Twinning

Chapter 9

The weekend is over, I called Marcel yesterday and finally told him what's been going on with Zayn and Niall. Today's the day that he has to apologize to Niall. The lunch bell rings and I walk fast down the hallway. Marcel asked if I wanted him to be there, too, so I said yes. Marcel is to meet me in the library with Niall. I'm a bit worried about what's going to happen.

"Hey, Niall!" I smile wide at him and I sit down across from him in the quiet library.

"Hello, Jen." He then glances at Marcel and then back at me, confused, "what's he doing here?"

"He's just here to uh.. Say hi.." He then glances back at Marcel and then looks down.

"How have ya been?" Marcel asks, trying to spark a conversation.

"Alright.." He answers with a shrug. Before he can say anything else, he looks up and his eyes widen. I turn back around to see Zayn walking our way, hate written all over his face. "Okay, Marcel. What's the real reason your here, huh? What kinda game are you two trying to play?" Niall taps his fingers on the table and sits up in his chair. Zayn nears and I see Niall grab the strap of his backpack like he's about to pack up and run out of here. I grab Niall's arm and shake my head, no.

"We need to straighten some things out," I look him in the eye and he releases his grip on the bag. Zayn comes and pulls his chair back angrily so he can sit down across from Marcel. I see Niall's jaw clench and he stares straight at me, a sense of betrayal in his eyes.

"Zayn. I believe you have something to say to Niall?" Marcel stares straight at him. Marcel's big hands rest on the table in front of him, a leather bracelet or two wrap around his wrists. Zayn shrugs,

"I don't know. Do I?" His accent is pulling through tremendously as he crosses his arms over his chest, staring at Marcel. He hasn't even looked in Niall's direction yet.

"Yes. You do." This time I speak up and I glare at him, he glares back. You see, Zayn is too prideful. He can't apologize because it would be putting himself below Niall in a way. But it's either now or never and he knows that I'd never forgive him if he doesn't. Finally, Zayn turns to Niall for the first time and I can see the fear setting in Niall's eyes as he cowards back in his chair. I've never seen Niall act like this, I can just imagine Zayn throwing a punch and I shiver. Niall nervously glances over at me before he stares straight back into the eyes of his predator, Zayn Malik.

"Any day, Zayn." Marcel sighs.

"Niall I uh..." I then see it in Zayn's eyes. I can see the pure hatred turning into something softer. It's almost like he's in pain. "I'd like to apologize for the ways I've been acting towards you..." With that, Niall straightens up, confused.

"Y-you're apologizing to me?"

"That's what I just said, stupid." I smack Zayn on the arm, like I'm training a dog. Zayn just glances over at me and scowls.

"Oh..." Niall looks down at his hands and I can see a muscle jump in his jaw.

"So that's it? Great!" Zayn stands up and I immediately pull him back down.

"No. Sit. You're going to talk it all out."

"Okay, okay." So Zayn positions himself so he's looking into Niall's eyes again. "I'm sorry for uh.. Beating you up... Multiple times." But the way he says it is very cold and emotionless.

"Why did you do it?" Good, Niall's actually talking now.

"I don't know. You were an easy target." I see a smirk spread across Zayn's face and I feel the same jolt of pain in my stomach. The fact that Zayn can say that TO HIS FACE with a smirk is just sick. I ball my hands up into fists in my lap and just continue listening, eager to know what happens next.

"You physically and emotionally hurt me because it was an easy thing to do?" Niall inquires, "what if someone did that to you, huh?"

"They wouldn't. I make myself strong. I'll beat the shit outta anyone who lays a finger on me. You, on the other hand, you can't do anything to fight back." I clench my teeth and take a deep breath. I feel Marcel rest his hand on my knee and I glance over at him, he mouths the words, "it's okay," and I nod.

"But what if they did? Just think about it." I guess because were here, Niall feels a sense of power for once.

"If someone did that to me... Yeah. I'd feel pretty crappy all the time..." He answers. And then it all comes together. Realization washes over his face and he readjusts uncomfortably. "Okay Niall. I get it." So does that mean that he'll stop? I sit back, a bit happier that Zayn realizes what he's been doing.

"So you understand what pain you've been causing me." Niall sits back in his seat, his blue eyes meet mine for a split second but then he looks back down at the table.

"Yeah. I understand." There's a long pause before he speaks up again, "and I also understand what a jerk I've been, and I'm truly sorry." Zayn looks into Niall's eyes with sadness and Niall stares back, emotionlessly.

"Okay." Then Niall gets up, slings his backpack over his back, and walks out the door. The three of us are left in silence, the sound of the clock ticking is the only thing I hear.

"I tried." Zayn finally speaks up.

"Not hard enough." I answer before I also get up and walk out of the library. I don't know where I'm going to go, there's ten minutes left of lunch and I don't know where Niall has run off to. I turn my head to look down the corner and spot Harry sitting by the window, staring out as the rain drizzles down. I smile, glad that he's here, he's not part of the drama, and just because I really need someone to talk to.

"Hey, Harry..." Harry is immediately awaken from his daze and he turns to look at me. He smiles immediately but it's a distant sort of smile...

"Oh, hey." He turns back to face the window and I join him, staring out at the dark clouds and soaked parking lot.

"You okay?" I ask, concerned. He glances over at me and then down to his hands and he just nods his head.

"Just thinking,"

"About?" He shrugs. There's a silence and I rest my hand on the windowsill next to his and I see his body tense up. Great, now he's acting weird, too. "Harry." I demand and that's when he stares into my eyes. It's still that distant kind of look.

"I'm just confused." He closes his eyes and carefully leans his head on the glass in front of him. I just want to hug him and tell him that it's okay.

"Is there anything I can do to help..?" I ask, concerned. He simply stares into my eyes and turns away from the window so he's facing me completely.

"I don't even know.."

"Harry I don't want to see you like this." I see him stare down at his feet and I sigh. We're inches apart but the lack of space doesn't even bother me at all. Thunder claps in the distance, making me jump and Harry smirks at me,

"Scared of thunder?"

"No!" I immediately protest. The whole day seems so wrong, the only thing that feels right is standing here with Harry right now. That's it. I want to tell him that, but I'm afraid it'd ruin something, I just don't know what.

"Hey, Jen. Can I ask you something?" I look up into his eyes and take a deep breath,

"Sure. Anything."

"Are you free after school?" He smiles as he says it,

"Of course! I'll tell Marcel then we can all go-"

"No, I mean.. Just us..." This takes me by surprise and I furrow my eyebrows,

"I mean yeah, but... Why exclude Marcel?" He shrugs a bit and I see his hand twitch, like he was about to grab hold of my hand but then decided against it.

The bell rings.

And we say our goodbyes.

And I don't see him until after school.