Midnight doesn't last forever. [slow updates]

• Chapter 20.

-Erica-

“What’s wrong?” Zayn asked, coming out of the ward.

“Eleanor. She said that Louis is at Ashley’s.” I replied, still not able to comprehend the reason why Louis, of all people, would have to meet Ashley. “Can you do me a favour please?”

“Of course, what’s it?” He questioned.

“Take Ty to Danielle’s so she can help him with the homework and come back here to take care of dad.” I replied, hastily walking to Dad’s ward and telling him that we had to go. Zayn went to the opposite direction while I drove towards Ashley’s house where Eleanor was waiting in her car.

“What happened?” I asked as she collapsed in my arms. I had parked my car behind hers, and on seeing me, she came running, towards me.

“Louis, he said that he couldn’t meet me today because he had a thing.” She explained, as we walked towards Ashley’s house.

“What kind of thing?” I questioned, my brows slanted in a frown.

“I don’t know, he won’t say. And then I followed him.” I skeptically raised my eyebrows as she continued, “First Liam picked him up from his house then they went to Ashton’s. Later all three of them went to Harry’s where Louis spent about twenty minutes in his house while Liam and Ashton stayed in the car. Then the four of them drove here. I don’t know what’s going on Erica. Just tell me that he isn’t cheating on me?” She glanced at me with pleading eyes.

“I don’t think this has anything to do with cheating if Liam, Harry and Ashton are also involved. I guess there is only one way to find out.” I exhaled deeply before twisting the doorknob that was surprisingly open. I didn’t want anyone to suspect that we were eavsdropping because they might have tried to cover it up with some kind of lie. I placed my forefinger on my lips, gesturing Eleanor to stay quiet and she did as told.

 “So that’s what you had against Zayn?” Liam was asking Ashley.

“No. If you let me complete the conversation without interruptions you will know what exactly I had on him.” Ashley said with gritted teeth and then she continued, “It didn’t go as planned because Zayn, even when he was hammered, still had a conscience and not to mention, his sheer love for that bitch. Instead of agreeing to fuck me, he took off and I ran after him.” I felt glad that Zayn loved me so much. She stopped to take a gulp of her drink, “When I followed him, he was so drunk that he was stumbling all the way. Somehow he agreed to let me help him with the walk down the road to his car and when we were about to reach his car, Joseph came out of the alleyway making us halt. He seemed to recognize Zayn so he started walking towards us. We were on the other side of the road and when he was about to cross, a car came out of nowhere and hit him. The car stopped next to us and the girl, who was driving, came out and began crying.” Ashley was trying her best not to cry. Everyone was eerily silent. Inhaling a deep breath, she began again.

“Carefully making Zayn sit down on the footpath, I ran towards Joseph. I had known him for a month when Erica and I were friends and just like everyone, I respected him a lot. He had hit his head on the road and the car had hit his limbs as well. Lying in his pool of blood, he looked as if he had died but one look at his chest and I knew he was still alive. I looked at the girl who was sitting by my side and I recognized her immediately. Doniya.” My mouth opened wide in shock, my eyes copying the action. Doniya? She was the reason why my dad was going through the pain that he didn’t deserve?

“You’re lying.” Ashton stormed towards her with a deadly look on his face. A gasp left my lips even before I could stop it and I realized that I was crying by then. When Eleanor sniffled, everyone turned to look at us. Time seemed to freeze, and I had everyone’s undivided attention plus their sympathetic looks.