Chapter Fifteen:
Paige’s POV:
It’s been three days since I had run out of Liam’s flat and the trauma I had experienced a few days ago was starting to take its’ toll on my body. I had been alternating between running and walking for what seemed like every second I had been gone. I knew I should have stopped, I probably still should but I was too scared. I didn’t want someone to figure out that I didn’t have a home, that I was alone, that I had no one to protect me from whatever they may want to do to me.
I looked down at my phone that I had just turned back for the first time in several days in a desperate attempt to conserve the battery for as long as I could and saw that I had over thirty new messages and nineteen missed calls. Apparently Liam had shared my number with the boys because each of them had sent me several messages introducing themselves and then asking me to please come back to Liam’s flat or tell them where I was.
A cold chill ran through my body as London’s naturally cold weather seemed to get even colder the farther I walked and I seriously considered going back to Liam’s or at least texting one of them. I know I shouldn’t; I didn’t want to hurt their careers and I really didn’t want to be somewhere that I wasn’t wanted but surely they wouldn’t be this concerned over someone that they didn’t even remotely care about.
Okay, it was decided then; I would text one of them. I don’t know what I would say, or who I would text. I mean, I know I can’t go back to Liam’s, but I didn’t want them to worry about me or get the police involved. I should at least let them know I was okay….
I opened the messages on my phone and decided that I definitely shouldn’t text Liam or Niall because they knew me better and might be able to convince me to come back or tell them where I was; so that left Harry, Louis or Zayn. I didn’t really know any of them that well, but I knew Zayn seemed more like the “quiet and understanding” type more so than the other two so I decided I’d text Zayn.
I clicked on Zayn’s name, which I had just added to my contacts, along with the other boys, and composed a quick message.
Me: Hay Zayn, it’s Paige. I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m okay and you don’t need to worry about me or anything..
I was about to lock my phone when my phone buzzed in my hand signaling that I had a new message. I looked back down at the screen and was surprised to see that Zayn had replied to me almost instantly.
Zayn: Babe, tell me where you are! Of course we’re worried! Especially Liam! And Niall’s going out of his mind! Harry and Louis are searching all over London going who knows where trying to find you! Get your pretty little butt back here right now!!
Whoa. Talk about a misjudge of character. And here I thought Zayn would be “Mr. Calm and Collected” but I was wrong. I sighed and responded back to him, deciding it would be rude to not at least reply to him.
Me: Zayn, I’m sorry but I can’t come back. And I can’t tell you where I am. And tell Liam not to worry about me, that I’m okay. And tell Niall to just chill out, it’s not his fault. And for goddness sake, get Harry and Louis back to the flat, they don’t need to be out here it’s freezing! I’m sorry Zayn, I just shouldn’t be in your lives I’ll bring more harm than good. I have to go now. Thank you, though.
I was in tears by the time I was done writing the message and I almost didn’t send it but I knew I had to, so I clicked send and sunk down onto the curb and gave into the tears that were now raking through my body.
I felt my phone buzz twice, then three times in my hand signifying that I had an incoming call.
Without thinking I accepted the call and answered with a watery, “H-hello?”
“Paige?! Where are you at? Tell me right now!” It was Zayn.
“Z-zayn, please just hang up. Just forget about me.” I whisper into the phone, as more sobs run through my broken and starving body.
“Paige..please. I’ll meet you somewhere. You don’t have to go anywhere with me. Just come talk to me..” He requested.
Hmm, what could be the harm?
“Will you be alone?” I ask, not wanting to have to face any of the other guys.
“Yes.” He sounded hopeful.
“Okay.” I sigh. “I’ll meet you at the….” I pause to look around to see what’s near me, because honestly I don’t think my body would be able to make it much farther, “….at the mall on Rosebury Street..”
“THAT’S FOUR AND A HALF BLOODY HOURS FROM HERE!” Zayn protested.
Is he serious? Did I really run that far in just three days?
“Well, it’s the only thing close to where I am….” I mumble, hoping he’d either forget the whole meeting thing or just let it go. I mean, it’s not like there was much I could do about it. I couldn’t pick up the mall and carry it with me to a closer distance for the convenience of others, now could I? I’m already broken, so it’s safe to say I’m not that strong.
“Fine.” Zayn huffed. “I’ll be there as soon as possible, I’ll let you know when I get there.”
I was about to say okay, but he’d already hung up; either in a hurry to get on the road or he was about to out me to the others.
Hopefully it was the first one....
