the one that got away, zayn malik

chapter fifteen

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
28th of january 2015
29th of january 2015

OLIVE sat on the edge of zayn's bed, feeling the weight of her decision sink in. the dim, familiar room felt colder today, the kind of cold that seeps in from the outside when you leave the window open, hoping for some clarity. she wrapped her arms around herself, searching for the right words. finally, she broke the silence.

"i can't keep doing this," she said, her voice steady but low. "i'm leaving, zayn. i can't stay in this band anymore."

zayn leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting, something deep and understanding settling in his eyes. he didn't rush to speak. he let the words hang between them, absorbing them with a calm she wished she could find for herself.

"you're sure?" he asked softly, searching her face.

she nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. "yesterday, when they said all that... when they basically admitted they've been trying to push me, control me..." her voice shook, a mix of anger and exhaustion. "i thought i could take it, that it was just the price i had to pay to be here. but i've just... lost myself. i'm not who i was, zayn, and i don't know if i can be her again as long as i stay."

he watched her quietly for a moment, then reached over and took her hand. his fingers were warm, grounding her as a flood of relief and frustration welled up inside her. "i get it, olive. after everything they've put you through... anyone would feel the same." his voice was calm, but there was a quiet anger in it too.

she looked up at him, her chest tight. "i feel like i'm betraying everything we built. like i'm walking away from you, from all of it. but i can't stay just because of what it was supposed to be."

zayn shook his head, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her hand. "you're not betraying anything. you're choosing yourself. that's not a weakness, olive—it's strength. you need to be okay. and if leaving is what gets you there, then that's what you have to do."

his words steadied her, but there was still a bitterness she couldn't ignore. "it shouldn't have come to this, zayn. i shouldn't have to leave to feel human again. it's like they've taken everything that was good about this band and turned it into something ugly."

a flicker of frustration passed over his face, and he nodded. "you're right. it wasn't supposed to be like this. but that's not on you."

she pressed her lips together, hating the ache building in her chest. "i just wanted it to be real, you know? to mean something more than what they've made it. and i know, leaving won't be easy, but..." she trailed off, feeling her voice break.

zayn leaned forward, his hand still wrapped around hers. "i'll be here. this doesn't change anything between us. you have to do what's best for you. and if that means stepping away, then that's what you do."

a fragile smile flickered on her face, gratitude softening some of the hurt. "thank you, zayn. for everything. i don't think i'd be able to do this without you."

"you're not alone in this, olive. you never were," he murmured, his voice steady, quiet.

for a while, they sat there in silence, just holding onto each other. her heart still felt heavy, but for the first time, a sense of calm began to settle. this was the end of something, but maybe, it was the beginning of something better.

zayn's gaze shifted as he noticed the tension creeping back into olive's shoulders. he gently squeezed her hand, grounding her in the moment. "you know you can't keep this to yourself forever. you'll need to tell the others."