over an awkward dinner realisation and late icecream, will Zayn and Crystal be able to digest facts they haven't ever imagined? Or is it the end even before anything starts? So last chapter so many readers shared their views, even the ghost readers appeared and i cannot possibly share my gratitude with you amazing people. You make me so happy. SO I DECIDED TO UPDATE AGAIN. YOU'RE WELCOME. Reminder to press that cute star button and don't forget to drop THAT feedback i so need to make this shit story better😩❤️ they're outfits are in external media.

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when we collide
06| charity case

Crystal is about to pass out. She could feel the nerves in her body. She really has no idea why Trisha and Cecile were sitting right beside her when she was the one to see the guy. Her mother and Trisha appearing more nervous than her.

She was waiting for the second the guy will come in, say hello and she'll fúck it. Just like always. She played with the tissues kept on the table. It was 8:00 p.m. and she was all dolled up. Her hair was up in some majestic updo that Doniya helped her with and smokey eyes complimenting her body hugging black dress.

Everything was on point, except the guy. Where was he anyway? She turned around to give a glance at her mother raising her brow in a questioning manner. Why was she here again?

Cecile turns towards Trisha upon having seen the fifth death glare her daughter passed her.
"Where is he?" She whispers, even though Crystal sat a good two tables away. "Parking the car." Trisha holds Cecile's hand. This could either go downhill or really well. Crystal diverts her attention from the entry door when her phone beeps due to a new notification. She opens it to see a message from Jack.

From Jack
received 8:10p.m.
Listen sis, I'm super sorry for doing this to you but mum had me swear on my life Jesus. I just wanted to warn you. RUN. YOU HAVE THE TIME. DON'T LOOK BACK AT THEM LADIES. JUST RUN RUN RUN RN.

Crystal awkwardly turns to glance at the ladies who looked like they were almost about to give birth. They're faces scrunched in anticipation as they murmur amongst each other.

To Jack
Read 8:16p.m.
What? Are you okay?

She closes her phone and glances at the clock near her table. The restaurant was beautiful in her opinion with the dim lighting and extravagant food. She realised about the food as she stared at all the dishes being passed and served while she waits for the guy, who was fifteen minutes late.

From Jack
Received 8:20p.m.
Crys the guy. Its Zayn.

Her eyes shot wide as she stares at the text but before she could muster a reaction a voice interrupts her.

"Crystal?" she looks up to see Zayn, wearing a white button up shirt with the top button undone, his hair sleeking back and sleeves folded up while his eyes were scrunched in confusion.

"What are y-you doing here?" She stutters almost not wanting to hear the answer. Zayn stares at her and that's when his gaze catches the old women staring wide eyed at them.

"Mum told me we're having dinner with some family relative. Didn't you have to go see the guy today?" Crystal stares at Zayn and then down at his hand, fingers covered with rings, almost sure her jaw will be on the table after she says the next sentence.

"Zayn. . ." awkwardly starting. "You're the guy." she whispers, almost chickening out to tell him, his wide eyes not helping the situation at all. "What?" Zayn whisper-yells turning to the ladies who are now gone from their seats.

"Crystal I-I-"
"I know- wow this- this is awkward." she laughs as she looks at Zayn who has his phone to his ear, eyebrows scrunched in agitation. She hears Zayn talking to his mother, his tone highly offended. Crystal wont lie, it somewhat stings her that Zayn feels absolutely disgusted to be with her as they awkwardly stand near the table.

"The ladies are out, let's give them a piece of our mind shall we?" Zayn says, one eyebrow raised in excitement as he walks not before Crystal grasps his wrist and pulls him right back.

"You need to manage your anger Zayn, they are our mothers."
"I won't have to learn managing my anger, if people would simply learn to manage their stupidity." he whispers, cocking one eyebrow at Crystal as he jerks his wrist free rushing leaving Crystal standing there awkwardly fiddling with the hem of her dress as everyone around her table stares at her, she rushes behind Zayn exiting the restaurant.

Zayn was oozing with anger. He could really just stand on a building, scream 'i wish i was homeless' and then jump because what the héll were these woman thinking before they came with this clever idea.

Zayn and Crystal. Crystal and Zayn. Together. Not a single homosapien. Them as one.

Zayn feels an instant rush to gag but controls it when he spots their mother standing near the numerous cars parked. Zayn raises his arms up in exasperation as he rushes towards them.

"Ladies? What were you both thinking? Are you out of your mind?" he yells, standing right in front of them with irritation written across his face.

"Honey just give it a shot, she's an amazing gi-" Cecile stops as she spots Crystal coming, her updo totally ruined as her hair fall down, cascading her back and moving in small rhythms with the air. Zayn turns to look at Crystal, sighing as he walks towards her. Keeping his hands on her shoulder his face scrunches in pain as he constructs the next sentence.

"Crystal I-I don't know what happened to our seriously friends only code. B-but see, this, us," he whispers pointing towards them "This will never happen. I appreciate your feelings-"

"Zayn," Zayn turns around right the second he hears his father's authoritative voice. "It's not her, it's us. We think you both will be amazing together. You compliment each other well."

"Alright dad, noted. Now you keep your opinion to you and I'll keep my decision to me. Yeah?" Zayn notices the whole family now, Jack, Doniya and Sebastian standing behind. "So y'all wanted to have the perfect arranged marriage? So sweet. Let's click a family picture." Zayn sarcastically says but is turned by his father as he glares at him and the shuddering feeling in his stomach appears.

Crystal stands quietly, not really having a say. To be rejected again was a huge impact on her. Was Zayn really so disgusted by the idea? She wasn't really a fan of it either but if she was to be switched with Zayn she would handle it with more caution.

"I've had enough Zayn Malik. All your life you've made decisions for yourself, lived life your way, you've always been a rebel and not once have we ever put a say in it. Once and only once stop being the selfish brat you are and think about everyone," Yased yells staring at his son who passes a determined look to him.

"Think about all the families and everyone who's connected with this. Think about your mother's happiness. Think about Crystal." Yaser says staring at Zayn who rolls his eyes and the next sentence leaves everyone momentarily shocked.

"I don't do charity cases, dad." Crystal eyes shot towards Zayn, as her eyes glisten with tears threatening to caress down her face. A single drop of grief welled up from the corner of her eye as she bleeds the salt of her soul and it pours down her eyes.

Storming towards Zayn, she pushes him lightly and doesn't think twice before her hand makes contact with the skin across his cheek. Her constant sniffing continued as she was resisting tears. Bottom lip quivering, and her shoulders dropped in resignation staring at the guy she called her bestfriend who's face was jerked back due to the slap that threw him offguard.

Zayn's face slowly turns back as everyone stares in shock at the lot. "A person who needs a piece of my mind isn't them, it's you!" Crystal yells, cheeks stained with tears.

"You, who's a selfish, pompous assholé who give zero shíts about anyone's feelings. Who do you think you are Zayn? Just because you work in a multinational company and have girls lined up doesn't give you the right to treat your parents and anyone like dust." she yells, taking a deep breath in as she looks back up at Zayn who clutches his right cheek with his hand, passing death glares to Crystal. But Crystal no more fears the strength of his smack.

"You know who's the charity case here? It's you. You're the one who's utterly and ridiculously alone. A girl is doing you a charity by caring for you, loving you. Don't worry Zayn, I've zero feelings for an asshole like you who sweet talks everyone and then acts the extreme opposite." moving closer to face as they're only inches apart, Crystal whispers "I'm the one doing you the charity by listening to your shit cry-baby stories. But no more, congrats Zayn, you're officially alone." Passing a sarcastic smile she almost marches but comes right back, inching even closer to Zayn's face as she says the sentence looking straight in his eyes.

"You never call a girl a charity case. Better wear them big boy pants y'know." she marches towards her father, as all of them stand there trying to take in whatever happened. "Dad please take me home." she whispers as her father lightly nods, sharing a brief eye contact with Yaser as he keeps a hand on his daughters back guiding her to the car.

Cecile lightly presses Trisha's shoulder in encouragment passing her a fake smile and walking to the the car.

"I told you this idea is shit." Jack says loud, walking to the car too as Sebastian exits the driveway.

"Zayn." Trisha whispers, about to clutch Zayn's shoulder but being stopped midway when Yaser holds her hand instead. "Leave him be Trisha, if the lad is big enough to make his shításs decisions then he's grown enough to handle his own mess." pulling Trisha with him and passing Zayn a last glare he walks to his car, Trisha giving a last glance at her son who appears completely defeated.

Doniya stands, staring at her younger brother who was staring at the same spot for the fifteenth minute now. "Just want to tell you, yes that was harsh what you said, but dont beat yourself for it. It's not totally your mistake." Yaser calls Doniya and she sighs, no matter how badly she wanted to stay with her brother she moves to the car sitting in as Yaser exits the driveway too.

And then Zayn realises, that with shítload amount of money in his pocket, a house, a car and any girl he wants to get. He probably has nothing now. He was rich but he was so poor and the irony hit him hard.

"Can I talk to you sweetheart?" Sebastian peeps into Crystal's room seeing her sitting by her window, she glances towards the voice and smiles lightly nodding as an answer. Sebastian sighs in relief, walking to his daughter and taking a seat beside her.

"You know your mother and I are arranged?" Sebastian enquirs, a smile spreading on his face when Crystal stares at him, eyes wide in awe.

"You're not serious."
"A one twenty percent serious honey, and you know what my first words were after I saw her?" Crystal shakes her hear rapidly, genuinely curious as to what story her father has in for today. "I was like 'dad I'll feel a more romantic thingy with my sister than her'."

"You're not serious! You love her!" Sebastian laughs taken aback by the surprise and astonishment Crystal shows in her eyes. "That's what this all is about honey, finding the one out there, the one you least expect to be-"

"Dad I'm not talking to him." Sebastian smiles lightly, looking at Crystal staring out of the window at nothing specifically.

"Crystal I understand where you're coming from. I get that feeling, thinking about your bestfriend is weird," Sebastian lightly shrugs. "When they touch your hand, you feel kinda awkward, because its your best friend, but at relief because you know they're there for you and when, you can tell this is what they want- to hold your hand, but they're too scared to fully hold it, so they examine your fingers in their hands instead."

Crystal could jump out of the window right now because what her father says hits her straight to the core. She remembers going with Zayn to concerts and parks. The paranoia of their hands brushing lightly imagining the coldness of his hand.

"They cheer you up with their hugs, and they compliment you everyday on your eyes, your hair, your smile etc. you can fully be yourself around them, even do the most awkward things, and they will still sit there and smile at you, like it was the cutest thing in the world. They're your best friend, but you're a little closer in ways. You're not so scared of being judged by them, because you know they'll just smile and say "that was adorable" or "you're cute" or maybe just swat you gosh I dont know." grasping Crystal's shoulders, he holds her hand and smiles down at her.

"But yet, you still push them away, because you're afraid of getting hurt, or hurting them. And you know, in the end, everyone leaves. You're scared because you don't want to lose someone so close, but yet you don't want to be with them because it'll ruin everything in the end,"

"I know you're hurt, hurt by whatever he said but realise this Crystal the feelings are mutual. He's just as scared as you, he's scared of losing you and you making him feel bad was a little too harsh. But trust me sweetheart, falling for your bestfriend is fearless. If you do say yes, trust me Crystal I'll be waiting right here at this doorstep for you to come and hug me and whisper how it was the best decision I've ever taken for you." brushing her hair lightly Sebastian exits her room, leaving Crystal deep in thoughts to ponder about everything.

You're officially alone. Crystal breaths deeply. She was rude, extremely rude and out of context but hearing what Zayn said was hurting too. She opens her phone, thumb hovering over Zayn's contact as she imagines it all. A life with Zayn, as his.

And after what her father told her, it doesn't really feel so hard.

Zayn sits outside his house on the porch. His mind searching answers to questions he had no clue about. He tries imagining a life with Crystal, a domestic feeling of coming back home to someone waiting, kissing them-
Jeez that escalated quickly.

Why did everyone make him the bad guy? It was his life and whatever he said was out of context but the public humiliation really hurt him to the core. He sighs lightly, lowering his back and lying down on the entrance as he stares at the sky.

Picking up his phone, he could possibly manage to think about only one person he could call.
After three picks Margaret picks up the call.

"Holâ homeboy, you do realise I've work tomorrow while you'll be couting leaves on a tree?" how could Margaret possibly be in a good mood all the time was beyond Zayn's intellectual level.

"Margaret I'm sort of in a . . . dilemma?" Zayn replies awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
"What problem could my perfect best friend have?"
"Acquaintance. We're only acquaintances." Zayn mumbles. For him it was extremely hard to accept someone as a friend or more because that meant you trusted them with your shít. Zayn would never. If it was possible for him, he won't tell the bill amount of his grocery shopping, that was if he ever went to do it. Margaret was a nice girl and he knew her since long and they clicked all fine. But no.

"Jesus, you don't call acquaintances in the middle of the night for advi-"
"Knew it was a bad idea." Zayn moves to hang up the phone when he hears Margaret calling out his name.

"Jeez okay grumpy pants, what's the problem?" and Zayn spills. Spills because he wanted to prove that he wasn't alone. More than anyone make himself feel good about it because yes, Margaret was just a work colleague. But Zayn really needed some practicality and the light of sympathy shining on his head before he digs his own grave with his own two hands.

"So you said she's your bestfriend and you feel like a brother towards her?" Zayn's eyes widen to a point he feels they might pop out and fall.

"WHAT- no I-No!" he stutters. "A friend. Only a friend." sighing he looks up, biting his lower lip in nervousness.

"Honestly Zayn, you can give it a try. I mean obviously you both might not feel anything and all that jazz but seriously, how long can you survive going to your house after work and shouting 'honey' just for the feels-" Zayn's eyes widen, as his cheeks tint a light shade of pink.
"Lord I was drunk."
"Were you?" Maragaret challenges, smirking even though Zayn couldn't see it.

"Whatever Margaret shove it up your ass, if I wanted a lecture I could just go to my dad."
"Zayn all I'm saying is, take a deep breath in and try to imagine it all. I mean I don't think it's that difficult. Isn't it better than you're parents arranging you with some total random girl who eats her drool. You may get feelings and if you don't do heck with it, at least it's better than them ridiculous one night stands."

"That'll ruin our friendship, Marg." Zayn whines, his gaze now catching a girl across street with a shawl draping around her small being, staring at him from her porch. She points towards her and then at Zayn as if testing the water and asking if she could join him.

Even though Zayn gets an instant urge to throw a shoe at her he nods. "Not like it isn't ruined already and if she's beautiful then what's the-"
"Margaret, I'll talk later."
"I hope you're not about to jump, I don't want to be the last person you talked to."

Crystal stands in front of Zayn, awkwardly fiddling with her shawl, the shawl no more giving her warmth. "Why do I even know you, bye." Margaret laughs in response. "Bye bestfriend."

"Acquaintance." Zayn hisses, and then hangs up the phone to look up at Crystal. Her nose was slightly pink, probably due to the insanely cold weather and her hair was frizzy, cascading around her face as the wind whipped it in different harmony.
She looked beautiful.

"Uh- mind if I sit, like, here?" she stutters almost scared that Zayn will angle her towards her room, kick her ass hard and she'll land straight on her desk. Zayn subtly nods, looking down at the pavement.

A silence lingers, as Doniya opens the door after Trisha asks her to call Zayn to eat something. Also, it was ridiculously cold outside but her eyes widen three times their size as she tiptoes back quietly and closes the door after witnessing them sitting together.

"Zayn what I said today was completely out of line a-and I get it, if you-like you don't want to forgive me. But I just wanted to apologise." Zayn probably wouldn't have understood a word if he was an inch away than how far he was sitting from her.

"Y-yeah, you just said the truth." Zayn whispers, staring down at the ground as he made different figures with his finger. Crystal imagines him writing a fúck you or something.

"No Zayn, I didn't mean anything. You're a good guy trust me, it-it just hurt me, another guy rejecting me. I-I couldn't possibly imagine deleting your number." Zayn's head whips towards Crystal as she rambles on.

"Crystal I didn't reject you. Whatever we have- we had was beautiful. I never had a friend like you and I couldn't possibly imagine to lose it by putting a shitty label on it." Zayn says, as he looks at Crystal who bites her lower lip, humming in approval.

"I want to apologise too, you know for saying. . . all that." Crystal shakes her head, shrugging it away as both of them take a deep breath.

"What have you thought about me?" Crystal looks at Zayn from the corner of her eyes when Zayn asks her. "I d-dont know Zayn. I mean it's weird, absolutely. But I think you'll be a good partner. Not specifically for me but for whoever is lucky enough to have you I suppose."

Zayn smiles lightly, sighing and going back to making figures on the ground. "You want to go have icecream?" Zayn asks just over a whisper. "I- right now?" He shrugs in response.

Crystal's cheeks tint a slight pink and she thanks the good lord that due to the dim light near the main door, the fossils of her embarrassment on her cheeks weren't visible to the world.

"I don't see why the héll not." she lightly giggles as Zayn smiles back, their hands almost touch coincidently and both of them pry it off like a disease.

Awkwardly laughing, Zayn starts walking into his house as Crystal interrupts him "Where are you goin'?"

"Getting my car keys." he says, shrugging lightly. "Let's take my father's motorcycle." Zayn's eyes widen in excitement. "He still has it? Will he even allow?"

"Not like we're going to sneak it for the first time?" Crystal giggles lightly, as she rushes to her house, Zayn hot on her heels. She quietly enters the house glancing at the clock showing 12:15 in the morning and lightly grimaces. She's so going to be late tomorrow for work. Grabbing the keys she tiptoes and shuts the door finding Zayn standing on the pavement.

He pushes the motorcycle as both of them jog a little away from the house lightly chuckling and then Zayn hops on it, starting the motorcycle, as it rumages to life and glances at Crystal. Taking her cue she sits behind him.

"Helmets?" she says, hesitantly grabbing Zayn's waist, her shawl wrapped around her neck.
"Trust me, I'll keep you even safer." Zayn says, turning back towards the road as he starts the vehicle missing the sight of Crystal smiling lightly to herself.

Tony's was a blessing. Crystal and Zayn walk in silence as they lick their icecreams.
"You always wanted a prince charming, as your husband who'll take care of you as his everything and only thing." Zayn says, breaking Crystal's trance. She takes a minute or two to soak his words.

"Yeah, I mean. . . I always wanted a person who'll take care of me, will be sweet and gentle and most importantly whom I fall in love with, you know to whom I can say 'I love you.' everyday and the feelings are mutual." Crystal shrugs finishing her ice cream and staring in front. The roads scarily empty but she could care less with Zayn right beside her as their shoulders brush once in a blue moon.

"Do you think I'll be it? Like-prince charming or whatever?" The question throws Crystal off guard. She stays silent, pondering about the question. Zayn takes her silence to be enough as his answer.

But internally, Crystal was confused. Maybe, he can be. Maybe.

"So if I keep saying 'I love you' everyday then everything is sorted?" his questions were weird. Crystal lightly chuckled, moving her attention to Zayn whilst smiling and finds him already staring at her.

"Zayn, 'I love you' is just a word, until it carries a meaning. It carries a meaning when someone makes you feel giddy, special." Crystal glances at Zayn to see him staring ahead, she stares at his hand. Imagining their coldness. Again. But this time only this time she feels a weird urge to grab it and intertwine her fingers in his'.

Zayn comes to a stop immediately, making Crystal stop too. He thinks for a moment as Crystal stares at him, wanting so badly to know what was going through that mind of his.

Minutes later he starts walking again. His hand lightly fiddles with her hand as he hesitantly slips it in Crystal's hand. The warmth of her hand giving him a comfort that everything is alright. A weird feeling seeps her chest as the coldness of his hand and the warmth of her hand collide. His big and long fingers almost digesting her small ones.

Zayn stares down at their hands, then at her but not able to see her face as her hair covers it. Intentionally. "So does that make you feel something? Like giddy or I don't know?" Crystal breathes, praying for the ground to swallow her in as she stares back.

The eye contact continues for a second or more but then the brown of their eyes becomes too striking for both of their confidence, crumbling it leading to both of them prying off their hands again as they laugh awkwardly.

"Let's head back." Zayn says even though he internally knew that after this, there wasn't any going back.

_________
DONE. DONE DONE. SO FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS YOU ALL. FROM HERE THE STORY OFFICIALLY BEGINSSS. I'VE SO MUCH DECIDED AND THERE'S SO MUCH DRAMA I THINK I'LL PAST OUT DHHDHD

also, clauxxxx shared a theory and i highly appreciate your efforts. But isn't that too typical? Them fighting and all? ALL IS GONNA BE HELLA AWKWARD AND YOU ALL WILL PULL YOUR HAIR OUT THINKINH THE HECK ARE THESE BOTH DOING.

So before i reveal the whole plot cos me is dumb asf😊 a massive thankyou to everyone who's reading.

If you are given a choice between listening to your fav singer your whole life (given you can never see them again not even in pics) or seeing them whole life (given you can't ever see listen to their voice.) what will you choose?

Also, last thing, how do you want the update schedule to be? Should i update on weekend or, maybe Wednesday if in weekday?

Wow this authors note is bigger than the 5000+ word chap😊 does anyone even read it lol, im annoying ik sksksj
Bye, until next time x