When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

70; the ending (part one)

Zayn

"Hey, you've reached Violet. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you."

I sigh, ending the call after the fifth time reaching her voicemail. I didn't know why she was dodging my calls, but it was annoying me to no end. We needed to talk. 

We were meeting up with the others in about two hours, and I needed to talk to her in private before then. I wasn't going to do it when we were with everyone else, did she think I was insane? We obviously couldn't talk yesterday, so we had to now. Why the fuck was she ignoring me?

I try her again, throwing my phone onto my bed in frustration as it, yet again, goes straight to voicemail. This was ridiculous. We kissed. And not just a tiny kiss, it was a big kiss. A long kiss. A meaningful kiss. And she didn't think we needed to talk about that? I mean, what did this mean for us now? Would we get back together? Oh, my god, she needed to fucking call me back.

Violet had gone back to her apartment for the night, leaving me alone in the house with Niall. I think the other boys were in a hotel; or maybe Liam was staying with Violet. Fuck, that's probably it. That's why she's ignoring me. She's too busy fucking Liam.

I stumble out into the kitchen and see Niall sitting at the breakfast counter eating a bowl of cereal. He gives me a small nod in greeting, dark bags under his eyes contrasting with his pale skin. 

"You're up early," I note, grabbing a bowl from the cupboard and helping myself to the box of Fruit Loops sitting next to him.

"It's 10," Niall answers.

"Early for you."

He shoves a spoonful of cereal into his mouth and shrugs. "So what?"

"Nothing." I shake my head. "So, are you all packed?"

"I guess so. When do we leave?"

"We're meeting at 12," I say through a mouthful of Fruit Loops. "I think Violet wants to get there as early as we can. You know, set up and all that stuff."

Niall doesn't say anything, just nods glumly and stares down at his rainbow milk.

I sigh, setting my bowl aside. "Niall, if you don't wanna go-"

"No," he says, a little louder than he's been speaking for the last week. "No, I'm going."

"We all know how hard this is going to be for you," I say. 

"What, harder than the funeral?" He looks at me. "Harder than the night in the hospital? Zayn, don't you think I've been through the worst?"

"That's what I mean, Ni. You've been through enough, you don't need to go through anything more. The others will understand."

He just shakes his head. "I'm going. I have to." He then hesitates. "It's what she wanted."

I sigh deeply. It absolutely killed me seeing such a bright guy so dull like this. I had watched his light slowly drain more and more each week, and I really didn't think he had any left. We all felt the absence of Avery, struggling to deal with life without her, but nobody felt it like Niall. Where everyone was somewhat getting better, he was just getting worse.

"I admire your strength, buddy," I say, walking past him to put my bowl in the sink and patting his back gently. "I'm really proud of you for how you're dealing with this."

"I'm not, Zayn," he says softly.

I walk back over to him and put my hand on his shoulder, looking him right in the eyes. "Every day you wake up, and that's enough. Remember that." He returns my smile with a small one and I shrug him a little.