Back To December

nineteen

At eight the next morning, after sleeping for a grand total of two hours all night, I shuffled out of Zayn's bedroom, pulling an abandoned hoody of his around me tightly as I walked into the living room and saw him sitting - shirtless, might I add - on the sofa with a cup of tea.

"Morning, babe," he smiled softly at me as I flopped down on the sofa next to him, tucking my feet underneath me and yawning. "Want a cuppa? Coffee?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"Put a shirt on," I muttered, my eyes trained on the TV.

"Well someone's grouchy!" Zayn smirked. "Didn't get much sleep last night? I felt you tossing and turning, I thought you were having bad dreams... You look shattered, Cass. Why don't you go back to bed for a bit?"

"Can't. Uni. Two hours." I coughed, trying to keep my eyes.

"Call in sick. I'll call in for you. You can barely form complete sentences, Cassie. You're in no state to go into university. Why don't you stay here for the day, sleep for a bit and I'll take you home later? Or you can go and see Harry...?" he trailed off, his question lingering in the air as I shook my head. "He'll want to apologise, Cass."

"He won't even remember," I sighed. Zayn mumbled something and stood up, walking into his room and emerging a couple of minutes later carrying his duvet and a pillow. I let him lift me up and put the pillow under my head, before he threw the duvet over me and tucked me in, kissing my forehead.

"You're like my sister, Cassidy. Liam will murder me if I don't look after you. You're tired. No, you're exhausted, so you're staying here and you're going to sleep. I'll get your clothes and things from Louis' place, you just rest." he murmured. I was too tired to argue with him as my eyes fluttered closed as he sat by my feet.

"Zayn?" I whispered.

"Hmm?" he hummed, turning the volume down on the TV.

"I slept with Harry." I admitted quietly. Zayn paused.

"I know, babe."

"No, I-" I pushed the covers back and sat up slow, biting my lip nervously as I glanced at him. "I mean, two weeks ago. When we went to his mum's."

"Yeah. I know," Zayn sighed. "He… Harry told me, a few days ago. I won't… I'm not going to say anything to anyone, Cassidy. You can talk to me, you know? If it's bothering you. I'd rather you talk to me than hide it all like Harry's doing, that's why he's-" Zayn stopped talking, the ringing of the phone interrupting him. He sighed heavily as he reached across to pick it up. "Hello? …Yeah she's still here. No, she looks like shit so I've told her she's not going in," he glanced at me. Charming. "Louis I don't think that's- Yeah, but is Harry-? I'm not telling you what to do, I'm- would you let me finish a damn sentence? Jesus! I'm not saying that you don't know what's best for them, I just think you should wait until Cass has had a sleep and until Harry's not hungover. What? Louis-" Zayn growled, pulling the phone away from his ear and slamming it down angrily. "Your boyfriend is impossible!"

"Uhm… Why?"

"Never mind," he shook his head. "He wants you to go back up now. But, Cassie if you don't want to, I'll call him back and tell him you're asleep."

"No, it's fine," I sighed, stretching as I stood up and grabbed my Converse. "Thanks for letting me stay, Zayn." I smiled softly at him and he shrugged his shoulders. I kissed his cheek and left the apartment, pulling the door closed and jumping when I heard someone shout behind me.

"Oi! What are you doing leaving Zayn's at half 8 in the morning?! And in your pyjamas?!"

"Uhm…" I turned round to face Liam's curious stare. "Nothing, I stayed over last night, that's all…" I shrugged my shoulders. "Just heading back up to see Lou and Harry."