Zayn Malik, I. [zustin mieber]

Chapter 4

[this book has a lot of mature shit by the way. and there's a sequel which I've started to plan.]

The only reason I know Alyssa is here is because of the screams coming from downstairs. I don't know if Zayn and Niall are done talking, but I do know I can go back downstairs to see them now. When I get down there, Niall is wiping his eyes while Zayn and Alyssa hug. I walk over to Niall and hug him, just because he looks like he needs a hug badly. Niall hugs me back, burying his head in my neck. I look at Zayn, who's frowning. He looks at Niall with pained eyes.

"Justin, I think you're killing him," Alyssa says. I give her a look, but then Niall laughs against my chest. I let him laugh for a while, and I can tell he's trying to keep his emotions in check. Zayn used to do this all the time after he got out of the hospital. Niall finally stops laughing and moves away from my chest. I hold in a gasp.

"You smell like coffee," Niall says. He turns to Zayn, and when he does Zayn's eyes go wide. "How do you not eat him? He smells so good... Don't tell me about your sex life please." Niall looks at Zayn and reaches up to his cheek. Zayn slowly nods. I look at Alyssa, who's also looking at me.

"Niall what happened?" I ask. He turns to me, his eyes wide.

"No! Nothing!" He yells. "Nothing happened! I'm fine. I fell and I'm okay!" Niall lets his head fall back into my chest. "Please don't ask me... I can't... I can't answer it correctly."

"It's okay if you aren't ready to tell me. We only met yesterday," I say. Niall looks at me and nods. "Great. Now let's do something fun and joyful. And Alyssa, it had been a while." She rolls her eyes.

"You've been on tour, bitch. That's why you haven't seen me," Alyssa says. I roll ym eyes and hug her.

"I've missed you though," I say.

"Whatever. Like I believe you," Alyssa jokes. I smile at her. We're very close, since we grew up together. Most people ask me why I'm not dating her and I only tell them she's too sassy for me. I can't let anyone know about Zayn until he's ready. I will wait forever if I have to.

We reach the living room, Niall and Zayn are already on the couch talking in low voices. Niall is curled into Zayn's side. I should feel jealous but I can't. Not when I know something is wrong with Niall. Alyssa and I sit in the two love-seats across from them, a silence filling the room.

"Could... Could we play Monopoly?" Niall asks.

"Ha! Justin and I suck at that game," Alyssa says.

"Last time I played that with Justin he cheated," Zayn says. I look at him and raise an eyebrow.

"I won. That's not cheating," I say. I cross my arms. "Plus I'd never cheat on you." Zayn smiles. He knows what I'm referring to, not just a board game.

"You're so fucking cheesy, Justin," Alyssa says. I turn to her.

"Actually, I'm fucking Zayn," I say. Alyssa fake gags and Niall giggles. He quickly covers his mouth. He looks at Zayn, then me, then Alyssa. He seems to relax and moves closer to Zayn. "But we can play Monopoly. I'll get the box." I stand up and go over to a bookshelf filled with everything but books and grab the game.

"Wait! Is that Jinga I see?" Niall asks. I turn to him with a smile.

"It is. Would you rather play that?" I ask.

"Heck yea! I haven't really played before. If that's okay with you," Niall says. I tell him it is and grab the Jinga box. We play Jinga, Zayn and I losing every time and when Niall gets a text saying he has to go Zayn hits the tower down.

"I'm not going to let you go," he says. I give Zayn a confused look.

"I have to Z. You know about the toilet," Niall hisses. "It's broken again. And will get mad if I don't fix it."

"Can I talk to him alone?" Zayn asks. He sounds on edge. Quickly, Alyssa and I leave the living room and head upstairs.

"He's being abused," Alyssa says. We're sitting on my bed, trying to not listen in but failing. Zayn yells when he's angry. It's not that we can really understand him because of his accent though.

"Was it the bruise that have it away?" I ask.

"That and how jumpy he was. I've seen it before. Trust me. It's abuse," Alyssa says. I turn to her, putting my hand over hers. 

"What can we do then? You know I want to help him," I say. Alyssa hits my hand away and pulls her hair into a ponytail. 

"I'll talk to my mom tonight. But Justin... If it is abuse I don't want him to be at his house much longer. So try and get it out of Zayn tonight," Alyssa says. I nod. Her mom is a councilor, and her dad a cop. If there's anyone who can help it's going to be Alyssa. 

When Zayn stops yelling, I head downstairs cautiously. He's sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. I sit next to him and pull Zayn closer to me. Niall must've left, because I don't see him anywhere. 

"I try, Justin. I try so hard," Zayn says. He lifts his head and wipes his tears. "What am I doing wrong?" 

"You aren't doing anything wrong, bub. You're trying and that's all that matters right now. Alyssa needs to know if he's being abused, Z. Can you please tell me?" I ask, kissing his forehead softly. Zayn stands up, fishing his phone out of his pocket. He hands it to me. 

"Read our texts. I'm going to have a bath. I nee-need to relax for a few minutes." Zayn leaves the living room, and Alyssa comes downstairs. She nods at me before leaving the house. I unlock Zayn's phone.