A Hit In The Making | H.S | 1D |

Chapter 12

Rachel's POV:

After the heated diving contest, fetch with Zeus, a few rounds of KEMPS and several water fights between all of the boys, everyone is pretty exhausted. So we decided to come inside and chill out for a bit since it's starting to get dark.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Harry mutters from the kitchen island. I peer over at him from my spot near the dining table to see him fiddling with a bowl of what seems to be brownie mix. "What's the problem?" I ask as I make my way towards him. "I uh... I got shell in it" he grimaces, still picking at the chocolaty substance. I nod and grab two eggs from the carton across the counter and mindlessly crack them on the the sides of the bow, one egg in each hand. From the corner of my eye I spot Liam entering the room, but he stops as I drop the contents of both eggs into the mixture. I look up to see quite the baffled look on the two boy's faces, which I find pretty amusing.

"Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on those" Niall approaches from behind and leans both forearms on the counter top beside me. "Same. Harry's doing a wonderful job." I smile at them both as Harry shakes his head. "Hey, a little eggshell never hurt anyone" I nudge his arm before walking towards the sink. He only grins and starts stirring the batter while Liam grabs the pitcher of lemonade out of the fridge.

"Would you like some, Rachel?" Liam asks, stepping towards me. "I could go for a glass, yeah." I respond casually while drying my hands with a nearby dish towel. He nods with a smile and happily goes about pouring our drinks. I peer over to see Niall helping Harry pour the brownie batter into a cake pan and smile at the sight. These two are like brothers, it's the sweetest thing. Seeing them like this you'd never know they're part of one of the world's most successful boybands. They're all just regular old guys with big hearts and the appetites to match.

"Here you go" Liam says, handing me a glass of lemonade. Something tells me he enjoys taking care of people; Liam always jumps at any opportunity to lend a hand or ease someone else's worries, and I think that's really sweet. It shows that he's hardworking and genuinely cares for those around him. I thank Liam and mindlessly roam the space a bit, not entirely sure of what to do next. But then as Harry walks towards the oven with his pan in hand, Zeus comes running in and nearly trips Harry in his tracks. Zeus begins sniffing all around and licking the bits of spilled egg in the floor, sending the three boys into a total tizzy. A giggle escapes my lips as I close the distance, helping Harry to his feet while Zeus trots around the room in excitement.

"Come here, boy" I call for Zeus. He instantly comes to my side and nudges my hand happily, earning a nice scratch behind his ears. I smile and wave to the others "I'll handle him, don't worry. Come on, Zeus!" I exclaim as he quickly follows me out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. As we reach the top he stops and firms a stance of alertness before sniffing around and taking a left. "What is it, boy?" I mumble, following him curiously.

Eventually we make it to a somewhat familiar area and I realize this is where two of the boy's bedrooms are located. Zeus stops in front of one door in particular, scratching it and panting a bit. I give him a quick pat on the head and knock on the door before opening it slowly. "Hey, anyone in here?" I speak into the silence. I glance around the large bedroom, taking note of the musky scent and cream colored walls. I spot a bag of spray cans in a corner near the room's adjecent balcony, along with a few canvases and paint splattered cloths. Huh. Who's room is this?

Zeus begins to whine behind me, scratching at the patio door with his right paw as his ears perk. I look out the glass door to see Zayn sitting against the wall with one knee brought to his chest. I stare for a moment, wondering if he'll notice our presence as Zeus continues to whimper beside me. Catching a glimpse of Zayn's eyes and immediately understand what's happening; blank expression, leg bouncing, erratic breathing and slight fidgeting of the hands. He's having an anxiety attack.