I'm thinking we should get Desi something for her birthday
Even though she hates presents and all that shit lol -K

It's from Kezie, and Asmaa reads the message on a Friday afternoon and falls in love with the idea.

Apparently, so does Rory because the three are all in a group chat, now.

Ya! Maybe something we can surprise her with on Friday before she takes off all her clothes :P -R

Asmaa snorts, and it causes Zayn to look up.

"Huh?"

"Oh..." She pauses, typing her response, "It's nothing, really," and she turns her phone over on her lap, pressing send on the text.

I love that idea
Get her like...a cupcake or something
We could sing to her!

"Nothing, eh?" Zayn grins, stroking his beard pensively. "I have sisters, Asmaa. It's never just 'nothing' with girls."

Desi would hate the singing :( -K

yea she would -R

Cupcake is cute, though!
We could add a bottle! -K

Yes!

Yassss it's done! -R

"So...?"

And Asmaa is brought back to the moment, with Zayn's head in her lap, as they sit on a blanket outside in the quad instead of the library.

(Asmaa mentioned it being too nice of weather to be cooped up; Zayn suggested the picnic).

"So," she grins, "it's my friend's birthday this weekend, and we want to surprise her before her party."

"Oh yeah?" He asks, interest obviously peaked.

Asmaa laughs, setting her phone aside to play in his hair. "Yeah."

"S'cool," he hums approvingly, eyes closing. "My mate's birthday's this weekend, too."

"Seriously?" Asmaa exclaims, and she feels him nod. "That's so funny. Desirée--my friend--is turning twenty-five on Saturday, so we're doing something for her," she laughs at the thought of how crazy the club will possibly be, "She's throwing a whole party for herself."

"Really?" And Zayn's eyes open and he squints against the sun, "How're you going, then?"

She blinks. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he laughs, "you work fucking weekends, Asmaa."

"Oh," Asmaa nods, "Yeah," she says. "Like, she's doing it at work," she grins. "It's all happening--"

"At the restaurant?"

"Uh--Mhm."

"Seriously?"

"Yes," she exclaims with a laugh, and Zayn doesn't push for more information, but Asmaa can feel his gaze as she gulps. She keeps forgetting she told that lie.

That Zayn thinks she's just a waitress.

"So..." He squints up at her, one brown eye closed now against the sun, "I already know the answer to this, but I figure I should ask, anyway."

"Okay," Asmaa laughs. "Shoot."

"Well," Zayn licks his lips, "you got any plans this weekend--aside from this 'work party,' yeah?"

"You mean," she whistles, "aside from studying 'cause I spend so much of my free time lately with you?"

He smirks, nodding.

"Well," she grins, "in that case," she shrugs, "I really am just--"

"Working?" Zayn snorts, and Asmaa can't help but laugh, albeit bashfully.

"How'd you guess?"

"M'just really lucky, apparently," he replies, tone laced with sarcasm.  And he continues to stare at her, "Am I ever gonna see you on a weekend evening?"

"Nope," Asmaa laughs. And she shakes her head as his eyes narrow.

"Not funny."

"Not even a little?" She grins, and shakes her head with a chuckle as he remains unamused. "Alright, then," she pokes him in the cheek and he yelps. "If we were going out this weekend," she muses, "what would you have us do?"

"Well," he clears his throat, "we haven't finished our tourist trip, have we?"

Asmaa grins, thinking back to just a couple weeks prior, to their first date. "No," she says, "we haven't."

"Honestly," and he runs his hands across his face, as if he could scrub away the color rising to his cheeks, "I was gonna ask if you'd go with me to Vega," he pauses, lifting his hands, "You been?"

Asmaa frowns. "What's that? What's Vega?"

He chuckles, and Asmaa wonders if he's embarrassed himself all of a sudden, "S'an arcade."

And her eyes widen excitedly. She nearly knees his head out of her lap. "What!? Oh my goodness--You know Lira took me and Ayat to an arcade in America? You know that was like, my favorite thing?"

"Whoa, whoa," Zayn laughs, "Slow down, love. Lira? Ayat? What?"

"Oh," she grins, shaking her head, "When I was like, thirteen, I went with my older sister Ayat to a summer camp in DC, and my sister's best friend was from there. Her name was--"

"Lira."

"Exactly," she taps his nose. "So attentive, you."

"Stop, Asmaa," he groans, and she can't help but laugh at the color rising again, up his neck.

"So, anyway," she beams, not wanting to make him uncomfortable--again, "an arcade would be fun," she nods, thinking back on the memory. "So fun."

"So, it's been that long since you'd been to one, yeah? An arcade, I mean."

Asmaa hums. "I was thirteen."

"Oh, see, if you didn't work, you'd go this weekend, but..." He shrugs as she rolls her eyes, "you threw all that away, Asmaa...all 'cause you work."

"Hush, unless you want to pay my bills," she grins, and when Zayn says nothing she laughs, knowing her point has been made, "Now, what've you got planned for the weekend, eh? You know," she shrugs, "since you won't be graced with my presence."

"Oh, since I work during the weekday like normal people?"

"Right."

"Well," he sighs, "I told you, we're going out for my mate..."

"For his birthday."

"His twenty-first."

"Oh," she hums, happy the conversation's switched from her, "That's big."

Zayn grins, as their books sit around them on the blanket she brought from home. "We're going to a s--"

And Zayn shakes his head, stopping himself short.

"A what?" Asmaa hums, her fingers still combing methodically through his hair.

"A club," he clears his throat. And he smiles, "A club. We're gonna get him as fucked up as we possibly can."

Asmaa laughs aloud, and Zayn can't help but smile.

"You sound like great friends, Zayn."

"Oh, the best," and he pushes himself up, sitting beside her, "And you'd know," he plants a kiss on her cheek, "if you could stop working for a weekend."

Asmaa giggles against him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Are you Asmaa?" He grins.

"Of course, Zayn. And, honestly?"

He hums, planting another kiss on her cheek.

"I'm flattered you wanna spend time with me."

He hums, lifting his hand to plant his second finger against her cheek, turning her head towards his.

"I'm flattered you're flattered."

And he plants a light kiss upon her lips.

Asmaa really likes Zayn.

She decided this right after their first date, and the thought was solidified afterwards when they kept seeing each other, when he continued to text her, when he kept running up on her in the library.

He is a sign of her good fortune. He's a sign of her prayers being answered. He's a sign of her God hearing her.

Honestly, Asmaa groups him in the category of Phoenix and the girls. He's a representation of this new, exciting, beautiful life she's living, and if she could just keep him at arm's length from Phoenix for just long enough for them to really start a relationship, things might just be perfect

Especially because she had no real idea of how to tell him, or anyone for that matter, that she wasn't a waitress, and that she was, instead, a stripper.

Saturday night was Desirée--no, wait--Ms. Tia Sangria's--big birthday party at Phoenix. And Asmaa was really making strides in becoming a better one.

And surprisingly, what she learns her first weekend as a stripper is that she kind of likes it. Well, not like, stripping, but what she likes is being able to own her body and her sexual agency and make money for it. Most of her life she'd spent covered up.

Not anymore.

This was the new and improved Asmaa. The Asmaa who was kind of dying to go out and let loose--and she was doing that, now. She was doing it.

She was living.

And she knew how many people in her position wouldn't feel the slightest bit comfortable taking on the work she'd just suddenly been thrust into, but what made it better and kind of exciting, were her friends.

Asmaa also watched a lot of YouTube. Kezie's suggestion--She said it's what helped her when she first started.

And so that first weekend Asmaa was on the pole, she tried out moves she'd only practiced with Rory in her bedroom.

There was still room for improvement, but Asmaa was definitely getting better.

Mostly thanks to the girls, who were her role models. They were her examples, and they were working the main stages. Obviously, they had to be good to do that.

So, Asmaa was spoiled with the experience around her. Her teachers were the best, and she could dance, and she was nice, and those things were all working in her favor.

But, Asmaa would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about this party. Grant it, she had never been to a hosted event at a strip club, but because she'd never been and had to work it, meant that she was even more apprehensive because she had all of zero idea of what to expect.

It didn't help that Desi was planning it.

Just that week, she'd had the girls meet her at some boutique in South End just to try on outfits for the night.

(Before they took them all off).

"I just want us to look really good," Desi had explained, as the girls combed through tight dresses and bustiers and other revealing articles of clothing. "Especially since you guys will be on the main stage, like...It's important that my girls at least look good. Good good. More than good."

"Great, then," Kezie had giggled, as she held up a tube top to her chest. "I feel it."

"Exactly, Kez," Desi had nodded, helping Asmaa pick out dresses to try on, (of course, she was so lost), "Besides, it's all going on Phoenix's company card, so we might as well spend it on some expensive shit."

Rory pulled a sparkly silver dress from the rack. "With it!"

Kezie had nodded. "Can't turn away gifts like that."

"Right," and all of a sudden, Desi snapped her fingers, "before I forget, Asmaa, you need a name."

She'd frowned, "A name?"

"Oh my god--she does!"

"A name."

"A stripper name," clarified Rory.

"Oh..."

"If you're gonna work a stage, you've got to have a name."

Rory hummed. "They flash all the girls names up when they're on a stage."

"Or work a table."

"It's so guys can buy private dances and know who to request."

"It's just a Phoenix thing."

"What about Sweet Tart, then?"

Desi had wrinkled her nose, "You're not a bottle girl, anymore. You're a stripper."

"Sweet Tart is cute as hell, though."

"Yeah, that's cute as fuck."

"Just like her!"

"But, c'mon," Desi groans. "She's not a cutie pie, she's a stripper. She's got to have a name that's sexy."

And Desirée had shook her head. "Forget it," she had said. "We'll work on it."

"Got any plans Sunday?"

Zayn's husky voice in her ear brings her back to the moment.

"I'm..." and she makes the mistake of looking into his eyes, which are large and rather puppyish.

"You're....?" He asks, chuckling. "You're realizing you've got time off," he grins, "maybe?"

Asmaa positively melts. This boy was really going to be the death of her.

Really.

"More like," she grins, "if you're still down on Sunday," she shrugs, "then I'm down," she grins as he does, "yeah? I mean," she adds, "if you're not dead from the strip club--"

His eyebrows shoot up. "Strip club--?"

"I mean," she squeezes her eyes shut, "the club. No stripping. You didn't mention stripping," she forces a chuckle. "Heh...Don't know why that's in my head..."

She knew why.

"Yeah, uh...Ha--neither do I, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"You're so annoying," she grins, laughing as he does. She's so happy to switch the subject. Lately, all that had been on her brain had to do with stripping.

Not something she wanted to tell Zayn.

She really needed to do better with that--with watching what she said to him; keeping her stories straight...

But, he's grinning at her and the sun hitting those eyes is quite possibly too much.

"Only for you, Asmaa. Only for you."

That's when Kezie texts back the groupchat.

I'll get the bottle tonight  -K

_

Kezie runs to her favorite liquor store after her classes end on Friday. It's called The Whisky Shop and it's in Piccadilly and she's been coming to this place since she moved to London and was of legal drinking age.

Possibly before.

All she remembers, is that she and Calum and used to get his friend Ashton to buy bottles when they were in school because he was of age before any of the rest of them.

After Asmaa and Rory cosign on her gift idea for Desi, she decides to buy the bottle now, since all day Saturday she'll probably be getting ready for Desi's, and wouldn't have much time to run errands.

She's in her work out clothes--running tights, a baseball cap, and a sports bra--with her iPod earbuds firmly planted in her ears as she finishes her jog and heads inside the store.

There are only a few people inside, milling around.

Kezie pays them barely any mind because she's plugged in, listening to Maleek Berry and combing the shelves for the biggest bottle of Cîroc she could find.

She knew that if there was one thing Desirée loved, it was Cîroc. Rory was about the Hennessy. She was partial to Rum, and Asmaa would drink anything--she hadn't quite claimed a favorite, yet.

But this was for Desi.

Chikezie was looking for the Pineapple flavor. It was Desi's favorite, and she's searching through the vodka singing to "Eko Miami."

And she's perusing the back shelves when she catches sight of it. Just her luck, it's on a top shelf and there's no one around with a ladder or anything to get it down.

Kezie rises to her tippy toes when a very tall man with curly brown hair and big dimples appears beside her.

"Need a bit of help?"

She jumps, stumbling backwards and thankfully, not knocking over a bottle.

She rips her headphone out of one of her ears, clutching her chest with her signature, airy laugh. "I'm sorry, what?"

The man chuckles beside her. And he motions with the Grey Goose bottle in his hand towards the shelves of Cîroc.

"Need help, love?"

"Oh," Kezie laughs breathlessly, "yes. Yes, please. So much."

The young man only chuckles, shaking his head as he reaches above them and points towards the bottle she'd been attempting to grab.

"This one, yeah?"

"Yes, yes."

He grabs it effortlessly from the shelf, the rings on his fingers clanking softly against the glass, before he holds it out to Kezie.

"My hero," she grins, taking in just how attractive this man is, lifting the bottle from his fingers.

He smiles cheekily. "Pretty sure I would've watched you bring the whole shelf down if I hadn't helped."

"And I cannot deny this," she grins, watching as he barks out a little laugh. "So, thank you, stranger."

"You're welcome," he replies, trailing behind her as she makes her way towards the front of the shop. "Name's Harry, by the way."

"I like that, Harry," she grins, employing her signature, flirtatious smile--the one she had down to a science to coerce men to throw more notes.

And typically, Kezie left work at the club, but she was pulling out the stops today.

Why?

Because Harry was seriously fine as hell.

"I'm sorry," he extends his hand, "I didn't quite catch your name."

"Chikezie," she replies, shaking his hand and liking how large it is. "But, most of my friends just call me Kezie."

And something flashes across this man's face. A look of like, knowing or something; it doesn't quite sit right with Kezie.

She lifts a brow, "Is there a problem?"

"No," he shakes his head immediately, "I just..."

"Just--"

"I think you know one of my mates," he says, "I feel like he's mentioned you before."

Kezie's hands go to her hips, "Oh yeah?"

And Harry hums, "Yeah," he chuckles softly. "You ever heard of Calum? Calum Hood?"

And Kezie almost doesn't believe it.

"You know Calum?"

Harry grins. "Would you still give me your number if I said 'yes?'"

__

There are bottles of Grey Goose sitting on the counter when Zayn walks into the apartment.

He drops his keys on the counter, noting the noise of his friend digging around in the refrigerator.

Zayn counts one, two, three giant bottles and has a mind to laugh.

Instead, he's all, "What the fuck's all this?"

Harry looks up and over the fridge door, grinning cheekily. "Oi," he says, "I didn't hear you come in."

Zayn motions to the bottles on his countertop. "The hell's all this, Hazza?"

"For Luke," he shrugs simply, and now Zayn nods with an, "Ah..."

"Wait, wait," Harry shakes his head, rising to his full height, closing the door and leaving the kitchen empty handed.

He leans on a chair at the table, joining Zayn in the adjacent room, "Zayn, you'll never guess who I met today."

"Yeah?" Zayn picks up one of the bottles, turning it around in his hands. His eyes meet Harry's, "Who?"

"You know Calum's 'best friend,'" he uses air quotes, now, "The one he's always gone on about? The one who--"

"Works at the club?" Zayn lifts a brow, chuckling as Harry nods, snapping his fingers.

"That's the one."

"Yeah. 'Course I know," and Zayn laughs now, squinting with the realization of what Harry's just said to him, "Wait, you met her?"

"In the Whisky Shop," he nods, "The one in Piccadilly."

"No fucking way, mate."

"Exactly," Harry exclaims. And he pinches his eyebrows between his fingers, "And I swear to you, there's no freaking way to just be 'best friends' with this girl."

"Wait, what do you mean by that?"

"Mate...She's like, really hot. Like, really really. Like, really really really very hot."

Zayn smirks. "Like, you-liked-her-hot?"

"Like, Calum-better-get-it-together-hot. Like, he-better-get-it-together-before-I-show-her-what-she's-missing-hot."

Zayn laughs. As protective as it seemed Calum was over this girl, there was no way Harry stood a chance going after her.

But, then again, Harry could be very persuasive.

He chuckles, "I'm sure Cal would just love that, Haz."

"Did you hear me? Did you not hear me just tell you how hot she was?"

Zayn bites his lip to keep from laughing. "I take it you haven't told Cal, eh?"

"Tell him what?" Harry grins, "That I'm gonna--"

"That you saw her," Zayn interjects. "It's too close to Luke's, mate. Don't--"

"I'm not, Zayn," Harry rolls his eyes. "Which's why I haven't told Calum, yet," he says, running his hands across his face.

"You didn't?"

"And say what, exactly?" He laughs. "Hey mate? Yeah, I saw your best friend out in the liquor store and can't wait to see her naked tomorrow at Luke's birthday," he deadpans. "That's really gonna go over well."

"Alright," Zayn lifts both hands in surrender, "I won't--I won't tell him either."

"Good," nods Harry. "I really don't want to ruin this for Luke."

"Right..." And while Zayn understands Harry's logic, he can't help but think that Calum might just do better with a heads up.

Just saying.

He knew his mate.

Zayn looks up at once, "Did you ask her if she was working, then?"

"I..." Harry's face falls. "What?"

"Kezie," he says. "Did you ask her if she was working, y'know, tomorrow night?"

Harry groans, rolling his head on his neck, "I didn't. You think I should've?"

"I mean," Zayn blinks, "yeah. I mean, like, Cal wouldn't be pissed if he knew she wasn't working. We could go, have a good time..."

And he wouldn't have to see his own friend eyeing another.

"Well," Harry shrugs, "s'too late, now. Besides, it's one night," he stresses. "Calum can make it one night. He can go to a club and have a good, drunken time like the rest of us."

"Right," Zayn nods, although deep down, he wasn't so sure he could. "I mean, he can do it for Luke."

"Exactly," Harry grins again. "Exactly. He can do it for Luke."

___

but do YOU think calum do it for luke?

this is absolutely my favorite story sorry not sorry

comment and vote! <3

p.s. i hope yall are as excited as i am for this next chapter phew