Finally Wanted

Chapter Fourteen

Corbin sat on the school steps, nibbling on his sandwich he had made earlier. Somehow he had managed to avoid Aiden and his cronies, and that had definitely improved his mood, even if it didn't seem like it. Finishing his sandwich, he stuffed his rubbish back into his bag and pulled out his phone, randomly scrolling through Instagram. He didn't notice anyone behind him until his phone was whipped out of his grasp. 

"Oooh, what's this?" 

Corbin got to his feet and turned to face the teenagers who were watching him with smug grins. "Give it back." He said lowly. 

Aiden smiled smugly. "No, I don't think I will." 

Corbin glanced to the other boys, who were standing just behind Aiden. "I don't wanna do this today, just give it back." 

"No, you see, we've missed you over the past two days, where were you?" Aiden questioned. 

Corbin glared at him and took a step forward, hand outstretched. "Just give me the fucking phone." 

One of the boys on the left stepped forward and snapped, ""Who do you think you are, ordering us around freak?" 

Aiden grabbed his arm, "Take it easy Chris, let me handle this." He handed the phone to Chris and stepped so that he and Corbin were chest to chest. "What are you gonna do about it?" He hissed. 

Corbin glared then slammed his fist into Aiden's stomach. When he doubled over, Corbin rammed his knee into his nose. He pushed Aiden roughly onto the ground and glared threateningly at the other boys. "Give me that damn phone." 

They glanced nervously at each other, their bravado gone now that their leader was lying on the ground, nose pouring blood and groaning in pain. Chris timidly gave him the phone when he took a step forward. Sliding it into his pocket, he slung his bag over his shoulder and walked past the boys just as the bell rang. 

                                                        ------------------------------------------------

Zayn walked into the school, sighing deeply and walking slowly to the principal's office. 

"Hi, I'm here for Corbin Savitt." He greeted the school secretary. 

She nodded, "Yeah, you can go right in." 

Thanking her with a nod, Zayn entered the principal's office and greeted him, glancing over to Corbin who was looking down and glaring at his lap. 

"Thank you for coming in Mr. Malik." 

Zayn nodded, "It's no problem Mr. Sewa." He sat in the chair next to Corbin. "What happened?" 

"Well, it appears that Corbin here attacked a student." Mr. Sewa told Zayn, leaning forward onto his elbows. 

"It appears?" Zayn echoed. "Either he did, or he didn't." 

"Let me rephrase that," Mr Sewa said, "Corbin attacked a  student." 

Zayn looked over at Corbin, who was now studying the ceiling. "What happened?" He repeated. 

"According to the boys, they were talking when Corbin attacked one of them." Mr. Sewa explained. "He has a broken nose and some pretty nasty bruises from where he was punched. I am sorry, but this is a two day suspension." 

Zayn let out a breath and nodded. "Alright, well, thank you I suppose." He got to his feet and shook Mr. Sewa's hand. "Come on Corbin, let's go." 

Corbin got to his feet and trailed behind Zayn out to the car. He hesitated when they got to it, and watched as Zayn opened the drivers door. 

"Corbin get in the car." He ordered. 

Slowly, Corbin got into the car, sitting as close as humanely possible to the door, his body tenser than a bowstring. The drive was silent. Corbin could basically feel the anger vibing from Zayn. 

When they got to the house, Zayn got out and headed inside, Corbin again trailing behind. Zayn tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter and spun to face the teenager. 

"Okay Corbin, tell me the truth, what happened at school?" 

Corbin scowled and dumped his backpack onto the floor, folding his arms tightly across his chest. "You heard the principal." He glared sharply at the ground. 

"Yes, I heard the principal," Zayn agreed. "but over the short amount of time I've known you, I know that you are not one to attack someone off the whim." 

Corbin glanced at him, stance relaxing slightly at his words. 

"What really happened Corbin?" Zayn repeated, his voice softer. 

Corbin looked to the ground and shook his head. 

"C'mon Corb." Zayn took a step forward. 

Corbin let out a loud sob and a hand clamped over his mouth as Zayn uttered the nickname. Zayn strode quickly over to him and grabbed his shoulders. Corbin shrunk in at the contact. 

"I'm sorry." He sobbed. 

Zayn pulled him into an embrace and held him tightly. "Shh Corbin, shh, it's alright, it's alright." 

Corbin melted into the embrace and clutched tightly at Zayn's shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He cried. 

"No, no, you have nothing to be sorry for." Zayn whispered. He held Corbin tighter as he felt him start to shake harder. He whispered calm and soothing words into his ear until he felt Corbin relax against him. 

"I'm sorry." Corbin repeated, pulling back from Zayn's embrace. 

Zayn opened his mouth to stop him from apologizing when he had nothing to apologize for, but Corbin stopped him. 

"No, I-I've been acting like an ass since-since Mitch left, and it isn't fair on you or the other guys." He confessed, holding himself protectively. 

"It's okay Corbin, we understand." Zayn told him, placing a hand on his arm, rubbing slowly. 

Corbin let out a breath and shook his head, "But it isn't okay," He argued, "you guys have been all good to me, you helped me when I was sick and put up with all my problems." He met Zayn's eyes and Zayn saw regret and sadness shining from them. "Any of my other foster families would've dumped me by now." 

Zayn's heart gave a pang at that. It hurt the nurse to hear that no one had truly wanted the boy, and that he knows and had known that. The boy was so strong to deal with all the crap life has hurled at him, however, he can only take so much and Zayn fears Corbin is reaching the end of his tether.

 "Can you tell me what really happened at school today?" He asked, voice soft. 

Corbin bit his lip in thought. His brain was telling him not to talk to Zayn, that he should leave it and deal with it in his own time. But his heart was telling him to talk, to let it all out and receive the comfort that he earnestly craved. 

So he did. 

He poured out everything that had happened, even about all the beatings he had received at the hands of Aiden and his cronies. He left no detail out, and when he had finished, Zayn pulled him in for another hug. He promised that he will talk to the principal about it and that he will make it all alright. 

And after, when Zayn broke the embrace and told him to go take a nap, sending him off with a kiss on the top of his head, Corbin felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.