everyone inside, Louis interrupts everyone's thoughts and says, "Here we are," before he adds a flourish that makes Soo laugh and Anais shake her head.

"Really?" Anais snorts. "You did all this for Lucky Strikes?"

"And you're going to appreciate it, too," Louis replies as Soo wiggles her eyebrows and mouths, "Ha-Lucky..."

Anais scowls.

Zayn looks between them.

"We're playing partners," Louis says, as he leads them inside. "In case you couldn't tell."

"Great," Anais smirks. "You two against me and Soo."

She nods. "I like that idea, too."

The girls high-five.

"Umm," Louis says, "no."

But, Zayn shrugs, "Fine, then."

"Wha-?" Louis exclaims. "You agree with Anais? That's funny."

"Of course he does," Soo grins. "They're dating, remember."

Anais ignores this.

Zayn shakes his head. "It's fine, Lou."

Anais snorts, shrugging nonchalantly just like him. "Yeah-It's fine, Lou."

Zayn sticks his tongue in his cheek. He feels some sudden burst of confidence seeing her joke around.

He shrugs. "You're gonna loose anyway, you know that, right?"

"Whoa," she replies, as Louis heads to the desk, checking them in, now. There's flashing lights and a Top 40 hits playlist playing loudly, the music videos on screens and the sounds of balls knocking against pins and laughter mixing with the smells of nachos and hotdogs and booze at the restaurant and bar.

Anais smirks. "Cocky, are we?"

Zayn shrugs. "You might want to be my partner, instead," he says, liking the way her eyes go wide at his response. "No offense, Soo."

Soo steps back, staring between them-Someone grab her some popcorn because she's eating this up. "None taken."

"Offense taken," Anais says quickly. "Why would you say that? We can't take you down, just girls?"

"You're competitive, aren't you?" Zayn asks.

Anais nods. "And?"

"Then, like, y'know, you might want to be on my team-" He bites the inside of his cheek, "If you want to win."

"Whoa," Anais exclaims. "That's a pretty strong assumption there, Malik."

"S'more like a fact, really."

"Well, isn't someone self-assured!"

He winks. "Maybe you should listen, then."

Anais smirks. "Did you just wink at me?"

"Did you like it?" He grins. "I think you liked it."

"And what if I didn't?"

"M'pretty sure you'd be the first to tell me."

Anais is trying not to smile and Zayn is grinning at her, chuckling softly because he can tell.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Maybe I don't want to tell you, now. You think of that?"

He laughs. "Don't fight it, love."

"Oh my god, Zayn," Anais snorts, pushing him lightly-She's starting to loosen up around him, and he's having way more fun because he can tell she's loosening up.

This is the Anais from the roof.

"Stop flirting with me."

"Can't help it," he says lowly. "This is a date, remember?"

"Well, if you two are quite finished," Louis interrupts, "I'd say we could get on with this game, yeah?"

And it's only Soo who notices Anais blush and Zayn hide a smile.

It's only Soo who catches Zayn's grin as he steals a glance at her best friend.

__________

"Alright, so let's make this interesting, shall we?" Louis says at once, as the pairs grab balls and take down bumpers and change shoes and listen to Soo and Anais complain about changing shoes.

"This is a game with me," Anais says, "How can you possibly make it more interesting, Louis?"

"Funny, love," he replies as she giggles. "So funny."

Zayn smirks, his eyes training from her to him.

"And as enticing as Anais' presence is, I say we place bets."

Anais snorts. "Like what?"

"We win, and you both take us out for a round of drinks," Louis says. "Fair?"

Soo and Anais look to each other.

They shrug.

"Fine," says Anais. "And if we win-"

Soo pops up. "Zayn has to make out with Ana and we get to watch!"

Anais is horrified. "Soo-No!"

Zayn's eyes grow wide. He laughs, "What?"

"What?" Soo asks. "That's a great bet, right?"

Louis nods. "I'm liking the sound of that."

Zayn snorts. "Of course you are."

"Doesn't sound like you're too averse to it, mate."

"This isn't Truth or Dare," Anais shoots back.

"Ooh," Soo grins. "Truth or Dare...That's what we should be playing..."

"You have to come up with a bet that you're also a part of, okay? Thanks."

"But, I like mine better," she smirks. "Right, Louis?"

"Yep - No turning back now."

"Shut the fuck up, Lou."

"Hey, it's all fun and games, right Ana?"

"Exactly," Soo giggles excitedly. "Right, Zayn?"

"Uh..." He rises from his seat, shaking his head.

"See!" Anais exclaims, arm outstretched towards him. "Ha-Zayn's on my side."

Soo nods. "Of course he is."

Anais shoots her a glare.

"Anais is right," Zayn nods, crossing the floor. He snakes one arm around her waist, pulling her towards him. "That's a terrible bet-"

Anais' eyes are wide as she turns to him. "Right..."

"It's like, barely a bet, right?" He asks. "I mean," he shrugs, "S'really not special, and a bet should be special, shouldn't it?"

Anais can't tell where this is going. "I mean..."

"Kissing, like..." He hides a grin, "that's something we can do right now," he says, and before Anais can respond, he slips his free hand through her hair and brings her face to his, crushing his lips to hers.

Soo is grinning and she's hopping in place and she's grabbing Louis' shoulder as Anais' arms wind up on Zayn's shoulders because she's getting lost in that kiss and she can't hear the songs playing in the background or the balls crashing against pins anymore because she's only thinking about Zayn's lips.

He pulls away.

Anais can't catch her breath.

He turns to Soo and shrugs, releasing his hold from Anais' waist. "See?"

He grins at Anais, pecking her lips one more time.

He turns to Soo, wiping at his bottom lip as he smirks. "Pick a new bet."

Soo is screaming and Louis is staring at Zayn with a mixture of awe and 'I knew you liked her,' all wrapped up in one expression.

Zayn's heart is beating like, really fucking fast, but he casually slips back into his seat.

"C'mon, Anais," he smirks, and Anais coughs a bit because she can barely breathe let alone think, and she can tell Zayn knows.

Soo is still screaming.

"Soo," she laughs, "stop."

"Yeah," Zayn chuckles. "Think, girls."

Anais is hyperaware of his gaze on her. Now, she can tell he's just teasing her.

Zayn's teeth graze the corner of his lip. He's still staring at her.

"What'll it be?" He asks.

Oh.

He's just playing with her, now.

"Unless," Louis says, "you don't think you'll win?"

That snaps Anais' attention from Zayn's eyes and his tattoos and his lips and his lips and his lips. "Wow-You tried it, huh?"

"Got it!" Soo exclaims.

Anais narrows her eyes. "What? Is this a real suggestion?"

"Or are Anais and I going to have to make out, again?"

Soo smirks. "I'm sure you'll both do that enough on your own."

That causes both of them to blush.

"If we win," Soo grins, because she loves this, this double dating idea, "you two take us shopping...on 5th Ave."

Anais' is the happiest she's been all night. "Yes."

"You're not going to win," Louis replies. "But, keep the dream alive, ladies."

"We will," Soo says. "Now let's play, Tommo. Let the balls do the talking."

Louis grins. "Which ones?"

Zayn is still smirking at Anais.

She's trying so hard not to look at him.

That makes his smile widen.

Soo giggles. "Shut up, Louis, and bowl."

-~*~-

Guys but how long was this chapter? I'm excited for me wow I've been on a roll with this story...let's hope I can do that with the other ones lolololol.

THIS DATE THOUGH. YASSS ZAYN LETSGETITLETSGETIT.

Soo is so cute and also my fave. Literally when she's with Zayn and Anais her reactions are meeee af.