Fate's Identity

Chapter 86

Camila's POV

I wipe my glasses for the fifth time today and uncover the sheets, placing my feet on the ground. It's been a week since I found out the secret Ally has been keeping from me. Why didn't she tell me the truth? Why did she have to lie to me? We're sisters. We tell each other everything, especially me and her.

I can't believe it. Zayn's gone. He's really gone. And I never got the chance to say goodbye. I never will forget his last words to me. Even though it's almost been a year, I remember the day he was leaving. I snuck out of the house, so I can see him. Simon and Sofie weren't home yet from their trip. When I got there, I saw Liam and Louis in the living room, already packing. I wondered where Zayn was and asked about him. They told me he was in his room. I ran to the door and saw him holding onto the ribbon I left on Christmas night. He looked upset. His eyes lowered to the ground, and in that moment, I decided to enter.

"Zayn," I asked him.

He shifted his eyes on me and smiled a little. "Camz," he mumbled. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," I answered. "You're going to be gone, and I just want to take a good look at your face before I can't see you anymore."

He shook his head. I took a seat next to him. "No," he said. "No. I will be back. I will come back with Liam when he's done. And that won't take long."

"You don't know that," I said.

Our eyes met, and I looked deeply into his eyes and saw the fear that he might not see me again. He raised his voice, "I swear to God, Camila, I will see you again."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," I replied. "It's a sin."

"This is a promise I intend to keep," Zayn said. I smiled as he pressed his forehead on top of mine.

I closed my eyes, and we slowly connected our lips together. My spirit lifted up as our lips moved in sync. He placed his hands on my waist. Butterflies grew in my stomach, and the feeling ignited.

After a second, I pulled back and rested my head on his shoulder. He intertwined our fingers together and kissed the top of my head. "I love you, Camila," he whispered.

"I love you too, Zayn," I replied.

The two of us remained silent and let us sink into each other's companies. We were inseparable at the moment, which was ironic, considering in the next couple of minutes, we had to part ways. But before we did, I let him keep the ribbon, just as a reminder of me, even if he didn't come back. But I had my hopes very high that he will come back like he promised. Who would've thought strong hopes would backfired on me? He was the first guy I loved.

When I saw Ally running, trying to catch up to the car, I couldn't help but get more emotional. Ally is braver than I will ever be. She saw Simon there, yet she followed her heart and gave her last words to Liam before he left.

I couldn't possibly be mad at Ally now, seeing how much she went through. Even though I didn't know what happened during the summer, I knew she had to change some things. Ally grew stronger, and I admired that. Even when Liam came back into her life, she grew cautious of him, but eventually, her heart cave in, and she opened it up to him.

I pray that Ally's illness will wore off. Lauren and Dinah told me what could happen to her, and I did not want that to happen. She is too good of a person to be withered away by some kind of disease.

Suddenly, I hear multiple knocks on the door of the house. I wipe my tears completely and place my glasses back on. I exit my room and trot down the stairs. I enter the kitchen and walk to the door. I unlock the door and press my hand around the knob. I turn it and open the door.

My heart sinks right in front of me as I blink, not sure if I was dreaming of him standing right in front of me, panting, or not.

"Camila," he smiles.

I bat my eyes and shake my head. "No, not possible," I said. "Zayn?" His lips quiver to smile. "How are you here? This must be some kind of trick."

Zayn creases his brows in confusion. "What are you talking about? It's me. Zayn."

I look up the sky and speak to it. "Please let this be real," I plead.

"Camz, what are you talking about?" he asks.

A smile forms on my lips. I reach my hand out and touch his shoulder, feeling it to be solid. "Zayn, is it really you?" I question.

Zayn nods his head. "Yes, baby," he replies.

Tears begin to stream down my cheeks once more as I wrap my arms around him. "I thought I would never see you again," I sob. "H-how are you here right now?"

I pull back and face him. He questions, "What are you talking about?" I examine his facial expression and find him to be completely unaware of his news.

I step aside and let him enter the house. "Come in, I'll explain it to you," I said. He takes a step inside, and I close the door.

We walk through the kitchen and enter the living room, where Lauren and Dinah resided. Their eyes lift up, and confusion washes over their face. "Zayn?" they question in unison.

"We thought you were dead," Lauren says.

Zayn furrows his brows, "What? What are you talking about?"

"Take a seat," I said as we stood in front of a couch adjacent to the one Dinah and Lauren were sitting on.

Zayn and I take a seat, and I explain first, "We thought you were gone months ago. We received news that were into a car accident."

Zayn nods his head. "Yes, I was in a car accident, but I didn't die. I'm not dead. I'm very much alive."

"Then how come we were told otherwise?" Dinah questions.

"I don't remember much during the accident," Zayn begins, rubbing the back of his head, "But I do remember that I was coming back. Liam and I were coming back. I was behind the wheels, and we crossed the intersection. And after that...everything just went black. The next thing I know, seven months passed, and I was in the hospital."

"What?" Lauren questions. "How did—what even happened during the months you guys were gone?"

Dinah adds, "You were gone, Liam changed, and Louis is more of a jerk now than before."

"What? Where are they now?" Zayn asks.

I answer, "They are here in the US."

"Where is everyone else?" Zayn asks.

"Simon is resting in his room. Sofia went to hang out with her friends, Ally, Niall, and Normani don't live here anymore," I answer. "Ally lives with Ms. Gomez after Simon kicked her out, and Niall and Normani moved across from Sonia's house with their baby boy, Noah."

"How much did I miss?" He questions.

Lauren sighs and speaks, "We will fill you in on that, but first, you need to tell us what happened the second you guys left this place. Because something does not feel right. It hasn't felt right. We're literally missing a chapter to a book, and we have a lot of questions about literally everything."

Zayn thinks. "Give me a moment," he says.

There was a moment of silence before the front door opens. We dart our eyes to the kitchen, and Niall, Normani, and Noah enter the house. Their smiles fade once they see us. Their brows crease as they walk to us.

"What's going on?" Normani asks, holding Noah in her arms.

Her and Niall's eyes shift to Zayn, and they widen their eyes. "How-?" Niall questions, but Lauren shushes them.

The three of them walk into the living room and sit on the couch against the wall. "What's going on?" Normani asks.

"We're trying to figure that out," Dinah answers.

Zayn clears his throat and speaks, "Okay, I think I got it. It was after we landed in England. It was a long flight, and Liam, Louis, and I were tired. It was also night when we arrived. One of Liam's family drivers came and picked us up. He dropped us off at Liam's house, and we slept there for the night. But we only had three hours of sleep. Anyways, the next morning..."