A Step Away From Falling ➸ h.s. [Needs Editing]

Chapter 35: "Meeting the Enemy"

Chapter 35

Zayn’s POV

After getting out of the shower I pulled a white tank top over my head and grabbed my favorite pair of jeans. I slipped socks and shoes on. Then I pushed a hand through my disheveled hair; my fail attempt at making it presentable. I grabbed my black leather jacket, kissed Helen's forehead while she slept soundly and walked out the door.

It took me about twenty minutes to reach Niall's flat, where the meeting was taking place. I had this weird feeling about today, I didn't know exactly what it meant but I couldn't seem to shake it.

Once I was in front of Niall's front door I was about to knock but before I could, the door slid open. Niall was standing behind it, grinning.

"Nice to see ya, lad" he said in his thick Irish accent. His smile was as contagious as ever so I found myself returning it.

"Good to see you too, mate" I retorted, shaking his hand in a friendly matter.

I then stepped inside and into the dining room, because most of our meetings took place there if it we had them at Niall's. I found Liam drinking water from a glass. He smiled when he saw me.

"Sup, Liam" I greeted. He came and shook my hand. I was into our little reunion when a familiar voice came from behind.

"Zayn?"

I turned around, a smile spreading on my lips.

"Louis? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

He laughed as a response and gave me one of those guy half hugs.

"How do you two know each other?" Niall asked, walking in the room.

"We went to the same school. We had detention together very often" I replied with a chuckle.

"Ahhh the good old days" Louis joked. I laughed. It had been about 3 years since I last saw Louis. We had been good friends... partners in crime when it came to pranks as well. It was good to see him again.

"So what has been of your life?" I questioned. Louis started telling me of his adventures and about his girlfriend Zainab and how much they argued but how he was crazy about her and all that. I was going to tell him about Helen but for some reason I stopped myself and didn't. It was really weird. When he asked me about my life I just told him I had done some traveling and that I was boxing now. I hardly ever told anyone any details. Those were dangerous.

"So what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're the one who's hiring me for a mission?" I asked, confused.

Louis was about to reply when the front door was slammed shut. We all turned around to wait for the new visitor to appear. When he did I stood up quickly. He had started to tell everyone good morning when he saw me and stopped mid-sentence.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked. He didn't sound angry, just confused.

"I could ask you the same question, mate" I replied at the curly haired young man that I knew was Harry.

Part of me felt like I should be doing something; telling him he's the biggest scumbag on the earth for hurting Helen. Beating the living crap out of him. Or anything really... but I didn't. I just stared at his green eyes which looked dark. 

I recognized that darkness. I've lived with it for as long as I can remember. It reaches you when you lose everything you've ever loved. When your heart starts turning cold, not because of choice but by circumstances. That was me until I met Helen. Then thinking about this whole meeting. The operation. The whole thing. It all clicked and fell into place.