Love Me Like You Do - A Zayn Malik AU

Chapter Forty-two (Zayn's Pov)

Zayn's POV

I haven't spoken or seen Nina since the wedding last night. She has called me and the house telephone but I didn't feel like talking to her at the moment. To anybody really. That brother of mine has returned and I am furious with him just showing up on Elizabeth's wedding without a message. Just returning just as unexpected when he left us.

I am walking through the palace hallway and look around. In front of me is Safaa her room, on my side is Deliah her room and next to that is Catherine her bedroom (one of Deliah her ladies.) I walk up the stairs and look around me. I want to have something to do. Go golfing, that is not fun on my own and Niall has a day off. So don't want to bother him. I sigh.

I head up to my second room. It is much older designed than my other room. I sit down behind my old wooden brown desk. The diary lays in front of me and I look through it. A few months ago, I wrote about Nina and I getting in love before everybody knowing about it.

I get a pen out of one of the drawers, scroll to a new black page and write. About the months, hard times for me as prince and some other things stuck in my head. It really does feel good to do it. I hear a knock on the door. It is my mother.
"You always came here as a little boy." She says and looks around. "Nina called again a moment ago." She says. I feel a pit in my stomach. "It is not her fault, that he showed up." She says. "I just don't want her to know." I say. "She will think that I have lied to her and I really don't want that." My brother would have been on the news sometimes but come on. My whole family does. "Don't make her feel like she has done something wrong, you might lose her." I look at my mother. "Nina wouldn't leave me just because I don't speak to her for one whole day." I say and sigh as I lean back in my seat. "I won't force you to speak to her. I know it is stupid." She says. "Do what you think is best." My mother says. "She will find out about him. If it isn't from you, she will find out because someone else is before you." She gives me a smile.

When I have written all my thoughts down another knock is heard. I guess I know who it is this time. Nicklaus walks in to the room and my eyes meet him. "Dad said you would be in here." He says. I stand up. "It hasn't changed one bit." I don't know what to say. "You have left the whole family and left a letter about you leaving to your around the world trip." I say either furious or sad. I don't even know. "Now coming back to us with what intention?" I ask him. "Zayn, this is my home, I can't stay away for ever." It could have been an option. "What do you want? My crown for being King one day?" I ask. Deep down inside it can be tricky getting that coronation since he is back now. "I don't want the freaking crown." He says. "You don't?" I ask amazed as he looks at the floor. "That crown isn't meant for me." He says. "I might be royal, a prince, doesn't matter but I don't see myself being king and I don't want to." He says. "You will be the king of Great-Brittain and I won't stop you." I turn around and pinch myself. I turn back round. "Thank you." I say. It came out more as a question actually.

From being furiously angry with him, I am now kind of happy he is back. He picks up a picture of Nina that is on my desk. "Is this her?" He asks me with a curious look. I nod. He smiles. "It is great to see you happy, Zayn." I swallow. Still furious, still angry and pissed but I am 23, I can't stay mad at him forever.

We talk about his trip as we eat in my room. The door is opened by Safaa, but as soon as she sees Nicklaus in here, she closes the door again. "She might have a hard time." I say. "Not totally weird." He says.

"So there was a girl named Freaya but she seemed to have a husband back in Australia." He explains. He has changed to be honest, a little more relaxed and older. More mature of course.

"Where did you say Nina lived?" He asks me. "Close to Oxford Station." I say and he nods with focus on his face.

When he has left to tell dad that he doesn't want the throne, I check my phone and see ten messages and miscalls on my phone. I listen to the voicemail.

Later we are downstairs, having tea and it is okay. My dad had already found out that Nick didn't want to be king and was not surprised but a little disappointed. He at least thought that he had made up his mind on his vacation (as he likes to call it.) Mother was proud of him for making such a big decisions his own. Safaa is opening up in her own way.

The family is now back and trying to get back to fixed pieced but now Nina. We have had days of no talking before but why does this one feel so forced. I scroll through my contacts and press on her name when I hear a voice.

"A call isn't enough you know?" Nick says from behind me. "Girls want flowers, chocolate and wine." He says. "And a very long talk." He adds as the last thing. "Talking is the most hardest thing you know, especially when your own brother is the reason why you aren't texting or calling." I explain and roll my eyes as I trow my phone on my bed. "Am I that bad?" He asks me...