for your eyes only

F O U R

"Wish me luck. I need this job. We all do."

Zayn sighs and nods. "Yeah," he says "that fucker can't work, so we have to manage everything. What kind of father he is, I don't know."

Claire bites her lower lip harshly. But, the things is, she knows what a wonderful father Davis used to be, up until her mother left him when she found out how Davis cheated on her with Zayn's mother. Davis lost it, and turned into a heartless monster. Zayn is absolutely right.

But, so is she. Because Zayn didn't get to know him until he was five, while Claire... she has lived with him since she was born, and she used to hope her father — the man whom she used to call her superhero — would return to her. And this stranger would leave. Forever. She still does.

In fact, she used to hate Zayn. Blaming him as the reason who made her father this. But she has long grown out of it, and now knows it's silly.

But Zayn hasn't. Claire knows there is still a small part of him that blames himself.

"Hello," Zayn waves a tattooed arm in front of her "Earth to Ms Carter?"

Claire jerks suddenly; which maybe she shouldn't have, because her elbow hit the jar of orange juice resting on the table and a nice amount of it fell on the floor.

"Motherfucking piece of — " she gasps, sporting a look of terror, and when she looks at Zayn, he has an identical expression on his face "We have to clean it quickly! Davis might return any minute!"

"No, I have to clean it quickly," Zayn says, his chin set determinedly "while you have to go and get those jobs."

"But —"

"No, buts! Okay? We need this job! The money our mothers have left us, would not last forever! We need it for our college! You go! I will handle it!"

Claire frowns heavily, not wanting to leave her brother alone like this. But she is getting late, and it won't leave a good first impression of her. So, she sighs defeated; and leaves.

When she steps outside, she looks both the ways, making sure Davis is nowhere in sight.

"He isn't here. Maybe he is late." Claire mutters to herself, and smiles. Maybe Davis is so drunk he forgot his way. Or, even better, this is one of the rare days where he goes to one of the women's house, whom he had seduced. She sudders in disgust at that. At least, Zayn would be safe.

She skips down the street, satisfied and happy, still finding no traces of Davis.

But no one was there to tell her that she spoke too soon. She would find out later on, of course, and she would also wish that she hadn't left Zayn alone after all.