Her Deliverance (vol. 2) ON HOLD

Thirty

I'm way too tired to edit this lol
7689 word chapter. You're welcome, please comment + vote! <3

* * * * * * * *

I gazed stoically at the fork that was scraping lightly against my plate and pushing the salad around it. The conversations at the table had become background noise, my heart pounding loudly in my ears as I tried my absolute best to avoid meeting big brown dark eyes that were a replica of Zayn's. After the short introductions were made my eyes had been glued to the white linen of the table, unable to participate in the conversations that were brewing. 

Niall kept stealing glances at me from where he sat, worry etched on his face at my obvious shift in mood. He should not have invited me, I think as I press my lips together in a grim line. The whole point of me coming to this dinner was to diffuse any tension there might me amongst Niall, Daren, and his children. Yet here I was being the one creating the tension. It seemed by the way his mom was at such ease with Daren that they had no idea who he was. Which was ridiculous, considering Zayn's name had been everywhere on the news through-out the summer. If they had payed close attention to his last name, they should have connected the dots. Or maybe It was just a coincidence that they had the same last name? But I was doubtful. With the same exact eyes as Zayn's, the eyebrows, and the familiar set of his mouth, I was positive that the two were definitely related.

"So, Emmeline," I looked up, startled from my thoughts and am met with Daren's gaze solely on me. "How long have you known Niall?"

I clear my dry throat, reaching out with a steady hand for my glass of water before sipping. "Uh, since elementary."

He leant back in his chair, whistling lowly as he held his glass of wine in his hand. "Wow. True friendship, you don't find that often these days. Are you in school?"

I hesitate, contemplating whether I should keep that information about myself disclosed but before I can make up my mind Niall answers before me. "She goes to NYU too."

He raises his eyebrows and his intimidating gaze meets mine. "Really now? What are you studying?"

I look down at my plate, unable to hold his eye for much longer when he watches me for too long. I was sure he knew who I was by the way he seemed to be scrutinizing me. "Business. But I'm thinking of changing my major."

"To what?"

"I really like photography."

The sound of him blanching causes me to look up at him, his hand waving the idea off as he took a sip from his glass. "You should stick to business. Photographers don't make much."

My eyebrows furrowed and my grip around my fork tightened in irritation but before I could send a rude retort back, Leah quickly chimes in.

"Dad there's plenty of photographers that make a ton of money."

"Hm. Well I've never heard of any." He says, swishing the red wine around his glass. He turns fully to his daughter then, eyebrows furrowed tightly. "That reminds me; have you decided what you want to study when you go to college?"

Leah shifts uncomfortably beside me and I glance at her, a frown appearing on my lips when I now just realize why she looked so familiar. She too, shares a few features as Zayn. "No, I haven't decided yet."

He leans forward, placing his glass down with a light thud. Is mouth presses into a hard line and he hunches over, pointing a finger at Leah. "You need to figure out what you want to do. You act like you have all the time in the world."

Leah doesn't say anything but merely nods once, keeping her head ducked down as she ate her food timidly. Maura places a hand on Daren's arm, his back relaxing almost instantly as he turns to her and gives her a small smile. An image of Zayn automatically flashes behind my eyelids at seeing his grin and I look away, grabbing my glass a chugging a mouthful of water. Daren falls into conversation with Maura and I find myself scrutinizing Daren from where he sat at the head of the table. He was so comfortable and relaxed that I briefly wondered if he had any idea who I was. He had to, right? I was the reason his son was in jail after all. He must know. Unless he was only pretending not to.