TAINTED | Zayn Malik

Chapter 69| In Which she puts her foot down

warning: mature content

The drive to Erica's apartment was long due to the fact Harry drove through all the backways, just to make sure we weren't followed. Only because I asked him to do it since it was better than nothing, I didn't want a repeat of anything right now. Part of me just wanted to go to sleep and not wake up at all. He stopped the car in the parking lot before turning off the ignition, both of us sitting in the car listening to the sound of the rain all while watching the many raindrops pound on the windshield.

Both of us decided to stay quiet as he realized that I was going to need it after the day I've had, from Zayn telling me everything, to finding out stuff that I didn't wanna learn, to Bianca and now this. It was all too much, I couldn't help but to wonder if it would all ever end.

"I- uh, came to check on you because Erica and Zayn both wanted me to do it while he stayed behind and watched over her for me. And she needed some rest, he actually tried going after you himself but he realized you'll want some space." He scratched at his damp curls before leaning back into the seat of his car, sighing to himself. It was a tiring for me, I can just imagine how everyone else felt about it.

I was thankful for him because not only was he a great friend, but the fact you could count on him to be there. Erica needed someone to take care of her heart, I loved my brother but he didn't have the courage to actually care about other women. It was just flings when it came to him. I don't think I've ever had a male friend to be cautious and show appreciation for everyone like Harry.

"Thank you for showing up when you did, because god knows what could've happened to me-" I stopped talking, shaking away the negative thoughts. It didn't result to anything coming down to that, I was lucky. "Also I'm glad you're being there for Erica, god knows I wish could but things have just been so messed up lately." I sniffled, pushing my damp hair out of my face.

He looked at me for a moment before nodding, thinking to himself.

"Someone has to look out for her, things have been so crazy in her personal life regarding her own family. Just watching her battling that, her job, worrying about you and if you're alright. She has a lot of stress on her shoulders, I've seen her cry many nights over things she can't control." His voice light hearted as she told me the truth, Erica wasn't doing okay like I had expected.

"And now you think I'm just making things worse for her." I nodded, feeling defeated.

"C'mon now - I would never say that to you. But just think about her feelings as well, because she loves you as if the both of you were related. She would do anything for you and be there in your life, but she needs you too. A lot of things has been falling apart so this incident happening to her is just the icing on the cake, she had a seizure. No perfectly healthy woman should be having one, along with her period being late and hair falling out. I've seen all of it but never said anything, just making sure that she understands she is beautiful to me no matter what. I know she's been the only person that has actually cared about this, but-" He paused, trying to find the right words to say without hurting my feelings. But it was something I needed to hear because it was selfish on my part to think I could ever allow her to go through that, especially alone.