What happens when insecurities take turns, secrets get revealed and nasty fights happen. You're in for a ride! Don't forget to vote and comment❤️ you guys are beautiful and I love each one of you because whenever I see a notif that someone commented and voted it makes me smile so hard :') also, do show some love my fingers broke writing this long àss chap. also also, important author's note at the end so pls do read

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when we collide
08| be it his heart

Crystal enters her house around eleven. Closing the door slowly not to make a sound she turns and gasps when she observes her family standing in front, staring at her with immense hope that she almost becomes a puddle of embarrassment.

“What happened?”  Cecile questions, her eyes roaming over her body as if it'll give a clue. Crystal clutches her hand behind her back and shrugs, a little smile playing over her lips.

“SAY IT ALREADY!” yells Jack, touching the highest bar of frustration but it drops down a big notch when Crystal extends her hands in front and everyone notices the shiny ring on her hand.  Her father breaks out in happiness, embracing her in a hug as her mother clears her tears and Jack. . . just stares because was this seriously happening?

The landline rings, catching everyones attention and Cecile jogs to pick it up, sounding ecstatic while talking to whoever she is talking to. Dropping the receiver her face breaks into a smile.  “The maliks invited us for dinner tomorrow.”

That's when Crystal feels it. Everything is so real, so domestic, this is happening.

“Oh. My. God. This is amazing. I'm so proud that you can cook so good. I– you know what? let me finish eating this, first.” Trisha states, as she dives back into the delicacies Crystal had made for the dinner. When she volunteered to help Trisha almost forced her out of the kitchen but when she just couldn't get rid of her, she let her make something for tonight.

And boy, was she happy of her decision.

Zayn silently eats while internally imagining what all real food he'll get to eat now because Crystal's cooking is farthest the best he's ever seen. He loses his shit as he realises Crystal might live with him now. Alone.

“It's not even that good.” Crystal mumbles, rubbing her arm, shyly.

“This is actually delicious.” Yaser compliments, catching Zayn's eye because did he just compliment a human being in this lifetime!?

There's a knock on the door, that catches everyone's attention.

“I'll see that.” Zayn states, pushing his chair back and walking towards the door. He places his hand on the knob twisting it slightly, as a group of people huddle inside.

“Oh Zaynie!”  A woman in her mid fifties, grips Zayn tightly in for a hug and his shocked self looks like he's been smashed with a tray of egg.

“Aunt Helen,” Doniya whispers as the table turn their heads from Zayn to her. “Thank God, I didn't open the door.” she ends, earning a chuckle from everyone.

“You've grown up,” She brushes Zayn's hair ridiculously fast, as if he's a pet “And look at your hair.”

“Uh–Oh not the hair.” Doniya whispers, her eyes turning wide.
“Er—Yeah.” Zayn tries to mumble in between his extreme assault, now trying to reform his hair, though failing miserably.

He gives Yaser a look that says What-the-fuck-is-her-problem. Where Yaser replies back with a how-am-supposed-to-know-that look.

“Trisha!” She exclaims running towards Trisha and grips her tightly in a hug.  Zayn could never administer how some people are so jubliant and loud. He'll probably not talk to people even if he sleeps for a million years and wakes up.

“How are you, we really missed you a lot.”  Zayn gives his mother a look because never in his wildest dreams would he ever miss Aunt Helen, be it a family function or anywhere, he always maintains a safe twenty six nauticle mile distance and that's how he's always going to keep it.

But that's what Crystal loves about Trisha. She's always genuine whenever she speaks something or is around someone. Aunt Helen spots Doniya, Doniya's heart almost popping out of her mouth when he realises that she noticed her, she embrases Doniya and Doniya feels her world spinning around almost choked to death.

Giving disgusted looks, as Zayn and Doniya always do when someone touches their hair, Aunt Helen makes her way towards Crystal.

“I've seen you somewhere. Aren't you that girl from his high school?” Crystal was about to open her mouth to reply, when Trisha interrupts her, “That's Crystal, Zayn's fiancé.” Zayn fake smiles, because wow he has a fiancé now.

“Aren't you beautiful?” Helen hugs her tightly, that's when Crystal realises the intensity of her hug. She would pass out in seconds if Helen doesn't stop her hold.  “Best Friends to lovers. Interestingly beautiful.”  she smiles. Zayn and Crystal look at each other, internally through eyes accepting that they're running the fúck away because that's not true. Zayn notices Crystal averting her eyes immediately.

She had been acting weird since yesterday. What was it with her?

Two boys come inside the house with luggages, looking in their teen phase and also looking horrendous and dangerous to Crystal.

“No way, Hafid and Saeed,” Zayn mumbles, “Can my life go any worse?”  Zayn ends, palming himself on the face and Crystal couldn't quite catch whether he meant about this whole situation too.  They are escorted upstairs to the guest room after meeting everyone as they say they're jet lagged and everyone continues to eat.

“So Zayn, I forgot to ask about your plans for London. When are you going back?”  Cecile asks in the midst of chewing her food.

This definitely catches Crystal's attention. “Why'd he go back to London now that he's moved back?”  she whispers and everyone stares at her making her realise she's the only one who doesn't know about this.

“Zayn you're going to London?”
She asks in disbelief because how could he just. . .go? Does he really beleive he's going to put a ring on her finger and then leave her behind to rust.

“You should be joining him too, Crystal.” Trisha suggests, smiling.
“I—”  Crystal tries to speak but then shaking her head in disbelief she pushes her plate away in anger, stands and saunters out of the house.

“Crystal!”  her mother yells to stop her but it causes no effect on her. “Wow, you guys are unreal. You really didn't tell her that?”  Zayn whisper-yells, throwing his hands up in air in exasperation.  “Thank you for messing shít.”  he mumbles running behind Crystal, exiting his house, his family hot in his heels.

He notices Crystal speed walking to her house, her steps loud and filled with anger, grabbing her wrist he turns her around but she pulls her hand out of his grip in anger.

“You really feel it's a joke right?”  Crystal yells, glaring at Zayn. Her voice sounding as if she's saying something unbelievable.

“Crystal I didn't know they—”
“What were you thinking Zayn? That you're going to put this ring around my finger and then merrily leave? And I'll wait here for you like the idiot that I am?”

“Crystal I just got aware that you didn't know about all this.” Zayn whispers sounding hopeless, almost as if he knows he's trying for vain.

It was something about her voice that had him thinking it was more than this.

“And you didn't even make sure? Well obviously being a charity case why would you care?” Crystal spats, keeping her arms on her hips to look more tough and unbreakable.

“How did that come in between? You know what, you just want to make a scene, a drama so that you can escape this. If you don't want to do this no one's forcing you. Don't dig reasons out of your àss.”

“Excuse me?”  Crystal hisses, “Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? You say all bullshít to me, then act all sweet and then all of sudden I get to know that the man lives in London.”  Crystal spats, rolling her eyes in frustration.

Even though Zayn was absolutely fuming he decides to act rational unlike Crystal who looks like she's about to jump on Zayn's bones.

“Crystal, look I'm sorry if you feel it's my mistake, but you gotta understand I'm in a mess of feelings too.”  He says, voice and eyes both soft. “I never thought of marrying you and I was seriously happy the way we were, We met after years it's been a while and we need to catch on too. I swear it was nothing against you, please act rational,” He whispers, clutching Crystal's shoulders and looking in her eyes warmly who just sympathetically smiles.

“Crystal, I need you in this, you're all I had and now all I have—”

“That's the thing, isn't it? You don't need me, Zayn.” she removes his hands ever so gently and slowly backs away. “You just think you do, so that the pain you mourn everyday goes away.” she states, looking at Zayn for confirmation and when his eyes not even once glance at her but focus to the right, she gets her answer.

“I'm sorry but I don't feel that this friendship could result in anything. If the both of us can result in anything.” she states, looking down.

Her eyes water lightly because did Zayn just confirm that he was using her as a substitute?

The pace of her tears quicken and she tries wiping them frantically. She didn't want to cry in front of him, She didn't want to look weak. She didn't want to talk about the stuff she knew.

When Zayn doesn't say anything, she moves around slowly and walks to her house.

“Crystal?” Zayn calls making Crystal turn back so fast that she almost trips, he motions her to come nearer.

“Listen, you know I don't like when you cry.” he says with a blank face. 

“You're the reason I'm crying.” she mutters, unfortunate for her, Zayn hears it.

“Damn it, Crystal. Would you let me handle this like a sensible person?”  Zayn yells, pulling at his hair in agitation.

“You're talking about sense? You just accepted that you wanted to use me as a rebound.”

Zayn's eyes widen and he fumes, fumes in anger because where was the trust?

“Do you even hear yourself? Have you hit your head against a wall? This is the building block of our relationship?”  he yells, making Crystal step back two steps as she breathes loudly staring blankly at Zayn.

“She cheated on me, you really feel I've any ounce of feelings left for her? Yes, I was going to marry her—”

“What?”  Crystal yells, almost feeling herself choke. Gasps come out from Zayn's parents mouth when they hear this. Zayn curses lightly under his breath.

“Nothing I—”
“You were engaged to her?”  Crystal challenges, breathing loudly as she stares at Zayn who sighs and then nods.

“But Crystal—”

“You lied to me!” she yells.
Zayn drops his shoulders, everything she was saying… it wasn’t her. She was never this insecure. Yes, he didn't tell her because now it didn't matter.

The cause of her destruction wasn’t because of her. It was everyone around her, and he realises at that moment he was actually hurting her more. He softens up his voice “Crystal, I’m sorry okay. I’m sorry do you understand?”

With her heating rage, she did not understand. The one boy she ever loved, ever fully trusted lied to her, used her for a rebound to change his feelings.

The one boy she ever gave a damn about, lied to her. She hated it, but she didn’t hate him. She hated that he lied to her, But she couldn’t understand his reasoning behind.

Was she overreacting?

She chose to not understand, but instead go back to anger as her only use of self defense. She was hurting and she didn't know why. Maybe the fact that Zayn will be gone again and she'll be alone again and that she's second best again.

“I DON’T CARE ZAYN! YOU LIED!” She cries. “You once told me ‘friends don’t lie’. But here you are, BREAKING YOUR OWN RULE!” She walks into him and starts punching and slapping.

Zayn could take it without getting hurt. He tries to quiet her down by rubbing her arms and back, but she continues to hit him.

“FRIENDS DON’T LIE!” she repeats over and over as she keeps slapping his arms. He tries to take a hold of her hands. All he wanted to do was pull her in a hug, and whisper sorry one hundred times.

“Crys please. Crys I’m sorry. Just stop! Just stop! Please.” Zayn hovers his body over hers, almost having her between his arms.

“No!” she screams some more, as her cries grew even louder.

“STOP IT!” Zayn pushes Crystal and she immediately does staring at him, he pulls her with him and takes her inside her house, their families following them.

“CALM THE HELL DOWN. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?”  he yells again, staring at her.

“You want to do this the good way? Forget our friendship then, forget I ever existed. We barely met again.”

“Zayn, Whatever you did yesterday, you did for someone else too? What are you trying to do Zayn? Do you realise how special you made me feel but now that I know that you did the same for someone else that I had no idea about I feel sick to my stomach!”

“And what did you mean by that B grade speech?” he comments, “You're absolutely insane, Crystal. I haven't done anything big! We weren't in a relation I didn't owe you anything.”

“You haven't? Why do you still have her picture in your wallet?” she yells, her nose turning pink due to the crying. Zayn gasps lightly. “W-where did you?”

“You're making me generate real feelings for you and then lying to me, making me feel special when all of this is a pathetic lie. You did all of this for her too.”

“C-crys you don't understand.”
“You're so selfish, Zayn. You're actually using me, your so called best friend, to get over your so called lady love who left your pathetic ass.”

“That's shit, don't cross the line.” he comments, frantically looking here and there because why was he so nervous all of a sudden?

“That's my life and don't you dare call it shit.” she warns.

“You made your life shít. Everything is going alright you want to fúck things up like every time.” he comments again.

“Maybe because you're a part of it now.”  she mutters under her breath.

“Yeah? I'm a part of it because you want me to be a part of it. Don't act innocent Crystal, you crave love too or else that ring won't be on your finger.”

Crystal stares at her finger, the ring shining delicately sitting on her finger as if mocking her, she yanks it out and slams it on Zayn's hand who stares at it with wide eyes.

“You can't do this.”  Zayn whispers, staring at the ring and then back at Crystal.
“I'm not two faced like you and I certainly don't use people for rebound.”

“Shut up, Crystal.”

“Why does it hurt to listen the truth?”  Crystal challenges, accepting the glares Zayn throws her way.

“You know what Zayn? you are a disgusting person. You are so selfish. I thought that you–You may be the person I was lacking in my life. But you're a lesson too. Just like all the other guys.”

“Crystal shut up or I'll—”
"Or you'll what? You've done enough, Zayn. You can't hurt me anymore. You hid a dámn engagement from me, you're still not over her and here you are popping a ring on my finger! You know what that is? A rebound.”

“Enough now!” Zayn yells.
The family stare at the scene with wide eyes, completely confused to what was happening.

“So bad, nowadays people have come to a level where they have to threaten people to hide their shitty B-grade affair—” Zayn yanks the small table beside the sofa set turning it around, the books scattering everywhere and Crystal clutching her chest.

She glances at Zayn to see him fuming, eyes blazing. The fear of losing Zayn, being second best, him using her, or the probability of a failed relationship took it too far.

A sob escapes her mouth then another and it keeps on going.

“Enough I've heard! Yes I was trying to get over Lara, but I wanted to bring up genuine feelings for you!” Zayn yells, almost panting due to anger and his face covered frustration.

“You have been with me throughout my life during the thick and thin moments I had and I appreciate you for that,” Zayn speaks.

Crystal takes a deep breath in.

“But you're not the girl I knew. I thought you'll understand because we're in the same boat here but no. You insult me it's okay! but how on earth in front of me do you insult my relationship and call it B grade?” he complains.

“We're not teenagers Crystal, you don't know me like you did and likewise.”  Zayn sighs.

“The people I have back at London are way better.” Zayn comments, pointing at all of the people present at the scene, his voice laced with disappointment.

“At least they don't make me feel like shít.”

He huffs and the brushes his hair lightly. “I'm done. I'm leaving for London tomorrow. I'm not going to spend a single day more.” he ponders loudly, walking to the door when he gets interrupted by Crystal's voice.

“For a girl you've hardly met two years back, you'll forget our fifteen years of friendship?” Crystal mutters lightly under her breath but Zayn catches it.

“You know what?” he says through his teeth. “Fúck the whole concept of friendship, Fúck the idea of marriage, and most importantly fúck you.” he shoves past Crystal ready to exit when Trisha tries to stop him.

“No mum, I've had enough. I'm not taking it anymore.”  he whispers when his father opens his mouth to say something but gets interrupted.

“Don't dad, I'm done.”  he spits, sprinting out of the room in quick steps.

Crystal sighs, her mind not supporting her thoughts. She feels only one thing and it was killing her because she knew how she was feeling; broken. It wasn't a new feeling to her, but it was more overwhelming this time.

“What were you thinking Crystal? You acted so irrational.”

“Please Jack I don't need my teen brother advising me.”  Crystal complains, washing her face with a splash of water.

“Don't you care?”  Jack questions as Crystal moves to sit near the window.

“Obviously I care about him,” she starts, when Jack asks.
“I mean, how can I not?” Her eyes begin to wander out the window noticing Zayn and Doniya arguing.

“He was my friend first, before all this catastrophe happened. He cared about me when no one did. He accompanied me when I was alone. He listened to all my mindless ramblings. He defended me. He made me smile even when I didn’t want to.”

She glances at him again. “The happiness he brought when he came into my life is much bigger than the sadness, Jack.”

“Then go talk to him dipshít, you don't find people like that everyday.”  Jack whines, staring at Crystal who ignores his brother.

“It's not that simple, you won't understand. This isn't a highschool couple fight. He fúcked up everything.” Jack rolls his eyes, finding the statement offending.

“You did too!”

“Jack, leave me alone.”

“At least I'm bold enough to get my shit together whenever I mess up,”  he chuckles tauntingly.

“Stop thinking so hard about everything, stop over analyzing. Just go. Just do it, Crystal. If it feels right, just go with the flow. If it feels wrong, don’t think about it anymore and go sleep until it all ends tomorrow morning.” Jack shrugs as he exits her room. Crystal glances out the window to find Doniya and Zayn still talking.

That's when Crystal decides she'll go with the flow. She walks out of her house across street.

“I don't care, Doniya! Did you see how cold hearted she was!”  Zayn yells, turning his face to the opposite side.

“She's not cold hearted, she's just tired of getting fúcked over and you were about to be another add on to the list. Engaged?! You were—”

“Should I publish this on BBC, it's my life!”  Zayn interrupts, which makes her almost fume with anger but then she notices Crystal. Zayn looks at her and shakes his head turning his face away.

Doniya walks into the house while Crystal stares at Zayn who sits near his house pavement on the stair. He takes out a cigarette and lights it up.

Crystal stares at him until she notices the cigarette which appears half finished by now. She almost has a cardiac arrest because when did Zayn start smoking?

“Crystal, you can stare at me for as long as you want but we're having no conversation.” he states, his eyes never leaving the pavement to make eye contact.

Crystal.

“Or we could talk like adults and sort this, Zayn.”  Crystal says, walking a step nearer to check the waters but when Zayn's hand moves up as a signal to stop, she does so immediately.

“I'm sorry, there's nothing to discuss. Please stay away from me because nothing you say will change my mind about the circumstances.”  he whispers back, taking a big puff and blowing the smoke out.

“This was stupid.”

“When did you start smoking?” Zayn gives out a breathy laugh and finally looks up at Crystal with a challenging face.

“The day I realised it's not smoking that's the bad habit,” he takes in the intoxicating puff and blows it out, staring at nothing. “It's people.”

Crystal stares at Zayn and then smiles. “That was a very shitty try at making smoking sound poetic but it's still bad for your health.”  she shrugs, taking another step nearer which makes Zayn bounce up on his feet.

“I'm not here to make small talk, Crystal. I'm leaving tomorrow so if you could let me go in peace please,”  he suggests, stomping on the finished cigarette and then shrugging. “Or better, I'll go myself.”  Crystal passes a voice of acceptance and then takes Zayn's place at the pavement, sitting comfortably as she wraps her shawl around her.

Zayn almost walks in when he notices Crystal sitting on the pavement facing her house.
“You know I'm not coming out right?”

“I do, and I've decided I'll go home only on two conditions. Either you hear my apology and sort everything or tomorrow morning when your car passes away from your driveway.”  Crystal whispers, cuddling closer in her shawl as a cold breeze passes.

“You do realise that's blackmailing right?”  Crystal shrugs lightly and turns around. Her cheeks and nose tint pink due to the cold as she smiles.
“You do realise I don't care?”

Zayn rolls his eyes and steps out. “That's so childish for a twenty six year old.” he whispers, crossing his arms as he glares at her.

“Whatever it takes for you to listen to my apology.” Crystal shrugs, looking up at Zayn who chuckles lightly.

“Meet you tomorrow morning then.” making his final statement he walks in the main door and slams the door shut. Crystal stares at the door and sighs, her hope stammering lightly. But inside she knew that Zayn wasn't that heartless to keep her outside in the cold for so long.

Fifteen minutes pass as she stares at her phone, sighing. She was slightly disappointed in herself to actually think things might work but looks like Zayn is fuming. She knew it wasn't her mistake completely but someone had to take a step, she didn't let Zayn take one so now it was definitely hers.

She sighs again and then out of the blue a drop falls on her nose. She looks up to see a pitch dark sky and then as if god wanted to kill her with hypothermia, it starts raining. It takes a minute or two for her to be completed drenched as she sits on the stair.

How sweet.

Crystal plays 'Can't help falling in love' by Elvis on her phone. A song she and Zayn listened to when they worked on projects together in highschool, or sat on roofs. It was their all time favourites. She sneezes lightly as the rain drop falls down almost silencing Elvis in the background.

The time turns to half an hour and Crystal loses all her hopes by now. The song repeats for the third time and she feels inside that maybe today, only today, Elvis couldn't help her too.

Her body was covered in goosebumps as she moves her hand to stop the song after waiting when the main door opens and her eyes move up to meet Zayn's who glares at her. His eyes move to her phone where Elvis almost finishes his song and then back at Crystal.

“I fúcking hate you.” he whispers, rushing to her side and wrapping his towel around her, he drops her phone in his pocket and then picks her up almost pulling her in his house. She stands triumphantly in the living room as her drenched hair fall on her face whilst Zayn closes the door and secures the lock.

Escorting her to his room he moves to his bathroom to get more towels and Crystal stares at his room. It was still the same like in highschool days, but definitely renovated. She stares at his window to see the curtains are pulled off and a chair near it.

Someone was definitely keeping an eye on her.

“I seriously hate you so much, it's unreal.”  Zayn mutters as she throws a towel at Crystal who catches it and starts drying her hair. Zayn passes her spare clothes which she realises is some girl's.

“Do you realise how hard it was to sneak in Doniya's room and steal her clothes, with Hafid and Saeed sleeping there it was a disaster. I was coming to throw you out but then I heard Elvis, freaking Elvis sealed the deal.”  Zayn sighs. Almost as if speaking of the devils both the boys clash in his room.

“What are you both doing here so late?” Zayn yells, almost everyone was checking his patience today.

“Doniya kicked us out so aunt sent us here.”  Zayn sarcastically smiles, almost pushing the lads out. “No way is that happening until I'm alive sweeties.”

“Zayn let them sleep here. Doniya gets awkward, you should understand.” Trisha enters the room as she pats the boys who instantly enter the room and start jumping on the bed making Crystal get up hastily.

“She lost the bet we made!”  he complains.

“Crystal? Sweetheart why are you drenched?” Trisha stares at the Crystal, almost passing out to see her in her son's room at this ungodly hour after what happened but Zayn stops her from entering.

“Mum go sleep, I'll take care of everything.”  Trisha smiles at Crystal and then walks away.
“Down my bed you fúcktards!” Zayn yells, throwing a pillow at the kids. “How am I supposed to sleep?”

“You can sleep at my place if you like.”  Crystal suggests, two towels wrapped around her and Doniya's clothes clutched in her hand. “I'll just sleep in the living room.” Zayn mutters.

“I insist.”

“No fúcking way am I sharing a bed with you.”

“Fine then go sleep on the couch but when in the morning your back cracks into two parts like the earth splitting, don't complain.”  that makes Zayn sigh. That was a problem. Also, Crystal knowing everything was a problem too.

“Fine.”

Crystal makes the bed for the night and then stares at Zayn standing awkwardly, staring at the bed as if its going to swallow him to nothingness, in his simple white coloured shirt paired with black shorts.

“Which side?”  Crystal asks, breaking Zayn's trance.

“Which side do you want?” Zayn asks back.

“Right.” she answers.

“I'll take right then.”  Crystal rolls her eyes at his pettiness as she pulls the comforter away.

“I can't believe you carried that blanket and pillow with you all way from your house.”

“Girls are allowed to have favourite bras and a guy can't have a favourite pillow and blanket?” Crystal gives Zayn a look which he decided to ignore.

“Are we. . . Cool?” Crystal whisper asks, almost scared Zayn might throw the night lamp at her.

“I'm going back home.” he states, annoyed past limit.

Crystal sighs lightly and shakes her head. “You can sleep on the bed, I'll take the couch.” she states, taking her comforter to the couch near the window.

“No need.”  Zayn mumbles.

“Look Crystal, don't make this hard, I know it's awkward of us sleeping in the same bed but I know, and hope you do too,” he gives a long pause

“This was our supposed future two hours back.” Crystal stares blankly at Zayn and then at the floor.

“Now just give me a damn side, you know I'm high if I don't sleep properly.” she shakes her head in acceptance. Nodding his head Zayn makes his way to the bed laying flat on the right side of the bed and Crystal doesn't ignore the fact that he's sleeping at the complete edge of the bed.

Opening her hair from the bun, she lays flat on the bed.

“You're sleeping in your shirt? Don't guys sleep without it?”

“I'm just being modest, show some respect yeah?”

She closes her eyes, her hopes completely trashed. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be, she tries to drift to sleep as Zayn switches off the night lamp and the vague brightness against her eyelids becomes black. She feels the bed moving.

“Don't tell me,” his voice interrupts her and she looks at him lying flat on the bed staring at the ceiling. The little light peeking from the window, making his face shine. His eyes having that different glistening in them.

Crystal turns nervous owing to the fact that how and why on earth was she noticing these things in him today.

When there was a supposed future, when they had been fighting on the most ridiculously shitty topics.

“Tell you what?” she whispers, not exactly knowing why, as she stares at Zayn across the fort wall they constructed between them with pillows.

“The stickers.” He says pointing to the ceiling, Crystal turns her position to lay flat just like him. Their backs straight on the bed and faces staring upwards. She smiles lightly.

“These star stickers?”  she asks, even though she was sure he was talking about them. After much discussion they had pasted them together on Crystal's ceiling on her sixteenth birthday.

“I remember,” he points towards the stars. “Mr Goggulus.” he points towards one star that makes Crystal giggle, the stupid nicknames they had given to stars. A silence lingers as Zayn shifts to look at Crystal while she stares back, blankly.

He shakes his head and turns around, his back facing Crystal. A frown appears on her face as she wonders if they could be like the highschool days. She lays flatly and turns to the different side as her back faces Zayn's.

“Can't you stay?”  she whispers with much courage. When she gets no answer for a minute she feels Zayn drifted to sleep. A sigh escapes her mouth.

“There's nothing here for me to stay anymore.” he whispers back.

“You were staying before.”
“Maybe because I thought I found a reason.”

“Zayn.”  Crystal whispers even lightly than before. Her eyes tearing lightly. A silence replies her back.

“I’m sorry all your bad moods are caused because of me and that I’m the one to mostly start all the fights and arguments. I know I’m not the brightest person to always make the right decisions.”  she whispers, a tear falling down her lids. “But I couldn't be second best again. I couldn't bear it, Zayn. Not from you.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough and I’m still not good enough and probably will never be. That's how I am,”  Zayn speaks lightly and then sighs.

“You're the first girl who's waited for me for so long in the rain, in cold.”  he confesses.

“And I'll do that again in a heartbeat.”  Crystal replies.

“The ugly truth is if I knew I would have the ability to hurt you this much, I would’ve made the decision to stay away from you. No matter how hard it would’ve been, I would’ve tried to keep my distance. I was just too excited to have that sort of friendship back but our parents have to shít on every good thing we have.”  Zayn whispers.

“I never wanted to lie to you but some heartbreaks should never be spoken out loud.”

“I can relate.” Crystal chuckles lightly.  “I’m always soft for you, that’s the problem. You could come knocking on my door five years from now and I would open my arms wider and say ‘come here, it’s been too long, it felt like home with you.”

She feels Zayn turn around and she feels him facing his back.
“Home yeah?” Zayn asks, making Crystal smile. “That was too cheesy and dumb, Jesus.” Crystal mumbles clearing her face off the tears as a dry chuckle escapes her mouth.

“I wanted to, Crystal. I wanted to be the home you never got and for you to give me a chance but that's the problem,” she feels Zayn tug her arm and she turns to him.

“You never give anyone a chance.”  he whisper complains, staring in her eyes trying to read her mind.  Crystal looks down to hold herself together.

“You start counting flaws and over analysing as to how someone can like you.”

She fiddles with her nail for a min when Zayn's voice lingers in her ear.

“Y-you want to go to London with me?” Zayn asks, his voice stuttering lightly as Crystal stares at him across the wall and then turns. Zayn furrows his brows as he stares at her back.

“We'll hurt each other.”

“Can I put the ring where it should be right now?”

“This will never work, Zayn.”

“You can't decide that before trying.”

“I dont give a dàmn about trying, I've tried enough.”

Zayn chuckles lightly as he shakes his head. “You're shaking Crystal. You're nervous as hell and if you’re nervous, it means you give a damn.”

Crystal turns back hesitantly to see Zayn's eyes lightly teared up.

“I know you and I are not about poems or other sentimental bullshít but I have to tell you the way you stood in the rain for me
knocked me the fúck out.”

Crystal smiles. “You said you hated me for it.”

“That's the most stupid logic you know? You want to leave someone yet you check whether they are out there knocking the door for you.”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“We're dumb, irrational and might end up regretting this but pass me the damn ring.”  Crystal whispers breaking into a smile at the sound of Zayn's breathy laughter.

She sits up on the bed whilst Zayn does the same. Taking out the box from her side table she opens it to take out the ring.

“Where did that come from?”

“I asked Dad to come with me today to get you one.” Crystal states, smiling. Zayn takes out the ring from his short's pocket and opens his phone playing 'Can't help falling in love' by Elvis.

“This couldn't happen without the man.”  Crystal laughs lightly as Zayn slides the ring and she does the same and then she sees Zayn tearing up lightly, with a smile playing on his face as she giggles. The tears in his eyes weren’t for himself, she understands that now. The lad never cried for himself, he cried for her.

And when she stares at Zayn across the fort wall of pillow with messy hair in his homy clothes, her drenched hair falling on her face with Elvis singing 'somethings are meant to be, take my hand, take my whole life too for I cant help falling in love with you.' she was more then obliged to be a part of it all. Be it Bradford, Be it London, be it his heart. Be it her own.

____________
so... I snapped. lmao. From the next chapter their life in London will start and it'll be one hell of a ride XD

So the important news is, THIS BOOK IS ABOUT TO HIT A 5K. IF IT WASN'T FOR YALL BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Thoughts on chapter? Any suggestions?

Answering Q/A from last chapter now!
ZAYN :
Q. Do you love Crystal genuinely?
A. Woah hold up... Love? I mean i do care for her and want to see where it goes but that word is heavy stop giving me a cardiac arrest pls

JACK:
Q. Which team do you support in the Champions League?
A. Whichever team wins, because I've always lost whenever i play with Zayn :)

Drop SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE CHARACTERS HERE!!!!

Woah i wrote a book long authors note😊 feedbacks for a 7000+ word chapter im screaming.

Until next time❤️ x