When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

41; Advice beach walks and breakups

Zayn

"So, how are things?" Niall asks me as he sits down on the chair opposite me in our suite lounge. It was the day after the music festival and we had decided to stay home today, Avery and Violet going out to do some shopping. I wasn't in the mood, and Niall didn't want to leave me alone.

I shrug. "Yeah, fine."

"Fine?" He sips at the sixth mug of tea he's had today. He was absolutely in love with the Brazilian brew, letting us all know how he was planning to take handfuls of it home with him. He readjusts his position. "Come on, what's up?"

I don't know what it was, but since Violet and I had you know, I was feeling different. I couldn't quite decipher whether or not it was a good different, or bad. "Nah, nah," I say, looking down at my black socks. "It's all good."

"Is it Violet?"

I give a half smirk. When wasn't it about Violet? For someone who hated being the centre of attention, she was constantly the centre of mine. But this time, I'm not really sure. I think that this was all about me, and no one else.

"Zayn, come on," Niall pushes. "You can tell me."

I hesitate, wondering how to put it all into words. This was a constant struggle I faced, wording my thoughts. But I trusted Niall. And no matter how many times I tried to deny it, he really was great at advice. "I ... feel different," I begin.

"Different how? Are you sick? My god, if you have food poisoning-"

"Not like that," I cut him off. I felt absolutely ridiculous being so open and insecure, talking about my feelings and shit. "Different in my head."

There's a small silence, the only noise Niall sipping at his tea. "I see."

I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. My palms are sweaty and I rub them against my jean clad legs. "Things are just different, I don't know."

"Well, that was bound to happen as soon as you and Violet slept together," Niall says. "You just introduced a whole new level into your relationship."

"But that should be a good feeling," I say.

"Is it?"

I pause. It takes me a while to think about this. I can almost hear the gears churning in my brain. The answer is simple. "No."

"Zayn." Niall sets his mug down on the table, mirroring my position. He rests his arms on his legs, looking at me. Everything about him is completely serious, no hint of amusement or anything else. I admired how he could do that so easily, be the comic relief in any situation but then be exactly who you needed in the tougher and more serious times. "I didn't want to say this before, because you seemed so happy." I hear him take a deep breath. "But do you really think you're doing the right thing?"

I look at him, slightly confused. What did he mean? Doing the right thing by what? "What do you mean?" I voice.

I can tell he's trying to think of the best way to say this. He rubs at his jaw, slightly at unease. "I don't know, man. I-"

"You don't think I should be with Violet?" I was more shocked than anything. Niall had always been one of mine and Violet's biggest supporters. How could he say something like this?

"No, no," he says quickly, then falters. "I just ...I-"

"Niall, what exactly are you trying to say?" I snap, growing more frustrated.

"I'm trying to say that you're my best fucking friend, Zayn, and it's been killing me to see you acting so down the last few months," he snaps back in a tone I've never heard on him before.