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44

Life was going smoothly, but as the days went by, my nervousness began to increase. It was now July. A little over a month for the Robinson trial and two days before Zayn's fathers. He was leaving bright and early in the morning. Despite my many protests, he didn't let me go with him, insisting I had work and other priorities. I knew it was because he didn't want me to freak out a month before the Robinson trial, but I was more concerned for his well being. He promised he'd keep me updated and that he'd be okay but still. I was not happy with this arrangement. I was now sat on the floor with Zayn as I tried to help him pack.

"How many shirts do I need?!" He exclaimed, looking at everything I handed him to put inside.

"It's better to overpack than underpack" I stated placing a couple more extra shirts.

"Yeah but I'm only gone for three days" He said zipping the suitcase up, and placing it against the wall. I still sat on the floor, way to comfortable to get up.

"Come on; Greys Anatomy is about to start," He said, falling onto the bed. I groaned, still not getting up; a couple of seconds later, Zayn stood in front of me is arms crossed. I stretched out my arms, a cheeky smile on my face, and he helped me up.

"You're so lazy" He said grabbing the remote,

"I know" I said as I relaxed onto the bed, watching the show appear onto the screen.

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I stood by the front door, watching in awe, as Zayn looked around the apartment, making sure everything is okay. He examined the fridge one last time before closing it and walking over to me, grabbing his suitcase.

"Okay, I made sure the A/C is at the perfect temperature, so don't fiddle with it, there is enough Nutella to get you through the next three days, and the TV remote is on the coffee table, so don't go looking all over for it," He said in a somber tone while I laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked tiny crinkles popping up on his forehead, I smoothened down his forehead, he was too young for wrinkles.

I shook my head, "Nothing, you're just cute," I said with a shrug; his eyes twinkled at the compliment, and now I was starting to get hesitant. Did he really have to leave me for three whole days? Just thinking about it made me sad - gosh, I sounded so clingy. I needed to get a grip. I lasted 23 years without Zayn; I'm sure I can last three days without him.

"I'm gonna miss you" He murmured pulling me into a hug. My heart instantly melted and my legs were jello. 

Oh forget it this was going to be the hardest seventy-two hours of my life. 

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It was nearly 10 PM, and Zayn's plane landed at 8, yet I still haven't heard a word from him. According to the flight status, he landed, but according to how unresponsive he was to my calls and texts, I was beginning to panic; heck, I was panicking. He hadn't even called Bhai or Aunty Asma. Nobody had heard from him. I called and texted hundreds of times for the next six hours, not getting a wink of sleep. It was at 4 AM that my phone buzzed,

Zayn <3: I'm sorry I didn't call you after I landed, I got carried away

I didn't bother reading anymore as I slammed the call button,

"Saima? - why are you awake it's like 4 AM?!" He said,

Here I go, "Well, I wonder WHY I couldn't sleep; the possibilities of you getting kidnapped or dying were running through my head. Was it that hard to send a SIMPLE text saying you were alive? Was it THAT hard, Zayn? I have a meeting in what - 4 hours did I make the presentation? Nope because guess what I was doing? I was fuc-"

He cut me off, apologizing profusely, "I'm sorry, I didn't think you were worrying that much" I rolled my eyes he was such an idiot!

"Did you eat?" I asked slowly calming down

"Yep, I had this really good shawarma" He said happily. 

"Did you take your medication" I asked, he would be able to sleep properly if he didn't. I didn't need him being cranky tomorrow during the trial.

"Yes Ma'am" He said making his voice a bit deeper,

"What abou-"

He cut me off, "Saima, I'm okay go to sleep" He said chuckling clearly finding this amusing.

"Goodnight" I said already half asleep, 

"Goodnight" I hung up the phone and slowly drifted off, finally feeling peace.

My peace didn't last long; I woke up in less than two hours. Getting ready and making my very sloppy presentation. It was better to have something messy than nothing. I left the house in a hurry, a slice of Nutella toast in one hand and my bag in the other as I ran to my car, praying that today was not the day I get fired.

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"Did you get fired?" Zayn asked as he folded his clothes, I set my phone against the mirror as I brushed my hair.

"No, but if I did, it was going to be your fault," I said. The trial happened today, but Zayn still hadn't said a word about it. We had been talking for two minutes and not a single mention. Did it go wrong?

I finished brushing my hair and fell onto my bed, we were silent for a bit until he finally spoke up,

"He got life in prison" His voice empty and emotionless.

"That's good!" I said excited, curious on why he wasn't excited, "Are you not happy?" I asked

He leaned his head against the pillow adjusting his phone, "I'm glad he's rotting in prison for what he did, but at the same time it's hard to think about how my father, my dad who raised me and taught me everything I know is going to stay in jail for the rest of his life for killing my mother and sister" He confessed,

"That's okay, it's okay to feel like that" 

"You know today I went to their graves" I stayed silent letting him continue,

"It didn't feel real, it still hasn't felt real they've been gone for a year now and I still can't believe they're both no more. I wont ever hug Ammu or Kulsum again, I'll never speak to them again or even look at them" My heart shattered inside, 

"Pray you'll see them in the next life Inshallah" I said not knowing what else to say. He just nodded mumbling an "Ameen."

We stayed on the line in a comfortable silence, after a little while he made me hang up the phone since I had work the next day.

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Zayn was coming home tomorrow. I had finished work and cooking up some meals for him. I finally had time to take a nice relaxing shower. Midway through, I heard the front door opening and some loud noises. Leaving the shower on and wrapping myself in a robe, I grabbed the most dangerous thing I had with me - my flat iron. I placed my ear on the door and heard only footsteps. My heart was pounding; I left my phone in the other room too. The footsteps were approaching closer; I stood back, trying to think of a plan. The sound of knocking on the door and the voice accompanying it made me freeze,

"Woohoo Saima it's me!" I threw open the door, 

"What are you doing here!" I yelled, as Zayn stood there staring at the flat iron in my hand, 

"Were you going to hurt me with that?" He asked, stifling a laugh. Ignoring his comments, I put away the iron and gave him a bone-crushing hug, looping my arms around his neck.

"Did someone miss me?" He teased, his arms secured on my waist.

"Mhm" I mumbled into his neck, I pulled away,

"Come on! I made rice without burning it!" 

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fun fact this was one of the first chapters I ever wrote, this version is less in word count though :) I was gonna scrap this chapter out but it's too darn cute <3