Bloom

Chapter-22

Zayn

I've gone back and forth through parties and clubs, not attending any classes. Getting shit-faced, high and what not, to keep my thoughts from Stella. The only thing I can't do is fuck without her mind-blowing eyes and soft mouth coming in my vision, so I fuck that and stick to my own hand for now.

It's been two whole weeks, and still no word from Stella. After the sleepover ordeal and her telling me about all the fucking psychopathic things her parents did to her, she hasn't replied to my texts or my calls. Every time I think of the scars all over her body, a different kind of rage takes over me, an urge to kill. My insides feel like fucking ripping themselves apart whenever her voice echoes reciting the story of her parents and their inhumane doings.

The next few days following her sneak out from my room in the middle of the night, I looked for her everywhere but it was clear she didn't want to be found. So, I let her bask in her own glory and left her alone like she wanted me to. I needed to flush her out of my system, it was over. Our lives were divergent, she had her own fucking problems and I was dealing with my own shit. Yet the same feeling of protecting her, comforting her, holding her, kissing her ignites itself to life when I least expect it.

It's a Saturday night, another rager is taking place at Dan's house as the music fills my ears and alcohol consumes my senses. I sit on Dan's bed with a drink in one hand and a lighter in the other, flicking it on and off, repeating the process until Dan enters the room.

"Hey bud, what's up? Haven't seen you in over a month." He says with a little pain in his words. I don't know how or why I understand his pain, maybe because I feel it too. I would say before Stella I didn't give a single shit about all of such stuff but since she came in my life, she's made me softer and more prone to feelings than I'm used to.

"Been busy. What's up with you?" I ask flatly, not showing the emotions oozing out of my heart.

"I met a girl, you know, she's real pretty and I like her a lot." He smiles and a devotion envelopes him. I feel a pang of jealousy towards him for some unknown reason.

"I'm happy for you man." Genuinely meaning it. The truth is I've missed my best friend. I've missed cracking jokes around him, getting drunk and hitting on girls, talking about the lamest shit. It been a while since I've felt happy and Dan used to be my happiness for the longest time.

"I missed you Zayn." He says as if reading my thoughts.

"I've missed you too." I blurt before I can process it.

"Wow. Shit. What happened to the Zany I knew." He laughs a short one with a glint in his eyes.

"Fuck off. And don't call me that again, Dany." I mock him and stick my tongue out. We break up into laughter as I pat his bed for him to take a seat. It's only this motherfucker I can be filterless around, act like a child and still seem to be funny.

We talk for hours, I tell him about Stella. He listens patiently. I finally feel all the weight lift off of me. Dan tells me to fuck a hot bitch and get it out of my system, only if he knew. Dan doesn't understand Stella and me, neither can anyone else, our dynamic is complicated beyond comprehension and I don't blame Dan for not getting it.

Our conversation is cut short when my glass empties, excusing myself I walk out of the room to get a refill. As I make my way through the packs of crowds, I spot a certain streak of hair. And I immediately know who it is. Abandoning my cup, I move swiftly towards the hair shining under fluorescent lights. Chasing them like a puppy. The restraint has left my body along the way, Stella is the only thing on my mind, I need to make sure she's okay.

"Hey." I tap on a set of tanned shoulders.

"Hi!" Maya turns around, her orbs a little wider than usual. She looks at me and claps her hands. "You and Stella? Seriously? I can't believe it."