Long Lost and Refound - A Zayn Malik Story

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Long Lost and Refound

Avery's POV

I took one last look in the mirror before grabbing my phone and bag and heading downstairs. I walked into the kitchen and tried to ignore the sight before me. My parents were in an extremely compromising position on the island and their tongues were practically glued together. Thank God they were still fully clothed. I grabbed a banana from the basket and slipped out of the kitchen and then the front door before they could notice me.

I turned left from the foot of my driveway and brushed the hair from my face. I dug my hands into my hoodie pockets and sighed, adjusting the bag on my shoulder. First day of school after the Christmas holidays. I wondered what new things everyone would bring to school from Santa.

Like usual, Christmas at our house - a couple of days before my mini meltdown - was celebrated with me wandering around the streets. I preferred to stay away from their celebration style. I remember when I was eight and I was at home for Christmas. My parents had tried to make me drink some of the cheap wine and when I refused, Dad beat me senseless, ripping my clothes in the process. Then they both forced half a bottle of wine down my throat. I shuddered at the memory.

I turned around the end of the block and saw someone walk off their driveway and pull up their black hood, making their way up the sidewalk. Not before I saw the side of their face, though. I smiled and pulled out my phone, silently following that figure ahead of me.

I c u

He pulled out his phone and then stopped when he saw the screen. He let his hands with the phone fall limp and he glanced around. I caught a tiny glimpse of the profile of his lashes. I turned to my phone again.

Turn around.

His hands flew up again with his phone and his head bent. Almost immediately he spun to face me and I saw the moment when recognition hit his face. He smiled and lowered his hood, putting his phone away. I sped my walk and caught up with him. He turned to face back where he was going when I was beside him.

He smiled at the air, digging his hands in his pockets and walking. I followed suit, pulling my hood up.

"Hey."

"Hey, Zayn." I nodded at the house whose driveway he'd came off of. "That yours?" He nodded, looking straight ahead. From what I'd noticed of the house, it was cute. Little flower pots beside the door and two cars sat in the driveway. "It's cute."

"Thanks," he said. We walked in a comfortable silence together until I saw my school up ahead.

"So..." I trailed. He glanced at me expectantly. "You go to Eastern High?" He nodded, adjusting his bag. "I thought you looked familiar. I think I've seen you in the halls." He looked at me flabbergasted.

"Seen me in the halls? I'm in three of your classes!" He frowned and looked either ways of the road before crossing it. I hurried to follow him, a red blush already forming on my cold, flushed cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Zayn! It's just..." I looked at the ground, still walking with him to the stream of students. He looked at me and I stopped, looking up at him. He stopped, too. "It's just that I normally don't pay attention to anything except school. The people in it... I don't know. I just haven't had great experience with them so I shut them out." His expression softened and he smiled, punching my arm lightly.

"Hey, it's okay." Just then the bell rang and we both looked at each other before booking it to the path that led to the front doors and then through the front doors.

In the span of a minute all that was left was a couple of students rushing to their classes. That crowd that was outside had completely dispersed within seconds before the bell. We both barged into our first hour  Math class and the whole class turned to look at us. The teacher scrutinized us over her glasses.