The Set-Up (One Direction)

Night-time Mischief - Chapter 23

*Zayn's POV*

2:47 am

I blinked slowly at the small lit up numbers of the clock next to me, my eyes blurring as I let out a soft groan. I stare at the ceiling wondering why I am awake at this time, I never wake in the middle of the night, I'm a ridiculously heavy sleeper.

I mumble incoherently to myself and push myself up so I'm sitting, stretching my hands above my head, letting one arm fall and lazily rub my eye. I glance around and remember that I'm in the hospital. I look to the bed and jolt up realizing that it was empty.

"Where did Molly go..."

I run to the small ensuite in the room and groan realizing that it's empty. I clumsily run out to the corridor and look both ways before taking a 50/50 chance and turning left, sprinting down the maze-like corridors that all look identical. I gave up and started to head back the way I came until the flick of brown hair and a familiar giggle caught my attention. I turned to my left and saw a light on in the room in front of me.

I quickly ducked, squatting underneath the window, cautiously peering into the room where I saw my best friend and secret agent spy, smiling widely and telling a little boy a story, both their eyes full of wonder and amazement. I looked at the young boy and noticed his shaved head. He was hooked up to half a dozen tubes that looked like they were extensions of his body.

I glanced up at the door and saw written on the whiteboard;

Christopher Rieg

Stage 5 Leukemia

After taking a moment to compose myself from the tidal waves of emotions that had hit me after I read the board, I cracked the door open the slightest bit – so thin you could only just slide a piece of paper through – I listened and smiled as I realized that Molly and Christopher were talking about which dinosaur they would be and why. "I want to be a T-rex, because they were the highest on the food chain and ruled the dinosaur kingdom, whereas I'm the lowest in the food chain of life, being picked off before I even get the chance to try." Christopher told Molly sounding mad though trying to mask it with false joy.

"Listen, Chris, you are so wise beyond your years, and I know that all of this is so unfair, but I know that you can fight this, and if there's ever a time you doubt yourself or your strength you picture yourself as that mighty T-rex, a mighty beast capable of overcoming any challenges thrown your way okay buddy?" I felt like I was violating their secrecy by listening to this conversation, but I just needed to ensure that Molly was ok.

"Hey Chris, do you want to know a secret?" I hear molly mischievously whisper, excitement lacing her voice. "YES!" Chris – can I call him Chris? – squeals noises coming from the room and I assume that he is jumping up and down on the bed excitedly. "I'm a spy, and I fight bad guys with my sidekick, who is just outside this door."

Crap I'm busted.

"Really?!" Christopher asked awe filling his voice as I hear footsteps walking towards the door, acting on impulse I moved further from the door and waited until it was swung open by molly, I took that as my opportunity to roll through the doorway, stand up and then do a backflip, landing at the foot of Chris' hospital bed. I looked down at Chris and saw him staring at me in amazement.

"THAT WAS AMAZING!" "Thanks buddy, my name is Zayn." I said smiling, going to ruffle his hair, only for my hand to stop short and fall awkwardly as I took in what Christopher really looked like, he has the brightest blue eyes you have ever seen and the most heartwarming smile, but he looked so thin and fragile like any movement could break him.

"I'm Chris, what dinosaur would you be?" the young boy looked at me eyes staring into my soul and immediately I felt like I've known this boy my whole life. The pain was as clear as day in his eyes but his smile could make the sun come out on a rainy day.

 "I reckon Zayn would be a Pterodactyl because he always tries to be above the rest of us." Molly answered Chris before I could stutter an answer out. I couldn't think of anything witty to respond with so instead I stuck my tongue out before smiling cheekily. "I think flying would be awesome." Chris sighed and flopped backwards onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"So, are you guys here because someone you know is hurt?" Chris asked turning his head from the ceiling to look at us. "No buddy, we are here because we got hurt, haha, you know how I told you I was a spy and Zayn was my sidekick?" "Yeah" "Well sometimes that means you'll get hurt. We were driving super-fast today and got into a car crash, we even managed to roll the car." Molly added the last part as if it was an achievement. Chris had sat up again and was looking at us in awe. "Is that why Zayn's nose is all bruised? Cause of the crash." Molly looked at me and burst out laughing. "Nah, bud, Molly did this when we were practicing, she's not one to argue with." I told Chris and his eyes grew in surprise.

And so that's how we spent the next 2 hours, sitting in Chris' room sharing stories and trying to make each other laugh as hard as possible. Molly and I snuck out of Christopher's room and slowly walked back to ours. 

"Zayn... what if my memories don't come back?" 

Molly asked her brows furrowed as she looked at the ground. "What if I can never remember the times I've spent with the boys and my friends, and have I patched things up with my family?" I sighed heavily as we entered the room.

"No matter what happens, I promise you that we are all here to support you, and if your memories don't come back, we will just create new ones. You've already become friends with them once, second time round shouldn't be as hard." I said offering a smile before going to lay down on the couch. "Mm I guess so, goodnight Zayn, oh and sorry about crashing your car." Molly murmured in the dark. "Don't worry about it, I was going to get a new one soon anyway, so I guess now I've got no choice."

Okay.. hi? SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED, not like anyone still reads this but eh, any way see you again in like another 6 months haha xx