Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Nineteen

The next day, tensions had barely subsided.  It seemed everyone was on edge due to the events of the night before.  Esta showed up for breakfast and she didn't even bother to act like she was happy to be there.  She sat down next to me, and barely touched her plate.

"You need to eat," I said.  "We've got a long day."

"I know.  I'm just not hungry."

"Where's Zayn?" Harry asked.  Annoyance evident in his voice.

"I don't know.  I thought he was down here but clearly he's not."

"He wasn't there when you woke up?" I asked.

"Nope."  She fiddled with the fork in her hand before dropping it.  "I'm not hungry."  She stood up, dumped her food, and walked off.

We finished eating in silence.  We found Zayn waiting for us in the lobby, though.  He didn't say a word to any of us until he realized she wasn't with us.  "Where's Esta?"

"Probably looking for you," I retorted, not caring if I sounded rude.

He didn't say anything.  We all headed towards the cars waiting for us.  When I entered my car, I found Esta, sitting in the corner, in the dark.

"Shit, you scared me!"

"I see he's made his appearance," she mumbled.

I sat down next to her, "Yeah, he was looking for you."

"Good.  Let him wonder where I am for once."

"Esta....are you okay?"

"I just don't understand what's happening with him.  He isn't the man I met."

"He's not the guy I met, either.  Something's going on and none of us can quite figure out what it is."

She looked out the window but I saw her body relax as her hand reached out for mine before she moved in for a hug.  I held on to her for the remainder of the drive to the venue.

When we got there, I helped her out of the car and Zayn noticed her.  He stopped in front of us, as she exited the car.  Scoffing, he said, "Of course, should've figured."

"Dude, what the fuck is your problem?" I asked, tired of his bullshit.  He grabbed a hold of her hand and yanked her in the direction of the entrance.  "Don't pull on her like that."

"Fuck off, Horan!"

"Hey!  Why are you attacking him?" Esta screamed as they walked off.  She pulled her arm out of his grasp before glaring at him, giving him the finger, and walking off.

The majority of the day, we all only spoke to Zayn when we had to.  He was distant, unhappy looking, and clearly didn't want to be there.  Just before the show, I saw Esta enter his dressing room.  Whatever happened in there, she left that room with very red eyes, and a vain attempt at hiding it.

"You okay?" I asked, as she passed me.

Zayn's dressing room door opened, as I asked her that.  He scoffed at me again, "Figures.  Go running to him."

"Hey, what the fuck is your problem?!" I yelled at him.  "What did you do to her?  Why is she crying?"

"I didn't do a goddamn thing to her.  But you would absolutely love if I had.  Swoop right in and play the hero."

"Zayn, shut up.  Just shut the fuck up!" Liam screamed.

Esta hadn't said a word.  In fact, when I turned back to where I had left her standing, she wasn't there.  I walked off to find her.  "Yeah, go get her, Niall!" Zayn shouted out behind me.