American Dream (Zayn Malik AU Fanfic)

Best friends or cousins?

“Cecilia…I honestly didn’t know. I never thought that she would get ahold of your phone and do something like that.”

Cecilia shrugged as she looked down. “You know what hurts? The fact that my mother never accepts anything that makes me happy. It’s like she lives to make me depressed.”

“Cecilia…”

“No, Harry. It’s true. I mean, if I made a friend that had middle-class parents, she would quickly throw them out of the house. It’s like all the money and those damn groups she goes to changed her. She was so close with your mother. She never talked shit about her because your parents got divorced until she joined those groups. The day they fought, I was so embarrassed that she would say something like that to your mother, my aunt. From that day on, she lost all my respect. I always tried texting you or calling you but it would never connect and I thought you changed your number. I gave up after the first few months and since I was only 16, my mom changed my last name and I had no say in it. I have no damn clue how my dad approved of it, but he loves her too much. And whenever I would win a damn award in school because of my writing, she would never come. She would always tell me that there were more important things to do than to be happy over a stupid piece of paper. But you know what they say, the haters make you more driven to chase after you dream. The moment I told her I wanted to go into the English literature major, she went ballistic. She started yelling and saying that she won’t have her daughter ruin her name and become a stupid writer. I think that day was the first day I actually stood up for myself. I told her that I would rather do something that makes me happy even though it might not make me rich than do something that I don’t like and have money. She didn’t talk to me for three months before my dad blew up on her and she finally gave in. The day they drove me to the airport, she didn’t even bother hugging me. She just sat in the front and told me goodbye from the car and that’s it. But here’s the thing. I could forget about all those awards I won and her not coming, I can forget the moment she told me I’ll ruin her name by becoming a writer, but there’s one thing I can never forget. I can never forget the moment they called up my name the day of my college graduation, having the highest grade point average of the whole English department.”

“That’s amazing Cecilia!” Harry told her, as he smiled.

“You would think so…But you know what I saw when I got up on the podium and took my certificate? I saw my dad. Only. I saw my dad sitting by himself with an empty seat next to him. The seat I had bought the damn ticket for. The seat that my mother was supposed to be in, cheering me on, happy that her daughter was graduating with such high grades. But she wasn’t there. Do you want to know where she was? She was at the Salon…getting her nails done for a group event that night. She was getting her nails done during my graduation. And that moment I knew that I was done. I was done with trying to please her. I was done with living with her. I was just done with her. She’s my mother and I won’t disobey God by disrespecting her, but I’m done with her. She was able to make one of the happiest days of my life, the worst day. She didn’t even tell me congratulations. When I was home, she came in through the door and asked how her nails looked. She asked how her damn nails looked. During dinner that night at the restaurant my dad had reserved in, it was only us two. She was off at that damn event that was more important than her daughter. Harry, I never had that mother figure in my life. When she was somewhat good, I was young. I barely remember that. I remember waking up to her yelling at my dad when she would catch him trying to call your mom. He would always tell me that he missed her so much and that he wishes they were kids again so they can joke around and make grandma and grandpa annoyed.” She looked down as she wiped away her tears. “I never expected my first night here to be this emotional.”

“I’m so sorry. I wish I was there for you. I was crushed the moment I read that text. I guess I was so upset that I didn’t notice that it wasn’t you who sent it. I missed my best friend.”