Close Quarters

Chapter 6

Zayn

Ever since i can remember, I've lived by very simple rules: look out for myself, and don't get attached to people. Feelings, attachments, they were just distractions—a way for people to ignore reality. But there she was, Marcy, with her face buried in her hands, the very picture of despair. It was a sight that—for reasons I couldn't fathom—stopped me in my tracks.

Her shoulders trembled with a weight of fear and sadness I knew nothing about. I watched, frozen and hidden in the shadow of my own indifference, as tears escaped through her fingers. It was strange, this tightness in my chest, this urge to comfort her. Me, the guy who never cared, suddenly at loss for why this—her pain—mattered so much.

I took a step forward, my heart pounding against my will. Why did it feel like every step towards her was rewiring something inside me? I was always the bad guy, never the hero—yet here i was—reaching out for Marcy.

"Zayn?" Her voice cracked as she peered her face up from her hands. Hot wet tears streamed her face, her eyes glossy and her checks bright red. I reached for her, pulling her up to her feet and helping her re situate.

"It's okay. They're gone." I say wiping her tears with my thumb.

She looks up at me with—what looks like—sadness and relief in her eyes.

My heart dropped at the sight. Looking at her this closely she was so...beautiful. Her green eyes even more vivid now with the tears flooding in them.

Before i could do anything she sprung her arms around me, squeezing me tightly as she sobbed in my chest. I couldn't move. I didn't want to.

Her ponytail was now a mess at her neck, her pink ribbon that was once a delicate bow now a mess tangled within.

I felt sick to my stomach, wondering what would have happened to her if I hadn't been here. Thank god i went to the club tonight or—pain twisted in my gut—I don't know. I didn't want to think about it.

Why was this hurting me? Why did i care? Probably because she's my sisters friend, that has to be it.

"I have never," She sniffled her nose, trying to control her tears. "been more thankful to see you." She said, giving a weak smile, but dropping it immediately.

"Are you okay?" I ask her and she gives me a quick nod, but i could still see the fear lingering, by the way her hands shakes and how her chest trembled.

"Come on." I say, pulling her hand with my mine as i walked across the street.

I walked her into the club and sat her down in the booth nearest to us. I grabbed her some water before coming back to her.

I didn't really know what to do, I've never had to deal with anything like this—let alone comfort or help someone with their feelings. This was all new to me, and it was scary.

"Do you need anything, Marcy?" I ask her as she sips on the water i handed her. Fresh tears no longer streamed, only old ones now stained on her cheek.

"A shower." She said quickly, her voice still cracked.

I smiled at her softly, only trying to make her feel better. She was strong, after what she had just been through i didn't expect her to calm down this quickly.

"I can call you a Cab since-"

"No its okay." She said cutting me off.

"You want to ride on the back of my bike?" I asked her curiously.

"Doesn't matter to me. Lets go." She said and standing quickly, tossing the empty water bottle in the trash.

I follow her quickly, locking the club up behind me. We were closed Monday because the weekends were always the busiest, so i decided Monday would be inventory and system check up day—which is why i was there when i was.