(Not edited)
~Zayns POV~
After leaving the band my life is a lot less stressful. The only thing I'm worried about is my solo career. If this fails I don't know what I'll do. I was busy with my new manager trying to figure out how I was going to go solo. It was quite stressful so I turned off my phone to concentrate. The constant buzzing in my back pocket was driving me insane. Whoever it was could wait until I finished my meeting.
As it turns out, the phone call was very important, that important that I jumped on a plane that brought me straight to London from LA. It was Liam telling me what happened to Niall.
I knew I should have talked about leaving the band to Niall. I should have known that he would get stressed over it. He was my best friend in the band. Whenever he had a problem he came to me. Who would he have told is problems to now that I have left? He never told the other boys any of his problems because he never wanted to sound like he was moaning and he felt like it would bring the mood in the band down. We always trusted and understood each other. He kept all of his emotions bottled up inside him and landed himself in hospital. At least he told Calum, but Calum wasn't there to comfort him. Niall needs that kind of support and when I left he didn't have it.
I knew I needed to talk to Niall. He needs to stop putting so much pressure on himself to be perfect. He already is in my eyes. He always thought he was letting the band down. That he was not needed in the band, that he was an unnecessary member of the band when that's far from the truth. I know he still gets a lot of hate and I'll never understand why. That boy is so perfect and ever since the band started his self esteem has been getting lower and lower. That's also one of the reasons I left. It's a lot of pressure having people expecting you to be perfect all the time. We were expected to be the perfect role models constantly and it got too much to handle. I wanted to have a life where I could be myself without being judged. Niall loves the band though, I know he'll never leave until the band is officially breaking up. So the only option I have is to try and convince him that he doesn't need to be perfect to keep the band going. It's too much pressure for one person to handle.
I was nervous as I walked into the hospital room. I wasn't sure what to expect. The second I walked through the door I was pulled into a hug by Harry, who had apparently gotten here a few hours before me, then Liam, Louis and finally the 5sos boys. Niall was sitting up in the bed looking down fiddling with the blankets. I went over and engulfed him into a hug and whispered in his ear "I missed you" he smiled and whispered "I missed you too" and hugged back just as tight.
The other boys left the room knowing that our talks were always private.
When the door shut behind them I turned to Niall who was already looking up at me with tears in his eyes.
"What happened bud?" I asked as a wiped away a tear that ran down his cheek.
"I fainted" he said sheepishly, shrugging and then looked down again. I grabbed his chin to make him look up at me.
"Do you want to tell me why" I asked gently. It was quite difficult to get Niall to talk about his feelings and I didn't want him to shut me out.
"The doctor said I was too stressed which caused a lot of headaches and was what made me pass out." He whispered sniffling.
"Why are you stressed Ni?" I asked rubbing his back.
"Ever since you left I've been feeling stressed. I'm getting more hate from fans and I don't know why. I have to learn all of your solos and I can't sing them for shit. Some fans are saying I've gained weight despite me working out everyday. They're are saying that I'm happy you left because I'm getting more solos. Apparently I haven't noticed you left the band. There are about ten thousand rumours going around about me. I'm always being mobbed. The band is going to end and it will be all my fault!" Niall cried out. He was hysterical and I knew he was about to have a panic attack if I didn't calm him down.
"Niall you need to calm down babe. You're perfect. Never let anyone tell you different. Your body is perfect Niall. You sing my solos beautifully. I don't know why you are getting so much hate because you don't deserve it. The band would fall apart without you. You have so many fans who love and adore you Niall. If the band breaks up, which it won't, it would never be your fault. The fans know that all of the rumours are bullshit and they think you're happy about me leaving because you bottled up all of your emotions. They know you care. You need to stop putting to much pressure on yourself because you're amazing just the way you are. The band would be no where without you. I wasn't happy in the band but I know it means the world to you Niall. Your self esteem is so low that it's ruining what used to mean so much to you. Trust me Niall, you are perfect." I told him looking him dead in the eyes. "Stop putting so much pressure on yourself, and don't forget you can always talk to me, and I will always listen. I will always be here for you no matter what, whether I'm in the band of not." I whispered stroking his hair as he rested his head in the crook of my neck. I continued rocking him and singing quietly in his ear until he calmed down completely.
"Thank you Zaynie" he whispered in my ear.
"No problem Ni" I whispered back.
"I love you"
"I love you too Ni."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Niall left the hospital a few hours later not only feeling a lot better, but also with and army of fans behind him he knew defending him against the haters and a new boyfriend that already meant the world to him.
Zayn and Niall walked out of the hospital together hand in hand without a worry in the world. Niall knew that as long as he had his Zayn, everything would be okay.
