Infinity //1D AU ✓

Chapter 22

~Lay awake only hoping they're okay~

"Our story is that we were friends of Niall's, but we never knew about his past, and have never heard of him. It's common enough. He was trying to settle down into a new life, and he met us. It's kind of what did happen, except we found out along the way." Louis smiled into the rearview mirror. No one in the backseat replied. Liam was booking himself a ticket on the next flight out of town, Lottie was comforting Harry, and Anne was just their chauffeur.

"You knew?" Anne finally asked.

"Yes, mum. We knew. But if you knew the whole story, you'd believe his sincerity. A guy with a big heart like Niall doesn't deserve to spend his whole life in prison before he's even twenty-one."

Anne nodded at Harry's explanation. "For now, I won't ask questions, but expect some serious grilling when we get home later. Now hop out. I'll go park." Just pulling up at the jail, they all hopped out, at exactly the same time Zayn did. He huffed and ran inside, and the group of them crowded around the desk at the same time. Well, Harry and Liam hung back a bit, and Louis and Zayn pushed each other to assume the first spot at the window.

"I need to see Luke Davies!" Zayn finally shouted.

"Niall Horan!" Louis shouted over him.

"I can get you in to see Luke." She said, pointing to Zayn. "But no visitors to Niall. Sorry."

Louis' jaw tensed. He didn't need to ask why.

"He's calling!" Harry yelled suddenly, pulling out his phone. "Or, at least, I hope." He answered it and put it on speakerphone. "Niall."

"It's over for me." Niall said, tears still evident in his voice. "That little scum Evelyn turned me in since I wouldn't help her. Her brother did it. He killed those people, and I never should've believed him. No one should've put a young kid like me in charge of a prisoner like that."

"Niall." Harry said, trying to be calming. "It's okay."

"It's not, Harry! It's not!" Niall took to sobbing, and Louis came closer to the phone with Liam. Zayn stood by the window still, waiting to be let in.

"We love you, Niall." Louis said, to calm him.

"Just know that. Even if you get out of prison when you're ninety, we'll be there." Liam said strongly. "No matter what. Because no one breaks up the band."

"Tell Zayn that I'm sorry for whatever part I played in what went down today." He said, trying to fit a million things to say into one phone call.

"I forgive you." Zayn said suddenly, into the phone. "I have to go now, Niall, but I forgive you. None of the others, but I forgive you." After that, he disappeared into the hallway to visit Luke.

"Louis, I know your daughter is going to be so beautiful and amazing, and I hope she likes iced coffee. Have fun paying for that expensive habit. And I know that if you and Harry do get married, it'll be amazing, and you'll adopt loads of kids and make the world a better place. And Liam, you're going to find someone amazing and live the rest of your life with them, and you'll be a police officer, or whatever you want, and you'll be amazing. Tell Simon that he's the best boss I've ever had. I have to go now, guys." He gave a final sob. "See you in the next life."

---

The group of them cried in that lobby while they waited for Anne to circle back around to pick them up. Shortly after Niall hung up, Zayn was kicked out of the cells and sent back into the lobby.

Louis wanted to say so much to him, but Zayn held a hand up. "I don't want to hear any of it. This is your guy's faults. You ruined my happiness and I never want to see any of you again. I hope you all know what it's like to have this happen to you. And I hope it does."

Zayn walked out of the front doors then, and out of their lives.