First Love

Chapter 26

ANNABELLE’S POINT OF VIEW

I stared at my phone. I didn’t understand why people never answered when I needed them most. Harry, Louis, and Liam must have been out. They weren’t answering. I obviously couldn’t call Hannah or Niall. I thought of the Bradford boy with the adorable accent and prayed that his ability to think would clear my head.

“Vas Happenin, Anna?” He answered on the second ring, confusion clear in his voice. We weren’t ever all that close, so I’m sure my call came as a shock to him.

“Zayn?” I asked tentatively, my voice cracking on the single syllable.

“What’s wrong, love?” He asked. I heard him shuffle around and get comfortable. He could already tell this was going to be a long conversation. Great.

“Where are the rest of the boys?” I asked, honestly curious about their inability to answer a phone.

“Liam and Louis went out with Eleanor and Danielle, and Harry is asleep. Seriously, what is going on? You sound terrible.” I barked out a laugh.

“Thanks.” 

“I’m getting worried.” I sighed, deciding I might as well just come out with it.

“Niall was with Hannah.” I said, my voice cracking once again.

“I’m going to need a little more of a story, love.”

“Hannah is-was my best friend. She’s been with Niall and me for the past few days. I could tell she had a thing for him, but I was thinking maybe it was just because he was Niall Horan, and I didn’t think he liked her too. Then I thought maybe I was wrong, so I took them to a party. I was hoping to make him forget her for a while, but I got pulled away and he went upstairs with her. I walked in on him with Hannah.” I said, starting to sob halfway through.

“Him with Hannah?”

“With. Like, she wasn’t wearing her dress anymore by the time I got in there, Zayn. I’m sorry. No one was answering, I didn’t know who to talk to. I’m going on tour with you guys tomorrow, and now I can’t stand to be around him. It’s too late to back down.” I trailed off, realization hitting me. He had gotten that close to her in the last three days we were in New York. What if I hadn’t introduced them? Could this whole entire situation have been avoided? Was I really to blame for all of this, in the end?

“Anna, love, I am so sorry. He shouldn’t have done that, but he did. I can tell you right now he’ll be getting a stern talking to when he gets back. We’ve all grown very fond of you.” Zayn said, trying his best to comfort me. I cried lightly.

“I could really use some ice cream.” I mumbled, knowing I couldn’t go downstairs in the state I was in. My mom would want to know what was going on, and once she figured it out, would demand I stayed away from the boy. No tour, which wasn’t an option now. I had grown too attached to the boys. We had video called and texted the whole time we were gone. Zayn and I had even talked, but not nearly enough for me to push this on him all of a sudden. I heard him laugh softly.

“Why don’t you go get some?”

“I haven’t  told my mom. I don’t plan on telling her, honestly. If I go down there now, she will definitely know something is wrong.” I explained, not sure he would understand.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I would bring you ice cream, if I could. Love, I promise crying over him isn’t going to make it better. If anything it’s going to make things worse, and I know he isn’t worth your tears. Especially not if he is walking around and doing things like that with your best friend. Who isn’t a very good best friend if she’d let him do it.” I smiled through my tears, glad to be able to talk to someone with a level head. “You said they were at a party? Was it possible he was drunk? I just can’t imagine Niall doing something like that.” Zayn trailed off, and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head.