Don't promise me you'll be there after the rain dries

Don't promise me we'll dance before the night dies

Don't promise me you'll call

Don't promise me you'll catch me if I fall

Don't promise me you'll dry the tears

Don't promise me you'll get rid of the fears

Don't promise me that my dreams will come true

Don't promise me that this is something new

Don't promise me that love will have its way

Because I might just believe you.

* * *

*Zayn's POV*

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

I kicked the door to Louis' flat shut behind me. My gaze darted to the small clock that hung in the corner of the room, just to make sure the time matched the digits that appeared on my phone. 4:27 a.m. It did. My eyebrows met as I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the questions that were swirling unrelentingly in my mind. I was asleep -- like any sane person would be at this ungodly hour -- when my phone rang. I was confused, and frankly, a bit annoyed when I saw it was Louis calling. I thought it would be yet another one of his infamous pranks, or maybe that he was just doing it to get on my nerves. But once I answered the call and he told me to meet him at his flat immediately, I was able to identify the urgent tone his voice held and didn't waste a single second thinking about what it may have been. Instead, I threw on my shoes and arrived at Louis' flat.

I scanned the room and found Harry, Liam, and Niall seated on the couch in front of Louis, who was sitting, with his legs crossed, on the floor. His head was held solemnly in his hands. When I spoke, three pairs of eyes met mine. Louis remained in his position and shook his head slowly. I met Harry's tired eyes first, seeing the worry flash across them. Liam's and Niall's weren't any different. When no one answered my previous question, I took two long strides over to Harry and sat down next to him.

"What's going on?" I asked, anxiously running a hand through my messy hair. No one spoke. Frustration built up inside me as I ran my hands down my face tiredly. I let a heavy sigh escape my lips and cupped my chin with both hands, waiting for Louis to say something.

Finally, the older boy lifted his head. The bags underneath his bloodshot eyes were prominent, making him look rather sick. I glanced at Liam, Niall, and Harry and looked back to Louis, anticipating that words that were soon to leave his mouth.

He didn't meet our eyes. He stared at the ground in front of him, lost in his own thoughts. After what seemed like forever, Louis spoke. His voice was raspy -- raw, even -- making the possibility of him crying not seem so ridiculous.

"I'm sorry." He said, his voice shaky.

Only seconds after Louis spoke, Liam asked the question that clouded our minds.

"What are you sorry about, Lou?" He asked. The words rolled off of his tongue slowly, gently -- as if he were talking to a small child, a tone deeming appropriate for the situation. Louis was fragile, more broken then we had ever seen him, and we were all afraid of making it worse than it already was.

Louis sniffed and shook his head. He rubbed his eyes once again and finally looked up at Liam.

"I haven't been the greatest person lately. I haven't been the best friend." He started.

"Louis," Niall interrupted, "What are you on about?"

"You know, Niall. You all know. I haven't been here for you guys and I'm sorry. I never meant to become such a.. different person. It kind of happened without me realizing and I hope you'll forgive me." Louis said. His eyes were pleading and his lips were turned downward into a frown, regret and worry sketched across his exhausted features.

Harry and I shared a knowing look. All four of were aware that it would have been wrong to pretend like we didn't know what Louis was apologizing about. To be completely honest, we had all become used to his behavior. We'd actually stopped bothering to ask him if he wanted to go to the movies with us, or play a game of football. The answer would always be that he had plans with Eleanor. Still, we knew better than to blame Louis for all of this. And now that he was apologizing, I couldn't help but wonder who or what it was that opened his eyes and made him apprehend how he changed from the Louis we once knew to someone we struggled to recognize.

"It's not your fault, Louis. I'm just proud of you for apologizing, we all are." Harry smiled down at him, making Louis' lips twitch upwards.

The smile fell as soon as it had found its way to Louis' face. He glanced down at his hands before looking back at us. His gaze moved down the couch to meet each of ours. He took a deep breath before saying, "So.. you forgive me?"

We all looked at each other and smiled before nodding. We were actually more elated than he probably thought. 

"For not being Louis, sure," I said and shrugged harmlessly, "but for waking me up at 4:30 in the morning? That'll take some time." I grumbled jokingly, but I knew that the words sounded dangerously serious.

The pleasant sound of Louis' laughter filled the room. It was accompanied by Niall's loud cackle. I laughed along with the boys, savouring this moment when we had our best friend back. We knew it would be far too impossible to fall asleep after the events of that early morning. Instead, we caught up with Louis, made up for the past few months when it just hadn't been the same.  

* * * 

*Charlotte's POV*

I wrapped my cold fingers around the steaming cup of coffee. The warm sensation raced through my hands and up to my arms. I rubbed my hand up and down my left arm and felt the goosebumps that had arisen, letting out a sigh as I tried warming up my body.

It wasn't even that cold outside. Winter was dying, leaving behind its howling winds for the birth of Spring. It was funny, how fast seasons could change. When I was sat in this exact booth of the small cafe a week from now, the trees outside the large window were bare, lifeless, a light sheet of snow laid ironically like a blanket over the ground. Now, as I sat with my thoughts and feelings jumbled like tumbleweed, I could spot the light pink cherry blossom buds that were sprouting from the same trees that were once dead. Even thought the seasons changed rapidly, marking their end and beginning, I hadn't changed. No, I was still the same person. My hair was still the same curly chore, my height had not increased, my features still the same, the hurt and confusion my eyes held still parallel to what I was feeling inside.

The season had changed. I was still Charlotte. I was still the same conflicted 18-year old. The same girl that finally understood the magnitude of the phrase, "be careful what you wish for." I wished for love and I was now experiencing it. I didn't care for the consequences, the risks, I just wanted the feeling to bloom inside me, much like the cherry blossoms that had begun blooming on the dark branches outside.

The only difference was that as flowers held beauty and life, my heart held grief and pain. Mere replicas yet complete opposites.

.I groaned to myself and threw my head down onto the table, allowing my folded arms to cushion it. My hair was splayed over my arms and head, cascading across the table. My head was throbbing from the lack of sleep -- the amount of sense my life made at the moment remained at a meager standstill. Why did Harry, sweet, noble Harry have to have feelings for me? Or worse, why did he act like it was his fault after I refused to kiss him? Being the chivalrous man Harry was, he did everything in his power not to make me feel bad about my actions, which inconsequentially only made me feel more horrible than ever before.

"Your coffee's gonna get cold." 

My head snapped up and my arm knocked over the cup of coffee that was sat next to it. I sighed and grabbed a few napkins from the stand that was conveniently on the side of the table. I already had a pretty good idea of who it was that had startled me. I looked to my right to see Zayn, confirming my suspicions. The hood of his leather jacket was covering his hair, which instead of being styled high in its usual quiff, was flattened across his forehead. He was looking down at me in amusement, a teasing smirk tugged at his lips. 

"Or spill." I said as I rolled my eyes. Zayn laughed and assisted me in cleaning up the table. He threw away the wet napkins and brought back two coffees before sitting down across from me. Comfortable silence -- accompanied by the soft hum of coffee machines -- surrounded us. I gazed through the glass window, not knowing whether or not to speak first. I needed someone to talk to, and when Danielle was away visiting family, I couldn't think of anyone better besides Zayn. 

"How are you?" He asked. 

It wasn't a casual question. The three words held a deeper meaning, one that craved nothing but the truth as an answer. 

"Good." I pathetically answered, not knowing why I didn't just tell him how I really was. Zayn had an ability to see right through people, something that I sometimes despised and other times was grateful for. 

I reluctantly glanced up to see his eyes narrowed in a scrutinizing glare. Silence engulfed us once more as I fiddled with the bracelets around my wrist. I knew what Zayn was waiting for. He wanted me to answer his question, to answer it truthfully this time. 

"I feel horrible, Zayn," I said. I finally met his eyes and relaxed when I saw that they had softened. He nodded, urging me to continue. "Harry apparently likes me and I just feel so bad about rejecting him the way I did." I finished.

I expected to him to ask me what I was talking about, to ask what had happened. Instead, he nodded his head in understanding. 

"Wait, he told you?" I asked, although I didn't know why I was so surprised. 

Zayn sipped his coffee before leaning back in his chair. 

"He came to my flat after the festival, and I got it out of him." 

Of course. Of course Zayn would know. I had a good feeling that I wasn't the only one that went to Zayn in times of conflict. 

"I don't know what to do. How do I face him?" I replied. I did feel bad for bringing my issues to Zayn, but I honestly couldn't think of anything else to do. 

"Listen, Charlotte," he said. "Life's too short. No one can live their life expecting to get everything right. You're going to make mistakes, you're going to do things you regret. But the best way to stop yourself from hurting someone else? You tell them the truth. As simple as it may seem, the truth is what can put both you and the other person at ease. You don't love Harry, not the way he wants you to. And you can't blame yourself for that. As much as I wish it was different, you can't control these emotions." 

He was right. Harry couldn't control the emotions he felt for me, the way that I couldn't control how I felt for Louis. 

"Truthfully, as bad as this may sound, Harry's just going to get over you. He'll have to get over the fact that you're in love with someone else."

My gaze snapped itself from where it was fixated on the cup of coffee to Zayn. What did he just say?

"H-how do you know?" I stuttered over my words and watched his widen with realization. 

"I can tell, Charlotte." He stated simply. 

"Nothing gets past Zayn Malik, huh?" I questioned, my eyebrow arched. Zayn flashed a smug smile before shaking his head. 

"I guess so," he laughed. 

"Well, now that you know what a mess my life is, what do you think I should do? I can't tell Louis because.. well, because he's engaged. And Harry? I can't bear to see him hurt like this, especially since I'm the cause." I sighed in exasperation and threw my arms in the air. 

"Honestly, Charlotte, that's up to you. You can let him go, let him marry Eleanor. Or you can fight for him. And Harry's going to find out eventually that you have feelings for Louis. It's going to happen one way or another. The best thing you can do is tell him before he finds out in a different way.. kind of like how you found out about Louis and Eleanor." Zayn finished off. 

My eyes narrowed into a glare. Zayn just seemed to know everything, and truthfully, I was kind of grateful for that. I didn't have to explain myself to him. He knew the details and was giving me unbiased advice, how could I complain?

"What would you do, Zayn? If it was Perrie.. what would you do?" My voice was small, barely a whisper. In all honesty I was afraid to hear Zayn's answer. I knew that the right thing would be to let Louis be happy, let him marry Eleanor. But the thing was, I wasn't sure if I was quite ready to do the right thing. 

Zayn thought for a few seconds before his hazel eyes fixed on my own. "If it was Perrie.. I would fight for her. Because if you truly love someone, you fight for them. You do everything in your power to express your love, to show that person what you're willing to do to make him or her yours." He nodded to himself afterwards, satisfied with his answer. 

"What about that phrase? If you love something, you let it go.." I trailed off, knowing that I was trying to fill every hole possible. I wanted answers, and I wanted them from someone who I knew would give me nothing but the truth. 

Zayn leaned back into his chair and sighed heavily. He picked up one of the salt shakers and tossed it back and forth between his hands. "And if it comes back to you it's yours forever. If not, it was never meant to be?" He asked. I nodded in confirmation. "Life's not easy, Charlotte. And I'm sure you don't disagree with me. Sometimes you have to weigh it out. Are you willing to fight for Louis? Do you think he's worth it? Or do you think he's content with Eleanor?"

I ran a hand through my hair and licked my dry lips. "I.. I don't know, Zayn. I just don't know. I think I'm going to need some time." 

"You've got time, Charlotte. Just don't over think it. You can't make everyone happy. Someone in this mess will end up with a broken heart, it's bound to happen. Once you've made your choice, ask yourself if it's really what you want, if it really makes you happy." He said and smiled at me. 

I liked talking to Zayn. He understood me well and his advice helped untangle at least some of the mess that I was forced to call "life."

"Perrie's a lucky girl, Zayn." I spoke after some comfortable silence. 

The corners of his lips tugged upwards into a smile. He ran a hand through his hair before glancing out the window. 

"If anyone's the lucky one, it's me, to have someone like her."

* * * 

(A/N) PERRIE IS A LUCKY GIRL SHE'S THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE ZAYN AND WOW I THINK I'M GOING TO CRY IF I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS ajksnmalfml;ak..

Anyway, 

How was that?? Please leave your COMMENTS AND VOTES! This story hit 1,000 votes about 4 days ago and I'm just SPEEEECHLESS!!! Thank you guys, you're the best :) 

So now you know that Liam, Niall, and Zayn all know about Charlotte and her feeling for Louis.. what do you think? Should she fight for him? Or let him go?

By the way this is the second time I'm uploading this chapter... Wattpad deleted it after I uploaded last night! Thankfully I had it saved on my computer.

Thanks for reading! The next chapter will be up pretty sooooon :)

- Aysha <3