slow it down // zayn malik

chapter eighteen // pillow talk.

zayn's pov

The crackling from the bonfire blends in with the warm laughter bouncing around it. I extend my free hand, bringing to closer to the fire to heat the frozen fingertips. 

We've lost half the group due to the sluggish after effects of alcohol. Harry and Olivia retired once we reached Ed's tour bus and started the fire outside of it. Not long after them did Alicia drag the beyond-wasted Niall away to the campsite the lads have rented. Ed lays in his lawn-chair, fast asleep, and of course Tea sits at his side, asleep with her head nearly on top of his shoulder, but just not quite touching. 

Liam and Rosalie share a chair, cozying up with one another to keep warm as they smile at us all, looking like the epitome of a picture-perfect couple. It was nearly nauseating looking at the two of them. 

"It takes skill to be at a place like this," Louis comments as he holds Mia's hand in his tight grip, his hair messed up and his eyes heavy with exhaustion. 

Mia nods in agreement as she lets out a loud yawn, pushing her dark curls out of her face in a sleepy manner. 

I stare deep into the flames of the bonfire, slightly mesmerized or perhaps too tired to look away. I watch as the flames dance and flicker around, moving without any care whatsoever. I can't help but to envy the freedom they have. 

Then out of nowhere I feel something ever-so-softly rest upon my shoulder. Glancing over slowly, I glance to see Linley slipping in and out of unconsciousness as her eyes flutter shut and her head falls onto my shoulder without her realizing. 

I can't help but to let out a chuckle as she once again turns into this vulnerable, young-looking girl once again. The rumble from my chest vibrates against her, causing her to open her eyes and look up at me with exhaustion.

"I'm tire..." She mumbles, unable to even finish her sentence before she starts to doze off again. 

The smile spreading across my face smoothly, I glance up to the others around the bonfire, amusement written all over my face.

"Looks like I've got to take someone to bed," I smirk, knowing if she weren't unconscious, Linley would be kicking all of our asses at this moment for laughing at how adorable she looks. 

"I'll come with you," Sable nods, getting up and stretching her tired limbs. 

Having to be extremely careful, I try my hardest to not wake Linley as I wriggle my hands beneath her to pick her up. Her eyes open for a millisecond as I pick her up from her chair, but she quickly snuggles into my chest as I stand up. 

She places a hand on my chest, her cold fingertips touching my bare chest, skimming the flesh ever-so-gently. Shivers run down my spine, causing my breath to leave my lungs involuntarily. 

"Goodnight," I whisper to those left around the bonfire that all watch us carefully with smiles plastered on their faces. I do my best to ignore the playfulness behind their smiles, knowing they're getting the wrong idea. 

* * * *

Sable and I walk to their camper - which is so conveniently parked on the other side of the campsite - in complete silence. She shuffle groggily beside me, dragging her heavy boots against the gravel path. 

As we reach the camper that has become so familiar to me in the past two days, Sable holds the door open for me, a sliver of a smile appears on her face as she gazes upon her sleepy best friend curled up in my arms like a small child.

Stumbling around in the darkness, I do my best to make it to the bedroom without running the both of us into a wall. 

Once we cross the threshold of the bedroom, I can't help but to let out a relieved sigh. I place Linley - though is light, after an entire walk across the campsite can grow to be heavy - down onto the bed carefully.