Again «ZM» ✔️

Part Sixteen

Isabelle

I just cry and keep my eyes closed while the pain in my chest gets stronger. And in my throat from the lump that I can't seem to get rid of. I hate my mom. I hate her. And I hate Liam.

"Do you want to hear a secret?" he asks me. I nod, not able to say anything or even open my eyes. "I signed a contract and now I have a management. I'm going to make some music. That's why I was late today," he tells me. Signed a contract? Music? "I may not be the most popular singer out there, but you inspired me to do something and try to get out there," he admits. I finally get myself to open my eyes and I look up at him. As much as I'd love to ask what I did to inspire him, I still don't feel like talking. He just holds me slowly rubbing my side from time to time. "You're so brave and strong, I love that about you. You're always like a sunshine and when you talk back to people who I've never stood against myself... Darling, you inspire me to be stronger and better," he whispers to me now. I frown and shake my head.

"I'm not strong, Zayn. Can't you see what a mess I am?" I weakly ask. It's a pretty good point, no? What really happened? My mother said she was going to take me out of the public school, so this is what I do? "I don't get it, what would give you the impression that I'm strong?" I whisper. He wipes away my tears and gives me a reassuring smile. God damn it, I hate that I love his smile.

"Just because you break down doesn't mean you're weak. I'm pretty sure many people just couldn't handle your parents. So that makes you strong. You're doing way too much on your own and that's why you break. It shouldn't hurt so much. So let me and Liam help you. You know we're on your side always," he tells me. I place my head on his chest like it was before and I think about it. I didn't expect him to say that. I've known him for a few days only and it doesn't make sense that he's so good to me.

It takes quite a while for me to get my shit together as I tell him about things that bother me. After that I get up and sigh. Now that I've gotten it out, I feel much better. I told him probably way too much than I had to, but I don't care because I feel like a huge rock has been lifted from me. He didn't even speak, he let me talk for however long I needed to. And right now, when I finished speaking, we've been sleeping in silence for like five minutes straight. I look at him. He smiles at me and gets up as well. We don't need words anymore, we're better off without them.

Liam looks at us like we're strangers when we walk in the living room. Zayn sits beside him, so right now Liam's eyes are on me. I sit between them and look at what Liam's doing in his PC. He's adding songs in his music playlist.

"What did you do to her?" Liam finally speaks up. I look at Zayn. Zayn has a confused expression. "There's no way you got her to calm down without her screaming her lungs out at you. So what the hell did you do to her?" he asks again. Zayn looks at me. I can see the laughter in his eyes, but he doesn't laugh. He contains himself.

"I let her talk," he shrugs. I look at Liam to see his reaction. And now he's the one who is confused. And I get it, I do. "Sometimes that's what it takes to help someone. You don't talk, you let them do the talking," he explains. Liam looks in my eyes. Right, I know that it's not how it works for us. It's way different.

"Yeah, well, it doesn't work like that for me. I can be quiet and listen to everything and she still yells at me," he answers to what Zayn just said, "So I'm guessing it has to be someone who is not me," he mumbles. I take his hand and bring it up to my lips. I give him a kiss on his knuckles. His look softens. After that he keeps adding songs. I look at Zayn and smile.

"Hello, fast party makers," Louis enters the living room. Of course, he's invited. Behind him I see Lilith. I get up and make my way towards her. I pull her in a hug. She hugs me back, but I can feel she's surprised about it. I pull away and look at Louis. "Why do you look in such good mood? I brought Lilith so you'd have a shoulder to cry on," he frowns, "I mean, you told me she's a good friend and I hope I didn't get the wrong meaning..." he adds. I shake my head. He actually listened. He tried his best.

"I didn't mean it in a sarcastic way. And thanks," I thank him for bringing her. I look at her. She's curious. She looks at Liam and Zayn sitting together on the couch. And the bottle of vodka. Louis also looks at it. They're both having silent conversations with themselves in their head, so Liam decides to speak up about it.

"She took one sip from it, then Zayn took the bottle away. I have no clue how he got her to calm down, but oh well. At least she didn't lash out at him, that's what I was most worried about," Liam talks to Louis, "Yes, Zayn, I forgot to mention. Not only she yells at me, she also throws things at me. So I rather let her chill down on her own than get myself bruised," he looks at him. Zayn's eyes are slightly wider and he's looking at me. He did dodge a bullet, I'll give him that, but I would never hit Zayn. Never would throw things at him.

"I never took you for someone who actually bites," he tells me with a playful look at me, "Don't get me wrong, it's just after what you told Harry... About breaking your nails or something," he defends himself before I get angry at him. I shake my head at him. But I don't answer. That's my toxic side with Liam. I would never hurt anybody like that.

"So, abusive girlfriend, huh," Lilith comments and sits next to Zayn, so that Zayn's between her and Liam. I look in her eyes and shake my head. I just won't let him define who I am. Let alone let him make me out to be the bad guy.

"We're both equally bad. And besides, it was only once when we broke up. He broke up with me when I needed him the most," I explain it to her, then I look at Liam with a hateful look. He doesn't give me a reaction knowing well that I wanted to get it out of him.

"That's true. She threw things at me because I slapped her for calling me a bitch," Liam admits to Lilith. She looks at him with a glare. Yeah, now she's on my side. It just surprises me a little how fast she changes sides without knowing the whole story. But I shrug it off.

"You deserved to be punched. She went easy on you," she mumbles, now being on my side like I expected. I smile and go closer to them. "Okay, that's all in the past, isn't it? You two aren't fighting like that now, are you?" she asks. I sit between Zayn and Liam. Both are mine right now. But I just want one.

"No. Well, she did yell at me yesterday and she said she hates me, so if that counts..." Liam glares at me. Zayn wraps an arm around my shoulders. His touch is all I need to feel calmer and just... happier.

"You deserved it," Zayn defends me now. Liam rolls his eyes, but I smile. We hear more people arriving, so Zayn takes away his arm and Liam puts on the music. "You're still up for some vodka?" he looks at me with a grin. I copy that grin. I much rather have a party like this than a ball.

"Hell yes. That's what I came here to do!" I answer. He chuckles and gets up. I look at Lilith who looks surprised.

"Wait, this is going to be a party?" she asks like she's clueless about what's happening. I nod at her. "Oh god, Louis, you said it would be only Liam, Zayn and Isa!" she shouts at him making us all laugh. She has to stay now, doesn't she?