When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

66; Love shacks, plane tickets, and nostalgia

Zayn

"Thanks for letting me stay here, man." I walk into the modernised apartment with dark red walls and sterile furniture. My boots squeak against the wooden floor.

"No worries, man." Trey grins at me. "You're always welcome, you know that. You're a mate, and any mate of mine always gets my assistance when needed."

I look around the apartment. It definitely belongs to Trey. The whole place is a partying love shack. "Yeah, well, I won't be staying for long," I tell him. "I'll be out of your hair as soon as I decide where I'm going next."

After the day at the cafe, Niall wasn't speaking to me. At all. That's how I knew things were serious because, well, it's Niall. He gets mad at me but he always caves in. This time however that's not the case. I knew I couldn't stay with him and Avery anymore, and that I needed to leave. He didn't stop me, in fact he practically pushed me out the door. Avery tried to reason with me and try and understand what was actually going on, but I'm sure Niall had told her. 

I had lost everything. I had lost Violet and any chance of even having her in my life as just a friend, and now I had lost Niall. And even though I hated to admit it, that fucker was the damn best friend I've ever had. 

So now I was staying in Trey's love shack because I literally had nowhere else to go. But I wasn't staying for long, I was planning an adventure. I would leave England completely. Go to a whole other country. Where? I wasn't quite sure yet. But the options were endless, I could go anywhere I wanted. Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Morocco. I could do it all, and I would. I was no longer going to be imprisoned in the chains of my own restriction.

Because everything always came down to me, I fucked everything up. I wasn't even aware of just how much I was fucking up until it was far too late. I needed to escape. I needed to escape from these people I loved that I was slowly killing and separate myself so that they could finally move on and live the lives they deserved. 

From the moment I got here I fucked everything up. These people had plans and a routine before me, and I ruined it all. I ruined everything. It was time for me to stop; it was time for me to seclude myself and start a new life. One that was alone and one that was completely new with new people and no old ties to anything. I needed to start fresh, and so did everyone else.

Just ... why is that so hard to do?

----------

"Thanks for meeting me." 

Avery falls into step beside me as we walk through Trafalgar Square, hands in our pockets and scarves around our necks. She had rung me earlier this morning asking to see me, without Niall. I advised her that it probably wasn't the best idea but well, you know Avery. It wasn't really her asking at all.

"Does Niall know you're here?" I ask her.

"No. And he doesn't need to."

"Avery-"

"Niall doesn't own me, Zayn." Avery looks right at me. "I can talk to you if I god damned want to."

I sigh, looking back down at my feet as they crush against the snow. "He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," she reasons.

"You weren't there," I tell her. "You didn't see that look in his eyes ..." I take a deep breath. "It was disgust, disappointment. God, I never thought I'd be alive the day I'd ever have to see it. I feel like I'm not."

"Niall is literally a puppy," Avery states. "He has the heart of a five year old girl and the makeup of a cupcake. He can't hate anything, Zayn. And especially not you."