Away

Chapter18

-ZAYNS POV-

I keep walking, turning when it's necessary.

I come to the stall where Niall is watching Harry.

It's not necessary, because Tessa is in there and he does everything possible to spend time with her. And it's not like they're gonna run away or anything.

She's not like that. She's a good girl kind of person. But she loves Harry and he loves her.

She is sitting with her arms around his neck, her legs curled up underneath her, and her head on his shoulder.

She is asleep and so is he.

He is sitting back against the wall, his head falling over towards his shoulder where her head is.

They are good together. Cute, even.

I sigh and sit down on the floor next to Niall, who is playing a game on his phone.

Suddenly, he throws his phone and it flies down the hall, hitting a wooden wall.

He is muttering angrily to himself, with his arms crossed.

"What the fuck just happened, Niall?"

"Flappy Bird." He stands up and walks over to get his phone.

"Oh." Makes sense, then.

We sit there in silence, not really minding the quiet.

"They're cute, aren't they?" I whisper, looking at Harry and Tessa, curled up. They know their time together is limited.

"Yea. It's adorable." He nods.

The silence is not comfortable this time.

"How's Cerulean?" He saw.

"She's good," I say holding out my arm and turning my neck up for him.

"How'd this happen, mate?" Niall asks, inspecting the bruise on the bottom of my jaw.

"Take a guess," I say sarcastically.

"Louis."

I nod. Stupid. I knew her before he did. He only knows the need-to-know. And what she's told him.

"Well, I'm gonna need some ice, but that's about all I can do."

"I'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will be, either way."

Erin always taught me to be fine. Always be fine. Otherwise, they find ways to make you not fine.

He taught that the first day I came back with a bloody nose.

*FLASHBACK*

Erin walked in and closed the door, knowing I would be waiting for him.

"Why did you have a bloody nose?"

So one of them squealed. "Some older guys were picking on me," I shrugged. I didn't want him to treat it like it was a big deal.

"What did you do to them?" He wanted to know how I payed them back.

"I didn't do anything. I just waited for it to be over."

He shook his head and sat down on my bed. "Do you know what Cerulean did the first time she got harassed?"

I shook my head and swallowed at the lump my throat. Why would anyone ever try to hurt her?

"She fought back. And they got hurt worse than she did."

I tried to contain my smile. She's a fighter.

"What am I telling you?"

"Never back down."

"Close. It's 'never be not fine'. Because if you were fine, they would've left you alone. And if you were fine you would've fought back."

I nodded, knowing I would never forget this lesson.

I never have.

(A/N: IM SO SORRY I HAVENT BEEN UPDATING!!! I GOT GROUNDED AND I STILL AM, BUT A FRIEND AND I ARE WORKING SOMETHING OUT SO I CAN GRADUALLY KEEP THE STORY GOING! I miss you guys!! Love you all and please keep reading!! Sorry for any inconveniences!!)