Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Seventeen

We were in Japan when I was lying on the bed in my hotel room when my phone rang. It was Esta. "Hey!" I said, cheerily, happy to talk to someone other than the boys or management or really anyone.

"Hey, Niall. How are you?"

"I'm alright. Tired. How are you?"

"Umm, I'm okay. I hate to do this to you, but, umm, is Zayn with you?"

"No. Why?"

"I've been calling him for the past couple of days and he hasn't answered. He bought me a plane ticket to come out there to see him and you guys for your last couple of shows in Japan and then tag along for your shows in Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines."

"What? You're coming out here? That's awesome!"

"Yeah, but he won't answer my calls or texts. I'm about to head out here soon, and I don't know where to go when I get there. Is he okay? Last thing he said to me was that he wasn't feeling too good and really wanted to see me. It's why he got me the plane ticket."

"Umm," I didn't know what to tell her. I hadn't really spoken to Zayn in a couple of days. He had locked himself in his hotel room. "He's just tired and not feeling so good. I'm sure he's just sleeping a lot, trying to get better."

"Okay. Well, do you think you could let me know where I'm supposed to go when I get there? I arrive tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay, well, we'll probably be at the arena for sound check. I guess you could just come there."

"Okay, great. Thanks, Niall. I'm sorry I had to call you about this."

"It's okay. I'm sure once you're here, he'll instantly perk up."

"That's the plan."

"Yeah. Okay, well, I'm excited you'll be here and everyone else will be, too. See you tomorrow, darling."

"Bye, Niall."

She hung up her on her end. I stared at my phone. Zayn hadn't been himself lately. Maybe seeing her really would do the trick.

The next day, we were all at sound check when a tiny little human began walking across the floor, carrying two bags I had seen before. Before I could say anything, Zayn dropped his mic, jumped off the stage and ran to her, engulfing her into a hug.

"Maybe this really is just what he needs," Liam said, softly.

"Hope so," Harry said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a couple of days, it almost seemed as if it worked. Every time we saw him, he was smiling, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. He showed up for everything we were scheduled to do. And he was chipper about it, too. He genuinely seemed as if he was back to himself. She had gotten the go ahead from all of us to sneak him out for little mini adventures around the cities we were in, and it really seemed to rejuvenate him and he was acting like the Zayn we had all known and loved for the past four years.

It was when we arrived in Hong Kong that things blew up. We hadn't even gotten to the hotel yet when we heard him snap at her in the car.

Harry and I were riding in the same car with them and as far as I could tell, the only thing she did was attempt to wrap her arm around him. I was looking out the window when I heard him.

"Leave me alone," he snapped, pushing her hand away from him.

"Sorry," she said, meekly placing her hands in her lap. She glanced over at me and Harry before turning her head to look out the window. I could tell she was trying not to get upset.

Harry and I simply exchanged looks.

Later that evening, we were all supposed to go out to dinner. Liam met us in the lobby with a frustrated expression on his face. "They aren't coming. I was about to knock on the door to get them, but I heard them yelling. And I'm not about to enter that. Let's just go."

We were walking out the door when I heard her shouting, "Wait for me, guys!"

She caught up with us and jumped into the car. "Zayn coming?" Liam asked, confused look on his face.

"No, he isn't feeling well. He wanted to sleep. So I figured I'd let him and just come to dinner with you guys, as planned. No reason I have to stay couped up, right?"

Her eyes were slightly red, and I could tell she had been crying some. All of us exchanged looks but decided to leave it alone. Our night didn't have to be ruined.

Dinner was pretty fun.  And it was nice for the rest of us to catch up with her since Zayn had pretty much taken up all of her time since she had gotten there.  I had hardly seen her.  She seemed a little off, at first, but loosened up a bit as the night wore on. 

"Nialler, wait up!" She yelled, running up from behind me.  Looping her arm through mine, we walked together as we walked back to our car.

"Hey, girlie.  How are you doing?  Enjoying your time travelling with us?"

"I was.  Zayn has decided to be a bit of a grouch since we got here."

"Yeah, he's been that way for a while now.  Thought he was doing better since you arrived."

"Aww, that's sweet of you to say.  I guess he's just tired."

"I'm sure that's it."  I lifted my arm up and wrapped it around her, placing a kiss on the top of her head.  "I'm sure that's all it is."

Even with saying the words, I wasn't sure, at all.

When we returned, I said goodnight to everyone else and walked Esta to her room she had with Zayn.

"Night, sweetheart.  See you in the morning."

"Night, Niall."

She smiled at me as I walked down the hall to my room.