Secrets (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 73

February 25th.

"Alright, I am officially withdrawn from university." I announce as I slide into the passenger seat of Kate's SUV.

It's a bittersweet feeling to be able to walk through those halls. Bitter because Ashley stood in the same lobby with me on my first day of lectures, giving me encouraging words to start my day. Also, Zayn and I had many arguments there that never lasted more than a few days until we were back together. And unforgettably, the hallway to my dorm is where I saw him after we met, beginning a relationship I never expected to land me here today.

--

I run my fingers along the royal crowning running horizontally down the walls. The stuffiness of the building suffocates me, causing me to strip the thick layers off my body, leaving me in a lavender sweater dress. As I approach my dorm, exhaustion overwhelms my body and I'm more than ready to release today's stresses in my dreams and rinse myself of all my worries with a steaming hot shower. I stopped by a friends dorm for about 30 minutes for a quick reminder on the homework, and of course that turned into a tea party...with alcohol.

As soon as I touch the door handle, two girls, one blonde and one brunette, dash down the hall in just bathroom towels, laughing obnoxiously loud as they turn the corner. I shake my head, mainly at what I can assume they're doing or soon will be. But then I see him, his black hair carelessly styled, and a white bathroom towel also draped around his waist.

Out of no where I start to laugh to myself, a genuine laugh with confusion and a little bit of pain, hidden behind it.

I grip the rusted gold door handle, trying to contain my laughter, a nervous habit of mine.

Disappointment and shame wash over his face, as to where I just feel the disappointment. I scan his body from head to toe and realize he's covered in ink. Of course, it wasn't noticeable with him drenched in all black early this morning but now I see each little image, and quote. I have to admit my favorite is his snake tattoo, or the colorful "ZAP!" on his forearm. Each one so different from the other, two opposite meanings, representing completely different things.

"Ella" he whispers, but loud enough to pull me from my thoughts. He stares at the water dripping from his forehead to his feet, not daring to make eye contact with me.

"Zayn" my voice cracks, at it's lowest volume.

--

I shake the memory from my mind, and smile at Kate. Lately she's been forcing me to think of everything positive to help with the healing process. Sure, I'll most like never get over the trauma of having my best friend press a gun to my forehead, but she's still helping and I appreciate it all the same.

She starts the car, and pulls out of the parking lot, taking me to her flat in the city. When I explained that all my belongings were in my dorm, she offered to accompany me but I insisted that it was something I should do by myself. In hopes that it would give me some sort of closure to leave behind Ashley's clothes, blankets, homework, and even cell phone.

"Great! I'll write you a recommendation letter for you to admit to a few colleges in New York. That way you don't have to fully give your dream up."

"You don't have to do that." I sigh, and plea with her not to.

It's generous, and appreciated, but I can't accept it. She's already doing so much for me. Getting myself into college is something I can do, along with definitely pay for now.

"I do. I'm watching over you, and I need to be keeping an eye on everything. So writing a simple letter isn't a big deal compared to everything else." She insists, and pulls onto the highway headed downtown. The traffic is heavy, and practically at a stand still due to an accident nearby. And I'm confined to this little space with her for I'm not even sure how long.

Forty five minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of her building, and she hauls my bags out of her trunk to the ground.

"Jeez, how much stuff do you have in here?" She huffs and drops my biggest suitcase to the pavement.

"All my belongings. Stop bitching!" I scold her playfully, earning a light laugh from far away as I approach the glass double doors to the lobby.

The lobby is fancy, and a bit off putting. The silver lining running along the molding of the walls, and granite counter tops accompanied by the soft sound of someone playing the grand piano in the corner, makes me feel so out of place. Even if, I technically could afford to live here myself now.

It's very wide open, spread out with random leather white couches clustered into groups for those waiting to be assisted.

"This way Ella." She guides me to the steel elevators, and presses the arrow pointing up.

"So what floor do you live on?" I ask, more unsure if I even need to know.

"The tenth." She says casually, and drags my bags inside once the doors open to us.

"Nice."

--

"Okay, obviously I only have one bed so you can sleep on the sofa bed in the living room for the next few days. I mean, it's only going to be five days until we leave." She suggests, and I glance over at the rather thick red suede couch pressed against one of the walls.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, maybe a ratty old sofa with a stretched out cotton ball for cushioning. Not an extravagant couch I'm scared to even drink water on.

"No problem. Can I pay for our tickets though? I feel like you've done everything and I'm the one who has this shit load of money all of a sudden." I throw myself on the couch, and let my hair fan out around my face. The suede feels so smooth, and expensive, it's hard to believe she even owns a couch like this.

"Why not. Make it first class though." She smiles wide, and I laugh at her joke.

"I'm not kidding. It better be first class. You're rich now." She says flatly, and drops my suitcase at my side before stalking over to the kitchen to make tea.

"Tea?" She yells from the kitchen, and I sit up slowly.

"No, I'm fine thank you." I call back, and sit in silence as I take in my home for the next few days. Until I leave it all behind for America.

Weird and short, but whatever lol the LAST CHAPTER will be the next! Then moving onto Confessions :) I already have the first chapter written!