What happens when Lara's secret is out, will Crystal be the friend she should be or will her rising feelings stop her from telling the truth? Y'all are such amazeballs and I love each and every one of you for supporting me sm. I'm going through a shítface but I promise the updates will be faster v soon.

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when we collide
19| secrets and secrets

“This is your payment, I'll provide the official contract papers tomorrow or after the event ends,”  Jason smiles, passing the crisp sheet of cheque to Crystal who stares at it like Jason is handing her his will.

She turns to look at Zayn, who smiles at her encouraging her to take it. Gulping the lump down her throat she glances back at the cheque and takes it to take a look at the cheque making her almost choke. 1500 british pounds?!

“We'll also release the pictures of your cake in our official yearly magazine releasing in a week. I hope it brings attention to your talent, sweetheart.”  Zayn smiles proudly at Crystal, giving her a side glance and noticing her shivering lightly as she stares at the cheque.

“Moon's masterpiece.”  Crystal breathes, making both the men furrow their brows in confusion.
“Pardon?”

“My bakery's name. I think I'm bored with the bakery board. So if you do publish it, which I'm grateful for, that's the name.”  Crystal smiles, looking at Zayn who raises his brow at her, a small smile on his lips.

“Interesting name, any story behind?”  he asks curiously. “Yeah,” she smiles. “But that's for me to know and the world to wonder.”  she shrugs playfully, making Jason laugh. “Sweet, I'll catch up later with you both. Please help yourself around with anything. The catch up starts soon.”  he winks at Zayn and walks to a group of men.

“Moon's masterpiece, mhm?”  she shrugs, a playful smile on her face. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Might tell you one day.”  she whispers, walking to the bar and helping herself with a drink. “Do you want to go dance? They're playing the top charts, oh my!”  she yells, hands flapping in excitement. Zayn smiles at her rolling her his eyes playfully at her. “You do realise that it's an official party and I'm supposed to be formal?”

“I dare you to do the robot dance.”  she raises one of her brow, challenging him unofficially. “Robot dance from when we were little?”  laughing hard, Zayn sarcastically smiles at her. “No.”

“Open up, díckface.”  she pulls him by his hand as she sprints to the dance floor and starts swaying her hips, different lights from around the floor hitting her face, making it glow. Zayn notices how the lighting was dimmed in comparison to when they had initially entered.

“MALIK!”  almost jumping two steps back from the sudden scream Zayn eyes Crystal down.
“I'd dance but I specifically remember you commenting on my dance moves saying I dance like a gorilla on fire.”

Crystal bursts out laughing, making Zayn join her instantly as she shakes her head. “You can't sway your hips, you're a robot.”  raising his brows Zayn starts moving his hips, rather awkwardly, making Crystal laugh so hard it gets hard for her to catch a breath.

She notices Margaret slip in beside them with her boyfriend, Jacob. “I never got the pleasure to meet you personally, I'm Jacob.”  he smiles at Crystal extending his hand. “The díckface.”  Zayn whispers, making Crystal chuckle. Jacob side glances at Zayn smiling lightly. “Didn't notice you there Malik, oh right, because you don't exist for me.”

“Wow, really a beautiful comeback. I'll tell my twelve year old cousin to use that on his two year old sister.”  Margaret punches Zayn lightly making everyone laugh. “Impressive though, this guy never comes on the dance stage.”  Margaret says, making Crystal's eyes fall on Zayn who starts ignoring her gaze.

Zayn? Not on the dance floor? That's unbelievable.

“You got to see his robotics then.”  Zayn starts making a mission abort sign by waving his hand like a knife in front of her.
“Hell yeah!”  Jacob screams.

The music changes to some upbeat music and she feels the rhythm pass through her body almost like she was connecting to the song. She begins to tap her foot while the music plays, growing louder, and quicker. The lot motivates Zayn, making him smile shyly and then almost as if he unleashes the beast in him he sways his figure left and right, as the rhythm carries his feet across the dance floor. They laugh in sync and dance together. “Zayn?”  she yells, pulling him closer. “Yeah?” he yells back over the music, still swaying around as he smiles down at her.

“I'm gonna go use the washroom real quick.”  she says, making him nod. “You'll go alone?”
“No shít, Zayn. Maybe you want to come to the girls washroom real quick and unleash that reality.”  and when Zayn almost lunges on her, she sprints away quickly. Zayn stares at her laughing as she walks in a distance and vanishes amongst the crowd.

In between all the upbeat music and weird coloured lights, he finally takes a breath.

Crystal.

That kiss, was something else. He still couldn't figure out why he did what he did, all he knew was he couldn't bear it anymore. She was all he'd ever wanted and there was nothing more he wished to do than let her know how much she meant to him.

Maybe that's why as soon as she opened her mouth to respond, he pressed his lips to hers and shut her up.
It was everything he'd been dreaming about. To actually feel something while kissing someone, after kissing numerous unknown faces. To know how it feels like to kiss someone so passionately that the entire universe fades.

As they kissed, he forgot everything - he forgot all the lies and the heartbreaks and the secrets. All he knew was that it was finally happening, fúck, it was happening. She was his and he was hers and maybe they were good for each other. Nothing mattered to him beyond that and nothing should.

Though he never dreamt about it in his wildest dreams, that he'll kiss her. He still remembers how his heart was beating faster with every moment and his knees were weakening, she makes it so easy to fall for her. Fall for her. It was all so messy though. The stunt Lara played, his feelings were moving like a parabola. Christ, he needs a drink.

Crystal walks through the silent halls trying to find the bathroom. She should've really asked someone before she made it upstairs. There were booked rooms and services. This place was expensive as fúck.

Rethinking her choice she decides to use someone's personal bathroom. She only hoped no one would mind as everyone knew Zayn. Entering one of the rooms she walks inside the washroom, lifting her dress with much effort. Washing her hands after she's done she opens the door and closes it behind her.

But, before she exits she hears footsteps closing in. Looking around the room and finding it extremely awkward to be in there, she gasps. Maybe she is dumb.

She sprints to the bed hiding behind it and pressing herself to the wall on time, rather impressively she may add, as the door opens almost a second later.

“So you're telling me that bullshít again?”  she hears a man yell, peeking her curiosity. She leans a little ahead, knowing how eavesdropping was rather disgusting but as she couldn't help herself, her eyes peep from behind.

She notices Lara standing near the television while Abano stood near the main door eyeing Lara with such rage that Crystal almost squirms. “Call it bullshít but I'm done with your crap. Seriously. Why are you so insecure?”

Maybe because he's a filthy old hag and you're a literal goddess.
“Insecure? Maybe because you play shít like that.”

“Shut it, Abano.”
“Moraline told me, you kissed him!”  he screams, making Lara step back. Crystal holds in the abrupt scream that almost escapes her mouth due to his sudden outburst.

She found some new oldie now to switch Abano? So Lara like.

“I DID NOT!”  taking in a deep breath, she closes her eyes in order to manage her temper. “Abano, seriously. I'm going to go eat something. I'm really hungry.”  she says, stalling to the door but almost immediately catching both the girls off guard, Abano holds her hair and pulls her with so much pressure that a scream escapes her mouth as she falls on the ground.

Crystal covers her mouth almost immediately as she turns around staring at the wall in front of her. Her eyes wide in fear.
“You don't do one task I give you, all you want to do is eat, don't forget I can take this job any second from you.”

“It's hightime that you stop blackmailing me, okay? I do everything you tell me to do.”  she cries out, wiping her tears slowly. Crystal taking in a breath peeps again. “You don't do shít, Lara.”

Moving to the corner he sits down on the couch comfortably. “Come sit on my lap and remove that dress of yours.”  Crystal tries to stop herself from screaming and yelling at this man as she glances at Lara, slow tears dripping down her face. She almost thinks she'll say no but drinking in the last ounce of respect Lara had she walks slowly to him.

Crystal's knuckles turn white from the tight hold on the bed corner but her breath gets knocked out of her lungs when her phone starts ringing. “Shít.”  she breathes, catching the caller I.D. of Zayn.

“Look who we have here.”  her movement stops as the hair behind the back of her neck rise in fear. She turns to see Abano leaning on the bed smiling at her.

“You and your husband has this weird habit of creeping on me. Right?”  she stands slowly, gathering her dress and moving slowly, her back pressing to the wall as she eyes Lara who stares at her nervously.

“Cat got your tongue, sweetcheeks?”
“Don't call me that.”  she hisses, her hand brushing her arm to provide her body some warmth.
Abano chuckles lightly, smirking at her. “This world is a cruel, cruel place, sweetcheeks. Didn't your husband tell you that?”

“Seeing how your life revolves around him and his revolves around his work. No, he didn't.”
The smile falters away as he eyes her up and down. She feels his eyes checking her out and she tries to keep her cool as she rolls her eyes and moves to the door but almost immediately a scream escapes her mouth when he clutches the back of her dress and her zipper slides down.

“Abano!”  Lara screams, pushing him hardly and making him fall. Taking in a deep breath, she clutches Crystal's hand and pulls her out of the room. They sprint out across the hall and enter another room. Crystal tries catching her breaths whilst Lara bangs it close and breathes. She eyes Crystal and Crystal almost gets lost in her eyes because wow. Even after the wet cheeks and red eyes, puffy nose she managed to pull it off.

She slides her zipper up. “I'm sorry for that, he-he can be an ásshole at times.”

“At times? He's fúcking disgusting! I can't believe you left Zayn for this hag?!”
“I did not! He said he'll give me and Zayn a raise if I do a quick hookup with him and he was clever to call in Margaret right that minute.”  she breaths.

Sitting down she takes a deep breath in. “He was going to fire him. I knew it'd break him. Zayn had a financial issue too and I—” she shrugs lightly as more tears move down. “I didn't know he'll do me dirty.”

“Why did you ruin Zayn's presentation?”  Crystal whisper asks, almost scared she'll hurt her even though she could care less but seeing her state she feels a light remorse.

“I did not. Abano did. He told Lacy to tear off Zayn's work bag and I overheard him but I couldn't do anything so I made a backup of his presentation when he went out for some task.”

“How do you know his pass?”
She smiles lightly. “He always writes it on a sticky note and sticks it under his work desk.”
Crystal breathes in, trying to take in the newfound information.

“So when I confrontated Lacy, Abano overheard and he made me go and strike the last backup but what he didn't know was I had one too. I was going to play it while Zayn would stand there to provide his vote of sorry but when he played a new one I was shocked.”

She eyes Lara carefully, noticing how her breaths were still shaky. “Why are you with him when he scares you?”

“I can't lose this job. I can't.”  she chokes, making Crystal stand there awkwardly eyeing her.
“I never tried to reach out Crystal. I know I hurt Zayn but I couldn't do anything else, he'd take his job by making some dumb excuse and I really needed that job too.”

Crystal breathes slowly, almost scared to ask the next question.
“Do you still love him?”
Lara glances up at her, tucking her hair back and smiling.

“Not possible for a woman to unlove a guy like him.”  Crystal breathes slowly as she ponders. Zayn obviously still feels for Lara and she does too. Will it be selfish of her knowing this and not helping him out when she knows it was a misunderstanding? Even though Lara did him dirty everything was messed up.

Bestfriend or fiancé, what is she supposed to choose now?

They hear the footsteps coming close and go in a frenzy. “The almirah.”  she whispers, taking her hand and guiding both of them in. She could feel Lara breathing haphazardly and it made her think what all shít she goes through.

The door bangs open and a minute later closes again. When they're sure the coast is clear they exit the almirah. “Don't tell Zayn.”  Lara mumbles, staring at Crystal who just stares back at her in confusion.

“I think our story ended long back and it's time. I'll work for a time till I can gain enough money and fly back to my family.”  she says, sighing. “What if he hurts you?”

Lara smiles at her, eyes red and slightly puffy. “Ain't no man can hurt a bad bítch like me.”
They exit the door and walk but it's enough time before Crystal feels a hand holding her face harshly and backing her to the wall.

Pain fills through her jaw making her move her hands in exasperation. “You know too much. Listen to me, I won't mind striking away his job. You better not tell anyone anything.”  he whisper-yells while Lara helplessly tries to remove his hand from her jaw.

Abano pushes her back, resulting in her falling down. Slapping him rather harshly, Crystal sprints across the corridor. She could hear him following her so she runs like mad, from the disgusting man following her. Her breaths are sharp and frantic, eyes wide and filled with tears.

The ground blurs below her as she continues running for what seems like longer than it should have, maybe because she took the stairs rather than the lift, but she figures it was because this maniac was after her. The only things that could hinder her from escaping were her physical limits and her doubt.

She hears his footsteps falter and that makes her look back to see him run back up.

And right as she turns the corner she knocks into someone and falls down on her àss. She glances to see Zayn sitting on the floor as well, hand rubbing his head slowly.

“Where have you been? And why are you running like a monster is behind you?”  Zayn asks as he stands up, helping her up as well.

“Uh- I-I thought I missed your set s-so I ran—”
“Are you okay? Seriously, you look pale.”  Zayn says, staring at her intensely making her look down. She presses her eyes together to hold in the tears and looks up. “Oh, I'm good. Don't worry ZeeZuu.”

Rolling his eyes, Zayn smiles playfully. “Don't call me that here, you bítch.”  she smiles at him and rubs her hand slowly. “Zayn, can we go home now?”

That makes Zayn scrunch his brows in confusion. “We barely made it here. The set is left too. Are you sure you're alright?”  he asks, walking closer as he tucks her hair behind and holds her shoulders, massaging them slowly.

“Yeah, wasn't feeling well. Come on the set starts soon.”  she smiles up at Zayn and even though he stares at her breaking right through her lie he nods.

She starts walking, closing her eyes in relief. “Crys?” her footsteps instantly stop and she feels her heart beating fast. Did he know something? Did he realise something?

She stays straight, her back still facing him refusing to turn and actually face him when she was losing her shít right now.
“How can you be so careless? Your zipper is torn. You didn't realise?”

She turns hastily, to see Zayn eye her up and down, face scrunched. “Oh what? Seriously? Oh my god.”  she laughs, rolling her eyes. “Are they selling weed brownies or something?”

She rolls her eyes at Zayn's comment. He walks to her and makes her turn, trying to check the zipper. She feels his breath hitting her back and closes her eyes in fear.

“Jeez, this is thrashed.”
“Oh I remember, it got stuck in the door and I pulled myself. Uh- might've broken off then.” Zayn holds the zipper together trying to find a way to fix it but then shakes his head.

He removes his jacket and throws it around Crystal making her blush.
“Come on, now.”  he whispers, throwing a hand around her shoulders and bringing her close.
He glances back once making Crystal eye him. “W-what's wrong?” she asks making Zayn eye her. He kisses her on the cheek making her look down as she smiles. “Now I'm here with you, nothing is going to be wrong.”

“It's a pleasure to announce that Artsy Enterprises has made it into another year and the legacy continues,”  Jason smiles as he speaks. Numerous flashes go together as the photographers try to get every possible shot they could.

“This year, though, it's special. Right before the new year starts, we got the starting act at the Met Art Gala of Bradford, 2019!”  Claps echo in the room. Crystal, even though still a little shaken up stares at the man standing beside her smiling at the stage.

She looks down at his hand clutching his pants and grasping it tightly. She takes a deep breath in and her hand moves above his, pulling it so it stops knotting the cloth. Zayn looks at her nervously and all she does is smile, her hand slipping in his and intertwining their fingers.

She feels the metal of her ring collide with his making her grasp tighter. “Be proud.”
Zayn bites his lip and nods at her staring down at their hands.
“I wish dad would've been here.”

“—So I welcome, the man of the night and the new director, Zayn Malik! Pop the champagne come on!”  his face jerks to the stage and he pulls his hand away right when loud applause fills the room. Smiling lightly he makes his way to the stage. Crystal takes out her phone and video calls Doniya.

After seven rings she picks. A very distort picture of her appears on the screen.
“Doniya? Hey!”

“Crystal? Hey, how's the party?”
“Don't have time, take your phone to Yaser.”

“No way! He'll kill me.”
Crystal bites her lower lip. “Please, fast!”
She sees the screen moving, indicating how she's walking and later he appears on the screen.

“What's the pleasure I owe god to see you?”  he smiles, his spectacles on his nose. Without saying anything she turns the camera to the back view and captures Zayn in the frame surrounded by cameras and smiling as Jason talks about him.

He raises the champagne and everyone cheers for him.
“See?”  she sees Yaser eyeing the screen neutrally. “Goodnight, Crystal.”

“At least wish him.”
Yaser stares at the screen, eyeing Zayn who's passed a bouquet of flowers and sighing he disconnects the call. Crystal's lower jaw drops as she looks up to see Zayn staring at her. He raises his brow at her and she tries to smile. She notices his smile falter and then turns to the crowd smiling again.

“Zayn, there's the magazine draft in my room up there. Can you go and get it, here's my room pass,”  Jason asks, passing a card to him. “Floor is fifth, room 729A. Don't share it.”

Nodding Zayn walks down the stage. He notices Crystal recording everything. “Crys?”  turning she starts recording Zayn making him laugh. “Stop.”
“Noooo.”  she giggles, zooming im his face. He smiles cheekily.

“I'll be back in two, hold this.”  he passes her the bouquet and papers he held. “Where are you going?”

“Coming in a minute.”  he jogs to the end of the hall and notices the lift closing. “Please hold the lift!”  he yells, jogging faster and sneaks in the lift. “Thank—”  Lara sighs, looking up. He immediately tries to exit but the door closes and the person beside him presses a button.

He sighs, rolling his eyes in exasperation and stands still giving no glance towards her.
The lift door opens and the guy exits out making Zayn go press the button for floor fifth but he's left awestruck when he notices all the buttons are clicked on.

Sighing he turns around. “What the héll is this, Lara? Was the stunt in the balcony not enough for you?”  Lara glances at Zayn and smiles. “I don't think you mind spending time, y'know.”

“Lara, it's been over an year now and let me be completely honest with you.”  the doors open to floor number six. “Your bad bítch and pseudo rude behaviour is still not believable for me. So don't try.”

Moving ahead she presses the bell button making the lift stop.
Zayn raises his brow at her. “The héll?”  Lara eyes him up and down. “And who you fakin' with the I don't give a fúck attitude, Zayn? Even the smallest things affect you hugely. Don't give me that crap. You're still a softie who's vulnerable and fragile.”

Pressing the bell button again, she moves back crossing her arms. The doors open to floor number three where she was supposed to exit but she doesn't. Right as the doors close and the lift moves Zayn presses the bell button.

“Yeah? You know hell lot about me? You're the one who left me, broke me, made me this way. If you're one to know why don't you give me some advice to be oh-not-vulnerable like you?”

Lara rolls her eyes. “It's been more than a year, get over it.”
“Says who, who just tried to kiss me barely an hour back.”  Lara presses the button again, making the lift move. “Don't, Okay? I lost balance.”

“Lost balance? Let me just rephrase that in asshole-ish. I was trying to fúck with your feelings so you don't move on.”  Zayn snaps right as the doors open to floor fifth. “Go it's your floor.”

“No, you gonna' have to tell me what shít is up with you.” a woman in her thirties enters the lift and stares at the lift pad pressing ground floor. The doors close making Lara roll her eyes.
“Nothing is up.”

“Then why did you just swat your face in a bucket of makeup? You're trying to hide.”  Lara stares at Zayn, throwing daggers at him completely unaware to the women awkwardly standing in the middle.

“My life, my makeup. You're no one to tell me the quantity. Do we women complain the the amount of times you men are hungry and hormonal?”

Zayn smirks. “At least I never súcked your face like a vacuum cleaner like your grandpa boyfriend does.”  Lara presses the bell button hard and turns to Zayn.

“I'm just this poison you're dying to drink because you couldn't die last time.”  she breathes, staring right in his eyes. Zayn stares back, his lips pressing together.
“But that's not how it's supposed to be. You're supposed to be at peace, Zayn.”

“What if I tell you I find peace in the pieces you left my heart in,”
Lara stares at him eying him down and feels the hair at the back of her neck rising.

“I gave you all I had and you took all I had and labelled it love.”  Zayn smiles to himself and brushes his hair back. “Jokes on you though because it was your mistake to touch a place in my heart where my love ran wild.”

He holds her face in his palm noticing the tears forming in her eyes and he never imagined the conversation he imagined to have with her for years going in a lift.

“And then run to a man who's wildness you couldn't tame.” pushing her lightly he turns to see the lift stop at floor three.

She presses the bell button right before the doors open. “You know nothing, alright? Nothing at all.”

“And when did you ever try telling me?”  he snaps back.
“You never even told me why you left me so sudden!”

Lara sighs. “Forget it, this conversation should end here.”
“No you know what? You're the one who broke me, now you're going to tell me what am I supposed to do?”

She presses the bell button and the lift starts moving. “I don't know Zayn! All I know is if you stay here more than another minute, I'll lose my shít!”  she screams, glancing back at Zayn and pushing him lightly to move to a corner.

The lift stops abruptly making her groan. “ZAYN PLEASE!”
“I didn't do that.”  he snaps back at her. The ventilation in the lift stops abruptly and lights start flickering. “The héll?”

“Uhm,”  he awkwardly mumbles and the lights move out instantly. “I think the lift broke down.”
Zayn mumbles but his eyes widen when turns, even though he couldn't see Lara at all.

“Y-you're claustrophobic.” he whispers.

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Life sucks :) sometimes i feel like eh what is this. I'm just so done sigh.

Thoughts on chapter?

What do you think will happen next?

do vote and comment ilyall :')♡