Long Lost and Refound - A Zayn Malik Story

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 - Long Lost and Refound

Avery's POV

I came out of the chemist's holding a small plastic bag. I shielded my eyes from the sun and made my way over to Zayn's car. I went around the front to the driver's side and leaned down, peeking in. Zayn lay curled up on the passenger's seat, hand over the back of his head. I tapped on the window. He just waved the hand behind his head as though he was swatting a fly. His hand dropped back to the back of his head. I tapped the window slightly more urgently. He winced and reach up, unlocking his door and causing the whole car to unlock. The hand once again fell to the back of his head. I opened the door and hopped in, slamming the door shut. He winced again and groaned.

"Did you have to slam it that hard?" he mumbled, adjusting his position.

"Sorry," I mumbled, settling myself in the seat. "Now come on, sit up. I got you the Aspirin." I helped him ease himself into a sitting position. His hair was disheveled and he was squinting. He swatted the dashboard until he grasped hold of a pair of sunglasses which were sitting there. He put them on and leaned back in the chair, head rolling towards me.

I reached into the chemist's bag and pulled out the bottle of aspirin. The pills shook around on the inside. I pulled the plastic off from the lid and popped it open, shaking out two pills. I dropped them in Zayn's lazily outstretched hand and pulled out the plastic water bottle I'd also bought. I twisted the cap off and handed it to Zayn, who popped the pills into his mouth and swallowed them with the water. His face contorted for a second but he finished swallowing and handed me back the bottle. I capped both bottles and put them back in the bag. I threw it into the back seat.

"Thanks," Zayn mumbled, sinking back into his seat.

"No problem," I replied, buckling myself in. "Buckle up, Zayn." I turned the ignition on and pulled out of the space on the side of the road I'd parked in as Zayn struggled to do up his seatbelt. When I finally heard the click, I spoke. "School?" I asked.

"Sure. Nowhere else to go, right?" I nodded, pulling out of the business centre.

The drive to school wasn't that long. I passed by my house and glanced at it. I shivered involuntarily. When we turned the corner at the end of the block, my heart stopped. I felt myself stepping on the brakes. Zayn looked up to see why we were stopping and he froze.

"Keep driving, Avery," he whispered urgently. I couldn't respond. I just gripped the steering wheel tighter as the car came to a stop.

Beside my dad.

"Avery!" Zayn whispered more urgently. "Hit the accelerator. We need to get to school!"

I just swallowed.

My dad's face had a look of rage on it, but I detected the hint of the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He stepped up to my door and tapped on the window. I closed my eyes and unlocked the door, ignoring Zayn's urgent commands.

My door flew open. I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened my eyes. My head turned towards my dad. He reached in and grabbed my arm, yanking me out of the car. My door slammed shut behind me and I was thrown against it. I shrieked and fell against it, my elbow connecting particularly hard with the metal.

"Dad!" I protested. "This is Zayn's car!"

My dad just slapped me, making my head snap to the side.

"Where were you last night? I came into your room and you weren't there."

"Dad--" he cut me off with another slap. I heard the passenger door open and slam shut a second later.

"You were with him, weren't you? What were you doing?" He punched me in my face, causing my head to slam against the metal with a clang. He kneed my stomach and I doubled over, gasping. He struck me in the back of my head, causing me to fall onto my hands and knees. I prepared myself for another blow but it didn't come. Instead I heard it. I looked up and saw Zayn cradling his cheek, but standing strong in front of my dad.