31 Days.. (a zayn malik fanfiction)

chapter 24-triangle

CHAPTER 24: TRIANGLE

One night can change everything. Everything to how you see a person and especially how you feel about a person. I walked down the steps of the stairs with an empty burden deep down in the pit of my stomach and in my heart. A rush of doubt swelled through my mind as I tried to take in what I had just been told. 

Have you ever thought you knew someone and then suddenly, they turned out to be everything you thought they weren’t? Well, it was exactly like that for me with Zayn. These past beautiful weeks of being with him and devoting not only myself but my heart to him, felt like they were just going down the drain. The life he had before me made me feel like everything I thought I knew, was a lie. I felt like I didn’t even know who he was anymore. Like he was merely just a stranger.

I walked quickly avoiding being seen by the still lively bunch of party go-ers and stepped out back onto the balcony, sitting down reluctantly onto the cold pavement of the floor. I closed my eyes as I breathed in the brisk air and exhaled slowly hating how clouded the inside of my head was. 

It was silly to even ask myself if Zayn truly loved me. Of course he did, I could confidently say and know that. He didn’t need words to show how he felt, all of his actions already cemented the truth. But even so, in life, just one bad thing can overcome all the good things. And tonight, was that one bad thing that was overruling everything that once made me so happy.

I sighed and rested the back of my head on the glass door questioning the reality that took place tonight. It was hard to take in not only who Zayn use to be or is, but also how angry I was at him for just standing there mindlessly as the bitch ripped into me with insults. Sure, I could defend myself, there was no problem in that. But there is always going to be an expectation that you’re boyfriend would back you up in some sort of way. So why didn’t he? Shouldn’t you defend your loved ones?

I stared at the infinity ring that never left the touch of my skin since the 12th day of January, circling it around my finger. Some say inanimate objects like this held such meaning and truth to it. And others? Others say it could be just used to make it look like it held such meaning and truth. Based on tonight, the intensity of it all made me doubt the meaning of mine.

The door slid open and a head popped out peering at me. It was too hard to make out who it was as the stars and the moon were the only source of light out here.

“Holly?” the voice asked softly,

“Oh,” I recognised his red top as he stepped closer, “Hey Josh.”

*** Liam’s POV ***

I watched as Zayn held his head with his hands slouching over his knees and nudged a glass of water towards him. 

He grunted.

“C’mon mate, you should drink some water so you can sober up.” I urged nudging the glass to him again,

He shook his head and leaned back onto the couch closing his eyes. A cheeky smile grew on my face as I placed the edge of the glass onto his bottom lip and nudged him once again. 

His thick eyebrows frowned, “Liam..” he groaned slapping my leg frustratedly,

I chuckled and moved my wrist downwards so that the water was now trickling out of the glass and all over his chin and shirt. His eyes immediately opened and he wiped his mouth, sending me deathly looks as I jolted back a little covering my nipples incase he’d pinch them as pay back.

He ran his fingers through his dark hair and looked down sadly, “I don’t know what to do Liam..”

I scooted over closer to him on the couch and put my arm around his shoulder, “It’ll be right. You just gotta talk, that’s all.” 

“I don’t know what happened,” he shrugged, “I just lose myself when I drink and when I found out about how she nearly kissed Josh, that really hurt me. I felt like alcohol was the only thing that could make me feel better. Make things better. But it only made things worse.” he groaned again and rolled his eyes, shaking his head,

“She chose you,” I moved trying to meet his eyes in contact, “What was there to be upset about?”

He stared back at me eyes filled with sorrow. I could tell something clicked inside of him. “I was afraid I’d lose her..” he bit his lip, eyebrows falling to the sides, “I saw him as a threat. You know how I was before her. She’s too good to lose Liam.”

“Then don’t lose her.. Do you really think punching J—-“

“Hey lads! Have you seen Josh? The boys and I have been looking everywhere for him!” Niall interrupted face full of light like always,

Good timing from Niall there. I stared at Zayn who was now looking down at his hands and eyed around the room seeing if I could spot Josh,“Ermm..what colour shirt was he wearing?” I asked staring at the glass door at the back of the room,

“Red!” Niall replied, 

“Oh I can see his shirt!” I pointed, “He’s on the balcony!”

“Thanks Liam!” he cheered and hurried off,

I felt Zayn’s head plop onto my shoulder and I patted his spiky hair lightly as we both watched Niall skip his way to the balcony.

*** Holly’s POV ***

I tiredly smiled at him as he joined me on the floor holding his arms together tight, protecting himself from the cold. “It’s chilli out here! How can you stand it?”

I let out a soft laugh and looked down at my shoes, “Keeps my mind off the pain I feel inside..” I said with confidence surprisingly,

A gentle silence filled the air as only murmurs from the inside of the apartment could be heard. He shuffled a little closer and broke the peace, “Well I guess it’s good I came out here then.” he laughed, “I’m hurt too.”

I frowned and turned my head to him and shrieked, “Oh my God are you okay!?” I lightly touched his jaw, “What the hell happened?!” 

He softly moved my hand away from his cut and swollen jaw smiling, “Nothing, you don’t have to worry. I’m a man I can handle it.”

I laughed and nudged him away a little playfully, “Right..” I said rolling my eyes and looked back up into the night sky, “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

He looked up, “What is?” 

“The stars.” I sighed, “You know.. sometimes I wish I was a star. As stupid as it sounds.. I mean, all you would do is come out a night looking beautiful and watch the world deal with all their problems.” I shook my head, “I wish life were that simple.”

We both looked at each other and smiled, acknowledging how difficult life could be sometimes. I turned away and looked down at my feet again. 

“You know what I wished was simple?” he heaved a short sigh, “Love.”

I scoffed raising my eyebrows, “Tell me about it.”

He laughed and nervously held his hands together, “I think it’s all in the game of luck, really. You’re lucky when you find someone amazing, someone who takes your breath away every moment you’re with them.” I could feel his stare on me this time, “But you’re really lucky if they think the same about you.”

I tilted my head and turned meeting his eyes, “You have never once left my mind since that night I met you, Holly. I try so hard to forget about you. But my God, it’s impossible, you just won’t leave.”

My heart sunk as I could see the pain inside of his eyes reflecting so clearly. He hesitantly leaned forward brushing my fringe away from my face and the touch of his warm skin soothed my icy cheek. It was like I was having deja vu as this familiar scene in my life was happening once again, but this time I wasn’t sure if it would be the same ending. I let his hand at the back of my head bring me closer to his lips and closed my eyes not thinking nor knowing what I was about to do next.