Dark Paradise

Chapter 16

~ Work so hard that one day your signature will called and autograph.

It was the day before the fashion show, and to say that I was a bit nervous was an understatement. Lucky for me I had Rosie and Quinn by my side helping me. I booked Zayns and my grandmas flights for the same time and the same airport to make things a bit easier for me. So they wouldn't be here until midnight. Me and Quinn were at the building the show would be held at. I had sent Rosie to bring my outfits here. People were running in every which direction. I tried to stay out their way and went back to my section with the models. Yasmin wasn't here yet. I wasn't surprised, it's something she would do. But in a way I was grateful she wasn't here, because with her here she'd make me more stressed out then what I already was.

Once the outfits arrived I thanked Rosie and went straight to fix any last minute touches and fixes, making sure they fit the models perfectly. Yasmin had arrived just on time to be fitted. I didn't try to knock up conversation with her. I was tempted to tell her about my little trip with Ethan to Greece, but decided against it. I wasn't that type of person, so I kept my mouth shut.

By lunch time I invited all the girls for lunch. Of course Yasmin denied and I took the other girls out with me. We went to a nice little sushi restaurant around the corner. Quinn and Rosie joined us.

"Okay girls order what ever you'd like it's on me." I announced as we sat down. Me Quinn and Rosie ordered actual meals while they ordered salads, and a water what kind of lunch is that.

"Come on girls is that all?" I questioned.

"Yea we have to stay in shape." One of the models said.

"By starving yourself?" I asked.

"Sorta, we're barely a size a zero, and that's were suppose to be at by the end of the month." She answered.

"Well I like to say to all the models I work with, just because you're not a size zero does not mean your ugly. You're the beautiful one, it society that's ugly." I said quoting the beautiful Marilyn Monroe.

"Now I'll let you eat those salads but I'm ordering a nice dessert for us." I declared, the girls nodded happily.

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Zayns POV

I was beyond tired, it was midnight and my flight had just landed in London. I missed England but Paris was now home for me. But it's always good to come back. Plus I was happy to come see Bel, and when the show was over we were going to come back home, and everything would go back to normal. She'll forget about Harry, and all the shit he did to her.

Of course Bel told me everything, me being her best friend she confines to me to tell me these things.

It was hard for me not to go punch him at that moment. But I held back the urge for Bel. She was family to me, though I don't see her as a sister, maybe a wife? I'm still not sure, I feel something towards her, but I don't know if she does.

I grabbed my small luggage, since I'm only staying for like two days. I looked around the airport, searching for long dark brown locks of hair. My eyes quickly found her back, she was clutching on to an elderly woman. I am assuming it's her grandmother since she mentioned we would arrive at the same airport.

I'm probably the only person who knows Bels whole life story. And it's been a tough one to say the least.

She's banged up. Mentally and emotionally. Literally and metaphorically. But every day she walks outside with a smile on her face because that's who she is.

She turned around and once she noticed me, her smile grew even more. She let go of the women and ran in to my arms. Holding her felt right, everything about her felt right.

"Hey." I mumbled in to her head.

"Hey." She replied back, she stepped back a bit but was still in my arms."How was your flight?" She questioned.

"It was okay. I'm not such a fan of flying but I'm good." I replied. She smiled and lead me back to the elderly woman.

"Nana this is Zayn the artist I told you about and my best friend. I sent you some of his painting for your birthday." Bel said as she introduced me to her grandmother. She pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheeks.

"Oh yes, you're such a great artist, I have your painting in my main living room where all my guest see them when I have events." She said.

"Well thank you." I said.

"Now that you two met, I'll drive us back the hotel you'll be staying in. I know your both tired, and I have to be up early for the show, I'll be next door to both of you if you need anything." Bel instructed as she lead us to her car. I let her grandmother sit up front and I sat in the back. I'd catch Bel steal glances at me and she'd send me smiles that would make my heart flutter.

"¿El es tu novio?" Her grandmother said, but I had no clue what she said, I didn't speak Spanish well enough. Bel tried teaching me but she kept laughing at how I pronounced words and began calling me a gringo, which I have no clue what that even means.

It must have been an intimate question since she began blushing and nervously laughing, she quickly looked at me by the rear view morrow.

"No nana nomás es un amigo muy bueno. Ya te dije que estoy soltera." Bel said, I found it cute how her voice sounded different from English to Spanish. Though when she spoke in Spanish especially when she's mad was sorta of a turn on.

Her grandmother laughed and shook her head, seeming not to believe a word Bel had said. Bel playfully rolled her eyes and cracked a small smile.

"She thinks we're dating." Bel said once she noticed the confusion on my face. I couldn't help but feel the heat rush to my face. Her grandmother thought we were dating. Would she approve of me if we were? I sure hope she would.

"Not yet." I heard her grandmother mumble, Bel was to busy driving to hear her but I heard her loud and clear. From the rear view mirror her grandmother sent me a wink, and I couldn't help but smile. So I guess she would approve of me. Maybe she could help me make the first move. I knew a lot about Bel, but I had no clue what she looked for in a guy. She rarely spoke to me about love, it was a topic me and her stayed clear of.

But I was more then willing to experiment with her, to see what she liked and what she didn't like.

If I don't act now, then when?

I couldn't do it when it was to late, and she has fallen for someone else, Harry opened up my eyes for me. My time was now.