Promise Me (N.S.)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (LOUIS' POV)

To: Zayn; Sent: 1:50 am

You up?

From: Zayn; Received: 1:53 am

I am now. You okay Lou?

I let out a small sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose slightly. No, I wasn't okay. Not really. My fingers hovered over the keyboard of my phone, not sure if I should tell him or not.

To: Zayn; Sent: 2:06 am

Can you come over? I need you...

From: Zayn; Received: 2:07 am

Already on my way.

I flopped back on my bed and ran my hand through my disheveled hair. I wasn't sure what was going on, but it was eating at me as much as it was eating at Harry. He hadn't heard from Niall in at least three days, which was unusual. They were always talking to each other; I knew this because every time I looked over at Harry when he was on his phone, he had a giant grin plastered on his face. He had finally started to get happy again and that was because of Niall. Niall had started to bring him out of his shell.

Since the conversation with Niall a few nights ago, however, Harry was different. He was starting to retreat back into himself; that was the last thing I wanted for him. That was the thing about Niall; he had the ability to bring Harry up, but he also had the power to come crashing back down.

That was something Harry couldn't handle; not again.

A tapping at my bedroom window brought me back to reality. I pushed myself up off the bed and maneuvered around the mess on my floor towards the window. I peeked through the blinds, a smile finding its way onto my lips as I stared down at the brown haired boy who stood below.

He tossed another pebble at the window as he smiled up at me. I threw open the window and stuck my head out.

"Are you mad? I have a front door you know," I grinned back down at him.

He chuckled as he tossed a pebble into the air and caught it again.

"Just wanted to make an entrance, I guess. Now are you gonna let me up? I'm freezing my arse off!"

I shook my head at him as he began to climb the tree our flat and shimmied through my narrow window. He stood up straight and smiled at me.

"Thanks for coming," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn't want Harry to hear; he would be okay with Zayn and I, he just didn't know the extent to what we were. To be truthful, neither did I. But I knew I liked him and he liked me.

Plus I didn't need Harry giving me shit for having Zayn sleep in my bed. He still teased me occasionally about finding us cuddling after the party.

Zayn brought me into a tight hug and nestled his face into the crevice of my neck.

"Anytime you need me, Lou. You know that," he whispered softly into my ear. He pulled away and retreated to my bed, but not before stripping down to his black boxer-briefs. He pulled the covers up to his chin and motioned for me to follow him. I followed suit, ending up next to him in bed in my underwear.

Zayn pulled me close, our bodies morphing perfect to one another's. He pushed the hair away from my ear and brought his face close.

"What's wrong, babe?" He asked quietly.

I was silent for a moment, fighting with myself whether I should tell him or not, and if I do then what words to say. I had to tell him; he was close with Niall. Maybe he would know what to do. Niall; wasn't talking to Harry; neither of us knew what to do.

"Have you heard from Niall, Zayn?"

I turned to face him and was met with a look of confusion spread across his beautiful features.

"Come to think of it, no. I haven't."

He looked a bit worried; something was up with Niall.

"He told Harry that he had some family stuff and that he would be gone a while."

Zayn sat up slowly, pushing himself up on one elbow.

"That's impossible," he said, his voice and expression laced with a quiet fear.

I sat up completely so I was now looking down at him.

"What do you mean it's impossible? What's impossible about it?"

"Niall doesn't have any family left."