Twice in a Lifetime (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 54. Spazzing.

Chapter 12

Mia's POV

"What is it, Mia?" Zayn asked as he fixed himself, laying his head back on my lap.

"It's about .. a lot of things.. Many things I learned while you were gone."

"Like what?" He searched for my hand and set it on his chest, holding it there while he closed his eyes and I could feel the subtle heat radiating through his cotton grey tee.

"Well, for starters, about Seattle. Remember that one night when we went to the carnival on the docks?"

"Mhm."

"And there were those guys who chased after us."

"Mhm." Was he even listening to me?

"Well, they weren't after you. They were out to get me."

"What?!" His eyes shot open and worry swept across his face. I guess he was listening. Zayn never let go of my hand as he sat up urgently next to me. "How can you be so sure of that?"

"It's my father. He's not the most conventional man. It's nothing to worry about, Zayn," I tried to reassure him but his features remained concerned. "And at the O'Hare airport, he kidnapped me after you left."

"Are you messing with me?"

"I'm serious! He needed to talk to me," I chuckled at how deranged I must sound right now.

"Okay. I guess he isn't the most conventional dad. If he wasn't your father I would be calling him a maniac," he said, the anger in his eyes dissipated but only for a brief moment before he spoke again. "Just thinking about you getting touched by another person infuriates me."

Hearing that from him unusually made me feel better - knowing he would do anything to keep me safe.

"I know but you don't have to worry...I'm perfectly okay as you can see..."

"I can't imagine the things I would do if--"

"And you won't have to. I promise it's never going to happen again. Are you afraid?"

"Of losing you, yes," He asked, his thumb brushing the knuckles of my hand as he kept his gaze downward. Just his hand on mine was enough to make me go crazy.

"No not that. Of my father? If he sounds like a mad man, that's because he is one."

"I've heard worse," he told me with a toothless grin. I was relieved to hear that from Zayn. If he was going to be someone important in my life, meeting my father - or my family for that matter - would be mandatory. But that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. "Are you close with your pops?"

My eyes widened in surprise - hearing that question from Zayn was something I never expected to hear. Plus, I didn't know how to answer him.

Would he judge me for being one of those aloof daughters who despised their parents?

Well, used to be.

I didn't know why I cared so much about what others thought about me but I knew that Zayn was never the kind of person to judge me.

When he noticed my long pause, the answer was pretty much obvious. It shouldn't take a normal person with a normal relationship with their parents to take this long.

"It's complicated," was all I managed to tell him, avoiding his stare.

He leaned back against the couch and patted his shoulder nearest me. When I tilted my head in confusion, he rolled his eyes.