Pause. Rewind. Play. (A Zayn Malik Fanfic)

Chapter 22: Cars

Zayn's P.O.V:

The meeting ended. Management wanted to discuss matters on the next tour, the next album, and the songs we're gonna record in a few weeks. We plan on leaving New York soon and going back home until our next album releases. It's around eight at night when it all ends and I have the urge to go check up on Ari.

Harry glares at me from across the lift, as if knowing I'm thinking about her. It's been tense between all of us lads since last night. Harry left the venue grumpy in his rented car. He didn't come back until this morning, earning a lecture from Paul on being more responsible. He just shrugged him off before leaving to his room with a slam

He would only leave to go to the meeting at Synco Records, and even so throughout the whole thing he was grumpy. None of the other lads know what Harry's pissed off about- he wouldn't even tell Louis. Obviously neither did I, so he rest of the boys don't know that I know.

Why's he even mad at me? It was only one kiss. It's not like Ari and I are back together or anything. He isn't even dating her anymore. Harry, even being my best mate, does have a thing with the female population. He's just got those charasmatic dimples with his smile that has them coming to him.

I never knew Ari would be one to also fall into his charm, but these years have just flown right on by. I forgot she even moved to the states in all this chaos I remember coming home on the X Factor tour and finding she left. I cannot believe she just left; and didn't tell me. Or more so that nobody told me ahead of time. She didn't even leave a note or something. I only found out from Doniya that Ari told everybody not to tell me. How could she do this to me? More importantly, why did she leave me wondering?

"Hey you know what's up with Haz?" Niall whispers to me. I shrug, pretending as if I didn't have a clue. As we walk out of the lift and to the blocked off section of the lobby, I feel someone pull me back. Turning, I see the man of the hour: Harry.

"What's up mate?" I try to ask casually.

"I just want to know why you did it." By now, the rest of the boys are looking at us suspiciously, along with security and a few fans outside. I gulp down the anxious feeling deciding its safer to tell Harry the truth.

"I don't know how to say it," I start. Harry keeps a dead stare on me, not letting up any of the anger seeping from him. I have to tell him eventually. "I think I'm falling for her, again." That's all it takes for his eyes to widen and storm away from me. Louis and Liam go after him as he leaves the hotel. I take a seat on the couch in the lounge area of the lobby. I put my face in my hands and shortly after feel the spot next to me sink. Looking up, I see it's Niall. He pats my back, encouraging me to tell him what's wrong.

Around us the security are hastily trying to find Harry, Louis, and Liam. From outside the fans are still outside the building of Synco Recrods, waiting for Niall and I to come out. I can also hear the faint sirens of a police car in the distance. This is NYC, of course there would be a lot of crime, or at least that's what Paul has told us. That's probably why they're in such a frenzy and forcing Niall and I to stay. I look at Niall, preparing to tell him everything. Niall's always been someone to talk to when I need it.

"I kissed Ari last night." I see his blue eyes widen, but don't say anything. "Harry asked me why and I told him that I might be falling in love for her again."

"Why would you kiss her though?!" he asks. "Harry still really likes her, you know that. He's hurt that you would still go after her-"

"I didn't mean to!" I snap, cutting him off. I run a hand through my perfect quiff. Sighing, I drop my voice back to a normal octave. "It was in the heat of the moment. I didn't honestly mean to kiss her, or for anyone to see. It's just..."

"Just what mate?" I keep quiet, wetting my lips and trying to find the right words to say. I have no idea why I even did it in the first place. "Zayn?"

"I just remembered all the memories we had together when we were together," I admit. Closing my eyes, I lean back in my seat, letting the information settle between us. "It all came in a rush. Something like I never felt before. Just seeing her so close to me and feeling her against me." It's like I can feel that moment again; Ari's lips on mine and that electrical current soaring between us. Just like how it used to be.

"Do you think she feels the same?" My eyes snap open and I stare at the ceiling.

"She just got out of a relationship. I bet she's just as mad as Harry is about the kiss. That would explain why she left so early last night. Ari broke up with me two years ago, no explanation or anything, just out of the blue- gone. Why would she want to get back together with me?" I don't mention how she was reacting the same way to the kiss as I was. The heat of the moment, all it was. Nothing more than that.

"You should go tell Haz that so he doesn't get the wrong idea," Niall mentions. "Come on, let's go find him." He gets up from the couch and waits for me patiently.

"Alright." I adjust my quiff a bit before standing up next to him. "Thanks mate." Niall just nods. We step out of the hotel, where the fans are there to greet us. We try to politely tell them that we're in a rush. Suddenly, Liam comes sprinting down the block towards us.

His hair is in a mess and his clothes are wrinkled- nothing like how he was a few moment ago.

"Harry." He pants, out of breath. "He...he..."

"Li, what are you talking about? What happened?" Niall aks, completely ignoring the fans. They also hush, waiting for what Liam has to say next. He glances at them and then security. They take the hint and escort them hearing distance away from us. "Okay, come on. Liam, what happened?"

"He got in his Range Rover and was speeding down the road when a drunk driver hit him," he pants, tears welling up in his eyes. He chokes them back as he continues. "Louis called the police. He's with him right now and taking him to a hospital."

No. No! An ambulence comes rushing by and Paul tries to escort us into the van to follow. I can't wait though. I can't stand the thought of my best friend in an ambulence while I'm in a van driving to catch up. I can't even process the next thing I do. No.

I bolt off down the street, removing all common sense from my mind. Liam and Niall follow in my lead, chasing after the ambulence. We're not even sure if Harry's in there, but we aren't thinking straight. The sidewalks are crowded so we have to push and shove our way through.

The ambulence keeps getting farther and farther. I've lost Niall and Liam- along with Paul and all other security. I'm just in a mix of people with the ambulence turning a corner. I'm drawing a lot of attention to myself, but I don't care. I just need to get to Harry.

"Zayn! Zayn!"

"Zayn get back here!"

I ignore them and just focus on something shiny that catches my eye in a store. I know its ridiculous to stop now, especially with everyone pushing me this way and that. But theres something about that item in the thrift shop window that seems so familiar, yet unfamiliar.

Suddenly, I'm pulled back and thrown into the van with Niall and Liam by Paul. Niall's crying and Liam's starting to tear up also while trying to comfort him.

To be honest I can also feel the tears coming down. Harry- I'm so fucking sorry.

---

Sorry this one kinda sucked. Im working on the next chapter and will continue to tomorrow. Its half til midnight on sunday night so i gotta go

Might update on thanksgiving not sure yet. If not then Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Also leave your opinions on Take Me Home which has been on replay for a week now haha

~MA~