Unpredictable

Chapter 10

The next morning, I tried to sneak out of the house early, before Jessica woke up. I had called Perrie last night and she had agreed to pick me up at ten. Just as I was about to put my shoes on, Jessica stormed out of her bedroom.

"Where do you think you're going?" She hissed.

"To a friend's house."

"Oh no you're not. You're going to stay here, and go grocery shopping, and hoover like you promised to do, and then the bathroom needs cleaned."

"Why can't you do it for once? I'm always tidying, or cleaning, or shopping, or cooking. I'm not your slave!" I snapped.

She grabbed my wrist, manicured nails digging into my veins. "You ungrateful, lazy, stupid brat! Have I not looked after you as if you were my own child? Haven't I put up with your ridiculous excuses, your blatent lies about being depressed?"

That last one stung. "You don't know anything about me! I hate you! I put up with all your shit, every day! I do what you say, but still you think I'm a slut, and a bitch, and a brat! I'm not fucking having it anymore." I stormed out, ignoring Jessica's threats and insults.

Perrie's car was parked outside. It was... certainly eyecatching: a pink bubble car with black graffiti writing all over it. I slipped into the passenger seat.

"Hiya." Perrie reached over to give me a hug. "You alright? I heard shouting..."

"No, it's nothing. How are you?"

She shrugged. "I really don't know. I haven't spoken to Zayn, but he'll be fine with me coming round to collect my stuff. I mean, I have keys, and I payed for the flat as well, so..." She trailed off, and switched the radio onto some punk rock station. We didn't talk for the rest of the journey, but I could see her getting more and more restless as we drove on.

Eventually we arrived outside a block of flats, and Perrie killed the engine. "Do you think you could maybe... Go in first?" She asked quietly and I nodded. She handed me the keys and I walked up to the right flat, Perrie behind me.

As soon as I unlocked the door, Zayn came stumbling through, bare-chested, wearing only a pair of boxers, eyes bloodshot.

"Who're you?" He slurred.

"Um, I'm Ella? Harry's girlfriend? Me and Perrie have just come round to get her stuff..."

"So thassit. We're over. Juss like that?" He asked, whining.

"You did kind of kick her out." I pointed out.

"Well yeah, but it wassn my fault!" He protested.

"Look, Zayn, we just want to get my stuff." Perrie had appeared behind me. Zayn moved out of the way, muttering to himself.

"Come on." I helped Perrie grab some bin bags and we went round the living room and bathroom collecting all the stuff that belonged to her, and some of the stuff that didn't, including Zayn's beloved The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy first edition book set, and the shared television, covered in bubble wrap. Perrie went to start on the kitchen, and I went through to the bedroom to tell Zayn we were coming in there next.

Except lying next to Zayn, wrapped in his arms, was a (presumably) naked, blonde woman.

I crept out quietly, and whispered to Perrie, "Don't go in the bedroom."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"It's... Messy. Yup, very very messy. Maybe, maybe could come back tomorow and get your stuff? There's a huge mess in there " I babbled.

"Ella... Does Zayn have someone in there with him?"

I screwed up my nose. "On a scale of one to ten, how mad would you be if I said yes?"

She picked up a frying pan and started heading for the door, but I grabbed the pan. "Don't brain Zayn."

"Why not?" She gritted her teeth. "He deserves it."

"Yeah, absaloutley, but you would go to prison, and no offence but orange jumpsuits? Really not your colour."

I put the pan on the counter and followed Perrie to the bedroom.

"Who the fuck is this, Zayn?!" I heard her scream from down the corridor.

"Perrie, I thought you said we were over... I..." he slurred, confused.

"I only said it was over because you told me I have to get an abortion or split up with you!" She yelled back. "How do you think I feel?! You've dumped me, my parents won't even speak to me, half of my friends aren't talking to me, and I have to stay in a shitty little hovel because you're using the house that I payed half for to shack up with dumb blonde sluts!"

"Excuse me? What did you just call me?!" I heard a new voice from the bedroom and could only imagine that it was Zayn's new... friend. I felt really awkward. Should I go? Stay?

"And you! Shut up! Why the hell are you even still here!" Perrie shouted, presumably at the blonde woman.

There was a sound which I can only assume was Perrie slapping the other lady, who stormed out of the room, clutching a blanket and a bundle of clothes around her.

"Do not call me!" She yelled, I'm guessing at Zayn.

"Oh don't worry sweetie, he won't!" Perrie hissed back. "Now get OUT!"

"Why the fuck did you do that? Crazy bitch." Zayn slurred, and there was another slap. I was kind of scared that he was hitting Perrie, so I ran in, but it was Zayn holding his cheek and looking shocked.

"Um... Should I just..." I gestured outside.

Perrie nodded. "This won't take long."

I was kind of scared; she sounded like she was in the mafia or something, about to kill Zayn. I legged it down the stairs and sat in Perrie's car, switching to a radio station that wasn't all people screaming.

After an hour had passed I got kind of worried, so I called Perrie.

"Is everything okay?"

"Oh. Shit. Yeah. You're still in the car?" She sounded out of breath.

"Yeah. I am. So this thing with Zayn...?" I hinted.

"Fine, fine yeah. I'm staying at his."

"What?!" This was well beyond scary. An hour ago she had been wanting to bash his head in with a frying pan.

"Look, I'll explain in the car, I'll be five minutes, bye!"

"But-" I began, but she had already hung up.

Ten minutes later she hopped into the front seat of the car, distinctly more cheerful than before.

"What's happened?" I asked.

"Me and Zayn are back together!" She squealed.

"What?" I asked, shocked. "You're- you're having an abortion?"

She shook her head. "I'm staying with Zayn, until the baby's born. Then we'll do DNA tests and-" she shrugged "-we'll take it from there."

I nodded, pleased. "I'm so happy for you." I squeezed her arm, and she smiled.

"Shall I take you home? I mean, me and Zayn are going out for lunch, but I doubt you'll want to join us." Translation: please do not come with us this is a date I will kill you if you say yes.

I shook my head. "I'm good. Could you just drop me off at the park? The one on Windmill Row?"

She nodded. I couldn't go back home, I couldn't face Jessica. I had some thinking to do.