The Strings Attached | Zayn Malik

Chapter 15

"Just breathe."

The haunting dark room evolved around me. I looked down at myself under the ash-black covers of my bed.

It was all a dream.

I threw the covers off of my sweaty body and got off my bed. I reach the kitchen to grab a glass of water for myself to calm down. Having my round clear glass of water I sit down on a nearby chair.

It all seemed so real.

Relief rushed through me as if realization that Daniel is still alive had just sunk in. Taking a sip of my chilled iced water, I smile with much sincerity. I couldn't have been more happy to know I was only dreaming.

Even though I knew it was only a hallucination my brain had convinced me of, I refused to fall asleep, afraid I would drop back into the miserable nightmare.

I watched my small digital clock next to my bed, where I settled down again, change into the time of 4:36 am with bright red digits glowing in the feared night. I did everything I could think of to not fall asleep. Eventually I had to take a cold shower and open the window to let in the freezing weather inside. I grab my maroon Colgate University College sweatshirt from the floor and put it on quickly, forgetting the point of opening the window. With nothing to do, I studied my sweatshirt. There were few hairs on the sleeves and no obvious stains. I had always tried to keep it clean when I was at UNI for a month. I wasn't there for college, just for a small con.

Cool wind blew into my room continuously waking myself up.

* * *

"Jane? Are you ok?" A hand waved in front of me.

"W-what?" I blink my long eye lashes viciously trying to focus.

"You look horrible." I roll my eyes.

"Thanks Dan. Seriously, you sweep me off my feet with your lyrical words." Daniel shrugs, passing off my sarcastic comment.

"Are you ok?" He asked seriously. I look up in his light blue eyes. I hesitate to answer. Am I ok? I pause for a moment to think. The silence made Dan hug me as best as he could as I laid still on the couch.

"I am ok." I finally say. He continues to wrap his arms around me. "I am ok." I whisper. Daniel snuggles into the crook of my neck and sighs. His head soon falls to my lap looking up at my tired eyes.

"Did you sleep last night?" Abruptly I remembered why I am so dreary this morning. I try not to cry as I look at Daniel. Instead, not trusting my voice, I shake my head no. His worried expression increases. "Why not?" His voice was barely audible. I shrug, trying not to make a big deal out of my dream. After all, it was just a dream. "No reason," I avoid his eyes.

Now looking at our position I think of Zayn. I wish I could talk to him right now. Daniel laid across the couch with his heavy head on my lap where I sat with my dark blue sweatpants and Colgate shirt on with an exhausted expression. I wonder what someone would say if they walked into our conversation.

"Bullshit." Daniel automatically responds. I play with my hair, avoiding his gaze.

"I just had a nightmare, not a big deal."

"You don't get scared easily. Was it about sharks?" His voice teasing. I shake my head no with a small smile across my chapped lips.

"No, it wasn't about sharks." I almost chuckle.

"Then, what about?"

This time I look directly into his eyes, "You," I admit. His expression was, as expected, surprised.