This Is Us

Chapter 11

Alyssa’s POV:

When Zayn came I thought he would be angry or something he looked pretty calm. He kissed me and I got up along with him. Turned out he wanted me to come over to his place since he needed help with something. We reach his house. He lives with his sisters and parents. The minute I step in a small girl looks up, I recognize her from school. She was Safaa and two more sisters, Doniya and Waliyha. Safaa smiles at me and I return the smile she gets back to drawing as Zayn pulls me into his room. His room is covered in band posters. And well his clothes, all over the place. He scratches the back of his neck and mutters, “Damn, I should have thought before just bring her over.” I chuckle and he smiles sheepishly. He pulls me onto the bed and takes out the project from his bedside drawer. Its some model thingy, he needs my help in making a some complicated circuit to light that thing up. I start doing it and I my stupid hair keep falling into my eyes. But since both my hands were occupied I turned my face towards Zayn. He puts my hair behind my ear and after an hour or so we finish the project.

Once we are done I move towards the window and look down, I see his sister’s sitting around a  bonfire. I pull Zayn’s hand and go down to join them. He seats himself on a log of wood and places me on his lap. His arms wound around my waist and he places his head in the crook of his neck. We start singing songs while Waliyha strums the guitar. His mom brings us some snacks and soon Niall and all join us. They sit on our side and I see that Doniya disappeared. I nudge Zayn and ask him, “Where is Doniya?” He shakes his head and says, “I think she’s inside. I’ll just check. Ya?” I nod and he gets up to go in. I see Louis looking at me, I smile and he walks over to me. He says in a hushed tone, “Can I talk to you?” I nod, he pulls my arm towards some part of the backyard I didn't know existed. “Look, about last year I am really sorry. I didnt know it would get that bad and I really had no clue Daniel was like that. Forgive me please?” “I have already forgiven you Louis. After all friends like you are hard to find.” He flashes me a grin and pulls me in for a hug. I hug him and decide that it was high time, I wasn't going to let my past spoil my relationship with Zayn.

I walk back with Louis and see that another person has joined us and is sitting beside Zayn. He’s got blonde hair and looks pretty tall. As I near I feel the tension getting to me. Harry, Niall, Zayn, Liam and even Louis are glaring at the person. Suddenly Luis stops in front of me and I barge into him but he doesn't falter. I see Zayn motioning something to him and Louis just turns around, grabs my hand and pulls me away from Zayn’s house. I try to shout but Louis puts his hand on my mouth. Soon we have reached my house. He makes me sit and tells me, “Don't move, I’ll just get something to eat.” I am too shocked to move. Soon he comes back and hands me a sandwhich. I eat and the bell rings. He gets up and goes to open the door. Zayn walks but there is something different. He is hiding his hands behind his back and there’s a cut on his eyebrow as well as a swollen jaw. Next Harry comes in, split lips and bleeding knuckles. I dont know why but it broke my heart. Wait where was Niall and where was Liam?

I see Niall walk in, he’s limping and has cuts on his face but Liam is nowhere to be seen. I get up shaking my trance. I first go to Zayn and hig him, he flinches and I realize that my hand is pushing his hidden hand. I take his hand and see his split knuckles. He looks at me and kisses my forehead. I go and take a look at Niall next, he just hugs me tight. I smile and go to get the first aid. I look at Harry and he follows me up. Once we reach up I don't know why I just go and hug him tight. Like so tight he tells me, “Oh princess I’ll choke.” I laugh and kiss his cheek and move to get the first aid box. I do Harry’s in the room and rush to do Niall's and Zayn’s.

Niall is already in his room so I sit down to nurse Zayn. He doesn't even flinch the slightest bit. I look him in the eye, after cleaning his knuckles and bandaging him I kiss him knuckles and move to his eyebrow, when I bend further he kisses me on my cheek and hold my waist. It tickles and I am not able to concentrate, “Zayn stop.” He just smirks and by the time I am done I am smiling like crazy. I give him an icepack for his cheek and take his hand in mine and walk towards the front door. He raises his eyebrows and says, “Cash at your place? Last day anyways my parents are back tomorrow.” He nodded and we walked to his house in silence.

We reach his place, he unlocks his door and I immediately see Doniya nursing a blonde. But Zayn pushes me past them quickly before I can register who the person was. Zayn opens his door and closes it real quick. I untie my hair and sit down on the bed. He sits beside me, cupping my cheek in his hand and kissing me. Not roughly but so slowly that it felt this was the last time he would kiss me. I pull back and look at him, “Zayn why did you fight?” He tries to distract me by drawing patterns on my legs but I don't give in. “Zayn tell me”, he scratches the back of his neck and says, “Because Daniel insulted you and it was too much.” Amd before I could respond Zayn pushed me fully on the bed and said, “Every fight for you is worth it baby.” I kissed him and put my head on his shoulder, slung my arm around his chest, inhaled his perfume and fell asleep.

I woke up and noticed that Zayn was reading something. Something on his phone, he was muttering under his breath but it was audible.

"Some on her right, and few scattered on her left.
Her hands looked like a battlefield and not a teenager’s hand.
Each cut showed her battle she held with herself.
She felt she wasn’t good enough, after all who was to blame?
No one treated her right and left her in pain.
She slashed her hands to show that everything was in vain.
Since she could never fall in love again.

She touched the uneven skin,
Trying to find a clear space,
But found no place.
She slashed the deepest cut again and bled to death.
Yes, we lost an angel again.

Each cut showed her victory,
Showed her winning over grief her way.
So why loathe her? Why not love her?
She cut due to this,
Maybe she could love in the absence of all of this.

Was she pretty? Was she beautiful?
Yes she was, she was the prettiest.
The scars weren’t just scars,
They were as radiant as the stars.
They showed us that she had overcome her pain,
And her death wouldn’t be counted as insane.                                                                                                 And yes her death wasn’t imbecilic.                                                                                                                     Her death was a scar that was going to last forever.

Let all those who die this way rest in peace,
Let us not loathe them,
Let us show affinity towards them.

Yes love them,
Yes love their scars,
After all these scars are who we are."

I instantly recognized it, it was a poem I had written for the school paper. I grabbed the phone and looked at Zayn. He took my wrist and said, “Were these because of Daniel?” I knew I couldn't lie. I nodded my head and he hugged me. “Was that Daniel in the corridor?” He nods his head and all my doubts are confirmed. “Doniya is dating Daniel, I just hope she doesn't get hurt.” He states the obvious and I am about to say something when I realize we have school today. I was wearing jeans I just need a fresh shirt. I walk up to his cupboard and pull out one of his plaid shirts he just smirks and gets ready himself.

I go down to eat something when I feel a hand on my waist. A shiver runs down my spine, “You didnt think I would forgive you so easily did you? This time I will hurt Doniya right in front of Zayn. He’s such a show” He kissed my neck and let go. My worst nightmare was coming alive.

(Around 700-750 reads for next update? Oh and for poems and stuff like this check out my blog, link in bio. And its 100% original :P Anyways thank you for 111 in ChickLit. I love all of you.x

Aarushi xo)