Hanging Tree

Chapter 29

Zayn

I walked out of school with blood trickling down my face. I think I must’ve had a small cut from the side of my forehead. I licked my lips and instantly regretted it. My taste buds collided with the rusty and thick taste of blood. Violet was following behind my silently. I didn’t even know why I had asked her to follow me. I don’t have anything on mind. I guess it was just an instinct.

I walked over to the parking lot and looked up to find Niall and Liam staring at me. They eyed me and realized Violet was following behind me. Liam pushed himself off of the car he was leaning on and walked over to us.

“What’s going on?” Liam said as he walked over to us. He moved his head to the left to look at Violet who’s behind me. “You okay?” he asks her.

I turn to the back to look at her. Her green eyes locked with my hazel ones. She averted her gaze to Liam and answered him.

“Yeah,” she was fiddling with her fingers. I guess the both of us has lots of shit to explain to Liam and Niall here.

We all stayed silent so Violet decided to speak up again.

“Harry and Louis tried to bully me again.”

Niall was next to Liam by now and you could see rage in Liam’s brown eyes.

“Zayn didn’t though. He helped me,” Violet quickly added in before things got out of hand.

The rage in Liam’s eyes slowly diluted as he looked at me. Niall was also looking at me.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, mate,” Niall spoke, his thick irish accent leaving all of us in shock.

I knew they hated me and I knew the only reason they’re talking to me now is because Violet is here. But the fact that he’s willing to help me? Well that’s something new. If I were to get beaten up when I was with Harry and Louis, they wouldn’t even bother to help, but instead they would just snicker at me. I looked at Violet. I don’t know why I did though but she had already been looking at me.

“Uhh, sure,” I answered scratching the back of my neck.

“We’ll meet you at your place,” Liam spoke to Violet.

Violet nodded and both Liam and Niall had disappeared into their cars. “So you got a ride?” Violet asked.

I didn’t actually. Harry decided to pick me up today but now since we had a tiny battle amongst ourselves I didn’t have a ride. I shook my head and I heard her sigh.

“Come with me,” she muttered.

Was she mad at me? Was she disappointed? She looked as if she was. I did protect her, I mean god knows what would’ve happened if I didn’t step in. But at the same time, this might have caused things between Violet and the boys to get worst. Me and the boys are obviously not going to get along now considering the fact that I’m on Violet’s side now. So the two of them would only be more aggressive on her. They would be waiting for a day when I’m not there to protect and they would attack her. Just like a prey and predator.

I got into her car and buckled myself in. She cranked it up and drove out of school. Her small hands gripped on the steering wheel so tightly I could see her knuckles turning white. Her eyes were focused on the road and I could see her jaw clenched slightly. But what was she pissed off about?

“You okay?” I asked her.

She nodded but didn’t answer a word to me. What do I say now? I’ve never done stuff like this before. I’ve never tried to comfort anyone or tried to calm anyone down. If Harry or Louis were to be pissed they would just drink. That’s what we always do. Just drink. I looked out the window, trying to come up with something to say to her. I focused on the trees passing by so quickly you could barely see a thing.