Switched | Zayn Malik AU

Shopping

THIS IS NOT THE HOMECOMING CHAPTER YET, but this is an important chapter. You'll get why as soon as you reach the after-homecoming part.

But still, enjoy!!! :)

Stacy's POV

I drove to the mall to see Gavin. It kinda felt like I was going to fight a war unarmed, but I still kept running to the opponent's side. It was a stupid decision, but I needed to make it.

I went to Taco Bell and waited for him outside. Something about the situation makes me claustrophobic to even enter the place. My heart was racing. I knew I had to get it over and done with.

"Hey," I jumped at the familiar voice.

I turned around and saw him. After a long time, he's finally in front of me. He's much taller now, more muscular, his hair's longer and his outfit's much better than how he would dress before. But I didn't care, I don't need him in my life anyway.

I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to slap him. I wanted to tell him how happy I am now and how miserable I want him to be. But I kept calm.

"Hi." I told him. His bright smile was contagious, but I tried so hard not to be lured by it.

He hurt you. He doesn't love you. He never did. I told myself.

"You wanna come in?" He pointed inside.

"No, I'm good. You were going to tell me something?" I walked to the center of the mall, overlooking the Christmas decorations at the center. It's amazing how public places slowly come alive when it's almost Christmas time.

"Yeah, um, I'm sorry. I've realized how miserable I was without you. I want to get back to how we were before. We used to be so happy." He said.

Well, that escalated quickly.

"No, you used to be so happy. You think I haven't been miserable? You think I was celebrating after I have left you? You were just lonely, Gavin. You needed someone. I was wounded and you left me with scars that I can never erase. You made me think I was stupid, that I wasted my youth on someone as messed up as you. You can't just come back and cut the same wounds up again. I have moved on, you should, too." I told him. I couldn't help but cry. My tears were flowing like how they did when we broke up.

Maybe I just held them in for too long.

"You and me forever and always, remember?" He used my words against me.

[Flashback]

"Why do people leave?" He asked me. I didn't know how to tell him that it wasn't his fault. His father left him because of his mom, not because of him.

"They leave because they have to." I told him.

"But why do they have to?"

"To make way for better people. Our hearts can't handle too much love, Gav. You just have to carefully pick the people you want to keep and love them well. If some people aren't worth keeping, if some people choose to leave, if some people aren't ready to accept the love that you have to offer, it's time to let them go." I told him as I wiped his tears away.

"What if he doesn't love me anymore?" He asked.

"Of course he loves you, Gavin, you're his son. You just have to save a little bit of space in your heart. If he comes back, that space will grow bigger and bigger until you realize that there was never a gap in there." I said.