The Malik Teenagers

Chapter 5: Skeptical

Perrie's P.O.V

I set down the last bowl of chicken stir fry onto the perfectly set out table. A bowl of toasted warm bread sat in the middle of the table, butter and a knife beside it. The girls sat quietly in their usual spots with only two spots missing - Zayn's usual seat and a spare. I sat down in my own place and silently watched the girls.

Kyra started eating, twirling her fork around to pick up some of the noddles I added. I watched Vexi pick at her food with her fork, looking uninterested or in a far away land. Letty watched the water swirl around as she moved the glass in her hand.

"Are you girls ok? You seem awfully quiet tonight" I observed.

Kyra sucked up a noodle and swallowed before she answered me. "Vex had her audition for Drama Club today"

"How'd it go?" My eyes widened.

The girls usually told me anything and everything. I was beyond surprised that I hadn't known of her audition but I did know she was thinking of auditioning for it. I wondered what else they were keeping from me.

"It was fine, I guess. They're were a lot of students there that did really well. The drama teacher will tell us how's in on Friday" she shrugged.

"Don't psych yourself out. You're one of the best performers I know, and I know a lot of people" I placed my hand on hers.

"I don't really know if performing is for me though. I've never done something like this before and I think I'd rather stick with designing" Vexi briefly explained, but I could tell there was more to it.

"Well, try this out for once and see how it goes" I suggest.

Vexi nodded and looked down at her meal. She stabbed into a piece of broccoli and lifted it to her lips, finally eating.

"Have you heard from dad today?" Letty asked, still watching the water.

"No" I admit, my mood changing. "I've tried contacting him a few times but he's probably busy"

"Maybe we can Skype him after dinner" Kyra suggests.

I nodded. The girls went back to their silence and absentminded-like eating. The sound of their forks hitting the plate and glasses ringing filled the room, along with chewing noises.

Something was defiantly odd tonight.

*****

Kyra sat on my lap as Letty opened up the Skype app with Vexi standing behind us. It took a moment, but that unmistakeable sound that signified Skype up and running sounded, and I felt the atmosphere get a little brighter.

The girls adored their dad, and he adored them. Maybe he'd figure out something wasn't exactly right too.

The little green tick next to Zayn's name and photo appeared. He was online. Letty, with hopeful eyes, pressed the video chat button and the four of us waited for Zayn to answer. After almost two minutes, he finally did.

The screen went black before it showed a blurred picture of Zayn in his hotel room. It was pretty dark in there, only a lamp and the computer screen glowing to highlight Zayn's features.

"Hi babies" he greeted us like he always did, although he sounded rushed.

I frowned the slightest bit, noticing his hair ruffled and shirtless body. He breathed out, seeming out of breath. He turned the screen towards the corner of the room and shuffled his chair around. It was harder to see him like that.

"How are you?" Vexi asked.

"Good. I'm actually kinda busy at the moment. Can I call you back soon?" He bit his bottom lip.

Kyra slumped back, resting her head against my own. I could see it in all the girls eyes that they were disappointed.

"Zayn, it's their bedtime. They have school tomorrow" I reminded him.

"Can't you talk for just five minutes?" Letty pleaded. "Vexi auditioned for Drama Club and I'm thinking about joining the track team at our school"

Zayn offended loved hearing about the girls day, especially now that they're at school. I watched his eyes flicker over the computer screen. Was someone there?

"Listen baby, that sounds amazing and I hope you both get in but I really can't talk at the moment" he sighed. "I'll call you first thing tomorrow morning"

He looked so vulnerable or scared even. His eyes once again flickered above the screen and I felt a ball of anger brewing in my stomach. Something was seriously odd...

"Promise?" Kyra's eyes flickered down to her hands, playing with my own.

"Promise" he nodded. "Night babies. I love you very much"

"Goodnight" the girls said back.

Within a second, the screen went black. I watched it carefully, wondering what was making him so weird.

"That was weird" Vexi commented.

"Yeah it was. He's probably really busy though. He wouldn't not talk to you if he had a choice" I assured them.

"Busy? In his hotel room?" Letty looked at me like I told her she was stupid. "I'm going to bed"

Her chair scraped against the tiles as she stood up and headed towards the stairs. Vexi kissed my cheek and followed after her. I sighed and rubbed my temples. Kyra shifted on my legs to face me better.

"I love you" Kyra suddenly said.

"I love you too" I kissed her nose.

She got up off of me and moved around the chair. I heard her footsteps stop before she left to do to her room also.

"I'm sure it's nothing" she said, as if reading my thoughts.

*****

He didn't ring back the next morning. We had gone three days without speaking to him and I was just thankful that the girls were so busy that they hadn't really noticed. But I was busy too and I had noticed.

I picked up my phone and opened up to his contact. I didn't know whether I should call or text or not. I had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and I didn't want it to be right.

I sat down on one of the bar stools and gripped my decaf coffee. I looked into his eyes in the picture I had saved as his contact picture. A bit my bottom lip and tapped my finger nails against the kitchen bench top.

When I gathered up the courage, I pressed call and lift edit he phone to my ear. The phone started ringing but went to voicemail after the second ring. He pressed decline!?

"Hi, it's Zayn here. Sorry I missed you're call but leave a message after the beep and I'll try to get back to you"

Beep.

"Zayn... We need to talk. I know something's not right and I'm kinda worried. Please call me. The girls miss you... I love you" I hang up.

I set the phone down and press my hand to my stomach. I felt like I couldn't breath. I felt dizzy. Something wasn't right, and I needed to know what was going on with him. The girls are acting strange too. Maybe they know something?

"Mum? You ok?" Letty startled me.

"Yeah" I moved my hand from my stomach and back up to the coffee mug.

"We need to get going to make it to school on time" she looks at me with a rushed look.

"Shit" I cursed.

I dumped the coffee into the sink and grabbed my keys, wallet and phone. Letty stood at the entrance of the house, waiting for me. I called out to Kyra and Vexi, letting them know we'll be waiting for them in the car.

When I was in the car, warming it up with the heat on full blast, I looked at Letty in my review mirror.

"What's going on with you and your sisters?" I finally asked.

She sighed. "Don't get mad, ok?" She makes me promise. I nodded. "They're mad at me because someone offered me a cigaret the other day, and I took it"

Lord, give me strength...