Long Live (Sequel to Payton Swift)

Chapter 29

- Payton -

The past three weeks had been the most relaxing I'd ever had. I was making new friends and slowly Justin was becoming my best friend again. We did almost everything together; he accompanied me when I went grocery shopping, we went out to lunch, out to dinner, to breakfast, to the beach, to Starbucks, to his house to lounge by the pool and my place for movie nights to name a few things. His friendship was a great distraction to the Zayn and Gigi, or "Zigi" as the media called them, situation that was everywhere. Justin's friendship also led me to make friends with the Kardashian-Jenner clan; Kylie and I had become close, I was decent friends with Kendall, and Kim, Khloe and Kourtney were all a combination of big sister and mom to me - which I've been loving considering how far I live from my family. I had also made friends with Kylie's close-knit group of friends and I also found a new best friend in Hailey Baldwin, an upcoming model who Justin currently had a soft spot for.

Right now, I was with Hailey. We were driving around in her beautiful Range Rover, looking for the restaurant where we were meeting Kendall for a late lunch before she left for Europe.

"How are you feeling, lovey?" Hailey asks me as we pull up to a red light. She takes a couple sips of her water and I shrug my shoulders, knowing she's referring to the newest piece of "Zigi" news that came out this morning. They were spotted out at a cozy, romantic dinner late the night before and by morning, pictures were everywhere. I hated it, but at the moment he wasn't mine so I couldn't do anything about it.

"I could be better."

Hailey gives me a look of sympathy as the light switches from red to green. She starts driving again and I take a couple sips from her water.

"Have you talked to Zayn? You know, recently?"

"We're on a break so we don't communicate every second. I think the last time he called or texted was two weeks ago?"

"From one perspective that's a good thing, at least you'll have things to talk about when you see him in November but...." Hailey trails off, turning right and the restaurant sign comes into view.

"But," I repeat, motioning for her to continue speaking.

"But some might think it's a bad thing. Not to upset you but it could mean maybe you two aren't gonna make it," suggests Hailey, as she successfully parallel parks in front of the restaurant once we've arrived. Honestly, I'm glad Hailey is straightforward with me. When everyone else tries to sugarcoat or beat around the idea that Zayn and I don't get back together, Hailey just talks about it and tells me what she thinks about it and I'm grateful for that. I see why she's got Justin's attention.

We get out of the car and, as I wait for Hailey to get her stuff together, I tell her a short version of what I've been holding back since Zayn said we were going on break.

"That was my first thought, you know. Me and him not making it. That was the first thing I thought of when the words came out of his mouth in that phone call. He's too good for me Hailey, too good. Honestly girl if he left me for Gigi, I wouldn't be able to date anyone else. Zayn's incredible, he's been nothing but good to me no matter what stupid shit I did or said."

Hailey shoots me another sympathetic look and I sigh, starting to walk to the restaurant doors once she locks her car.

"He doesn't even like Gigi like that, but I get what you mean," she sympathizes, quickly hugging me before we link arms and walk into the restaurant. "It'll be okay in the end though; that's something I can promise you."

I smile at my new friend. We start talking about something else while we scan the restaurant for our supermodel friend, quickly discovering her at a table towards the back and surrounded by her family.