"To love an addict is to
run out of tears."

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Chapter 9: The Surprise Departure

Zayn knew in his head Liam's anger was not directed towards him. However he could not shake the hurt in his heart that he actually let his guard down and his vulnerability was met with aggression.

It was hard to swallow and he questioned if he should follow him or give him air because he didn't know Liam and Liam's needs.

The surprise that came to Zayn when Liam cried was indicator of that. It hurt beyond belief.

Why did this world ruin everything that was pure and perfect?

He found himself thinking that maybe Liam only needed consolation. His feet were already dragging him back to the party, back to reality, when his only wish was that Liam had stayed and talked to him.

Because Zayn understood. Zayn understood the need to hide. The need to run.

But as he didn't want to hide from Liam and he wanted Liam to not run from him.

The party was as loud, or even more then when Zayn left.

He walked right in, looking around at every face, hoping to spot Liam. Instead he found Louie. "Hey, we've been looking for you." Louis cheerful tone was not missed. He wore a smile and behind him stood Harry, with a smile as well.

"Sorry. Look, have you seen Liam?" Zayn asked, ignoring the sting of their hapiness contrasting Zayn's misery and focused on the true urgency.

"Payno? He's here?" Louis asked looking around as Zayn huffed. They hadn't seen him... "You two friends now?" Louis asked curious as to why Zayn cared in the first place.

"No." Zayn didn't understand the curiosity, but the frown in Louis's face didn't go unnoticed as it was such a change from his previous good mood.

"Look, we're going home. Wanna come or not?"
Louis said in what sounded like a scowl raising his eyebrows, impatientely awaiting a response from his best friend.

"I'll go later. Don't worry." Zayn calmly said as he looked around.

"Are you sure?" Louis pressed.

Zayn didn't even hear him. The music was really loud and he wanted to find Liam.

"Zayn!" Louis called grabbing his shoulder.

"Hum?" He turned back his focus to Louie.

"Are you sure you wanna stay?" Louis gazed intently into his friend's eyes.

Zayn got a little lost. He looked into Louie's eyes and he wanted to go. He also wanted to see if Liam was alright.

Louie had found Harry. And he wished he knew if they could recover from this. But Zayn didn't see a friendship when he thought of Louie.

He saw someone he thought of holding, and loving, and... he wanted to see what Louie and him could be.

But he couldn't. And he'd never get a chance to. "You don't need to worry about me, Louis. I'm not a child."

"Fine. Have it your way!" Louis's jaw clenched and he stormed off leaving Harry behind with raised eyebrows.

Zayn looked up at him, eyes and chest lightly burning. "Stay out of trouble." Harry's tone, not only was deep and hoarse but it sounded sincere. If only Zayn wasn't feeling so horrible, he could have appreciated the gesture.

Eventually, after Harry started feeling how the moment got awkward he smiled and followed to where Louis had vanished.

Zayn's insides were in raging flames.

The thought of searching for Liam was long gone. Now, Zayn wanted to take revenge on himself. On his stupidity.

He was done with everything. His familly didn't want him, his best friend replaced him with a tall, argueably much more beautiful man than him.

He wanted self-destruction.

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Louis woke up late from five hours of restless sleep.

He usually didn't sleep much, and hadn't been sleeping at all since all the trouble with Zayn's almost-relapse hapenned. And after last night he simply couldn't relax.

Why did he lash out at something so stupid? He was just so scared of leaving Zayn alone and unprotected.

It was actually Zayn's fault that Louis was so worried.

But now he didn't know what to make of their friendship. And it hurt him so much.

Was it an empty and toxic relationship based on co-dependence all that they had? Louis refused to believe that. He'd trust Zayn with his life.

Louie got up and, after a wee and a quick splash of cold water against his face, he walked out of his room and knocked on Zayn's door.

No answer.

Zayn was probably still sound asleep.

"Good morning." A raspy lazy voice sounded startling Louie as he turned around.

"Why do you insist on wearing no clothes in the morning?" Louis whined when he spotted Harry having his morning coffee, sporting no clothes, at least to where Louis's eyes reached.

He was probably wearing boxers, as always, but either way it made Louie blush.

Harry smiled. "Am I making you uncomfortable?" He noticed the blush in Loueh's cheek and it made him feel funny.

Actually, Harry noticed most of Louis's reactions to him. He liked to observe him closely and stay quiet so he'd just forget Harry was in the room and be as genuine as possible.

Louis was fascinatingly clever, humorous and caring. He always made sure Harry was comfortable, and he had the cutest laugh ever.

Harry didn't know yet what could develop between them.

He was also scared he was the reason all the friendship dinamic between Louie and Zayn was falling apart.

Because of him, they didn't have time to be alone and mend things.

Or perhaps because Harry joined them, Louie was too distracted to realise that maybe him and Zayn were the real deal and Harry was just disturbing.

But then... they almost kissed... and...

Harry didn't know. He was developing feelings for Louis and he felt like Louis was doing the same.

Although his previous stament where he claimed to not be gay, Louie striked Harry as a top. Someone who enjoyed giving to others and was just the right amount of protective.

He wasn't exactly tidy though. Numerous times he witnessed Zayn cleaning up after him, or Harry took the job himself to clean the dishes or something else.

But he never asked Harry for anything, he just let him crash without even questioning it and he made sure Harry had everything he needed.

Louis was perfect.

"You are not making me uncomfortable. But don't you feel cold?" Louis had a spark of worry in his eyes and his forehead had a light frowned. Something was occupying his brain, bothering him.

"That is the thing. In the mornings I always feel overly hot." Louis gulped as reaction to what Harry had said.

It was adorable that Louie got nervous just for small things he did or said.

He got up and walked to Louie, revealing his bare tummy and his tight black boxers.

Louie loved Harry's lean body, his tattoed chest and how he hovered over Louis.

Harry got really close, the concerned look on his expression threw Louie off.

Harry's large hand travelled to the flying tips of Louie's hair that he pulled behind the boy's ear making Loui'ss palms clamy and his mouth dry.

"What is worrying you?" Harry said quietly, before looking into the smaller boy's eyes.

Harry had such bright green eyes. Rarely could Louis read through them. Harry was a puzzle. He didn't know what to do to make him trust Louie, or simply talk to him. Open up.

Sincery few were the people that left Louis that puzzled. He was sharp, unfooled. But Harry made Louie distracted, in a daze.

"I'm worried about Zayn." Louis said shaking off the haze and remembering Harry's question.

"Maybe I should give you two space." Harry proposed.

Louie looked back into the tall angel's eyes, afraid. Was he suggesting he wanted to leave?

"Do you think that is what we need?" Louis asked meaning him and Harry. Was space what they needed?

But Harry didn't understand. It was a moment of insecurity. "Maybe." They stayed silent.

"Just go in there and talk to him." Harry let go, walking back to the counter to finish his coffee with an ache on his chest.

Louie agreed and taking a small glance st the other boy, remembered the urgency and importance of fixing things with Zayn.

He strolled to Zayn's door with patience and calmness, knocking three times and awaiting answer.

But still no sound emerged. Louie grew impatient at this situation. He never knocked but now he felt like he had to.

Slowly he opened the door, peeking inside.

The bed was made... what?

Louis's heart jolted and he burst into the room.

Empty.

Zayn? Zayn is not here?

Louis looked for a sign that he had been home since last night. Everything looked untouched.

"Have you seen Zayn this morning?" Louie's voice was exhilarated as he yelled from inside Zayn's room.

But no answer was heard.

Louie walked back to the kitchen quickly.

Where the fuck was Harry now? Why was everyone disappearing?

The coffee mug Harry used was in the sink. The bag of clothes was gone from the living room as Louie noticed.

Louis's immediate thought was all of this was a joke.

It had to be. It made no freakimg sense.

Until Louie found a note on the table, where Harry had previously been sitting that morning.

"You and Zayn will fix things, I'm certain. Don't come searching for me, I'll be okay. Everything will be okay. You are wonderful Louie. Never forget that.
Xxx"

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QUESTION #1: What does the prologue chapter represent?

QUESTION #2: Will Harry die? If not Harry, will any of the other four? Who and why?

QUESTION #3: What were Harry's reasons to leave?

QUESTION #4: Where the heck is Zayn?

QUESTION #5: Why did Louie and Harry suddenly have a weak insecure moment?

QUESTION #6: Is Zayn really an addict?

A/N: Heyah! Sorry this chapter took so long! Anyway, this week has been so quiet in the fandom... I feel something big about to happen.

See you next time!