Rebuilding Zerrie

Interrogation

KLOE'S P.O.V.

The moment I saw her, I wondered if she recognized me. Her eyes were wide as she stared at me from across the hall. She ran towards me, grabbed my wrist and dragged me into a room. Quickly, Leigh-Anne turned on the lights and pinned me to a wall. She whispered, "You better listen carefully because I'm only gonna say this once."

Well, she recognized me.

"Perrie's been a trainwreck ever since she broke up with Zayn," she said, faster than I could follow but I managed to push through. "Forgetting lyrics, messing up the dance routine, losing her appetite. She may seem like her perky, usual self but I know her and her eyes lost its spark. Jesy and Jade have noticed it as well."

Why was she telling me this?

"Even if you don't know Perrie like I do," Leigh-Anne continued, "I really think you'll be able to fix this. Can you?" I nodded. She went on, "As I was saying, I believe that you can fix this with the right stuff. You've been doing it wrong, giving Zayn the wrong advice. Perrie's not the kind of girl who likes texts and e-mails. It's better if it's heartfelt, you know?"

"So what do you suppose I do?" I asked, finally saying something to her.

She relaxed her face a bit and loosened the tension on her shoulders. Before continuing, Leigh-Anne licked her lips and sighed. "Make Zayn write a letter." A letter? "To Perrie," she added, "Something explaining how sorry he is, something from the heart."

There were footsteps and laughter coming from outside of the room. Leigh-Anne slapped her hand on my mouth so I wouldn't make a sound. She quietly crept out of the room. It didn't take her long to come back but when she did, Jesy and Jade were with her. But no Perrie.

"What are you doing here?" Jesy asked bitterly as she scanned me from head to toe, but I remained silent. Leigh-Anne probably sensed I was pretty shaken, so she answered for me in her best "I'm on your side" card. She crossed her arms and paced around the room. "She was planning on talking to Perrie. Am I right?"

I nodded. She did that on purpose. She asked me a yes or no question so I wouldn't have to talk. I had to remind myself to thank her soon while Jesy and Jade aren't around. Jade scoffed from across the room and made her way towards my side. "What makes you think that you need to talk to Perrie?"

"Yeah," Jesy agreed, "She's been swell. Much better than before actually." I tried to exchange a look that read 'Oh, really?' with Leigh-Anne but she refused to make eye contact so it wouldn't be obvious I was her ally. Jesy went on, "Zayn was holding her back but she's finally free from his clutches."

Swallowing my saliva, I forced myself to breathe, to blink, to stay alive. I was already tired from listening to them talk and talk and talk like there was no tomorrow. I didn't even notice Jade was in the middle of a speech until I snapped myself back into reality. I didn't bother listening to what she was saying. "Can I go now?" I interrupted. "I came here to see Perrie but since you say I don't need to, I should probably go."

They were stunned by my lightness of mood, but obliged to my request.

***

"A letter?" They all chorused after I told them what Leigh-Anne had told me. Zayn whined, "All that hard work and all we needed to give her was a letter?" He flopped on his bed and groaned. "If I had only known then..." He sighed deeply. I had to admit that stung a little.

"But, that's why I'm here, right?" I said, "To give information to you when you're being so stupid and oblivious to what Perrie really wants and who she really is. And, on the right time and when you're ready, I'll tell her that the kiss meant--" everything--"Nothing."