CHAPTER 38:

Tuesday, 24th December 2013

HARRY'S POV

It was the 24th today. And damn cold. So that meant it was time for Christmas Eve and... Louis' birthday.

I shut off my phone when the alarm buzzed, as I was already wide awake. Rubbing my red rimmed eyes, I took a glance at the mirror and grimacing at the sight, went straight to the bathroom.

"Hey lovely," Mum greeted me softly as I walked out to the kitchen and sat on the table. She came over and kissed my head, setting down a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me.

"Mornin' mum," I replied to her hoarsely.

"You've packed everything, yeah?" Mum asked me and I nodded in reply. We were leaving for Sheffield tonight, where Robin lived. Oh, did I mention that my mum and Robin were now dating? I seriously couldn't be happier for them.

"Oh, it's going to be so much fun!" Mum gushed, her eyes shining.

"Yeah, it will be." I murmured half-heartedly.

Mum glanced at me in sympathy. "Has he...?"

"No," I croaked, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Don't worry Harry, he will," Mum assured me, and giving me a kiss on the cheek, she patted my shoulder before going to the living room to relax with her tea.

I finished my breakfast quietly, placed the dishes in the sink and trudged back to my room to rot in my bed. As it was winter break, school and work were both off. So, I had a lot of free time on my hands.

Free time, that I sure as hell didn't need, especially right now. 'Cos whenever my mind is free, I start worrying about him. I start worrying about Zayn.

Zayn. The day he told his parents about us, and ever since that day we talked on the hill, he hasn't talked to me. At all.

Zayn had said that he needed some time. I gave him time. I gave him a week. But he should at least tell me if he's okay, damn it!

For the past week, I keep trying his cell, but it always switches to voice-mail. I must've left him at least 500 texts by now, and I'm slowly losing my mind. I ran my hands over my face as I sat on the edge of my bed, snatching up my phone and dialing Zayn.

No answer, no answer, no answer... voicemail.

GOD DAMN IT! I threw my phone across the wall and pulled at my curls in frustration. I'm not a violent person but this time, my emotions were too damn much for me to control. I felt tears stinging at the corners of my eyes but I forced them back, looking up at the ceiling.

Why isn't he answering?

He should at least tell me SOMETHING?

Are we done now? Is he really acting on what his Dad said and not talking to me forever?

Oh God, these questions were going to drive me mad! I can't even go to his house to check up on him, 'cos he had told me not to. He had asked me to leave him alone.

But there is so much I can actually tolerate. Why is he doing this? Don't I deserve an answer? Why isn't he strong enough to face his damn problems instead of switching off his phone and hiding in his own house like a coward.

He is a coward!

My phone vibrated and my heart leaped out of my chest as I snatched it up inhumanely fast, pressing it to my ear.

"Hello?" I breathed, not bothering to even check the caller ID in my haste.

"Hey, Haz. You game for the party, yeah?" It was Louis. I deflated slightly. Oh, who am I kidding? As far as I know, Zayn just doesn't want to speak with me now, or ever.

I choked a bit at the thought. "Y-yeah, Lou."

"How're you holding up mate?" Louis asked in a soft voice.

"Not good."

"I'm gonna kill that bastard! What is up with him anyway?" Louis seethed. "He's not even answering Liam's calls for Christ's sake! And yesterday, Liam went to his house, but he made the housekeeper send him away! He's mental!"

I shook my head in sadness. "Why isn't he talking to anybody, Lou? He needs someone if he's so upset right now, he isn't even letting me get to him!"

Louis sighed on the other end. "I have no idea what's going on in that mind of his, Harry. But I wish you luck. And, are you gonna come to my house today?" Louis asked. "That is, if you want to." He added softly.

I felt a small smile on my lips. "Of course silly! Why would I ever miss my best pal's 19th birthday?"

Louis laughed. "That's the Haz I know! Love you babe!"

I chuckled. "Love you more Lou, see you."

I felt a whole lot better after talking to Louis. He just has that effect on you. He can be serious when you need him the most, and he can pick you up when you're feeling down.

Zayn will come around when he'll be better, why am I worrying so much? I know he won't leave me like this, without answers, without an explanation of his actions. I know my Zayn, I trust him. He would never hurt me like that.

My pep talk worked wonders, and for the first time in over a week, I felt myself smile genuinely.

Of course Zayn would never hurt me like that, I'm sure of it.

~*~

"Welcome! Welcome to my humble abode!" Louis greeted as we walked inside his modest house. There weren't any guests yet as we all had to arrive early to help him set up. It was a fairly small party, to which only Louis' friends from drama class were invited. But nobody needed to worry about the party being boring, those guys were wild!

As Zayn usually picked me up wherever we went, I had drove with Dani and Liam this time. Liam walked over to the kitchen to help Louis with lifting the giant cake. I was about to follow him when a pull on my arm held me back.

"How're you feeling Haz?" Danielle asked, searching my eyes.

"Good, yeah. I'm okay," I assured her, and after assessing me for another few seconds, she let my arm go.

"Good. Keep your chin up Harreh, don't worry about him. It's our idiot friend's birthday, and it's the time to enjoy it, not mope around." I laughed at Dani's blunt honestly, nodding my head.

"Yep, thanks Dani."

She saluted me and walked over to the kitchen, and started praising her boyfriend who was carrying the cake with ease, and she poked fun at poor Louis who was breathless under the cake's weight.

Seriously, who would even eat this much cake?

"Well, that's what I'm here for," Niall commented from beside me, almost as if he had read my thoughts. "I'm just here to finish that thing," he continued, eyeing the giant carrot cake like it was a shirtless Taylor Lautner.

I rolled my eyes, smiling at my blonde friend. "Why? Aren't you here to celebrate your boyfriend's birthday?"

Niall shrugged with a cheeky grin. "Eh, that too." I just chuckled, slinging an arm around the blonde lad's ahoulder.

"Oi, Styles! Hands off my man!" Louis came over, dusting off his hands. He stood in front of us, fixing his mock-glare on me.

"Whoa, sorry!" I lifted my arm up, grinning. But Niall wrapped his arms around my waist instead and planted a big wet kiss on my cheek.

"Sorry Lou, but I'm trading ya for Harry!" Niall laughed, and bounded off somewhere before Louis could catch him. Still, Louis took off after him with a cry of, "Horan, how dare you dump me on my birthday?!"

I silently chuckled at my two idiotic friends still chasing each other, feeling my mood turn better.

Louis had finally caught up to the blonde boy, and had tackled him to the ground, straddling him. Louis's smile turned from mischevious to pure loving in a split second, as he bent down and kissed his boyfriend. I lost my smile a bit and turned my head away, reminded about Zayn.

How he kisses me like that.

"Hi, Harry." Liam spoke nervously, appearing beside me.

"Hey, Liam."

"You okay?"

"Hmm, I'm fine," I answered him.

"Did you talk to Zayn then?"

I turned to him, frowning. "No. He isn't answering my calls."

Liam looked at me in surprise. "Why? I just talked to him a few hours ago, and he told me he was gonna talk to you."

I choked on air. "W-what? What did he say?" Then I felt a pang in my chest. "H-he didn't call me."

Liam bit his lip. "He said he isn't talking to his parents still. I asked him 'bout you, and he told me he's sorry that he didn't tell you anything, and he was gonna call you straightaway. But, he didn't?"

"No, he didn't." I felt my eyes water. "I-I'll be back," I excused myself, and walked out to Louis' balcony, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Why was Zayn not talking to me? He talked to Liam, his best friend. But why not me, his boyfriend?

Did I do something wrong? Does he really want to end things with me? With all the signs that he's showing, it really looks like it.

I felt a warm tear slip down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it off.

I still believe in Zayn. I still have faith that he won't hurt me. But that faith is slowly fading now.

~*~

I composed myself and forced on a smile for Louis's birthday. I shouldn't let him down with my mood. It's not his fault I'm so damn emotional.

More people than Louis had expected had shown up, and some even bought alcohol as half the people here could drink. I made my away over to Louis who was twerking in the middle of his living room, and pulled him aside.

"Lou, my mum just called. We've to leave early for Sheffield."

"Aw, Haz!" he pouted. "Fine! But let's cut the cake first, yeah?"

I nodded in agreement, and followed a slightly tipsy Louis to the cake table.

"Okay, ladies and carrots! I dunno why I just said carrots even if I hate carrots but my cake is carrot flavored and WHAT IS MY LIFE?!"

Everyone just chuckled and rolled their eyes. "Alright, let's eat some cake!" Everyone cheered, and I think I heard an enthusiastic "yeah, baby" from Niall.

Reluctantly eating a piece of cake 'cos Louis was glaring at me, I finally told him where his present was hidden and saying goodbye to everyone, walked out the door where Mum and Robin were already waiting in the car with our luggage.

I greeted Robin, and slumped into the back seat of the car. Pulling out my phone, I checked it, then with a sigh, stuffed it back in my pocket again.

~*~

LOUIS' POV

I know I got a bit tipsy, but not too much. I was allowed to, yeah? It was my damn birthday!

I was standing by my front door, just listening to whatever Niall was animatedly telling me. I'm not listening, I'm just loving watching him talk. Creepy, I know. But I really can't understand his adoable accent when I'm drunk.

I was tipsy, but not that drunk as I recongized who entered through my front door right at that moment.

"ZAYN?!"

Zayn snapped his bloodshot eyes up at the sound of his name being called, and I winced at the sight of the poor bloke.He looked like a mess.

Zayn briskly walked over to me, roughly pushing aside some people. "Louis! Look, calm down alright. I can explain." What I was feeling towards the idiot must be showing on my face right now as Zayn stared at me warily.

"How could you hurt Harry like that?!" I yelled at him, and he winced, guilt in his eyes.

"I-I know. I fucked up, bad. I let my emotions get in the way. I need to talk to Harry. Where is he?" He turned to Niall, knowing full well I won't give him the answer.

"He left," Niall answered him quietly.

Zayn's face drained of color. "L-left? Where? Why?"

I rolled my eyes. "He left for Christmas to visit family."

Zayn took a deep breath. "Where?" He asked me and I scoffed, looking away. Is he even serious? He really needs to set his priorities staright. I don't even know why Harry stays with that idiot. He always ends up getting hurt by him, yet Harry always comes back to him after Zayn grovels.

Guess, they really love each other then. I sighed and looked at Zayn. "He left for Sheffield."

"That's about five hours away by car, yeah?" Zayn asked urgently and I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"Yeah..."

"Then I'm going after him!" He blurted out and before any of us could blink, he was out the door and we heard his car engine revv then him drive off.

I saw it coming.

"Is he mental?! Harry left hours ago!" Niall shook his head in awe, still staring at the wide open front door that Zayn went through.

I smiled lightly and swung an arm around Niall's shoulder, kissing his temple. "He should go, he owes Harry a damn good explanation. And those two kids really love each other, ya know?"

~*~

ZAYN IS GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO HARRY YAY! :')

Zayn is really such an idiot sometimes -.- and Loueh is right, those kids are in love <3 *dreamy sigh*

Only FIVE, I repeat, FIVE chapters left 'til the epilogue, babes. *sob*

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~bemycupcake xx