Fix You (Sequel to The Arts)

Chapter 21

Zayn's POV

I step off the elevator and into the now familiarized hall. I nod in greeting towards the secretary at the front who never seems to get off the phone. Turning a corner, I walk down the narrow path and towards Camila's office just to surprise her with some ice cream.

My superior back at the internship dismissed me early. She always does this because she says the best way to create is to explore. Not stick myself in the same room for hours on end in attempt to create something new. So, I decided to come here because there are two things that inspire me. My girlfriend and the amazing view she gets from her window.

I get to her office and find her door wide open. Walking into it, I furrow my eyebrows when I can't find her. I take another step into the room and scan it.

"Zayn?" the softness in her voice arises.

I jump and turn to see her behind the open door gathering some papers from a file cabinet. "Jesus Cabello! Give me a heart attack, will you?"

"You stepped in here," she reminds me as if it wasn't obvious.

"Did you eat yet?" I ask like I always do because she has the tendency to skip meals.

She just nods and walks towards her desk. She grabs a folder and puts the papers she has in it, placing it at the corner of her desk. Then, she flattens out her shirt and takes a seat in her chair.

I try to hide the bit of disappointment that dwells in me as she refuses to acknowledge my presence a little more. No, "how are you?" No, "how was the internship today?" Not even a simple "hello."

It's hard to get used to even though it happens every time.

"What are you doing here?" she questions and I take a step back. That same venom that laces between every word and curls around my heart was present. Her innocence had the inclination to cover it. However, she takes notice of my stance and relaxes in her chair. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I-"

"It's fine," I just dismiss it and go to take a seat. I take one of the cups of ice cream and slide it across her desk along with a spoon. "I got you a hot fudge sundae."

"Thanks," she smiles but something inside me makes me think that it was a bit forced.

Dismissing that too, I just take my own ice cream and spoon some of it in my mouth. I watch her a little shyly as she takes her own, pulling herself closer to the desk.

I cross my ankles and I feel my foot hit something. Looking under the desk, I find an orange bottle beneath my foot. When I lean down to grab it, I note it was her prescription.

I place it on the desk and she looks up then back down. "Why are these on the floor?"

She doesn't answer right away. Just spoons a large amount of ice cream in her mouth to avoid talking longer.

When she swallows, she just casually tells me, "I had a panic attack. Nothing new." She shrugs.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I look to her with care.

She shakes her head. "I'm f-" she pauses. "I'm okay. Don't worry."

"Camila, you c-"

"I said I'm okay. Let's just move over it," she snaps.

I stay quiet. It was this new thing I was trying. Trying to be more observant. I wanted to see if me staying quiet would cause her to start up a conversation. I was tired of it being one sided. So, I sat there and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Until we were both finished our ice cream; saying nothing between bites as her phone's music was the only thing filling the silence.