Forever Young (Sequel to 'Gotta Be Lou')

Chapter Nine

“What do you think will happen?” I asked Louis nervously. I did want to know what Zayn and Amelia were talking but I also respected their privacy and the suspense was literally killing me!

“I guess Zayn will explain our plans to her,” Louis smiled at me, grabbing my hand and planting a kiss on my lips. Instantly I relaxed a bit and wrapped an arm around his waist.

“So, we need to do a gig without Zayn? Guess the old times we wanted back are finally here...” I murmured, remembering when Zayn wasn’t with us because one of his family members had died and he went back to England to be at the funeral and support his family.

Louis chuckled bitterly. “That’s not exactly what I was looking for...” He murmured and I nodded in agreement.

Liam came towards us and dropped himself next to us. “I guess they’ll be finished soon. Niall just knocked on the door and asked if he should call Will already. He’ll be here in about half an hour.”

Will was our manager and he also helped us when Niall and Liam told him they were dating, same with Louis and I. We knew the fans thought our management were some cruel people who would do things only for money and I thought that was pretty mean.

After all our management let us make concerts, they bought the arenas, the helped us fulfilling our dreams and they set the cost for a concert ticket so almost everyone would be able to afford it. I loved what management did for us and I was pretty sure the rest of the boys thought the same way.

Zayn came out of his room, his hand entwined with Amelia’s. I could see she had been crying but I would’ve too if I had been her. It must be pretty hard to hear that your husband had a deadly disease – No. It wasn’t deadly. Zayn would surely survive this!

I smiled encouraging at her and she gave me a weak smile. “You okay?” Liam asked, being Daddy Directioner.

Amelia nodded and Zayn squeezed her hand. He leant in to peck her forehead and she smiled up at him. “Everything’s gonna be alright,” he said reassuringly and his wife nodded. I knew he wanted to convince all of us, including him. I was so sorry for him.

“Will will be here in about half an hour,” Niall said to Zayn and Amelia as he entered the room, shoving his phone into his butt’s pocket. “Are you really ready to tell him?”

“Do I have a choice?” Zayn asked and breathed out shakily. “I know Liam is right. I can’t go out and sing. I don’t want to break out coughing like in Oklahoma...” He bit the corner of his lip and looked down to Amelia.

I got up and pulled my best friend into a tight hug that he was returning. I would do anything to help Zayn. I would do anything to help any of my friends. I hated it when anyone was sad because it only made me sad myself. “Everything’s gonna be alright,” I whispered.

***

“So, guys, what’s the matter?” Will asked as soon as he entered the living room. It took him a moment until he realized Amelia sat on the sofa, right next to Zayn and holding his hand tightly. “Well, good noon, Mrs. Malik.”

Am smiled at him and nodded. “Please, call me Amelia.”

Will smiled and shook her hand. “Okay. So, guys, what’s the problem?” He asked again, turning his attention back to the five of us.

“I think I will explain since it’s my problem...” He cleared his throat and let out a deep sigh. “As you know I had a cough-attack in Oklahoma when I was singing my solo in Tell Me A Lie. Since then Harry insisted on going to the hospital with me and yesterday I got my results... I have cancer.”