"He's kicking."

"I know," Imani giggles, as her boyfriend rubs her protruding belly. "He does that every time he hears your voice."

"Liar," Justin replies, and shaking his head.

"Not lying," Imani grins, making Zhuri smile as they all sit together at the gate, waiting to board their upcoming flight. "He knows his Daddy."

"You actually think so?" Justin asks, and as Imani nods he only laughs. "You're gassing me up, but I love you for it."

And Imani kisses his cheek. "I am, but  I'll take the compliment."

And Zhuri smiles softly. She's grateful for the small mental distraction by her twin and her friend. She's grateful that for a moment she can get her mind off of all the reasons she's anxious; all the reasons she's not trying to board this plane

Like things being not right with Zayn.

Or like Blake.

Or like her grandma being sick.

Or like this being her first time home since she left for college.

And Zhuri left for a reason.

She stares off across the gate, her eyes glued to the airplanes outside, her head resting in her hand.

And Zayn watches.

Like he's been sneaking looks since they met up in LAX.

He watches the slight shake of her shoulders with each breath. He watches her glazed expression remain locked on the windows.

He needs to talk to her.

Zayn knows this, he does. He's also constantly reminded by Taj, who's sitting beside Imani mouthing, "Talk to her, nigga."

So, Zayn won't be able to forget that he needs to talk to Zhuri. He shouldn't have left that night. They should've talked then. He knows.

He knows.

He knows.

But, he was caught in this weird recurring emotion--caught thinking that Zhuri would leave him, leave him like he was scared she'd do, at the first mention of her ex.

But, he swallows that thought because, according to Taj, she didn't want to be with anyone but him; that she didn't want anyone but Zayn.

And Zayn was concerned about this. He couldn't help his hesitation. He was possibly more concerned too, with this mention of Blake's influence in Zhuri's life. He knew since the beginning that he was a problem, that Zhuri was better off without him, but he didn't know how big of a problem he had been...that he still was, with Zhu going back to New Orleans now.

He sneaks another look her way.

He's been staring at her since they all met up that morning, and, typical Zhuri, she had been a woman of few words. They'd barely spoken, and now, he watches her take a long breath, her eyes still glued to the window, before she exhales, sighing.

Zayn gets up, grabbing his things and rising from his seat.

And he snaps her from her trance, getting comfortable in the seat beside hers.

"I--Hey."

"Hey, Zhu."

"I thought you were mad at me," she says softly, and Imani, Justin and Taj all turn away as Zayn whips his head up, accidentally catching sight of their stares.

"What?"

"Yeah," she chuckles tiredly, "You always use my full name when you're mad."

"I--" He shakes his head. "I didn't notice..."

"Yeah," she sniffs, turning her gaze to her phone in her lap.

Lingering silence.

Zayn licks his lips.

"Want to get some candy?" He asks suddenly. "You know, for the plane?"

"Uh," Zhuri frowns. "No thanks."

"C'mon," he grins. "I'll get you some Skittles."

"My favorite," she cracks a small smile. "But, no thanks. Really, I'm good."

"Cool," he takes her hands and hauls her to her feet.

She whines, "Zayn..."

"Keep me company, then," he says, "and maybe I'll get 'em for you anyway."

"But," she hangs, dead weight in his arms, "I don't wanna..."

"Yeah you do," he chuckles, hefting her to a stand. And as he catches sight of Taj, Justin, and Imani's stares, he drops his head to Zhuri's ear and whispers, "I don't like leaving my girl all alone."

Those words make Zhuri come.

And she finds herself walking behind him through some tiny convenience store in the airport, watching Zayn as he picks out his candy.

"One for you," he says, lifting a red bag of Skittles, "and..."

She rolls her eyes. "I told you, you don't have to get me any Skittles."

"Yeah?" Zayn asks, and she nods. "How 'bout a Snickers, then? Or some Mentos? Or a Kit Kat? I know you like those, too--"

"For real, enough with the candy, boy."

"You sure?"

"Zayn," she almost laughs, "I'm good."

"Well," he clears his throat, "I'd buy you anything you wanted just to get you to forgive me."

Immediate silence as her eyes widen. She's visibly shocked, and Zayn blushes, realizing that he wasn't so sure he'd expected that -- that tension -- as her initial reaction.

And as her eyes well with tears, he realizes that he'd take silence over crying, because now he feels exponentially worse.

"Zhu..." He whispers.

"Zayn," she folds her arms across her chest, daring herself not to let any water fall, "Zayn, I can't--"

"Zhuri," he drops the candy, wrapping his arms around her. "Zhuri, please don't. Don't cry, love. I'm so fucking sorry...I--"

"I'm sorry," she replies, sniffing against him. "I didn't--I don't know what to do, Zayn. About Blake, about this trip, about us...any of it."

"Whoa, babe--Don't say that."

"I'm serious," she replies. "I keep telling you what a mess I am," she chuckles humorlessly, "I wish you'd actually listen."

He kisses her forehead. "I'm in too deep to just let you go, Zhu."

"You could be so happy though," she replies. "Like, with some regular girl without weird emotional issues from a nice place with a great family--"

"Zhuri, stop," his voice is firm. "Shut up with that shit 'cause it doesn't work."

He shakes his head, staring at the concessions about the store. "I just wish you'd talk to me. I swear I can't read your mind, and like...Like, this Blake shit...It's more than just you two being exes," he asks, staring deep into her eyes, already knowing the answer, "isn't it?"

"I...Yeah. It is."

Zayn laughs, exasperated. "That's all you can say?"

"Can we," she closes her eyes, her face pained, "Can we not do this here? Please?"

And Zayn nods. He's quiet, watching her intently like he'd been doing all day. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok," she says quietly. "I just," she pauses, chewing on her lip, keenly aware of all the other people Zayn's ignoring in this little store, with his focus and attention solely on her, "I don't go home for a reason, Zayn."

"Well," and he smiles, taking her hand and grabbing two bags of Skittles, "you've got a whole plane ride to tell me why."

And that kind of makes Zhuri laugh. It's a small laugh, and she shakes her head with a small sigh, but Zayn takes all of these small responses for what they are right now -- her willing to open up.

And that's honestly all the fuck he ever wanted.

He pays for the candy and still keeps her hand in his, and for a while they're silent, walking hand in hand through the terminal, headed back towards their gate.

"My grandma was the one who told me to leave."

Zayn turns abruptly, looking down at Zhuri, who stares straight ahead.

"Huh, Zhu?"

"'Cause of all the...stuff. She's the one who suggested California," she says, "To get away. She's why I left, and--" That smile falls. "Zayn," she shakes her head, stopping suddenly, squeezing her eyes shut, "I don't think I can do this."

He frowns, looking around as passersby continue around them.

He drags her to the side of the walkway, out of the way. "What do you mean?"

"I can't--I can't go home and watch my...I can't just watch my nana die."

And Zayn promised Taj he'd talk, but in this moment, he has absolutely nothing to say.

He wraps his arms around her, resting his chin on her head and holding her, shielding her from prying eyes, tight to his body as she shakes.

He grips her tighter, like he feared she'd disappear if he let go.

___

This just got deep and I totally wanted this story to be cute yikes

Comment and vote!

Also I just started my last new shirt story for a while. It's called runaway and you should check it out and lemme know what you think! 💕