Run

Chapter 4: Zayn's POV

I woke up to find the most perfect little girl in the whole world in my arms. I smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

A tiny smile formed on her lips as she inhaled and exhaled heavily.

Suddenly her smile disappeared and her muscles tensed.

“Stop it.” she whispered.

What?”

“DADDY STOP IT YOU’RE HURTING HER!” She screamed.

Oh my god.

“ZAYN!’ She screeched.  

Okay, that’s enough.

“Charlie?” I said, gently shaking her in my arms.

Her eyes opened and tears began to fall.

“Zayn..” She sobbed.

“Shhhh... It’s okay, sweetheart.” I said, rocking her gently in my lap.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked when her quiet sobs had died down.

“No... I can’t.” She sniffled.

“It’s okay.” I said.

I hugged her one last time before pulling away.

“Why don’t you go take a shower and I’ll see about getting some food in your skinny self.” I said.

She nodded and rolled over with her face shoved into a pillow.

I ruffled her hair and she sat up.

“Ughhhh...” She mumbled, stumbling towards her bathroom.

I chuckled and went down the hall, stopping to look in Harry’s room.

It was empty.

I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Harry was already at the stove making pancakes.

“Our flight leaves at seven tonight...” He said groggily.

I think that we all almost forgot about our interview with Ellen.

“Okay.” I began. “I hope the directioners are nice to Charlie...”

Harry stopped mixing batter to look at me.

“Why wouldn’t they be?” He asked, confused.

“I don’t know...” I said, pacing back and forth by the breakfast bar. “Jealousy?”

“Hmm...” Harry said, pouring the batter into a pan.

“I’ll go wake the boys..” I said, turning towards the staircase and walking up the stairs.

“LOUIS. LIAM. NIALL.” I said, pausing at each of their doors until I got to Charlie’s room.

She was singing in the shower.

“...In a pipe she flies to the motherland, and sells love to another man. It’s to cooooolldd outsiiideee for angels to fly.”

I bumped into the door and the water abruptly turned off.

“Zayn?!” She called from the bathroom.

I turned around and hurried back downstairs.

Harry was loading a mile high stack of pancakes onto Niall’s plate and his eyes were wide with joy.

“Harry.” He said, tears rising. “I love you.”

“Duh.” Haz said, flicking his hair.

“Speak of the devil.” Liam said as Charlie skipped through the door and plopped down at the table.

“Oh shutup!” Charlie said, swinging her hair so that tiny beads of water flew off and landed on him.

“Bon appetit.” Harry said, setting a plate with three pancakes in front of her.

“Woah...” she began. “That’s a lot..”

That was nothing.

“Charlie. Eat.” Niall said, encouragingly.

She smiled at him.

“Hey Li?” She said to Liam.

“Yeah boo?” he replied.

“Do I have to do the interview today? Ellen seems a little.. Crazy for me...? She asked.

“It’s not an option, Charlie.” I said before Liam could say anything. I want to show my babygirl off to the world.

“But Zayyynnnnnnn!” She whined as she finished her pancakes.

‘It’s not up for discussion. Our plane leaves in like, eight hours so go pack.” I said stubbornly.

She pouted but turned and walked up the stairs regardless.

I moved from my leaning point on the counter to the table where Harry, Niall, Liam, and Louis were seated.

“Oh my god.” Louis said furiously, looking up from his phone. “Look at this!” He handed his phone to me.

It was an article from Sugarscape.

George Shelley from X Factor boyband Union J makes shocking comment about 1D’s new playmate.

We don’t know about you guys but we are confused. First One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson is seen exiting the Cheshire Hollister with a girl who can’t be much older than 14. Is he playing baby sitter or does Eleanor need to watch out to keep her man? Then. to make matters even more confusing all of the 1D boys start tweeting about their new “baby girl”, Charlie De La Cruz, and she is set to appear on The Warner Brother’s Ellen tomorrow at 3 pm American west coast time. In an interview late last night for The Scope, Union J member George Shelly states “I’m not sure who she is, but she’s pretty hot. I’d tap that. Dibs.” Woah. Let’s see how the boy’s of 1D react to that one.

There had to be steam blowing out of my ears.

“That bloody little shit!” I shouted, slamming my fists down on the table.

Harry grabbed my arms.

“Zayn! Chill! You know how the media can be! They probably made it up.”

My shoulders un-tensed slightly.

“Yes.. I suppose.”

Niall stood up and tucked in his chair.

“I still want to run him over with the Big Red Bus. I’m going to go check on Charlie.” He scampered up the stairs leaving Liam, Harry, Louis, and I.

“We should get a cat.” Harry said, causing Louis and I to burst out laughing, and causing Louis to drop his plate.

Liam shot him a disapproving look.

“I’m going to go pack and then Facetime Dani...” He said, retreating up the stairs.

My phone went off.

@george_shelly: @real_liam_payne @misscharliec1d @zaynmalik1d @nialloficial @harry_styles @louistomlinson

This is a huuugeee misunderstanding!

Whatever. ~