Long Lost and Refound - A Zayn Malik Story

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 — Long Lost and Refound

Avery's POV

I jerked awake to the sound of a shrill ringing, echoing through the dark room. I hit Zayn on his chest and he just mumbled incoherently, wrapping his arms tighter around me. I groaned and rolled over, stretching my body off the bed and pulling Zayn's jeans from the ground, using the little beams of moonlight slipping through the curtains to see. The torrential rain had slowed, now pattering softly on the roof. The night was peaceful, except for the ringing cellphone permeating the quiet. I fumbled through the pockets in the dark until the phone was in my hand. I flipped it open but when I held it to my ear, no one was on the other end. The call had ended.

Almost as immediately as the ringing stopped, though, it started back up.

"Hell—"

"Zayn? Is Zayn there?"

It was Tricia. "Tricia? What time is it?"

"Just hand Zayn the phone!" she urged desperately. I heard a sob and noise in the back; sirens. I kept the phone to my ear and shoved Zayn hard so his elbow hit the wall. He stirred.

"Zayn, get up!" I shoved him again and he jerked awake, grip tightening around me.

"What, who—?"

"Zayn shut up, it's only me. Your mum's on the phone."

I handed him the phone and he pressed it to his ear. I turned to face him, pressing my fingers to his face.

"Mum?" he said, voice thickened with sleep. Tricia spoke loudly on the phone and Zayn shot up, shoving the duvet off. "What? Mum say that again. Mum, calm down. Mum—"

Frowning, I sat up and pulled my jumper on. I had to stop from the head rush, sleep fighting to take over my body. I stood to get the lights and squinted in the sudden brightness, sheltering my eyes as I padded back to the bed. I handed Zayn his boxers. His eyes were rapidly developing a panicked look and he pressed the phone between his ear and shoulder. I averted my eyes and threw the rest of Zayn's clothes at him.

"When did he get into town? What was he doing here?" Zayn said, standing to pull his jeans up. I dressed quickly and lifted his shirt from the bed, pushing it into his grip. Zayn took it but his eyes widened and the phone slipped in his grip. I caught it before it hit the floor.

"Zayn, what—"

He interrupted me, taking the phone. "We're coming."

He snapped the phone shut and stormed to the door, throwing it open. I followed after him. With shaking hands, he got into his shirt, thundering down the stairs. Mark and Rhonda stirred in the living room as we passed them. Zayn wouldn't respond to my pleas for information, going straight through the front door.

"Oi, what's going on?" a groggy voice called from behind me. I glanced at a disheveled Mark, Rhonda blinking sleepily behind him.

"Get dressed. Something's happened, I'm not sure what."

I grabbed two jackets from the closet and ran after Zayn into the rain. I called out to him but he kept running and turned the corner of the block.

"ZAYN!" I screamed. He turned onto his driveway and I caught up, touching his arm. He fought to get the keys into the lock, fingers trembling. Slowly, I slid my hands over his, squeezing them. His body slumped against the car, forehead thudding when it hit the window.

"My father's been hit by a car."

My eyes widened and my heart stopped.

Zayn's father.