CHAPTER 12:

"Can we fall one more time? Stop the tape and rewind." ~Gotta Be You, One Direction.

Monday, 19th August 2013

HARRY'S POV

Oh poo, it's Monday again. Weekend's over. Not that I have many exciting things to do on weekends like attend parties. Oh wait, I did attend a party this weekend, but I wasn't invited to it. But I went to it anyway. 'Cos you only live once. And we should Live While We're Young.

I groaned and got up from my warm and comfy bed, which was lulling me back into it's snuggly depths. I stepped into the bathroom in a sleepy haze and looked back longingly at my bed. Oh well. Education awaits.

After making myself presentable, as soon as I walked downstairs, Dusty started pawing at my feet, demanding attention. I bent down and patted her furry head lovingly, earning a soft purr. I opened the cupboard and poured Dusty her breakfast.

"Oh! Mum you're up!" Mum was up this early in the morning which was definitely a surprise. She's a late sleeper.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep," she spoke and coughed. I winced.

"How're you feeling Mum?" She just shrugged and I watched in disgust as she pulled out a cigarette and lighted it.

"Now you're smoking too?!"

"I'm stressed okay! And I don't need your permission to do anything Harry. Go to school," she muttered and took a puff of the cigarette.

"You do know it's really bad for your health Mum," I chided her. She rolled her eyes and laughed humorlessly.

"I don't think there's much left to worry about my health now." I watched as she stubbed the used cigar on the kitchen island and pulled out another one.

God I absolutely hated when people smoked! Don't they know it's like you're killing yourself! By your own hands!

I thought it'd be the best to leave Mum as is. When she'd started drinking when my so-called Dad left us, I tried to stop her, did everything I could to get her to check into a rehab but she wasn't having any of it. She just believes that just 'cos Dad left her, she just wasn't good enough and that she still isn't good enough for anyone. It's his loss actually. Mum is an amazing person.

It really hurts to see her like this. To see her slowly loose all her self confidence. To see her throw her life away like this.

I shook my head, forcing the tears back but some still spilled out. I sniffled and Mum's head snapped up, her eyes filling with guilt and regret. "Go to school baby."

"Mum, please get better. For me," I sobbed, coming closer to her. What do I have to possibly do to get her back like she was before? Care free and loving. Like she was before my fath— before her husband left us? Can't she get better? Can't se make the effort? For me?

Mum shook her head sadly. "I can't," she said simply.

Dani's car horn beeped downstairs and giving a one last pleading look to Mum, I picked up my book bag and clambered downstairs, suddenly not in the mood for breakfast.

~*~

Thankfully my firends didn't question me. They knew well not to when something like this happened with Mum, which was often. Other than that, school so far went by almost normally.

Dani and Liam constantly flirting every chance they got? Normal.

Everybody waiting for the hot new couple-to-be— good looking jock Andy Samuels and sassy new girl Eleanor Calder —to finally get together? Normal.

Zayn Malik avoiding me because of obvious reasons? Normal.

Louis not cracking jokes, calling me Hazza Bear and goofing around? Not normal.

Niall avoiding Louis like he had the plague and vice versa? Definitely not normal.

I had a hunch that something happened between them at Zayn's party, but neither one of them was uttering a single word. Not to us, and especially not to each other.

Dani walked next to me on our way to lunch and whispered, "What do you think happened between Lou and Niall? I have a bad feeling."

I nodded. "I'm thinking Louis turned the poor bloke down," I whispered back, noticing how the Irish boy didn't look as lively as he always did.

"But my match-ups never fail! I'm almost positive that Louis has feelings for Niall and believe me, you and I have known him since preschool and I know how to read him, when he likes somebody." I nodded in agreement. Dani was right about that. And Louis hated that uncanny ability of hers.

"Let's just wait. I'm going to make Louis spill," I assured Dani. He just can't say no to the cupcake face.

~*~

This was getting ridiculous. Zayn was avoiding me like I would murder him if we made eye contact. He had even skipped History for heaven sake!

What was going on in his mind? Was he too embarassed to face me after his drunken revelations? Does he even remember those?

Well I'm going to find out. Today. After school.

~*~

I stayed in the library after school even if the homework load for today was very light. Just needed an excuse to stay. After an hour passed and I was sure the lacrosse team's practice session had ended, I walked out of the library and nervously made my way to the locker rooms. That way, Zayn had no choice but to talk to me.

Or he could walk away. But I'm hoping he won't.

I peeked inside the locker room from the glass on the door and to my relief, most of the team had left. Only Zayn, Liam and Josh were around. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

All the boy's heads snapped up simultaneously at the sound of the door opening. Liam was confused, Josh raised his eyebrows and was looking back and forth between me and Zayn with a smirk, and the latter was scowling at the ground, still not looking at me.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't Zayn's lover boy!" Josh crowed.

My cheeks turned red and Zayn bellowed, "WHAT THE HELL JOSH?"

Josh snickered. "Well you pretty much fainted while talking to him, probably 'cos you were overwhelmed by his beauty."

My cheeks became even redder if that was possible. "Let it go already man!" Zayn huffed.

"Uh Zayn? Can I talk to you in private?" I asked hopefully, but Zayn just snorted; and picking up his bag started walking out, but Liam grabbed his arm.

"Talk to him Zayn, sort it out," he urged him and pefore Zayn could protest, he pulled Josh with him and locked the door. The other door that lead to the field was already locked so... we were trapped. Gulp.

"Liam let me out! This isn't funny!"

"Talk first!" Liam ordered from the other side. Zayn huffed then turned around and finally met my eyes.

He crossed his arms. "You wanted to talk Curly? Then freaking talk already!"

"Okay, first. Why are you avoiding me?" Zayn rolled his eyes as if I had asked the simplest question in the world.

"I didn't and still don't want to talk to you. Isn't that obvious?"

"But you even skipped History 'cos of that?"

"I was sick."

I snorted. "Right."

"Are you planning to play 20 questions with me or can I please fucking go now?" He all but growled.

"Zayn why do you act like this?"

He looked a little taken aback. "What do you mean 'act'?

"That's exactly what I mean. Act. Why do you put on this tough guy act all the time? Pretend that nothing affects you? Pretend to be interested in sports when you're clearly interested in other completely opposite things? And do you realize you hurt others with this behaviour of yours? And the worse thing about it? It's fake. You can stop, but you don't."

Zayn, didn't reply for a while, processing my words. "You don't know a single thing about me so don't go making stupid assumptions, Hipster. If all of this is brought on 'cos of what happened at the party, I was a bit drunk. And I swear to God if you tell—"

I held a hand up to cut him off. "First of all, calm down. I'm not going to tell anybody. Those things were obviously not meant for me to hear. And besides, nobody is going to believe me if I do decide to tell them. Which I won't!" I hurriedly added when he glared at me.

"And secondly, they say that a drunken mind speaks the truth. I won't forget what you said to me Zayn. 'Cos I know it was the truth. It'll just be between us."

Zayn groaned. "That isn't very reassuring. Besides, I just spewed a bunch of rubbish while I was drunk off my arse. No need to remind me of it."

"But I need to know why you said that you bullied a nerd like me 'cos they did it too. And they caused you to move. I'm not asking this 'cos I want to pry but 'cos it concerns me as well."

"None of your damn business." I sighed. Of course it won't be that easy to get him to open up. Better luck next time.

"Okay. But just answer this question. Can I borrow some of your books?" I asked cheekily.

He blinked in suprise. "What? Oh, my books. No, I mean- I mean, what? Huh? Books?"

I rolled my eyes. "So, can I?"

"No."

I shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

I continued. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone anything. You're ramblings are safe with me."

"I know I shouldn't, but somehow I trust you won't tell anyone Curly." My heart did a flippity-flip. He trusts me?! Oh that's a first step!

"So we're cool?" I asked. "You won't avoid me like I have a disease anymore?"

"What? You're saying you don't have a contagious disease?" He teased. Then he became neutral again.

"Dunno." He shrugged nonchalantly. "But I sure as hell won't stop teasing you. That's too much fun. To be honest, I missed doing that today," he smirked. I missed his teasing remarks too, to be completely honest.

"Okay?" I asked finally.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Oh my god! Stop flirting with me!"

Zayn laughed adorably and replied, "Okay."

"It's a good book isn't it?" I wagged my eyebrows.

"Huh?" He tried to play dumb again.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh you know what I mean!"

He just smirked in response and knocked on the door. "Li, let us out now!"

No answer.

"Liam? Josh?"

He twisted the knob and the door opened. I snickered. "Whaddaya know? The door was open all this time!"

"Those little twats!" Zayn muttered but was smiling slightly.

"See you around Zayn!" I called out to him. He just rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets, walking in the other direction to the parking lot, to get to his motorbike.

Damn! I didn't get anything out of Zayn and he didn't admit anything... yet. He still has is walls up. And now this has gotten way past just curiosity. I'm actually concerned about him now.

But on the bright side, me and Zayn are on way better terms now then we were two weeks ago, and even better compared to two years ago when I'd moved here, to London. And when I'd started going to this school, Woodridge High School.

Let's just hope it stays like this and Zayn opens up a bit more. 'Cos I really want to help him and know him better.

~*~

PICTURE OF FETUS ZARRY FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE! (Bless you puberty! xD) ---->

Hey ho! Hope y'all liked the update! Hopefully it's longer.. :D

Thank you for all the votes and awesome comments on the last chapter! :D

And Sorry it got a bit late, I wasn't feeling very well. Oh well, I'm okay now! xD

P.S. Who's read 'The Fault in our Stars'? :P

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