Resistance (Harry Styles)

Chapter 13: Collateral Damage

Important note at the end!

Perrie's POV

Zayn ran a hand burned out through his tousled hair and looked at me with a bland look .

"Why?" His voice came out husky and something that I didn't want to put a name to but if I had to, it would be depressed.

"Zayn, I-" I stepped forward to hug him. I was trembling with nervousness of what had happened and I needed nothing but comfort. Surprisingly, Zayn pulled back.

"Stop. No." His eyes bore into mine morphing on a look of dislike, which I could easily read.

He hated me now?

The fact that he wouldn't let me touch him and the burn of his gaze made me tear up, even when I didn't want to. I wanted to be strong and mature about this but I couldn't hold it when he was looking at me like I was some filthy liar.

"Do I deserve a chance to explain myself?"

I saw him move his eyes from the wet drop that grazed slowly down my cheeks, back to my eyes and nodded, encouraging me to speak further.

"She was blackmailing me," I looked at my feet unable to bear the look on his face.

"What did she have on you?"

Zayn was hurrying to jump to the reason, least bothered about my emotions or agony.

"She-uhh-"

My response came out as an unexpected stutter and I, for a moment, stopped talking. Maybe I need to relax. He loves me. He'll understand.

"Rebecca what?" Zayn raised an eyebrow.

Or maybe he doesn't. He's actually least bothered if I'm okay or not. All her cares about is Harry and Rebecca. Don't I matter to him?

With the negative thoughts racing around in my tiny head, tears started to stream down my face smearing the minimal make up I had on. The moment his brown orbs registered it is when he skipped forward to engulf me in his tight embrace. His arms wrapped around my petite frame as I felt the muscles lying beneath his olive skin stretch and tighten. His lips lightly grazed the top of my head as he dipped his nose in my white blonde hair, sniffing the scent of my shampoo radiate off to him. My face was cosily pressed against his chest, while my hot breath fanned the area of his skin that was exposed from the unbuttoned part of his shirt.

He soothingly ran his large and rough hands up and down my back trying to calm me, but to no avail. His lips left contact with the top of my head as he bent down a little to caress my earlobe with his pink lips. Whispering mere sweet nothings calmly, he tried the best in his might to get me to stop but all I managed to do in return was sob. My cries were partially muffled by the fabric of his shirt that was slowly starting to soak in my salty tears but all Zayn cared about was to make me feel better. The moment I stopped to take a breath in between is when he let go of me and looked into my blue eyes.

The look that his wore was anger and confusion as a million thoughts race through his mind. In contrast to his worrisome eyes, mine were bleary and shimmering with tears.

He looked at me mad and annoyed, not at my deeds but this time at himself because he wants to make me feel better and he's clearly failing at that. Since all his efforts were already in vain, he ducked down to capture my lips in his. He tried to kiss the worry and trouble away and he managed to be partly successful at that.

His hands left my waist as he cupped my face in his rough palms. His fingers lightly stroked the softness of my skin near my cheekbones as he whipped up a few tears trying his best to not break down along with me.