Finally Wanted

Chapter Sixteen

"Okay boys," Zayn called from the kitchen, washing basket by his feet. "bring your laundry down or you do it yourself!" 

Every Saturday, one of the boys gathered up the laundry and took it to get washed. It wasn't by any means a pleasant job, but it had to be done, and this week, Zayn decided to do it. 

Niall bounded down first, his arm full of dirty clothes. "Thanks Zaynie-poo." He beamed. "I would've done it, but, well, you know." 

Zayn rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah,  I know." He flicked Niall's arm and nodded as Harry and Louis dumped their clothes. "Liam, Corbin, come on!" He yelled. 

Corbin appeared then, headphones plugged into his ears, and dumped his clothes before disappearing into the lounge. 

"About time." Zayn huffed as Liam appeared a few minutes later. 

Liam smiled apologetically. "I'll make it up to you." 

"Yes, you will." Zayn agreed, picking  up the basket and leaving the house. 

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"Dark, light, dark,  light." Zayn muttered under his breath as he sorted out the laundry. 

So far, there were a lot fewer lights than dark. 

As he grabbed one of Corbin's olive-green tees from the basket, he noticed a red stain on its side. Frowning, he laid it on top of one of the machines and inspected the stain further. It wasn't a very large stain, rather narrow but long. 

Zayn grabbed some of the stain remover and rubbed it on top, all the while puzzling over what it could be. Seen as Corbin detested the colour, Zayn had never seen him interact with it. Even Corbin's art teachers had refrained from using it after Corbin had a panic attack in class. 

Could it be blood then? It seemed the only logical answer, but blood from what?

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The rest of the day was relatively quiet. 

Liam had to leave for the hospital at three o'clock because there had been a bad car crash and they needed all available doctor. 

Meanwhile the other stayed at home and did nothing. Zayn had decided against quizzing Corbin about the blood stain. He figured the teenager had enough on his mind already. 

Today was the day Lou would call to tell them if she's found a home for Corbin yet, and that was definitely affecting his mood. The boy was jumpy, unable to sit still, and snappish. 

Lou called Harry during dinner, so he left the room to talk to her. Immediately, Corbin laid down his fork and knife and sat back, eyes downcast. 

"I'm sure it'll be alright Corb." Zayn said, smiling softly. 

Ever since 'That Moment', as Zayn liked to call it, Corbin had been much more receptive to nicknames that the boys would call him. 

Corbin glanced up at him and shrugged, straightening suddenly as Harry walked back in. Harry smiled at Corbin's posture and sat down. 

"Lou said that she needs to talk to us all, preferably as soon as possible." He told them. "She was thinking tomorrow night." 

The others nodded. 

"I'll ask Liam if that works," Zayn said, "but it should be fine." 

"What does she want to talk to you about?" Corbin asked, his voice soft. 

"I don't know buddy." Harry told him, smiling apologetically. "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."