Mixed Direction

Chapter Twelve: Afraid Of

{Perrie's POV}

The break of dawn was never a friend of mine, the key word being was, past tense. Before Ellie came along, I wouldn't be seen awake before sunrise, unless there was something seriously wrong. Now, I wake up like I have an internal body clock. And my body clock sure has worked this morning.

Zayn's soft snores are comforting, but there is no hope in hell that I will be dozing back off this morning. I probably woke up about twenty minutes ago, at five- fifteen am. I was butt naked and only had a thin sheet over me as my legs were tangled in Zayn's.

Now I'm sitting in the armchair in the corner of the hotel room we stayed in over night, wearing Zayn's t- shirt and I have wrapped my body in a spare blanket. I feel bad, almost homesick. Normally I'd be up and finished feeding Lillie and Rosie, waiting downstairs for Ellie to come bounding into the room. But she's not coming. And the twins aren't here. It's just an almost empty hotel room.

"We can go home," Zayn's voice speaks out, all cracked and sleepy, very deep. I look across at where he is sitting up, his elbows propping him up. "You know, it's warmer in the bed," Zayn pats the spot next to him.

I make my way over and sit down next to him, sliding under the duvet and burying myself down until the duvet is up around my neck, only my head visible.

I used to sleep like this when I was younger, because I was terrified of what might get me during the night. Nothing ever did. But at the moment, Zayn is just watching me with his beautiful hazel eyes.

"Yes?" I question.

"Nothing," Zayn replies, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But, I suppose you want to go home because you're fidgeting with your hands," Zayn nods at tmy body part that isn't under the covers.

"I'd kind of like to go home, plus, I have a throbbing headache," I hold my temples and Zayn smirks, looking away from me and out the window. "What?" I question, starting to worry.

"Nothing," Zayn chuckles, sliding out of the bed and giving me a full view of his bare body as he grabs his clothes, well, the parts I'm not wearing, and puts them back on.

"We're going to need to get someone to pick us up, with some clothes for you, aren't we?" Zayn asks, implying my dress really isn't suitable, which I seriously agree with.

"Well, get me my phone," I nod at my clutch. Zayn hands over the black phone and then I dial Leigh- Anne, holding my phone to my ear as I wait.

"Oh, and by the way, you might've had a glass of vodka or two last night," Zayn adds, just as Leigh- Anne picks up the phone.

"Bastard!" I say to Zayn.

"Excuse me?! What the fuck Perrie?!" Leigh yells into the phone. Oh fuck.

{Ella's POV}

I rock Asha back and forth as she cries in my arms. Niall and Asha decided to play football, and Niall, being the twit he is, kicked the football into Asha's face. But, it's Niall, what else could've I expected?

"Are you okay now, Ash?" I ask once she starts sniffling and stops crying. Asha nods her head against my chest and then jumps off my lap, running out of the lounge room and upstairs to do something.

I look up at Niall who is standing over near the television, a worried look on his face. I stand up from the couch and adjust my t- shirt, looking across at Niall who is chewing at his nails like he does when he's nervous.

"Niall, you kicked a ball into her face. It's not the end of the world," I laugh a little. "She'll be over it by now, forget by dinner, never know of it again by tomorrow," I tell him and he nods his head warily.

"El, it's not the deal with Asha I'm worried about," Niall steps away from the wall and walks into the kitchen, resting with his palms wrapped around the edge of the bench. "I mean, I'm worried about her obviously, but not that worried."

Okay then... so he's worried about something else, but what in the world could he be worried about? I don't think there's anything else to be worried about.

"Ella, I heard you got a job offer," Niall tells me. Fuck! How the hell did Niall find out about that?

"Well yeah, I did," I reply, looking down at the pillow I'm fiddling with on the couch. "But, it's not that important, not like you and Ash."

"Not that important!" Niall exclaims and I look up, our eyes meeting. "Ella! It's your dream job, Head of Emergency at a Children's Hospital! It's incredible!" Niall smiles cheerfully.

"Niall, you know it's in Melbourne."

"Yes Ella, I do know it's in Melbourne, but I also know it's a highly respected hospital and it's your dream. If you want to take the job, take the job, we can sort the rest out after," Niall picks up a tea towel and starts to dry up the plastic from the dishwasher.

"And what do you want to do? Come with me I suppose. Niall, your life is here, Asha's life is here, our life is here," I try to stop him from making some stupid decision based upon me.

"Ella, it will be fine. Just go call whoever you need to call and then we will deal with the rest after, okay?" Niall asks. I nod my head and catch the iPhone flying at me. Once it's in my hands I feel some regret but walk towards the study.

"Plus, Asha and I could always stay here, and come over later," Niall mumbles. And that's what I'm afraid of....