Free Falling

The End

Free Falling The Final Chapter

"Get up, Lila! You can't just mope around all the time. It's been two weeks, why can't you be over him yet? I just wanna go shopping! Pleaseeee?" Shay whined.

I took my headphones out of my ears. "Shay. Can't you go by yourself? I'm busy here." I said, gesturing down at my laptop.

"No! Who's going to tell me if I look fat? Please? I promise it will be fun." She whimpers.

"Fine. Let me get ready. Jesus." I grumble, getting up from the couch.

"Yay!" She squeals. I go to my room and shut the door before she has the chance to say anything else. I look in the mirror and sigh. I look bad. I grab a brush and yank it through my snarled hair, grimacing with every stroke. Once I have the rats nest brushed out, I straighten it to get rid of the frizz. I almost don't wear makeup, but I thought better of it. Shay's right; it's been two weeks, I should be over this by now. Since I'm a bit out of practice, it takes a while to make my winged eyeliner to match. Once I look decent again, I cross the room to my closet, trying to figure out what to wear. I settle on some high-waisted shorts with spikes up the sides, and a Bob Marley cutoff muscle shirt.

"Lila! If you take any longer, all of the stores are going to close! Lets go!" Shay yells, pounding on my door. I open it.

"Woah." Her jaw drops.

"What? What's wrong? Do I look bad? I'll change really quick!" I say quickly.

"No! You look hot!" She smiles.

By the time we get to the mall, I'm excited. It's been too long since I've done anything fun. We shop with a fury, buying anything and everything that looks good on us. It helps that all the male employees keep giving us discounts. We hit the food court to get lunch.

"I'm going to Sbarro, you want anything?" Shay asks.

No, I think I'm good!" I say, gesturing to my plate full of Chinese food.

I pick at my food and look around, scoping out the crowd. The chair across from me scrapes, Shay must be back.

"I think we should go back and get that guys number. You know, the one from Charlotte Russe? I say, turning around. Instead of meeting Shay's blue eyes, I'm staring into brown ones ringed with smokey black lashes.

"I don't think you'll be getting anyone's number." Zayn declares.

"I don't think it's any of your business what I do. Not anymore." I shoot back.

He laughs, pushing his tongue between his teeth. Then his face turns serious, hard.

"Why haven't you been answering my calls?" He asks.

I lose it.

"Really, Zayn? Really?! I'll tell you why I haven't been answering. Maybe it's because we broke up! Or maybe even because right after said breakup, you fucking made out with the one person I told you I was worried about! Or maybe because I just don't want to talk to you!" I yell.

People start to stare, but I don't care. I'm too angry.

"Do you even remember why we broke up, or are you too busy hitting on guys from Charlotte Russe to care? I fucking loved you. Hell, I still do. I've been doing everything I can to get you to talk to me. And Adrienne? She was a mistake. It didn't mean anything, you weren't supposed to see it. And when you walked in, I didn't know what to do. I tried to follow you out to your car, but you left before I could explain. So, don't even try to make me the bad guy!" Zayn says forcefully.

"I don't care if it was a mistake, it doesn't change what you did! I opened up to you and you used that against me! Who the hell do you think you are?" I spit, standing up.

"Where are you going?" Zayn questions, grabbing my arm.

"Anywhere, as long as you're not there." I yank myself out of his grasp.

I stomp away. He starts to follow me, but thinks better of it. I look back over my shoulder and see him standing in the middle of the rushing crowd, staring at me.

"Don't do this!" He yells over the noise.

I shake my head and duck into the nearest door I see, the bathroom. It's empty. I grip the edges of the sink, tears forming in my eyes. Who does he think he is? I back up to the wall and slide down until I'm sitting with my back against it, head in my hands. Slowly, tears begin to run down my face. I wipe them away with the back of my hand, but it's useless. The door quietly opens, but I dot look up.

"Are you okay, dear?" An elderly voice asks.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I say, never raising my head.

It takes her about five minutes to do her business and leave. Almost immediately, the door opens again. Why did I pick such a busy bathroom to have a breakdown in? Someone sits next to me, probably Shay. I can't look, I'm crying too hard.

"I'm sorry."

My head snaps up.

"Y- you can't be in h- here." I whisper.

"And when have you known me to follow the rules?" Zayn smiles.

"Well....never." I giggle. I forgot how nice it is to actually talk to him. Lately all we've done is fight.

"Here." He says, handing me some napkins. I look in the mirror and groan. My makeup is all smeared and my face is red and blotchy.

"Shit, shit, shit!" I mutter, wiping off the ruined eyeliner.

"You don't need it." Zayn says quietly.

"How cliche of you." I answer sarcastically.

"I'm serious, Lila. You don't."

"Whatever."

He sighs heavily.

"I'm trying to make things better between us."

"Yeah, well, try a little harder." I snap.

"I can't, okay? I've never done this before! I've never cared this much! It's not exactly easy!"

I throw the napkins away and turn to face him.

"Then why screw everything up in the first place? We were happy. Or so I thought. Why throw all of that away?" I yell.

"Because I got scared! Okay? There. I said it. I got scared because I really fell for you. I've never done that before and it terrifies me. So...I ran." His voice cracks.

"So you ran." I repeat.

It's quiet for a minute.

"I miss you." He whispers, his brown eyes searching mine.

"I miss you, too."

"Can we just start over?" He sighs.

"I don't know if I'm ready to."

"Please?"

"Fine." Now it's my turn to sigh.

"Hi, I'm Zayn." He smiles, holding out his hand.

"You can't be serious!" I giggle.

"Just go with it!" He says.

"I'm Lila." I shake his hand.

He grabs it and pulls me closer.

"Well, Lila, I've got to tell you something." He whispers.

"Me first!" I giggle.

"What is it?"

"I love you." I say, pressing my lips to his.