Panic Attack - H.S. AU

Chapter Nineteen

-Valerie-

I woke up the next day lying next to Zayn. He was still asleep and dreaming peacefully. I inched a bit closer to him, softly took his hand in mine and laced my fingers through his. His eyes fluttered open immediately and to my surprise, he smiled the second he saw me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him.

He struggled a little to clear his throat so I handed him a cup of water that had been sitting on his food tray. After finishing it, he attempted to speak again.

"I've been better," he joked.

I cracked a smile and squeezed his hand.

"I'm glad you're okay," I sincerely told him.

"Thanks, me too," he replied. "You stayed here all night?"

I shyly nodded my head and he chuckled.

"What's so funny?" I teased him.

He shook his head and said, "Nothing. I'm just pretty sure that's not allowed."

My lips parted in surprise and I let out a quiet, "oops".

The two of us immediately burst into laughter and our faces ended up being extremely close to each other. Our laughter suddenly died down and Zayn locked his eyes on mine. He then freed his hand from mine and hesitantly placed caressed my cheek in his hand. I tried to smile at him, but it all felt too intense for me.

I quickly got out of the bed and began to slowly pace around the room.

Zayn sighed loudly. "Val, I don't understand how you just ignore the fact that were together for over a year. I'm not a stranger."

"I know you're not, but you have to remember it's been months since we've been together, Zayn. A lot has changed."

"You can't act like we were never in love. You loved me Valerie and I bet you still do."

I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. "Zayn stop."

"February fifteenth, I met you for the first time at a bar. I was stressed out from work and you were the cute new bar tender. Fresh faced and new to the city, your face just screamed look at me I'm a city girl."

I giggled remembering that exact memory. "I was such a terrible bartender back then."

"Yeah you were," Zayn laughed. "But there was something about you that I just couldn't get out of my head."

I slowly walked over to him and sat at the foot of the hospital bed.

"Go on," I said with a smile.

"It was when Louis indiscreetly nudged you to talk to me and it was like you flipped a switch in your brain. You somehow knew exactly what to say to me. You made my day just a little better and I knew I had to see you again."

"Wait a minute," I slowly began to realize something. "So you weren't a fan of my sweet, spicy and a little salty?"

"No, it was pretty bad," he admitted and I laughed.

"I figured. You were the only one who actually asked for it."

"The point is, Val, I miss you like crazy. The second I thought I was going to die all I could think about was all the things I regretted not doing... seeing my family more, appreciating what I have and finally, letting you go."

I shook my head at him in disbelief. "The same night I broke up with you, you slept with my best friend. Out of all times and out of all people."

"We were drunk," he tried to excuse himself. "Plus you were seeing Harry, my employee behind my back for weeks."

"That's different," I told him.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Of course it is. You loved me one second and the next you loved him just like that."

"I don't love him!" I raised my voice at him.

Zayn wore a smug look on his face. He wanted me to admit it all along. He knew I didn't love Harry and now that I said it, he'd never let it go.

"If you don't love him, why are you with him? Valerie we can be together—"

"No Zayn. Stop it." I shook my head at him and moved away from him. I sat on a chair facing his bed and stared at the tiled floor below me.

He continued to pester me about how he still loved me and still wanted me to be with him.

"No Zayn. I can't. No." I repeated over and over again.

Suddenly, a third voice interrupted us. "What did I miss?"

I looked up to see Mrs. Malik wide awake and refreshed. "Zayn, how are you feeling?"

"Better mother," he said quietly.

"Good, now what's this talk about marriage I'm hearing? Have you two finally worked it out?" She excitedly walked over to me and wore a huge smile on her face. "I will admit I'm not okay with your little cheating phase, but I am glad you've grown out of it."

I raised a brow at her. "Excuse me."

"Mother, please stop." Zayn said weakly.

"I assure you I am not going through a phase." I said sternly.

Mrs. Malik then surprised me by slamming her purse onto a nearby dresser. "Is my son not good enough for you? Because from what I've seen he's been nothing but good to you—to good if I might add."

"Mom—"Zayn tried to stop her, but his mother continued.

"He was kind to you, he spoiled you, he loved you, he praised you, and he gave you everything you wanted. How dare you!"

A tear escaped my eye, but I quickly brushed it of my cheek. "You're right." I said quietly. "I guess don't deserve him. I should go."

"No, Valerie please don't go," Zayn pleaded.

"Get well soon, okay?" I said quietly before heading out the door.

As I began to walk away, memories of Zayn flooded through my mind. What his mother didn't know was that although Zayn appeared to be good to me, he's also hurt me numerous times.

.A/N: Okay wow I am so sorry I took 5 months to write this.. I've been so busy and honestly I couldn't write because I needed some inspiration. Time went by, i experienced new things and here I am ready to write my life away, haha. I definitely want to get some chapters in before I go away again so keep reading guys this book isn't over yet! Love you all and thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting :)