Niall's Cancer Battle: A 1D Fanfic

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Back Pain

**A/N** I have an enormous announcement to make at the end of this chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Back Pain

**Zayn's POV**

I throw the napkin dispenser off the table Katie and I were previously sitting at. It lands a couple feet away, the action startling a middle aged couple. I grab the ketchup bottle and throw it as well, not caring about the red substance that comes flying out of it. I don't care one bit about anything right now.

"Zayn, stop it." Katie stops me from grabbing the small salt container. She stands between me and the table, glaring up at me with her brown eyes. "Stop it!" she yells this time, pushing me away from the table.

I clench my fist like my jaw, feeling the urge to pound my fist against a wall. Both Liam and Niall witnessed me smoking. This wasn't supposed to happen! The smoking was supposed to remain a secret. It wasn't meant to become their problem.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Katie screams at me, attracting a couple people's attention. I glare at them all and they turn back to their machines.

"Just do what Liam said, Katie. Find NIall." I want to get away from the small blonde. I don't want to deal with her right now. I don't want to deal with anyone.

Niall is probably hallucinating somewhere right now. All because I smoked. Because he saw me smoking even when I made multiple promises of me stopping. I don't even know what came over me when I asked for that damn cigarette. It's hard to just quit smoking after all this time. I'm not perfect.

I'm scanning the casino when I notice a group of people gathering. If anything, that's my best bet.

I make my way over, trying to peek over people's heads to get a view of what was happening. Katie stays by my side, her presence feeling like that of a good dog following automatically. The crowd of people are muttering something but I can't make out the words over the loud casino.

"-wrong with this one." An older woman with grey hair shakes her head sadly as she walks away with a friend on her arm. They glance back at the crowd before leaving.

There's something going on here. And my guess is that it involves Niall.

I pull out my phone and dial Liam. I might need some help getting Niall and I'm not sure Katie would be a very big help. "Hello?!" He answers immediately.

"Liam, come towards the giant crowd near the smoking section. I believe I found Niall," I say into my phone.

"Alright I'll be there soon," he answers and the line goes dead.

"Katie, I need you to stay here." I don't want to lose her in the crowd or have her get hurt somehow. There has to be more than a couple dozen people in the crowd, the majority of them men.

I run a hand through my hair. What have I done this time? I just always mess things up.

There's a hand on my shoulder followed by Liam's voice. "Okay, I'm here," he pants and I look back at him. There's a shine starting on him. He must have run from another place in the casino.

I nod at him. Things are somewhat more reassuring now that Liam is with me. "Let's go." I head towards the crowd with Liam. He pushes past a couple people.

"Wait!" Katie squeals and grabs my arm. "Wait! Don't leave me here!"

I groan impatiently and turn back to her. She's getting to be a real bother. "Katie, I'll be right back. I just need to get Niall," I pull my arm back. Liam has already disappeared in the crowd. Damn it.

"Please!" Katie begs, grabbing my arm again. There's fear in her wide brown eyes again. God this chick could be so bipolar.

I let out a deep breath of air and turn to face her. Her brown eyes behind her thick glasses stare up at me frightened. Her pink bottom lip quivers. I let my eyes slide shut as I breathe out again.