Smooth Criminal - Styles - Completed

Chapter 8

When I leave the bedroom the first thing I see is a table full of breakfast and Ryan waiting for me. I try to walk back into the bedroom, hoping he hasn’t seen me, but he calls my name and I squeeze my eyes shut before turning around again and face him. ‘’Please let me explain.’’ He pleas and I roll my eyes at him before sitting down at the table and digging in. ‘’You get five minutes.’’ I mumble, avoiding eye contact with him. It’s still too painful to look him in the eyes. ‘’Okay… I… I don’t know what to say.’’ I give him an are you being serious ? look and he starts talking, knowing I’m beyond annoyed. ‘’Okay, so a few weeks ago the boys and I went to this stripclub.’’ He starts and I immediately start death glaring him. ‘’I swear I didn’t know it was a stripclub until they basically forced me into it.’’ He says a bit too quickly.

‘’Go on.’’ I encourage him and he nods before continuing. ‘’I met this girl there, Jackie, she’s a dancer.’’ He means a stripper. ‘’The boys gave me too much to drink and she took me home. The next morning I barely remembered anything but for some odd and stupid reason we kept seeing each other.’’ I see a single tear drip down his cheek and mentally slap it off his face. ‘’The boys gave you too much to drink ? Do you really expect me to believe this Ryan ?’’ I coldly laugh, a single tear escaping my eye now too. ‘’Vicky, please. I’m so sorry.’’ He breaths. ‘’I can’t be around you right now. I want to go home.’’ I say ,shaking my head and walking back to the bedroom where I quickly get dressed and put all my stuff back in my bags. Ryan does the same and we silently drive back home.

I honestly hadn’t expected this from Ryan of all people. And the worst thing is that I had to find out on our anniversary. Anniversary, seriously ? That sounds like a big amount of being married ! I shouldn’t have to be dealing with this kind of stuff. I’m seventeen, I should be going out with my friends now. I actually thought Ryan and I would be together for quite a long time. I’m not saying forever, but I did expect more from him. Guess I was wrong. I mean, I don’t know if I want to break up with him, everyone deserves a second chance. But I’m just sick of feeling… owned. Like I can’t do my own thing.

‘’We should take a break.’’ I say when he parks on my driveway. ‘’You know what a break means, right ?’’ He asks with a sad face. ‘’I don’t know what a ‘break’ means now. I just want to be alone for a while. Really.’’ He nods his head and leans back into his seat. ‘’I’m such a fucker.’’ He whisper screams to himself. ‘’Yes. Yes, you are.’’ I confirm. He keeps apologizing and telling me he loves me for the next five minutes until I get tired of it and grab my bags and shut the door of his car. I don’t like to be harsh towards him, but he honestly deserves it. I’m seventeen, I shouldn’t be dealing with a cheating boyfriend. Maybe our age difference is a problem. I always thought we would be fine, but maybe I was wrong. He’s almost twenty-two and I’m almost eighteen. It’s not that much of a difference but he’s focussing on other things. He’s an adult, I’m still a ‘little’ girl. Literally and figuratively.

I unlock the front door and am greeted by an empty house. As usual. I walk straight to the gazebo to find Harry asleep. I try to call Emma but get her voicemail. I put on my coat again and walk through the thick snow. Zayn comes out of his house as soon as I text him I’m waiting outside. I know I’ve been told not to see him, but he’s the only friend I could think of to call. As soon as he’s standing in front of me, I burst out in tears. Well, at least that’s something that makes my face a bit warmer.

‘’What happened ?’’ He asks, wrapping his arms around me. I tell him everything about what has happened in the last twenty-four hours with Ryan as we walk through his neighbourhood. ‘’I’m sorry Vic, he’s a complete arse.’’ Tell me about it. We talk about some other stuff to get my mind off of Ryan and suddenly Zayn stops walking and looks at someone in front of us. ‘’What’s wrong ?’’ I frown , watching him stare at the two people talking in front of us with wide eyes. ‘’We’ve got to go.’’ He barely whispers and turns his heels, grabbing my hand and pulling me with him. ‘’Who are that ?’’ I whisper to him as we walk around on a quick pace. I look behind me and see the two young men looking at us.