CHAPTER 36:

"Don't be scared, I ain't going nowhere." ~Gotta Be You, One Direction.

Wednesday, 18th December 2013

ZAYN'S POV

Holidays. The damn holidays were here. Holidays, that you have to spend with your family. I wasn't looking forward to having my parents home all the time and not only that, I actually had to spend time with them as school was off.

The only upside to all of this was that my big sister was coming to visit.

The weather had gotten extemely cold these past few days. My parents and I were standing outside, near the Arrivals gate of Heathrow Airport, waiting for my sister to arrive. Her flight from Florida had landed, so she was gonna be here any minute.

A while later, my big sister came shuffling out, dragging her luggage behind her. Mum spotted her first and they both ran towards each other and hugged.

"Oh, sweetheart you've changed so much! You changed your hair, and oh my you look gorgeous!" Mum gushed, still hugging Doniya.

"Where's your fiance, Doniya?" Dad asked, with a hint of mockery in his voice. Doniya discreetly rolled her eyes and turned to him.

"Jake got held up by work. He'll be here 'til Christmas Eve." Dad never liked Jake, just 'cos he was a musician. And according to him, that was not a good enough job.

Doniya then spotted me behind Dad and squealed. "Zaynie! C'mere!" And I was being sqeezed to death, my sister's perfume nearly choking me.

"Yeah Doni, I missed you too. Enough of the sisterly love!" I gasped out. She let me go but still kept an arm around my shoulders.

"And little bro, you have a LOT to tell me about!" She winked and I nodded, grinning. Doniya was the only one out of my family who knew I was gay and I was with Harry. I had been nervous when I was about to tell her over the phone a few weeks ago, but I finally did.

She was actually very supportive, and told me that she had never heard me so happy before. She was right, it was all Harry.

"So, what did Mum and Dad say?" Doni asked me as we walked to our car, behind our parents.

"About what?" I played dumb. She gave me a look and I shrugged, looking away.

"Haven't actually told 'em yet," I mumbled.

"WHAT?!"

Mum and Dad both turned around with questioning looks, and we waved them off.

"What? Why? You have been dating him for three months Zayn! When will you?" She whisper-shouted.

"I was thinking maybe in a few days? I actually wanted you to be around," I admitted sheepishly.

"Aw, Zaynie! Well, I'll help you tell them. I'm afraid of Dad's reaction though. You know how... difficult he is."

I rolled my eyes. "Tell me about it."

~*~

I was in my room while I could hear Mum and Doniya chatting away in the kitchen. I laid down on my bed and texted Harry.

To Curly

Me: hey babe :) x

Him: hiii .xx

Me: havin fun? x

Him: yeah, baking with mum :D

Me: aww! i miss you xx

Him: i miss you more .xx

Me: see you at the spot at 9? x

Him: oh? sure! see you there then love! :D .x

I really missed Harry. We hadn't seen each other for almost a week. I knew it wasn't much time apart, but to me it was. So, I was going to meet him at our spot tonight.

After I tell my parents about us, that is.

I heard Mum calling me down for dinner and I answered back with a "Coming!"

Okay Zayn, now or never. I decided I should tell my parents right now., before Christmas. And they should approve, because Harry makes me happy.

I squared my shoulders and walked downstairs to the dining room. I passed Doniya and she squeezed my shoulder reassuringly, understanding the look in my eyes.

We all sat down at the dinner table, and converstaion mostly consisted of my parents asking Doniya how everything in Miami was, and how the wedding plans were going. I listened, occasionally putting in my opinions.

"Zayn?"

"Hmm?" I looked up from my plate.

"What do you think?" Mum asked.

"About what?"

"About holding a New Year Party at our house," Doniya told me.

"Oh, uh, cool," I smiled at Mum.

"Great! I can't wait to plan this! I haven't planned a party for ages! And Jake will be here 'til then, and oh! Zayn, you can invite that girl you went with to that Halloween dance!" Mum gushed and I choked a bit, shooting a panicked glace at Doniya.

She gave me a nod, urging me to say something. Now or never.

I cleared my throat. "Uh, look Mum-"

"I thought you were dating that blonde girl, Perrie?" Dad questioned, frowning a bit.

"Oh, right! Then you must've gone with Perrie!" Mum noddded, smiling.

"Actually, I broke up with her months ago. You guys wouldn't know that, now would you?" I spat. They were hardly ever here, so how do they expect to know all about my personal life?

"Well, Mum, Dad. Zayn's dating somebody else now. Right, Zayn?" Doniya urged me, ignoring my death glare.

"Oh my!" Mum grinned. "Who is she?"

I bit my lip. "Look guys, before you freak out, here me out."

Mum and Dad shared a glance, and Mum nodded. "I don't really care what you guys might say," I started, glancing at Doniya who smiled at me. "Because I really like him."

Mum beamed at me, but then my words registered and her mouth dropped open. "D-did you just say him?"

"Yeah, I-"

"You are with a boy?" Dad boomed, standing up from the table.

I stood up as well, fists clenched at my sides. I met the eyes of my father, keeping my face neutral. "Yes, Dad. I'm with Harry, and he really means a lot to me."

Dad shook his head, and he was taking deep breaths to calm himself. Mum was tearing up. "Do you have any idea how wrong that is? To be with a boy?"

I felt anger surging through my body. "Why is it?! I don't think it is! Love is equal no matter what and I LOVE HARRY!"

Everyone bacame silent as soon as the words left my mouth, including me. I just said I loved Harry. Did I love him? Yeah, I was fighting my father for him, I would literally do anything for him, for his happiness.

Yes, I love him.

"Harry?" My father questioned, his voice leveled. "Is that the curly haired boy who tutors you?"

I simply nodded. "And he has been coming to our house all this time! Why did you not tell us Zayn! This is wrong!"

I felt my body shaking with anger and despair and I knew I was going to explode. "Because I knew this was going to happen! I knew what you were going to say! Can't you see how happy he makes me? Why is it so wrong if we're both boys and I love him?"

I was crying now. I was crying in front of my father, but I don't give a fuck. Dad's eyes softened for a split second, then hardened into a glare.

"That's it. I don't approve of this. I won't allow you to see that boy. My only son should be with a girl, the way it should be."

I chuckled humorlessly. "That's all that you care about, huh? What the world will think if they find out that Mr. Malik, the powerful businessman's only son is gay? That's what you always cared about! Never for my happiness."

Dad sighed. "You know I don't mean it like that, Zayn. I do care about you."

I harshly wiped at my eyes. "Save it Dad. I don't care. I don't care what you say. You can tell anyone whatever the hell you want but I'll never let go of Harry. I love him and he actually supports me in whatever good I do, unlike you," I spat and turned on my heel, walking upstairs to my room and shut the door behind me with a loud slam.

I fucking knew it! I knew it he would never accept me. Why is it so bad to like a guy? Recently, Coach even placed me -the one he said so himself was his best player- in second line, after he heard that I was gay. The guys in my team, who respected me before, were now always sneering and throwing jibes at me.

Homophobic bastards.

I wasn't popular anymore, 'cos I was no longer known as the ladies' man. But that didn't matter, right? 'Cos I had Harry, I loved him and I think he loves me back, and that's all that mattered.

I told my parents that I didn't care what they said about me. But the actual truth is, I do care. I care a lot. I want people to accept me, but so far no one has.

And I'm too much of a coward to bear with that level of rejection.

~*~

Oh no Zayn, stay strong! For Harry!

Sooo, I split this chapter up. The other half with Doniya's POV will be the next one.

**Next update after 57 votes 12 comments and 310 reads.**

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~bemycupcake