Twisted Friendship

Chapter 23

The moment I slid into Zayns car, regret flooded me immediatly.

"Wait, I change my mind." I stammered, scrambling for the door. Pressing a button beside him, the locks snapped down with a sharp click.

"No changing your mind allowed." Zayn chuckled, while I tugged at the handle. Flopping back onto the seat, I turned my head to look at him.

"I don't have any stuff. I can't stay with you. Take me home now please."

Zayn blinked, looking mildly amused. "I brought you that overnight bag you packed for Louis's house." He jerked a thumb over at the duffel bag lying in the back seat while he started up the car.

Sliding as far away as I could in my seat, I pressed my forehead against the glass and peered back at school. I should be in class right now. Depressed and feeling utter self pity, but where I belong, where normal girls with normal life's and normal problems go for normal school days.

"Why are you scared of me?" Zayn asked, breaking my trance. The car still hadn't moved. His hand reached over and grabbed my shoulder, turning me to face him. "Why are you so scared of me? I've known you for a while now."

I shrugged, suddenly becoming very interested in my shoes "You can be scary." I mumbled, "Kind of violent. Kind of dark."

Peering up through my eyelashes, I examined Zayns expressionless face.

"Good." he finally said.

I bit my lip, "Good? How is that good?"

Stretching a muscular arm over me, he grabbed the seat belt and slid it across my lap before buckling me in. His hand brushed against my stomach, sending chills racing up my spine.

"People listen to you more when they're scared of you." Zayn explained, pulling the car out of the lot and continuing down the road. "It gives you more authority."

"That's terrible." I huffed, crossing my arms and glaring at him.

He shrugged absently, "It works. Especially on you."

My mouth dropped slightly at that comment, feeling offeneded. Do they scare me to control me? That's not how friendships work. This isn't even a friendship though, it's more of they tug me along everywhere watching my every move, calling it friends. If it wasn't, it would be called a kidnapping.

I watch him driving for a moment, muscles prominent in his arms and shoulders as he grips the steering wheel in his slender fingers. Brown eyes darting across the road, always on the look out for a fight, looking dark and taunting anyone to come at him. But he also looks exhausted, hair mussed and long lashes blinking back fatigue.

"Why did you guys choose me?" I asked suddenly, fingers playing with my belt buckle.

"Hmmm?" he hums while twisting the steering wheel.

I let out a sigh, "I mean like, you guys chose me to be your friend. A long time ago. You practically deemed it your job to always watch out for me like a parent. Like you had to protect me. I don't get it, you didn't have to. I don't need help."

Nobody says anything, the silence buzzing in my ear. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. His expression has turned into a trouble one.

"Becuase we saw you." Zayn murmurs, "That first day when you were the new girl. And you were this beautiful, innocent girl too wrapped up in your own world to see people staring at you."

He smiles slightly, meanwhile I can feel my cheeks burning.

"And people were totally gonna take advantage of you. You're the kind of person that doesn't question, just listens. You're sweet and delicate and very weak if you ask me. It's a big world, and someone was gonna hurt you. You just came out from homeschool, into society. Louis felt like he wanted to protect you, he has younger sisters and all that. It was instinct."

The car stops and he turns to look at me, and I look right back. Locked in his harsh gaze that softens when it meets mine. I want to be offended but at the same time I feel like I know the nicest yet scariest people in the world.

"Thank you." is all I say, because that's all thats needed. He understands me and I understand him, because our silence says so many words without even trying.

"You're welcome." he replies, turning up in front of a rundown looking building. I peer at the cracked brick and grimy windows carefully.

"Where are we?" I ask curiosly, while he stops the car. I try the door again, still locked.

"My flat." he replies with scorn, coming around to my door and opening it up.

I sit there with my buckle still on, refusing to move. "I'm not going in there." Because when I'm already scared and feeling nervous the worst thing to do would be to enter that building. Probably full of murders. And rapists.

Zayn sighs, running a hand through his hair "Get out of the car."

I don't move.

"Damn it Katie." he huffs, reaching in to unbuckle me. Grabbing me around the waist, I'm hoisted out and deposited carefully on the ground.

"I'm not going in there." I repeat, while he grabs my bag.

Zayn leans in close, hands trapping my chin and forcing me to look at him. His hot breeathe brushes my cheek. "Do you really think I'd let anyone hurt you? I'm protecting you. You're safe with me."

His hand closes around my wrist and tugs me behind him, up the front steps and into his flat.

We're oblivious to the car driving slowly past on the side of the road, carrying one blonde kid and two monsters. We don't get to see the way Marks eyes light up when he sees us, finally spotting his prey to finish what he started. We don't hear Niall trapped in the backseat.