so you're telling me we're on chapter 30 already? 💀 I've so much planned sjsksjs. Don't forget to press the star button ⭐ to vote and drop down your views and theories in the comment section. I wasn't really confident about this chapter so I'd love some comments and feedback❤️😭 ilyall🤧

~

when we collide
30| cards and maybes

It was Sunday. Not a very bright one at that as London's weather decided to hamper again with the schedules of people. It was raining heavily and Crystal couldn't help but feel pissed.

In the middle of putting the fondant on the bread of the cake she feels the kitchen door open.
“Ms. Hogward?”   that makes her roll her eyes.

“Sam, I've told you, it's Crystal.”
“Yeah, I– uh a friend of yours is out to meet you, should I allow him in the kitchen?”   he asks.
“Okay, sure I guess,”  she shrugs, mind wavering as to who this friend could be.

“Also, what's the status of the sales today, Sam?”
“Can't be sure, Crystal. I think twenty two cup cakes, some mousses and three cakes.”
Nodding she smiles at him, “Thank you.”

Sam leaves the kitchen, closing the door behind him. But almost a second later the door flies open and Adam enters with a huge smile on his face.
“Hey, Hogward.”  he yells, making Crystal roll her eyes.

“Adam, can you lower down your voice, you sound like an ape.”  Claire enters behind him, closing the door. “Oh, hey guys. Didn't know you guys were showing up.”  she says, a smile instantly slaps on her face. “How are you, Crystal?”  Claire smiles, giving her a back hug and peeking at the cake.

“What's this cake?”  she asks, looking at the small superheroes made out of fondent. “Oh my god that looks like deadpool!”  Adam yells, a huge goofy smile on his face as he picks the small fondant deadpool between his fingers.

“Adam, put it down!”  she yells, snatching it out of his grip and putting it down slowly.
“Whose cake is it anyway?”
“Just a boy who's into deadpool.” she shrugs, tilting her face in Adam's direction and then glancing at Claire.

“How did you guys manage to come here in that downpour?”
“We had to, it's been so long since I've met you.”  Claire smiles, helping her cut the fondant and then popping the excessive part in her mouth.

“You let her eat it but not me!”  Adam complains, rolling his eyes. “Shut up.”  she mumbles.
“Oh god, Adam, give her what we came for.”  she says, catching Crystal's interest.

He nods slowly, retrieving his backpack and taking out an envelope. “What's this for?”
“I think that's the reason it's wrapped in a bloody envelope? So that you open it.”

Crystal rolls her eyes, pushing her hair back with the back of her hand. “My hands are dirty.”
Claire snatches the envelope from Adam's grasp and hastily opens it. Before beginning to read she coughs a little which Crystal finds cute and dramatic at the same time.

She shakes her head playfully.

“Blah blah. . . After an year of investment the Theodere siblings are glad to announce the opening—”  she looks up at Crystal with a smile who's staring back at her curiously, “—of their club in Riverside London and you are—”

“WHAT?!”  Crystal screams, sharing glances at both of them who just smile at her goofily.
“Forreal?!”  she yells, a huge smile on her face. “Yes!”  Claire screams, voicing the aggressively fast nods that Adam gives.

“I can't believe you guys!”  she says, chuckling a little as she wraps her arms around Claire and then Adam, whose 6''2 frame almost engulfs her.
“How did this happen? Weren't you guys telling me there was a big club just in front which gave you huge competition?”

Claire nods, “It'll close soon, the cops found them illegally supplying the drug ecstaty to girls so that they can earn 'money' from customers.”  Crystal cringes at that thought.

“That's pathetic,”  she mumbles.
“Why do I keep on forgetting this is London.”

“Yeah so, their sales dropped down by a huge notch and since it's a special economic zone we thought we can officially open there!”  Adam says. “You've no idea how excited I am, Crystal, it took us so many savings and we had to wait so long but now it's finally happening.”  Crystal smiles at them slowly.

“That's so good, I'm so happy for you.”  she smiles. “Yes, and so it's the opening party of the club and you have to be there!”  he smiles.
“You can get some of your close friends if you want since we're keeping it small till the official launch next week.”  he smiles.

“I'll. . . see guys.”  she mumbles, unsure.
“What? No you have to be there.”
Claire objects, frowning at Crystal. “I'll ask, Zayn.”
“You can ask him to tag along with you,”  Adam shrugs. “It's a good opportunity, we can get to know him in a better light.”

“Oh please.”  Claire hisses. “He literally called me ugly.”
“Sweetie, you called him a stick too.”  Adam claps back. “Anyway yeah, ask him to tag along.”
Crystal smiles. “I'll see.”

“You better be there!”  Claire says. “Will uh–  Matt be there?” she asks, timidly. Looking up she sees Adam smiling sadly.

“Obviously, Crystal. But you both haven't talked in weeks so I don't think you guys will have a conversation whatsoever, don't worry.”

Haven't talked in a week? So he never told them how he thrashed her bakery? Díck move number 1267976

“Obviously, yeah.”  she smiles, awkwardly. “Anyway, I've something to give you guys too. I mean I was going to come give it to you but. . .”  she trails off then sighs. “Matt will be at your place too and I really don't want to face him.”

Adam nods slowly, jumping up on the table top and staring at Crystal. “So what is it?”
“Hold on.”  she says, scrambling to wash her hands, drying her hands on her apron and then picks up her backpack to take out a paperbag.

She walks towards them with the paperbag in her hand and takes out the envelope. “You've a pen?” To which Claire is quick to take out a glitter pen from her handbag. “Why the hell do you have a green glitter pen with you?”

Claire rolls her eyes. “It's yours, Adam.”  Adam gasps dramatically. “Since you're so used to stealing everything I own, steal some brains from me.”

“Guys, shut it. Can you both not act like an old couple.”  Crystal whines, scribbling their names on two envelopes. “You can just write Theodere siblings.”

“I don't want to associate with you, Adam.”  Claire rolls her eyes, smiling when Crystal passes her the envelope with her name scribbled on it. Adam's quick to snatch his.

Crystal stares at both their faces, a shy smile playing on her lips when she notices their eyes reach the bottom of the car.
“Oh. My. God.”  Claire screams, “Crystal, Oh my god!”  she yells, clapping her hands together and lunging at Crystal to embrace her in a hug. “Girl, you're getting married!”  she yells again, making Crystal chuckle as she wraps her arms around Claire.

“I've a question though, y'know before I start screaming,”  Adam intervenes, making the girls turn from their screaming fit. “How did Zayn accept a pink wedding card?”

“Oh, shut up, Adam!”  Crystal giggles, swatting his arm. Laughing, he wraps his arms around her tightly that she almost feels herself choking.
“Adam– A-Adam.”

He drops his arms and laughs.
“So you're inviting us?!”  he asks, staring at the card. “Would you look at that. . . Crystal weds Zayn.”  he reads in a heavy voice, chuckling when he notices the shy eye roll Crystal does.

“Just stop it guys.”  she laughs. “The wedding is on the twenty second of January and there's a small engagement function before that, around eighteenth.”  she smiles. “It's not the main engagement function, just family, and I really want you guys to be there.”  she smiles.

“So do we get to leave with you?”  Claire smiles. “And hold on, does Zayn even want us there?”  she hesitantly asks. “Uhm Claire, maybe that's why we don't have a card from his side?”  Adam replies in a 'duh' tone.

“Maybe we can score one in three days when y'all show up to the party.”  he winks at Crystal, making her shake her head playfully. “You guys can come with Zayn. He's leaving on the eighteenth itself. I'm leaving before that because my mother wants me there real bad for the fittings and everything.”

“Uh– no?”
“Shut up, Claire. Who knows we might be fine with him till then.”  Adam intervenes. “That's so cool but why are you leaving on different dates?”

“He's got to finish some work at his workplace.”  she shrugs. “Yeah.”

“Oh my god, it's tenth of January already. I can't beleive this!”  Adam chimes in.

“I can't believe it's happening, you're getting married!”  Claire yells. “Can I wipe my tears?”  she asks, fake quivering her bottom lip and smiling later on. Adam jumps down the tabletop, the force of it making the cake wobble down and it falls on it's side with a sound that makes the three of them stop and stare at it.

“Uh–”  Adam awkwardly whispers, “I think I'll take credit for this.”

“You mean blame?”
“ADAM WHAT THE HÉLL, MY CAKE!”

༻❁༺

“Morning, Mr. Malik. Good to see you back in your well being.”  Zayn smiles at Lacy, sitting at the reception as he swipes his finger on the machine as his entry.

“Thank you, Lacy.” he smiles, “Hope you're doing good too.”  passing her a last of his smile he walks to the lift almost about to enter when he realises how he's been shifted down. Shaking his head he walks to his cabin, standing on front of the door.

Zayn Malik,
Board of Directors.  12A

Is this worth it?  

He clicks a picture of the door slate and smiles down at it. Quickly sending it to Crystal he enters the room noticing how it's bigger than his older cabin. The wall behind his chair and table was covered in his art pieces, he almost smiles when he notices the one painting he made of Crystal on their first day together.

He might not have the space to put them in his last room but now as he stares at the wall scattered with his work he can't help but smile. He clicks a picture of his wall, sending it to his father, knowing it'll annoy the life out of him.

Chuckling he throws his bag on the chair, stretching a little and taking off his jacket too, loosening his tie a little and walking to the spare room to see it filled with canvases and art supplies.

But before this, he had a task. He tightens his tie again, throwing on his jacket and opening his bag to take out the small cloth bag before he walks to the lift.

When the lift reaches the second floor, he's quick to slide out and make a walk to Margaret's cabin. As usual, she's talking to a group of interns all ranging from eighteen to twenty.

“Margaret, a minute please?”  he says, after knocking at the door. She turns slowly, biting her lip and nodding. It had been long since Zayn and her had a conversation, a proper one at that. She obviously wasn't expecting him at her door anytime soon.

“Sure, Mr. Malik.”   Zayn scoffs, entering the room and passing the interns a smile who smile back brightly before they walk out. “Hey, Zayn.”  she smiles, slowly. “Hey, Marg.”

She bites her lower lip, glancing at her heels and then looking up with a determined smile. “You've been keeping well?”  she asks.
“I suppose? Hopefully not drinking for a long time.”

Margaret chuckles slowly. When she had rung Crystal a fine morning asking if Zayn was showing up, she didn't expect a terrified Crystal, sounding nervous and tired as she told her about Zayn's wellbeing.

He wasn't fine, and it's fine to not be fine sometimes but how was she supposed to tell Zayn when she's too scared to say anything at all. She couldn't bring it beyond her as to how a guy lying limply on the bed repeating that he was wrecked and done with life was standing in front of her with a small awkward smile.

Humans are indeed the most strongest force in the universe.

“Earth to Margaret?”  Margaret breaks out of her trance and smiles at Zayn. “Yeah, sorry- uh kinda zoned out there.”
“I noticed.”  he laughs. “I said I have something for you.”

“What is it? Written agreement of you accepting to come to a party with me like old times?” Zayn scoffs in reply but somehow a smile breaks on his lips. “Just open it.”  he says, passing her the envelope with a scribbled handwriting.

To Margaret the bítch and Jacob the dumbhóe

“Seriously, Zayn?”  she rolls her eyes before opening the white envelope and taking out the card. She opens it and almost immediately stumbles when her eyes fall on the words written in bold.

Zayn weds Crystal

“So Marg— did you just pinch yourself?”  Zayn asks, his tone depicting as if Margaret just gave birth to a chihuahua. “Zayn, are you joking with me? Is this real?”

“No, I just felt like destroying trees and wasting paper so here's a fake wedding card, happy April Fool's Day in January.”  he bites his lip nervously when Margaret doesn't clap back at his remark.

She looks up and almost immediately tackles Zayn in a hug he didn't expect, low sounds coming out of her which Zayn really couldn't name. “Zayn, Zayn, Zayn Malik.”  she cheers, chuckling and giggling as Zayn's hands slide down her waist to hug her back.

“I'm so happy for you. I can't believe this, my ship has finally sailed.”  she giggles, reading through the card again. Zayn really didn't know how it felt when someone was happier than you for your well comings.

Looks like he just lived it.

“I've to give these cards around to some people, but I'll catch up with you.”  he smiles. Margaret nods with a slow smile and he's off to the door before he stops and turns around.

“Uh, Marg?”
“Yeah?”
Zayn hesitantly asks. “You've any idea what's going on with Lara?” he licks his bottom lip. “I haven't seen her since I came.”

She huffs. “She quit.”
“What? When?”  Margaret places the card on her desk and stares at Zayn. “I don't remember well. All I know is she quit and also filed a case against Abano for sexual assault and violence. Not sure when the trial is.”

Zayn intakes the information, looking down at his shoes before he nervously asks. “You know where she's now?”

“I think she's living with her sister for the time being of the case.”  Margaret raises a brow.
“Why?”  Zayn hadn't seen her since the day Abano brutally splashed a cup of hot coffee on her face like she was some animal that misbehaved.

He fails to understand how certain men embark to think that they're so powerful that they can actually hurt a woman to feel it. It was disgusting. That night of Lara crying for mercy, the sensation of burning on her face and her hold on Zayn.

They might haunt him for the rest of his life.

“Nothing, just curious.”

༻❁༺

Zayn knocks at the door, his mind too clouded for his own good. Lara, trial, wedding, Crystal, coffee, Abano, wedding, Lara, Crystal. Sleep.

He felt his head burning and thumping and the want of a cigarette hitting him almost immediately, but he already had two. He'll probably want to save one for the night. He knocks again, taking a deep breath in.
He might have talked to Jason about the job, he might have understood Jason's point of him making emotional decisions.

He was sure Abano will lose his job after the trial but it still stings him, the shít Lara must have went through. He wanted to see her, make sure she was okay. But obviously, he couldn't. Why were men so aggressive anyway?

“Zayn.”  he looks up from his shoes to meet Crystal's eyes, a smile spreading on her lips when she sees him. “How did it go?”
He shrugs. “It was okay I guess. Jason is right, emotional decisions aren't rational. I think I'll continue the job but not submit anything for the Art Gala.”

Crystal pierces her lips together, taking the file from his hands and opening the door wider for him to enter. He had left the routine of coming home late and Crystal was definitely greatful.
“You don't mind if I have friends here, right?”

“No, not at all.”  Zayn answers, forcing a smile before discarding his coat and hanging it on the rack. “Well, can you like meet them then? They're in my room.”  she says. “I mean the one that used to be mine.”

“I don't know, Crys. They're your friends, why do I need to meet them?”  he asks, falling on the sofa in the living room. He was used to this feeling of coming home and falling on his sofa.
“Why not? You can start fresh with them.”  she says.

“Oh come on, Crystal, I'm not a kid. I'm over our first conversation.”  he says, closing his eyes as he leans back. “But Zayn, I really want you to meet them.”  she says, trying to persuade him as she keeps a glass of water in front of him that he didn't even ask for.

Zayn picks it up upon hearing the sound of glass hitting the table and gulps it down. “Crys, I'm not in the mood. You can go hangout with them. I'm going to go sleep.”  he says, placing the glass back and standing up.

“Is everything okay?”  she asks, immediately. “I'm fine.”
“Are you sure?”  she asks, grabbing his arm to stop him from exiting. “Yes, I'm okay.”  he says, trying to stop his temper from uselessly bashing on Crystal.

“Zayn, I really want you to meet them.”  she whispers with doo-ey eyes.
“Some other day, they aren't my friends anyway.”

“Zayn, I already told them it's you on the door. They want to start afresh. Just like wave—”
“Jeez, Crystal. I told you I'm not in the mood. Why are you so dámn stubborn? Stop being irrational for once.”  he hisses, rolling his eyes before he jogs upstairs, leaving behind a stunned Crystal.

And if Crystal was asked to label Zayn with one word, it'd be 'unpredictable'

༻❁༺

Zayn walks down the stairs around eight, stretching a little as he does so. His hair flies around in a mess and falls on his forehead as he takes each step down. The rain had definitely made the weather colder than it was and Zayn wasn't feeling it at all.

He enters the living room to notice Crystal sitting on the sofa cuddled in her ever favourite shawl watching some random rerun of some show he had no idea about. He walks to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.

He knows his fingers are twitching to call Lara. His mind was too clouded for his own good, but how could he? That would hurt Crystal. He gulps the water down, placing it in the sink and opening the fridge to take out something to drink.

“Crystal?!”  he's quick to yell.
“What?”  she yells back almost immediately almost shocking Zayn that she wasn't angry, pissed or ignoring him.

“Where are the redbulls?”
“I kept it in the freezer for you.”  he smiles a little, opening to see the freezer, indeed, with a can of redbull in it. Taking it out he shakes it a little and walks to the cabinet taking out a packet of dorrito. Right before he exits he takes out a can of soda and walks out.

Falling on sofa beside Crystal he places the dorrito packet and the cans on the table. She scoffs when he pushes her a little and distances a little. “You're pissed?”
“No, I'm fine.”  Probably the first time Zayn couldn't decide whether Crystal was pissed or she was just faking a neutral mood well.

Shrugging, Zayn switches the channel to land on Spongebob Squarepants and a smile spreads on his lips. He opens the packet of dorrito, placing it on his lap.
“How many cigarettes did you inhale today?”

“Two.”  he answers, the mention of cigarette suddenly making his insides twitch. “How about we keep it two today?”
“Not today.”  he replies.

Crystal sighs. “Okay, as you say.”
“Uh, Zayn?”  she asks awkwardly, much to Zayn's confusion.
“Not today Crystal, I really need a smoke.”

“No, not that,”  she interrupts.
“Actually you know how Adam and Claire have been around a lot and y'know– uh we're good friends.”  she stares at Zayn, who stares at the television instead. He's quick to nod his head and Crystal continues,

“So they've always had this dream of opening a club together since they're the typical party freaks.”  she stops when Zayn laughs a little at the screen. He turns around to glance at her and she's quick to change her horrified face into a smile.

“So? Your point?”
Her smile intensifies, “They're opening one in London and they've organised this opening party before the official opening party.”  she trails off. Zayn nods slowly before turning to the screen. “Good for them.”

“So they invited me,”  she hesitantly says, “I hope you're okay with me going?”  Zayn nods slowly, eyes still fixed on the screen as a grin appears on his face when something funny happens. “Yeah, cool.”

“They also invited you.”  she whispers slowly. Much to her annoyance Zayn laughs at the screen and she mistakes it for him not being able to catch on what she said. “Zayn? Did you hear me?”

“Yeah, what?”  he chuckles, turning around to glance at her.
Crystal stares at him with a bored expression. “I said they invited you and I really want you to come with me.”

“Come on, Crys, what am I gonna do around your friends anyway? You should go and have fun.”  he says turning to the screen again. Crystal stares at him for a second before she picks up the remote from the table and switches it off.

Zayn groans in annoyance, rolling his eyes before he turns to face her. “What, Crys?”
“Will you come with me?”

“Did I stutter when I said no? I don't feel like partying and shít. Plus they aren't even my friends or shít that I'd crash there.”  He replies. “But Zayn, they've literally invited you. I really want you to come with me. They are my friends and I want you to—”  she stops when Zayn raises his hand signalling her to stop.

“Yes, Katie?” he replies on phone. Crystal stares at him offended. “Zayn I was talking—”

“Crys, hold on this is more important than you cribbing for some stupid party.”  he hisses, covering the receiver end and standing up to walk a little away.

Something was off with Zayn, Crystal wasn't blind. She noticed it the moment he came inside but that doesn't help sooth how hurt she feels. She remembers the moment she made it in London she made it her duty to blend in Zayn's life to her best ability.

She knew he had problems settling and a past he wasn't able to forget but it stings her, how he makes no efforts to blend in her life that she literally had to make up a lie as to why Zayn couldn't even come and wave. She sighs, staring at her hands and toying with her thumbs when she hears footsteps closing. Zayn falls on the sofa next to her but this time sitting on a distance.

“Look Zayn, I just want you to meet people who are nice to me. I don't know? Just blend in my life a little is all I'm asking—”
“Just take Margaret with you. I'll call her.”

Crystal stares at Zayn dumbfounded. Margaret wasn't her fiancé, he was.
“Zayn you don't —”

“Katie, yes did you check the stock?”  Zayn stands up, pressing the phone to his ear as he moves to a corner of the room. He listens carefully to the other end until he hears the door bang close and his head whips in the direction.

“Katie, I'll call you back.”  without hearing the answer he hangs up before he's quick to shrug on his coat from the rack and slip in his shoes. Opening the door he exits in the porche and opens the main gate.
Snow litters the side pathways of the road and he notices Crystal walking down the pathway, her hands stuffed in her coat's pockets.

“Crystal!”  he jogs the pathway and stops her right before she crosses the road. She turns around, her face showing no emotion. “Why are you doing this Crystal?”

She glances at the side in agitation but is quick to meet his eyes. “Nothing Zayn, just needed some fresh air. I'll be back in a short while.”  she whispers, turning around to walk but Zayn is quick to pull her back as his hand grasps on her wrist and pulls her right back.

“Talk to me.”  he says. “We're not fighting, please.”  Crystal stares at him for a while, her eyes darting all over his face, eyeing his hair that lays as a soft mess on his head and the light stubble on his cheeks.

“All I asked of you was to come with me, Zayn.”  she replies, making Zayn's face scrunch in annoyance. “Lord, Crys, so much chaos for a shítass party. I told you to take Margaret with—”

“Zayn, she's not my fiancé, you are.”  she interrupts. “I know absolutely everything about you Zayn. Starting from the first day I made it my mission to blend in your life because you weren't in the most comfortable scenarios. I talked to your neighbours, your friends, hell, even your colleagues.”  she rants, her hands flying around in exasperation to make her point.

“Crystal, I don't mind you counting things because I can count a ton but I'm not that type of a person.”  he deadpans. “Zayn it's not about counting—”

“No seriously Crystal, what the héll am I supposed to do there? I don't even know anyone there and —”  Crystal chuckles, interrupting Zayn from ranting. He eyes her and raises a brow.

“What's so funny?”
“Zayn, didn't I go with you? To your 'shítass' office party. Who did I know there?”  she asks, finger quoting 'shítass'

“Look how that party ended.”  Crystal taunts. “Can you get over that already? I know I made a mistake and I apologised a hundred times.”  he rants.

“And for the party, you came with free will, I didn't force you to.”  he shrugs. “Zayn, I came with you because I wanted to meet the people surrounding you, represent you there. That's what I'm asking of you.”

“It's not even the same.”  he cries, annoyed. “Crystal that was an official party, this is some dumb party. For all I know your stupid friends are selling crack at their bar.”  Crystal narrows her eyes at him. “Humble much?”

“Crystal, stop being a baby. I've got a lot on my head right now, can we not argue over this bullshít?”  he whines, brushing his hair back. “You're acting like I don't know anything about you. I know literally everything about you and more.”

“Oh really, Zayn? So what's the name of the guy that works at the bakery with me?”  she challenges, raising her brow. Zayn tries to maintain the arch of the brow on his face but it pulls down when he stares at her face obliviously.

“He's a redhead.”  Crystal sighs.
“Forget it, Zayn. I'm off to Adam's place. I'll see you later.”
“Crystal I'm letting you go, isn't that enough?”  he spats, making Crystal cringe.

“Letting me go? Zayn I would go anyway, you're no one to allow me. You're not my father.”  she hisses. “Crys, why are you pulling a fight? We've been going good so far—”

“I'll be back.”  she whispers, turning around and crossing the road. “Fine, do whatever the héll you want to!”  he shouts, watching Crystal vanish in the distance. Huffing he walks back inside, slamming the door behind him and sitting down.
He brushes his hair back, holding his head in his hands and staring at nothing.

Zayn unlocks his phone, his finger sliding down the contact list but he stops in the middle when he sees Lara's contact. Hovering his finger on it for seconds he sighs. Shaking his head he scrolls further until he lands on Margaret's contact.

Five rings later she picks up. “Wanna catch up?”

༻❁༺

Zayn realises that he might have changed. He's more heartless, more selfish and a little more cold. He's wasted too much of his life in being that innocent pure little kid. Obviously it felt good to be good, he was proud of himself, but that age was gone. When he says he wants to be bad, he just wants to be like the rest of them.

“Maybe you should apologise, Zayn.”  Margaret suggests as they sit. “Marriage is about compromises. She'd like for you to be there.”

“I don't know.”
“Zayn, the life in front of you is more important than the life you left behind.”  he hears her whisper. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, Zayn.”
He sighs, twirling the mojito in his hand. “Can't believe you forced me to drink a mojito.”
“You're not drinking, I don't have the ability to face that wrath, please.”  Zayn chuckles a little, shaking his head with a glint of smile on his lips.

“You know Zayn, you're the weirdest paradox I've ever met.”  he turns to Margaret as she twirls her drink, the straw moving around. “You're insecure about the smallest things but love yourself to a point where you're a narcissist.”

Zayn chuckles, “Did you just write poetry on me?”
“Shut up.”  she laughs.

“She's made you better you.”  Margaret says, making Zayn chuckle. “No Margaret, no one makes you a better person. It's only you who can do that.”

He looks at the counter with a smile. “No one's going to look at you when you're in shattered pieces, soaked in the blood of broken promises and say that they think you're beautiful or that they'll mend you. They'll run away because no one wants to stay around negativity and brokenness. They'll call you a scum and move away.”  he sips on the mojito and bites his lip slowly.

“All these writers, poets, they lied to you. The only reason they're writing is because they're broken too and no one found their shattered pieces beautiful. That's why they write to feel something, anything.”

Margaret stares at Zayn as he sips the last of his drink and places it on the counter.
“You don't see it, do you?”
He looks up. “What?”

“The way she looks at you like you're magic.”  Zayn laughs.
“Cliché much? I'm just a normal guy.”  he answers.

“That's the point, Zayn.”  Margaret smiles. “You're normal until someone sees you as magic.”  she takes a deep breath in. “I think she loves you.”

Zayn chuckles loudly, making Margaret frown. “Please, don't flatter yourself.”  he shakes his head. “She does not.”

“Do you?”  he turns when he hears her question and he's quick to stare down at his hands.
“No, I don't.”

“What do you feel?”
“Something. Something for sure. Whatever it is, I know we both feel it.”  he whispers.

“You should apologise.”

Zayn rolls his eyes. “She's not a bab—”  he stops just when he realises. It's Adam's party, Adam is Matt's friend, that means he'll be there too.  Shít. “Marg, I need to go.”

“Where you off to?”  she yells.
“I'll call!” he yells back.

He sits in his car, picking up his phone to call her but it goes in vain. Almost later when he realises he doesn't have Adam's number too, he groans.

He starts driving, obviously knowing the way to their house since he dropped Crystal a lot of times. Fifteen minutes down and he's standing outside their place.

He walks to the door, awkwardly standing for a minute before he hesitantly knocks on it. His eyes catch the doorbell and rolling his eyes his finger moves up and presses it. The door opens a minute later and he's not very excited to see Claire on the other side.

“Uh— what are you going here?”
“I like the hospitality, thank you,” Zayn mumbles back, making her roll her eyes. “I'm here for Crystal, can you send her please?”

Claire stares at him as if he grew two heads but she's shoved out of the way when Adam appears on the door. “Zayn?”
He brushes past them and enters the house, starting to look around. “Woah, ever heard of manners?”

“Where is she?”  he asks, rolling his eyes. “Who?” Adam's quick to butt in. “Obviously, Crystal. Who else?”

“Crystal? She's not here dude.”  Zayn narrows his eyes at Adam, tilting his face slightly. “Don't fool me. Have you hidden her?”

“Do you even think before you speak?” Claire snaps. “Why'd we hide her? She's your fiancé so you'd know better than us.”
Zayn narrows his eyes on her.
“Well, she's not here dude, maybe you have the wrong idea.”  Adam shrugs. “You want some water?”

“Where's Matt?”  Zayn asks, slowly. Adam stares at Zayn but then shrugs slowly. “He went out in the morning and never really showed up after that.”  Zayn looks down at his shoes and takes in a deep breath.

No, she couldn't be with him. She won't—

“Hold on, are you really doubting her? You're about to marry her, díckface.”  Claire snaps, throwing up her hands in exasperation. “You better keep a check on that mouth of yours. You're no one to talk to me like that.”  Zayn hisses, glaring at her.

“Zayn, she's right. She's probably out somewhere. You should trust her.”  his eyes fly to Adam and then down at his shoes. “Yeah, maybe I got it all wrong.”

She lied. She lied to him.

Looking around the last time, he sighs before walking out of the door. “Hey, Zayn?”  Zayn turns around to see Adam standing at the door. “Congratulations on your wedding.”  he passes Adam a small smile before nodding.

“Do you mind feeding in your number?”  Zayn asks, passing his phone to him. “In case of emergency.”  Adam smiles, walking down the stairs and taking the phone from his grip before feeding in his number.

He notices Claire stand at the door staring at them. “Hey díckface, you too.”
“Not the sister, dude.”  Adam warns, making him shrug.

She rolls her eyes but walks down to feed in her number.
“Just give us a missed call so we'll get yours.”  Adam says, making him nod.

“Are you coming at the party?”  Claire asks, making Zayn stare at her. Party party party, god does he hate parties so much.
“Maybe.”  he says, before entering his car.

“You should, Crystal was excited.”  Claire replies.

Staring at her for a while he nods before driving off.

'Maybe', he so hated that word. He thinks about calling Crystal, asking where she was but he wasn't nosy, maybe he was being too possessive. He wasn't her dad after all. The word 'maybe' left him paranoid.

Maybe, he was acting too hurt or maybe Crystal lying was actually something wrong. The fight she pulled, which he fueled in to too he'll accept but maybe he wasn't wrong in this. Maybe he was actually too hurt but too scared to admit.

He'll probably call Margaret again and sit in some bar to chug alcohol in his system this time. Maybe alcohol wasn't the right way but maybe everything wasn't right either.

He takes out his fourth cigarette of the day, staring at it momentarily. Should he break his streak? Maybe it wasn't actually the cigarette that helped him through moods, maybe it was just a way he tried to wither out of everything that hurt him.

He has no idea where his fiancé is. She lied to him and the last he talked to her was a fight. He sighs. Maybe he'll go and sit with Margaret and his peers and chug alcohol like a madman.

They'll probably cheer him to chug down more and cheer him to drown in the alcohol that'll cloud his mind. He was an emotional drinker so it was safe to say that he preferred to keep a distance.

And maybe, while he was chugging half the bottle in his system and his peers were actually cheering him on, being too blind to notice how empty Zayn might be to chug it all in.

______

It's been a while and I'm a bítch ik💀  but here's the update. I had it done way back but i wasn't really liking the chapter but here y'all go anyway🤧

What do you think is gonna happen?

Excited for the wedding?

Ready for the drama? 💀💀🏃🐸☕

Just want to thank y'all for the being the amazing people you are to stick around with my lazy àss. Thank you so much for the love and support you show to this book! I love you guys so much😭✊🏻💕🤧

Thank you for 12K, we're almost at 2K votes IM SURE WE CAN GET 2K VOTES BEFORE THE NEXT UPDATE? 😤✊🏻✊🏻 I BELIEVE IN YALL.

okay I'll sign out now i ramble a lot. bye mofos love y'all 🌚