maliikzayn

[maliikzayn]

it wasn't like zayn never had company over on the farm. he did, but just preferred not to. the man was skilled at keeping his privacy at this point, but ari and him had known each other long enough for her to know, that he preferred the quiet, private life and because she respected that about him when she visited, it wasn't a big deal. he hadn't, however, expected her to accept his invitation, but was pleasantly surprised when she told him yes. a part of him felt bad about letting her drive herself from the airport though, being a gentleman at heart, despite whatever people might think about him. he wasn't expecting ari for a while yet, so he got a cup of coffee from the kitchen and took it into his spacious living area, seating himself on the couch with a leather bound notebook in hand. zayn picked up a pen and was doodling around the page's edge when hearing the chickens making loud noises outside. the last time he'd heard them going this crazy, a fox had snuck past the chicken coup, freaking them out. but this time, when he made it to his back door to check on them, there was no fox in sight, but rather a tiny thing of a woman, taking the liberty of feeding his chickens. the girls were homebodies, which meant he hadn't even needed to section off a part of his yard, as they didn't tend to stray too far from the coup. "i fed them already," he said in a thick accent, accompanied by a chuckle while he leaned against the post of his back porch. looking on as the flock pecked around like they hadn't been fed for years, he shook his head. "but it seems they like you better than me," zayn joked and made his way down the three steps of the porch, making his way to ari. "i am sort of disappointed that you'd greet 'em first. where's mine?"

ariana had been surprised by zayn's invitation to, again, come out to the farm. she knew that he preferred his privacy and understood it. it was just perfect timing because she wasn't busy, quite yet. in a few months it was going to be a whirlwind of press again. that was why she had decided to fly out to see him. she had told him not to worry about picking her up or any of that. instead she had rented a car and drove herself. it would have stunned everyone to see her doing such a thing. however, in pennsylvania, privacy and everything was a vast cry from la. it felt like it took no time at all for the farm to come into view. she knew that she could have called or texted him to let him know she was there. instead she had pulled up, shut the car off and stepped out. she should have made a beeline for the door but instead she was glancing around at everything. she could hear the chickens clucking and didn't even think twice about following the sound. her keys jangling in her hand as she remembered where he kept them. they seemed to be roaming around and she grinned at the sight. she remembered where zayn kept the chicken feed. the car keys were shoved into her pocket and she was going to grab the bucket," zayn said you guys miss me but i don't know if that's true." she knew that it might look silly, her talking to them but she didn't mind. instead she was going to slip on the gloves before taking a handful of the feed to toss it around. the chickens went right for it and she couldn't help but laugh," even if you didn't miss me, i did miss all of you." @maliikzayn

[maliikzayn]

it's wild to me how insane fans get about new music. don't get me wrong, i'm honored that people love the art i create, but give a guy some space for a fucking break. you know? but how's your new album coming along? i'm not going to pry, since i know it's a process. | @reneeeminence

[maliikzayn]

i bet. they're bangers, so no wonder. PRIVATE: hm, you know me so well. i may be thinking other thoughts as well, but nothing too salacious. i'll come out of hibernation for a bit, and fly out to la, but only for you. when are you free?

Thank you - I'm glad that you're liking them. I'm feeling pretty lucky that a lot of people have had such positive reactions about them. private: a listening party? Something tells me that's not the only thing that you want. But if you're willing to leave your place for a little bit and come out to LA... I think that I can give you both of those things, Z.

[maliikzayn]

PRIVATE: are you sure that's the reason? back in la doesn't do me much good, when i'm in pennsylvania. but you're welcome here, love. plenty of space. i could have my lips all over you and you'd get some privacy.

PRIVATE: i'll have none of that nonsense. i did run off to australia, but i had work related things i had to take care of— and a little bit of much needed family time, but i am back in la and you know i'm always down for a repeat performance with you. i miss your lips all over me.

[maliikzayn]

asking me that? you're the one with plans constantly, while i'm just chilling on the farm, binge watching shows and movies. i think you should come here, or you won't see the girls or the sick watermelons i'm currently growing. PRIVATE: strawberries, whipped cream and if we're lucky i can harvest a melon.

um...i feel like i should be asking you that? it's been silence since coachella. i miss the chickens and you! we have been so are you coming to see me or am i coming back to the farm? private: breakfast in bed? if it includes strawberries and whip cream, i'm there.

[maliikzayn]

zayn: would be pretty good to replace a beer with a margarita. although i won't say no to a pint zayn: i fucking love that i don't have to plan. i couldn't do it no matter how hard i tried. zayn: that's true. so what type of chaos are we getting up to? zayn: is weed legal in mexico?

miles: right?! it's much needed and who can say no to margaritas and good weather?! miles: sick, i'll get to planning. miles: if we didn't create chaos though then our time together would be so boring.

[maliikzayn]

cute? you know what, love... i'll take it. i'm not lying when i say i'm excited for it to release, but it better be worth the wait. been way too long. let me rephrase: you always look amazing. not just in the role. no shade towards the stylists, but they have a great canvas to work with.

That's kind of cute. Maddy and her chaos will not disappoint you this season though. It'll make all the waiting worth it, I promise. They really give me the best clothes and makeup to wear, huh? This season will be even better.

[maliikzayn]

zayn: sounds like a fucking dream, mate zayn: i should be free for a trip down south zayn: you and i always create chaos, but i'm down

miles: summer is upon us and all i'm thinking about is getting a group of us together to take a week long trip to mexico or somewhere with nice beaches and good food. miles: would you be in? we could create chaos. @maliikzayn

[maliikzayn]

am i ever seeing you again? the chickens miss you and honestly, as do i. we've been friends too long to let this much time pass between seeing each other, love. PRIVATE: i'll serve you breakfast in bed if you come out soon? | @ariibgrande

[maliikzayn]

i am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the new season of euphoria to release. i especially can't wait to see maddy be an absolute menace on my screen once more. the entire show is a wild ride, but the maddy moments are my favorite. doesn't hurt that you look amazing in the role. | @alexaademic

[maliikzayn]

the singles you've dropped for your new album so far are fucking fantastic, love. can't wait to hear the entire record when it releases. PRIVATE: maybe a private listening party at the farm is in order? or if you'd prefer i come visit you, i'd be willing to leave my place for a bit? just get gi to take khai. | @doveeminence

[maliikzayn]

i hear you're returning to the voice, mate. you feeling ready? i don't follow the show, but i heard something about you having some wins under your belt, so it can't be too bad. | @nialljhoranss

[maliikzayn]

PRIVATE: where in the world are you located these days, love? i thought last time was pretty fun, but if you ran off to australia after a hookup, i must've not been doing my job right. how about a repeat performance? | @aycias

[maliikzayn]

zayn: tequila? i can fuck with that zayn: yeah, you'll see me then. zayn: i'll have to figure out a way to return to my hotel when i'm wasted though zayn: could you order me a ride at the end of the night?

sol: i'm a tequila slut but whatever your poison is sol: that's not true, i'll always notice you babe sol: that sounds like a plan, i'll see you then?

[maliikzayn]

trust me, i was planning to but then my team staged an intervention. or something similar to one at least. honestly? meh, not really. it's fine and all, but i'd be better at home. it's fine, if you hadn't already heard, i'm neck-deep in shit right now, so it probably wouldn't have been a good time to reach out.

i didn't know if you'd be here or not. i figured you might skip out and just hang out at the farm. are you glad that you came? i meant to reach out to you sooner but i've had so much going on! still have a lot going on but there was no way i wanted to miss this. @maliikzayn

[maliikzayn]

lurk in the shadows? you make me sound like a superhero... i like it. i'd prefer not to smoke signal at a public event, or i'd get thrown out on my ass for causing a fire hazard, but i should've texted. things have been tense these past few weeks. i like bratty alycia though, so i can't say i won't do it again if it elicits this response.

i think it's pretty rude that i haven't seen you much this entire event. i know you like to lurk in the shadows and avoid being seen, but you could have given me a little smoke signal that you were even in attendance. if you haven't already noticed i missed your presence, and i'm being bratty about it. @maliikzayn

[maliikzayn]

the universe – or anna wintour – sure had a sick sense of humor, placing zayn at a table with his ex and her sister at an event he hadn’t particularly wanted to attend in the first place. the same ex who just recently had ripped their mended family apart. no, she hadn’t cheated. and no, she hadn’t technically done anything wrong, but to a man who already had his share of struggles to deal with, the fact that she’d cozy up to him without coming clean about fucking a man he considered a friend? it had messed with his head, causing zayn to want to isolate even more than usual. whatever ember they’d been trying to fuel of perhaps one day becoming more, had been squashed by her favorite pair of louboutins the second that article hit the web.

zayn could feel her eyes lingering, but in no way was he ready to look at her. he wasn’t certain things would ever go back to what their previous normal had been. they might not have been together, but they had been happy watching their daughter grow as a unit. they now had to start from scratch and the singer knew things wouldn’t ever go back to the way they were. he wasn’t particularly in a dancing mood, but when the rest of their table moved to the dancefloor and he was left alone with gigi, zayn seriously considered gathering his shit and performing an irish goodbye. but before he was able to, she was speaking to him. eyes glanced to hers and he found himself raising an eyebrow before letting out a scoff. “you’re unbelievable,” he huffed with a shake of his head, “is khai here? no? then no... i’m not fucking okay to talk to you.” the man turned in his seat, his eyes lingering on the crowd. “if i wanted to make a statement, i would’ve done it already,” zayn spoke with his jaw clenched, “but i’m not sinking that low.” getting out of his seat and buttoning his suit jacket, he refused to look at her. acknowledge her presence at the table, but rather making his move to leave.

it’s dangerous what a single photo on the internet can do. one lazy scroll and suddenly time isn’t linear anymore—it folds in on itself like silk, dragging her back to 2016 with a force that felt almost physical. like someone had slammed the gas pedal on a delorean and she was being flung through memory at full speed, no seatbelt. the picture had been posted casually, with no warning, no trigger label—just there, waiting. her hand, once molded perfectly to the curve of zayn’s jaw, resting there like it belonged. and in that moment, it had. they were a mirrored fantasy: her in that gleaming, metallic dress that clung to her like molten steel, him with his cyberpunk arm—together, they looked less like a couple and more like a coordinated weapon. even her ponytail had edge, slicing behind her like a whip. they hadn’t just been in love; they had been iconic. untouchable. and now, years later, she was at the same damn event, heart rate spiking every time she rounded a corner, as if the photo might crawl off the screen and whisper, remember me? she’d braced herself for a run-in. she hadn't braced for the dinner seating chart. bella—sure, expected. but him? no one had said a word. and now there he was. sitting across the table, unreadable. he looked composed in that maddening way she remembered—cool on the surface, unreadable beneath it. was it inner peace, or just practiced stillness? she hadn’t decided. still, she couldn’t stop watching him. every subtle shift, every blink, every motion like a tiny, painful performance.

the way his lips parted just slightly before taking a bite—god, she could still remember what kissing that mouth felt like. how sometimes he’d press his forehead to hers after, like it was a secret ritual. but now, there was nothing she could pick apart—no glances she caught, no tension she could sink her teeth into. just quiet. the rest of the room fell away, spilling onto the dance floor with champagne smiles and over-rehearsed joy. she stayed seated, spine straight, legs crossed tightly like if she moved, she might unravel. maybe, just maybe, he’d stay too. and when he didn’t move, that flicker of luck—so rare, so precise—slid through her like silk over skin. she smiled, small and bittersweet. then she turned to him, voice low and tight with every emotion she hadn’t let herself feel. “hey,” she said, eyes locked on his. “you okay to talk to me? or would you rather borrow olivier rousteing’s massive balmain sewing machine bag and drop it on my foot just to make a statement?” it wasn’t casual. it wasn’t clean. it was the verbal equivalent of leaning in close enough to feel the heat, but not the burn. and god, she hoped he’d say something that would make her stay. / @maliikzayn