Falling For My Teacher

19: Young and Beautiful

"Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful," I sang as my fingers glided across the piano keys. The music played through the small house as I sang. "I know you will. I know you will."

"Beautiful," someone said behind me. I jumped, hitting the wrong notes. "I see your leg is better." I turned to see Zayn walking forward in a tux.

"It is."

"Was the Lana?" he asked as I closed the piano. I nodded as he smiled at his feet. "I suppose the band is no more?"

"Just go solo Zayn. You are good enough," I assured. He sighed, taking the seat next to mine. His hands held the support of his head as he propped his elbows on his knees. 

"Harry and I have known each other way to long," he replied. "He's like a brother to me." I nodded as we sat in slience. Silence seamed to be the only thing that followed me around these days. It's been about two weeks or so since everything happened. Two horrible weeks. Nothing has been said, looks weren't given. Nothing was going on anymore. Sounded like the little town of Huntsville is back to the way it was. Nothing was going on. No one was hurt. Crimes weren't commited. Everything seemed peaceful. "How are you Ryan?" 

"I'm hanging in there," I replied with honesty. "Bronson leaves for collage soon. My parents may or may not be getting a divorce. I don't know anymore." I looked at the heels I had been wearing for the charity banquet this evening. I wander how long it would take me if I ran out the building with these. 

"Life isn't at it's finest is it these days?" Zayn asked as he finally lifted his head. "Things happen everyday. Whether it is a dog running away to losing a family member or loved one to a murder. But in the end everything will be okay. If not okay, it's not the end. As for you Ryan, things are just starting for you. Harry was the first trial in your adventure. Not that it is required. You took the step and the chance to love again. That was the first step to getting better. Understand?" 

"What I don't understand is why is it me? I had to be the one with the broken past and the effed up family right now. Harry didn't deserve this. Neither does Niall. And I feel like because of my past I just wanted to be loved by someone. I wanted to know what it felt like to finally have someone care about me ya know? And that's why I feel terrible." I placed my head into my hands, silently sobbing. No noise, just the salty tears hitting my cheek. "I feel like I didn't love them for the right reasons. I tell myself everyday I did. I do. But inside, the guilt of using them hits me like a ton of bricks. And that was the last thing I wanted to do. I love those boys. I would never want to hurt them like that. And now I've ruind it. I told Niall I never wanted to see him again. I broke Harry's heart. Zayn... I don't have anyone anymore." This time, I was broken down into full on tears. Falling freely as the pain of losing someone finally hit. Niall is gone. Harry hates me. And I'm a lying whore.

"Ryan don't beat yourself up please," Zayn said, trying to stay calm for my sake. "Harry never looked so happy when you two were together. But he knew it would come to an end. That night... The night you left, he called me. He was upset and crying. But he doesn't regret one moment. He loved you Ryan. He still loves you. But he understands that all good things must come to an end. Now it's time to move on. Don't beat yourself up for loving the wrong person. Love gets the best of us. It's a strong feeling that not only controls our emotions but our head. It dazes the mind. Telling us to do things with our heart instead of the head. It happens to the best of us Ryan." Zayn wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling my head onto his shoulder. 

"Are you messed up?" I asked as I calmed down. Zayn let out a chuckle.

"Not messed up. Just teenagers." 

~~~

"Hello honey," my mom said as I walked into the house. She looked absoutley destroyed. 

"What happened?" I asked rushing over towards her. She wiped a few tears away, not answering right then and there. "Mother. What the hell happened?"