It's been two weeks since I followed Zayn to the abandoned warehouse. I think about it everyday. He hasn't said anything about it to me and I haven't told him what I saw.

I just want to know what he's involved in. Why can't he tell me? What if it's dangerous?

I thought back to what Harry told me a while back. He said that if I stayed with Zayn that I'd be at risk of danger. But why? That's my main question.

I sighed as I walked down the school halls. Some people glared at me, some gave me weird looks, and others just ignored me.

Sara has been spreading rumors about me and they seem to get worse everyday.

I haven't talked to the group in so long I think they've forgotten about me. I sometimes see them in the halls and I still have Writing class with Eleanor. It doesn't get any less awkward.

I wish they could just be here for me. To help me. But they don't even look at me.

Sometimes Niall gives me sad looks. I think he wants to talk to me but he doesn't.

Tyler and I are distant still and dad still beats me almost everyday. My life hasn't gotten any better.

I guess I have Zayn but he's keeping something big from me. I want to comfront him about it but at the same time I don't.

***

The final bell rings and I walk out of class and down the hall to the exit when someone calls my name.

I turn around and see Niall jogging up to me. I start walking again when he catches up.

"Hey."

"Hey," I respond with a small smile. The space is a little awkward.

"Um, so how are you?"

I sighed not really knowing how to answer that.

"I've been better," I told him just as a group of girls laughs at me as we walk by. I put my head down.

"Don't worry about them. They don't know anything," Niall tried to reassure me.

I only nodded.

"I'm sorry about this. We all miss you even if some of us won't say it," he said and I knew he was talking about Eleanor.

"It was nice having you guys as friends while it lasted."

"Hey, don't say that. We're all still your friends. We just-"

"Want me to stay away from Zayn. I know."

He opened his mouth to speak but I knew what he was going to say and I didn't want to hear it.

"Please, don't," I put my hand up. He closed his mouth and sighed then nodded.

We walked outside and stopped on the grass. We turned towards each other and Niall sighed again.

"Just know that if anything happens we're still here for you. No matter what," he smiled.

"Thanks Ni," I smiled and hugged him. He hugged me back and soon we both pulled away.

He gave me another smile before walking away and I did the same as I starting walking home.

It was nice to talk to Niall after so long. At least he still cares. Eleanor is taking this whole thing the hardest. I wish I could just talk to them, but I know they won't listen. And to be honest, I probably won't either if they tell me to stay away from Zayn again.

I know something is going on with Zayn after what I saw two weeks ago, but I'm not going to just walk away from him because of something I don't know about.

Maybe he'll tell me when he's ready and maybe he won't. I just hope that whatever he's involved with won't get him hurt.

I walked further down the street when I had a weird feeling. I stopped walking and looked around the empty area. There was no one in sight so I shrugged it off and turned around.

I screamed when a man was standing in front of me. He grabbed my arm, pulled me into the nearby alley and pushed my back against the brick wall.

I winced as the sharp pain went through my back. The man's face got so close I could feel his hot, smelly breath fan my face.

My eyes widened with fear as I stared at the man.

"W-What do you want from me?" I stuttered.

"You're going to deliver a message for me."

"W-What?" I couldn't stop the stuttering.

"You're going to deliver a message," he repeated more angrily. "To Zayn."

I furrowed my eyebrows not knowing if I heard him correctly. How does this man know Zayn? Why would he want me to give him a message?

"Tell him to pay up, and if he doesn't there will be consequences."

Pay up?

"Can you do that?"

When I didn't answer he slammed his hand against the wall next to my head, making me shrink back in fear.

I nodded. "Yes," my voice wavered.

"Good," he said with a smug look.

I tried to get away but he pulled me back against the wall and stood closer to me.

"Who said we were done?" he smirked.

His fingers slowly trailed up my shirt before cupping my breast roughly. I wimpered and tried to remove his hand but it wouldn't budge.

"Hold still." He began to harshly suck on my neck as I cried.

This can't be happening to me.

I closed my eyes and swiftly brought my knee up to his crotch. He groaned in pain as he scrunched his eyes closed and held his crotch.

This gave me time to shove him away from me and quickly run down the street and the rest of the way home.

I looked back as I continued to run but I didn't see the man anymore. I could soon see my house so I ran up to the door, quickly unlocked it and got inside. I slammed the door shut and tried to breathe normally again after all that running.

I went to the kitchen and got a glass of water for my throat and went upstairs to my room. I layed on my bed and thought about my unpleasant encounter.

How would that man know Zayn and why did I have to give him a message? And what did he mean by pay up? Does Zayn owe him money?

I sighed and decided to sleep. I was tired from the running and life, so I currled up in bed and soon fell asleep.

***

I was rudly interrupted from my nap by being pulled out of bed and thrown to the floor.

I groaned and lifted my head upward. Dad towered over me with red eyes and a hardened expression. He struggled to stand as he held himself up with the wall.

He's drunk.

He glared at me and picked me up then slammed my back into the wall and slapped me. I winced and looked back at him.

"It's all your fault. If you listened she would still be here. You took her from me!" he slurred.

My eyes widened in fear as he brought his arm back and thrust it forward, punching me in the face and knocking me back to the floor.

My eyes started to water and soon the tears ran down my cheeks.

"You worthless piece of crap," he yelled as he kicked my stomach.

"Stop, please!" I begged.

But instead he pulled me up by my hair and punched me again.

"You should've died not her."

The tears streamed down my face faster after he said that.

Dad tried to hit me again but I dodged it and ran out of my room and down the stairs.

"Get back here!"

I ran out the door and down the street trying to escape. I looked back and saw Dad in the front yard yelling after me.

I turned the corner and continued to run.

I don't know how long I ran but I found myself outside a very familiar apartment.

I stopped running and walked inside and to the elevator. The elevator slowly went up and I stepped out when the doors opened.

I knocked on the door and took a deep breath. Tears still stained my cheeks and my chest still hurt from running.

Zayn opened the door and looked me up and down with worry, confusion, and concern in his features.

"Emily, what happened?"

"Can I come in?" I asked weakly.

"Of course." Zayn brought me inside and shut the door.

He lead me into the living room and I couldn't hold it in any longer. I put my head in my hands as I began to sob and Zayn wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my back.

"Shh, it's okay."

"No, Zayn. It's not." I lifted my head and wiped some of the tears away.

Zayn looked at me with sad eyes.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Zayn said and I nodded.

He brought me into the bathroom and I looked at myself in the mirror. My left cheek had a cut and my face was bruised.

Zayn lifted me up onto the sink counter and looked through the cabinet. He took out the first aid kit and set it down next to me.

I looked down at my lap as Zayn grabbed what he needed. He lifted my head up and our eyes met. He started to wipe the cut on my cheek and I winced as it stung.

He finished and brought his hand back down.

"Anywhere else?" he asked me.

I gently rubbed my stomach and looked down. Zayn looked at me then at my stomach and lifted my shirt.

He looked at the bruises then back up at me. I turned my head unable to look at him.

"Look at me."

I looked at him and he kissed my forehead. I gave him a small smile and he lifted me off the counter.

We walked into his room and sat on his bed. Zayn leaned against the headboard and opened his arms. I sat next to him and rested my head on his chest as he rubbed patterns on my back.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before Zayn spoke up.

"What happened?"

"My dad," I answered simply.

You should've died not her.

I replayed his words over in my head as my eyes started to water.

"He said that I should've died instead of my mom," I cried.

I felt Zayn tense beside me and he started to breathe harder. I looked up at him and his eyes were darker as he stared at the wall.

"Zayn?"

He looked at me and shook his head before getting up.

"What are you doing?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"He can't get away with that."

My eyes widened as Zayn walked out of the room. I jumped off the bed and grabbed his arm. I stood in front of him as he looked down at me.

"Zayn, don't do anything. Please."

"Someone has to." He walked around me and grabbed his keys.

"Zayn! Stop. He's my father."

He ignored me and opened the door.

"Stay here."

"Zayn-"

"I'll be back."

(Zayn's POV)

I gripped the wheel as I drove to Emily's house.

He can't beat her and expect nothing to happen. And after Emily told me what he said to her I had enough.

I stopped my car in front of her house then climbed out and slammed the door. I went up to the door and knocked. Once the door opened I brought my arm back and flung it forward. I hit her dad in the nose and he stumbled backward.

I walked in and grabbed him by the collar and pushed him up against the wall then hit him in the stomach.

He groaned and leaned forward. I stepped back as he looked up to see who hit him.

"What the hell?!" he yelled. "Who are you?"

"I'm Zayn, Emily's boyfriend."

He chuckled. "Emily has a boyfriend? Why would you date trash like her?"

I punched him in the jaw and he hit the wall.

"Don't say that about her. She's your daughter! And you're going to stop beating her."

"Oh am I?" he laughed and punched me in the stomach. I groaned and bent over.

"Listen boy, I can do whatever I want to her."

I stood up and pushed him against the wall.

"Stop beating Emily or I'm going to have to come back." I hit him again before walking out and getting back into my car.

I drove back to my apartment and took the elevator up. I stepped out and opened my door and walked in. I walked into the living room where Emily was pacing.

She turned around and came up to me when she saw me.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," I answered.

She nodded and looked down then looked back up at me.

"Did you hurt him?"

I didn't answer and she sighed. I held her arms and she looked up at me.

"You shouldn't be treated like that. You deserve better."

She wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled her head in my chest. I held her close and rested my chin on the top of her head.

"I'll protect you," I whispered.

-------------------

A/N: Heyy guys I'm sorry I didn't update last week, I had a problem with my phone but it's fixed now!

And I came up with Zayn and Emily's ship name. It is...drum roll please...

ZEMILY

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