hope you like this one x
I'd rly appreciate some feedback comments and votes since I've lost so many readers sigh.

Also, it's a HUGE chapter. get cozy man.

❤️

~

when we collide
34| past and fights

"Yes, I'd like to order a custom cake for my daughter's seventh birthday." Martha smiles back at the woman who pushes back her black locks, tucking them behind her ear with a smile.

"Yes, sure. Could you fill the details in this sheet? Also your number. I'll let Crystal know." Martha passes a smile to the woman who nods back at her.
"I was referred by Nate, you made a cake for his anniversary party?"

"Ah, yes, I remember." Martha smiles. "Just fill in the details and add your number, we'll give you a call." she passes a small sheet to the lady before her eyes rake around the bakery and catch a certain someone she wasn't expecting to see.

Lara trails slowly to the counter with a small smile. "Uh- hey, Martha." she grabs her handbag tightly, trying to release her nerves.

"What are you doing here?" Martha asks confusedly as her eyes trail over her appearance.

"Uh- I asked Zayn for the address." she mumbles. "I wanted to order something and also if I could- you know talk to Crystal?"

Martha stares dumbfounded at Lara, before nodding hesitantly.
"You can sit on that chair, she's out right now." she passes her a small sheet. "You can fill this form for your order."

"Thank you." Lara whispers before taking a seat. She looks around the bakery, the white colour and pastel decoration made it look ethereal, almost managing to cheer her up. She starts filling up the form instantly.

Crystal enters the bakery a couple minutes later, removing her beanie and closing the door making Lara almost stand up but when her eyes connect with Crystal's, she sits down.

Crystal hesitantly stares at Lara before her eyes fly to Martha who shrugs in response.

"Can I help you?" she asks slowly, making her way to her seat.

"Yeah I-I kinda wanted to place an order."

"From here?" she asks, her eyes eyeing Lara in doubt.

"Uh yes, it's for my sister's birthday and uh- the cake on the official party was amazing so. . . shít I shouldn't have brou-" Lara's rambling comes to a halt once Crystal sits down in front of her and sighs.

"Can you tell me the real reason?" swallowing the lump in her throat, Lara tries to smile barely.

"It's nice to see you, Crystal."

"Well, I won't call whatever this is pleasantly surprising." Lara takes in a deep breath.

"Uh, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you're about to kill me." Lara whispers.

"Well that's how my face works."

Lara sighs, before biting her lower lip in anxiety. "See Crystal, I know you aren't happy to see me here and it's justified. I haven't been the best person to be nice to. I know." she glances quickly to notice any reaction but Crystal stares at her with neutrality.

"I just wanted to apologise that's all. I haven't been the nicest while you've been pretty decent to me and well yeah." she sighs. "It's just with everything going on I've been over thinking a lot and-"

"How's it going?"

Lara looks up shocked when Crystal speaks for the first time. "Sorry?"

"The case." she shrugs.

"Trial is in three days." Lara barely smiles.

"All the best. I hope that jérk gets what he deserves." Crystal hisses, her brows furrowing in irritation.

"I hope too."

"It's okay. I forgive you."

Lara stares at her wide eyed as she slowly smiles. "W-what?"

"I don't really keep grudges anyway."

Lara smiles lightly before nodding slowly. Taking a deep breath in she stands up, Crystal following suit. "So, you need the cake or. . ?" Lara smiles and nods. "Yes-yes, I do actually."

"It'll be done." Crystal gives her a warm smile picking up the filled sheet as Lara passes her and walks to the door but halts. "Also, this might sound weird but do you know this guy? tall, fair, brown hair, icy blue eyes. . ."

Crystal stares at Lara absurdly. Was she talking about Adam?

"Adam?"

"I guess."

"Why?"

Lara smirks at her. "Kinda cute, he crossed me when I came here. Is he nice?"

Crystal chuckles a little. "He's decent, if you minus the pick up lines I guess."

"Yeah, it was pretty bad but you know if you don't mind." Lara smirks. "Text him my number and tell him I'd be on for that cosmopolitan he was talking about when he asked my name."

Crystal laughs slowly. "Done."

"Also, tell him I might be a bítch but that's the only reason he can call himself a saint."

Crystal gives out a breathy smile which Lara generously returns.

"All the best, Crystal. Congrats for your. . . new life." and with that she heads out leaving a battled Crystal staring at the door.

She could tell why Zayn was so smitten of her.

༻❁༺

"It's been years that I've wore anything but a suit or sweats. There's no bloody in between." Zayn confesses staring at his closet trying to find something to wear.

"What about your hippie glasses?" Crystal giggles almost immediately making Zayn roll his eyes.

"Funny." he whispers under his breath.

"Let me search." Crystal pushes him out of her way as her hands fly up to search for something he could wear.

"I'm not sure but there might be a leather jacket somewhere back there." he mumbles right as Crystal takes out the jacket.

"Here we have it."

"And that looks like it's been untouched since renaissance period." Zayn mocks, staring at the black jacket.

"Dust it a little and it'll be amazing." Crystal smiles, dusting

"Sure, good advice for your brain." Zayn mumbles.

They quickly change into decent clothes as Crystal changes into a army green plain bodycon dress with diamond straps and hops on some silver heels.

Fifteen minutes down and they're sitting in the car in silence. "You said the main street?" Zayn enquires, leaning towards the front glass and staring outside to take in his surroundings.

"Yes. Right this way."

"How did they manage to get a club here? This place is filthy expensive." he replies, taking a left after the light turns green.

"Well, they told me they saved."

"Maybe Matt helped them, his well off father might come to use some day." he mumbles.

"Zayn. Not someone's father." Crystal warns.

"Sorry-sorry, won't say anything against your new best friends." Zayn mumbles sarcastically. Crystal smiles slowly, side glancing at Zayn before she throws her arm around his shoulder and pecks his cheek.

"Crystal." Zayn yelps turning the steering slowly to balance.
Giggling to herself slowly she backs away before staring ahead.

"You do realise you'll always be my bestest best friend."

"That's not a word."

"And there's no human that can replace you." Zayn bites his lower lip trying to stop smile that aching to appear.

"Yeah, whatever."

"Someone's smiling." Crystal whispers, making his smile widen. A chuckle ends up escaping as he parks the car.

"You take unfair advantage of my soft corner for you." Zayn says, narrowing his eyes.

"What are you going to do about it, Malik?" she smiles before getting out of the car and closing the door.

"Back down now!" Shaking his head, Zayn reverses the car slowly.

"More, more, okay stop!" Crystal shouts for Zayn to stop reversing the car but a scream erupts out of her when he reverses more and the car almost touches the wall. She hears him laugh almost immediately as he switches off the engine and comes out.

"You love annoying me, don't you?" shrugging, Zayn comes to her side throwing his arm on her shoulder.

"I'm your plus one, please don't throw me on the roads."

Rolling her eyes playfully Crystal mumbles something under her breath obviously inaudible for Zayn to hear as they walk towards the entry. A bulky bouncer stands at the entry and Zayn almost shudders at the thought of getting punched by him.

"Pass?" he monotonously asks.

"Here." He checks through it and nods, "Plus one?"

"Him." he nods and gives them way to pass. Zayn gives the surrounding a look before being pulled by Crystal.

"I'm so excited." he hears Crystal whisper.

"Aren't you so happy for your friends now?" Zayn asks with a grunt, side glancing at Crystal who shrugs while passing a smile back. She slips her hand through his arm slightly leaning on his shoulder.

"You know why I'm happy."

Zayn smiles at that. "I do."

Passing him a smile she pulls him. "Let's go."

"Behind you."

"No, beside me."

The music blasts at a intensity that Zayn almost runs back to book a cab and drive away but Crystal's hold on his wrist helps him resist the thought as she pulls him through the crowd.
They near the bar and that's when Zayn speaks the obvious.

"You said it's a private thing?"

"Yes, it is." she replies, waving at the bar guy. "Why?"

"Why? There are like hundreds of people here. How is this shít private?! On a scale of one to hundred this is equivalent to my mum's tambola party. Jeez." Zayn exclaims, giving a look around.

Crystal smirks slowly turning to face Zayn. "Everyone isn't a loner like us."

"You mean choosy?"

"I mean thick."

"You have no áss, Zayn."

"Ironic coming from you."

Crystal glares at him but Zayn's saved by the bar guy smiling at him. "What's it for you today?"

"On the rocks." Zayn states, glancing back once.

"We're starting strong?" the guy laughs. "And for the beautiful girl?"

"Surprise me." she smiles, giving a glance around. "Oh, I spot a friend. I'll be back."

Zayn shakes his head turning back to see the guy placing his drinks. "Where did you see her?" the guy asks with a smile.

"Sorry?"

"The girl."

Zayn stares at him for a while before smiling, "Just saw her at the entrance, she's pretty isn't she?"

"For sure she's pleasing, why don't you go talk to her?"

"Uh, yeah. Any tips man?" the guy smirks a little. "I'm engaged, getting married next month man. Just, I don't know- go talk to her, dance and all." he shrugs his shoulders. "Who knows she's the one. Unless you just want to bang."

Zayn nods his head with a knowing smile. "Oh, so you think she'll like me after that?"

"I mean- the way she's turning and looking at you every second I think she's already into you. Looks like someone's getting laid."

Zayn turns slowly to see her in a conversation with Claire, a smile on her face and ever so slowly her eyes flicker to Zayn and instantly back when they make eye contact. "You ever talked to her or anything?"

"Not at all." Zayn smirks.

Crystal looks back at Zayn but notices he's no where to be found near the bar so she pulls Claire with her towards the bar.

"I'm shocked he showed up." she mumbles.

"I knew he would, he's so into you." Claire shrugs, making Crystal eye her hesitantly.

"You think so?"

"Lady, are you blind?" she smiles slowly before smiling at the server.

"Uh, hey I ordered some drinks." she asks before adding, "Also where's the guy that was talking to you a second back?"

The server laughs before passing her the drink and a tissue. "I told him you'd be into him, he got the drink for you even though I told him it's on the house and left this tissue."

He started walking before coming back, "Oh and also he told me to tell you you're hot."

Crystal smiles embarrassingly while Claire chuckles staring at the phone number on the tissue and a small 'what do u say hotshot'

"He's my fiancé."

"What?" the server asks incredulously before shaking his head. "Dumb àss." he laughs before walking off.

"How cute." Claire teases, snickering slowly.

"Oh, shut up." she laughs back.

"Have fun, I'll meet you in a moment, I hope that's fine?"

"Absolutely." Crystal mumbles, passing a smile. "I'd go find the dork."

༻❁༺

Adam stares at his reflection, brushing his hair up as he stares at his face, sighing and straightening up. Being the day it was, it was quite scaring for him.

His attention is stolen when Zayn enters the male washroom and notices Adam. "Hey, you showed up."

"I guess I did."

"Well, that's nice. You like it?" Adam asks hesitantly. Zayn shrugs his shoulders slowly feeling slightly awkward but managing to not show it on his face.

"Yeah, it's cool. Huge. Congrats."

Zayn walks in front of the mirror and brushes his hair up trying to put it back in place.

"You've pretty long hair." Adam ponders loudly, standing beside Zayn and staring at his hair through the mirror.

"I guess, kind of annoying."

"You tried tying it in a low pony?" he asks, noticing Zayn shake his head.

"That'd look weird don't you think?"

"Not really, your sides are faded, I think it'll suit you uh- hold. . ." Adam swats his hands away and collects his hair, brushing it back into his hands.

Zayn stiffens slightly in awkwardness as Adam pulls it back, picking up the pack of paper soaps and removing the elastic from it to tie his hair.

Zayn grimaces in disgust but pulls down a loose end of hair that falls on his forehead, a smirk forming right after. "Not bad."

"You're welcome." shaking his head they walk out of the washroom together.

"Uh, you sure we should walk out together?"

"Why? You wanna exit in a five minute gap so people think we totally made out?" Adam rolls his eyes at Zayn's question before walking the other side.

Zayn looks around trying to find Crystal in the crowd that shakes and dances like there's no bloody monday tomorrow. They'd been dancing for a while and it was fun, Zayn won't lie. He'd almost forgotten how it felt clubbing. Difference was, he'd never went clubbing with Crystal.

Or have her grind on him.

Damn.

"Claire, you seen Crystal?" he asks once he locates her dancing in the crowd.

"Oh, hey zennnnnn!" she yells, clutching her hands around his neck and shaking him violently. "Hey-hey-" she steps on his foot making him jump back and groan. He was as sure as he was about not having pineapple on pizza that this woman bares no brain cells in her head whatsoever.

"Have you seen Crys?"

"I think she went out to the backside to get air." she shrugs, shaking her ass as she merges in the group. Sighing, Zayn shakes his head.

Why, why did Mother Teresa have to reincarnate and possess him at these times.

"How about we go sit?"

"What?! You want to shít together? Gross." Claire giggles.

He wishes that morals didn't exist.

"God, I don't deserve to deal with this unmedicated." he mumbles, pulling her from the crowd and pushing her on the seat lightly.

"Ouch. Ouch. You're hurting me."

"I'm not even touching you."

"Ouch!"

"Would you just shut up?"

"My head hurts, Zach." Claire groans, holding her head in her hands and pressing lightly.

"For the love of god it's Zayn. Z-a-y-n," he sighs, looking around and grabbing a glass of water that some new guy behind the bar passes him with a sympathetic sigh. "I didn't know Claire was your girlfriend?"

"Fortunately, no."

"Cousin? But-but you look mexican not white?" oh god.

"I can prove my race by some disgustingly embarrassing words that you won't understand even if you try google translate."

"Woah woah, I didn't mean to-"

Zayn looks up in agitation, one look and the guy saunters away.

"I'd rather be dead." Claire groans, pushing her hair back as she takes the glass from him.

"Then I've some good news, I'm a nail size away from kill-"

"And then you ask why you look so unapproachable." she mumbles.

"Yet you're here." he notices Adam walk towards them. Thank the lords. "God, you're already dead Claire?"

"You might want to take care of your sister, I'm done babysitting." Zayn answers instead. "Now we're even. You know for the hair."

Adam smiles slowly before grasping Claire's arm. "You're nice. Thank you, Zayn."

"Adam! It's Zin! Not Zayn."

"God, shut up before I smack you so hard you're jaw splashes in your laps." he cries, turning around to walk outside.

"Where's Matt?" he hears Adam.

"Trying to get laid." he hears Claire's distant voice almost chuckling when he hears that.

The only way he'd get laid is if he crawls up some random chicken's ass and waits.

༻❁༺

Zayn had been a pretty cool kid in highschool. Never nosy, always in his business and just trying to pass.

Till he met Matt.

His father had always taught him that favours are something that will hold you back your whole life. When you owe someone something they'll make sure you'll never forget that one time they saved your âss.

Zayn couldn't agree more but that's the problem, he never listened to his father. Maybe he should've. He knew Matt very well, probably better than Crystal and whenever Matt told Crystal that he knew Zayn better than her,

Well, he was speaking the truth.

He had so much dirt on Zayn.

It had been a minute that Zayn had been staring at Matt. He's standing right beside what seems like a ridiculously intoxicated Crystal. Or maybe she's just an amazing actress.

For all anyone would see he looks like a decent guy having a conversation with an overly drunk girl.

But Zayn knew Matt. He knew him for the filthy guy he was.
He had a lot of dirt on him too.

Matt turns around showing Crystal his index finger and exiting. Zayn could make out that he asked for a minute. He rushes towards Crystal grasping her arm tightly.

"No get away, I'm engaged."

"Crys- Crystal! It's me." Zayn hisses turning her around.

"Oh hey, muffin." she hiccups, holding his cheeks between her fingers and wiggling them.

"How drunk are you? god."

"Actually, I'm not. Just playing with you." she giggles.

"Oh really? Walk on this tile straight. Show it." huffing to herself she starts walking on the tile, tripping a little but making it successfully.

"I can hold my alcohol, Zayn."

"Why are you talking to him?"

"He came to me, I was just-" she's interrupted by Matt who clears his throat.

"Hello, Zayn."

"How many time do I have to make this clear to you? Stay. Away. From. Her." Zayn whisper yells, trying to keep his cool. Crystal notices the vein barely popping in his neck and holds her breath.

This couldn't be good.

"You haven't at all and anyway, me and Crisi, we were just talk-"

"Crisi and I, Mr. Intelligent."
Zayn replies, raising his brows at him. Matt sighs slowly, keeping the two drinks that Zayn just notices on a shaft.

"I'm no harm, Zayn."

"I'm very well aware, Matt."

"Zayn it's nothing. Just-"

"Crystal, when I'm talking please keep shut." Zayn interrupts, making eye contact with her to enhance his point. Crystal shudders slightly at his voice getting a déjà vu of the fight they had in Bradford.

"You're not scary Zayn. Not at all." Matt replies, amused.

"Yeah? Sorry let me just go dress up like Thanos or something."

"All that sarcasm and wit is a wastage man. You've been blabbering about killing me for so long it's making me doubt your commitment." Matt confesses, walking closer and standing at an arm equal distance from him.

Zayn feels his attempt at testing his patience so he takes a deep breath in before staring at him.

"You don't want to try me." he whispers, furrowing his brows in anger.

Matt sighs, a small smile playing at his lips as he stares behind Zayn noticing an anxious Crystal. Her eyes flying between the guys. Matt didn't even care about this nonsense but it was fun to see Zayn all heated up.

A good reminiscing of highschool stick.

"Listen man, I'm just a normal guy who likes wearing sweater and drinking coffee trying to have a drink with a friend and stay calm." Matt mutters, shoving his hands in his pockets before shrugging his shoulders.

"Same, Matt. But sadly I always end up with a cigarette in my mouth and my hand clutched in a fist barely an inch away from your face because the friend you want to have a drink with is the same girl I'm marrying in a week."

"The one you cheated on?"

"No, the one you videotaped without her fúcking consent you jérk." Zayn spits closing in the last bare distance left between them. Matt stares at Zayn in anger, his hands clutched in a fist ready to pounce at him.

"Zayn, do you really want to bring back highschool?" he mutters between his teeth.

"Open your mouth about a single thing and you're dead as a meat, Matt." Crystal hurries between the guys trying to push them off.

"Please stop guys, what are you both fighting for? This is dumb." she cries trying to push them away by pushing their chests.

Both the guys ignore her, pushing her out of the way.

"I'm being polite Matt, but if your shoulder nudges me one more time I'll tear you apart."

"You're trying to scare me twig? Not working."

"You should be scared."

Adam and Claire come out through the back door behind the bouncer who points at the guys having not thrown them out yet because they were friends.

"Alright guys break it-"

"Sorry, I'm not scared of a druggie." and it happens. Before Crystal could barely register Matt's sentence a fist collides with his jaw so hard that a groan erupts out of his mouth almost immediately. Claire pulls Crystal away immediately, staring at the scene with equal tension.

"Guys, stop it." Adam yells as Matt pounces on Zayn punching him between his chest and stomach leaving Zayn breathless.

"I know what you're up to you sick pervert." Zayn yells, throwing another punch on his abdomen. "You're a disgusting excuse -"

"Yeah isn't that what your father told you when you were sick in jail."

"I'll fúcking kill you!" he pushes Matt hard which ends up in him tackling back and slamming in Claire who falls down immediately. Crystal gasps trying to help her up but her eyes move back when she hears a hard slap.

She realises Adam hit Zayn.
No. Way.

She runs to the lot holding Zayn's hand behind his back as he tries to pounce on Adam. "Zayn, ZAYN please! Stop. Zayn! I'm begging you just stop please."

"Don't bring my sister in this!"

"I never hit her you ásshole." and then Matt pounces on Zayn to punch him barely missing his nose as Crystal pulls him behind but the light hit waters his eyes immediately as he clutches his nose.

"Stop it Adam, it was their fight you had no right to hit him!"

"That's my fúcking sister and my bloody best friend, Crystal!" Adam shrieks, throwing his arms up in exaggeration.

"Exactly! And this is my bestfriend and my fiancé. Hit him again and I'll hit yours harder!" she yells back.

"Come on Crystal, he started it." Matt interrupts the heated argument.

"Shut it, Matt. This is Claire and I's special day and you're ruining it." Adam yells at him as Claire stands beside him dusting her dress. "I'll throw you both the fúck out if you don't stop! what even is the problem?! Both of you. Grow. Up."

"Adam, mate-"

"Matt, shut up. Grow up because she's married and Zayn you grow up too because she's marrying you!" he brushes his hair back in annoyance as he stares at both the battered men staring at him with agitation.

"I know him better than you so hear me out Adam." Zayn spits, pulling his arms out of Crystal's grasp before pointing his finger at him.

"First, don't ever and I mean ever touch me again because what will come next I can promise you won't be bloody ready for it," he pulls his finger back. "Second, your dearest friend is a fúcking predator so go take him to some asylum and get him checked because he's not stable."

"Stick, you might want to-"

"And last, don't ever call me that again."

"Or you'll what?" Matt challenges.

"You want another example my friend?"

"Both of you, out! Get out of here." Adam yells, staring at the men in angst. "Move out."

"Gladly." Zayn whispers. He dusts his jacket and glares at Matt not before a hand clutches his and he turns to see Crystal staring at him. "Let's go."

He stares at her before starting to walk out. They walk out of the back door and enter the party again, the lot following them.

Crystal stops immediately to turn around, their linked hands stopping Zayn too but he doesn't turn.

"I'm sorry if your party was ruined because of me." Crystal mumbles, staring at Adam and a hesitant Claire behind him.

"Not at all, Crys-"

"It was ruined because someone is a jealous fúck." Matt intrudes making Zayn turn immediately.
Crystal's hands fly to his chest trying to stop him.

"Or maybe because you're a predator."

"You want me to expose you, Malik?" Matt challenges with a smirk, crossing his arms on his chest and staring at him. Adam notices the music slow down and everyone turning to stare at the scene.

Oh god.

"I don't give a shít, Matt. Do whatever you want to do. My past doesn't affect my present because I have a job I wanted and a girl I needed unlike you who's lifeless. So if you want to stay healthy and fine you keep her name out of your filthy mouth and do yourself a favour." Zayn spits, turning and pulling Crystal with him but stops immediately leading to her colliding with his back.

He drops her hand and walks to the bar before snatching two drinks out of two random people's hand who stare at the scene and him frantically before spilling it at Matt aggressively.

The room erupts in 'oh's' as he grasps a plate of nachos and dip and shoves that on his head. Crystal's hand flies up to her mouth as she stares at the scene.

"You see it, Matt? One all." Zayn spits. "Don't make me do it two-one because you really don't want to play this game." he says before throwing the plate on the floor with agitation.

"Stay the héll away from her."

Dusting his hands, he gives a final look at a fuming Matt before turning to look at Adam and smiling.

"You see Adam, he bashed my best friend's bakery it was only fair I bashed his' best friend's club. At the end we play fair, Adam. We play fair. Don't mind huh?!" Patting his chest, Zayn walks towards Crystal, her eyes still wide as he clutches her wrist and pulls her outside with him.

"You'll bloody regret this Malik! It will be two one and it will be me who wins the fúcking point you jérk." Matt follows them outside being followed by Adam and Claire.

"Would love to see you try! Before that, go take a bath sweetie." Zayn yells back, not really turning around to see as he keeps on walking, Crystal right behind him.

"Oh you see Malik, next time it won't just be a drink." Zayn halts, turning around and staring at him. "Matt, don't try my patience."

"Zayn please, let's just go."

"Oh yeah?"

"What? You'll videotape her again while you're fücking her like the ten thousand girls you've done that with?" Zayn spits, making Crystal grasp.

"Zayn please don't."

"Maybe worse." he threatens with a shrug.

"Matt, are you out of your fúcking mind? What are you saying?" Claire pitches in for the first time.

"I'm not Claire, I'm not." he eyes Zayn again with a smirk. "Keep a check, Malik. It's a wild world. I promise, next time I see you," he smiles. "I'll be staring at a weak battered Zayn. The same one in highschool remember? The one who's áss I saved."

"You didn't do shít, Matt."

Matt smirks. "Yeah, but this time I will." passing a smile to Crystal he walks to his car leaving a distant distaste of his presence in Zayn's mind. Crystal swings her hand out of Zayn's grasp making him turn as she sniffs and rushes to sit in the car. He notices Adam rush back in and realises that it's over. Finally.

"Zayn?" he looks back at Claire who stands their timidly, looking slightly better.

"Sorry for the push."

"No, I- it's okay. What you said, is it true?" she asks.

"Yes."

Claire sighs before looking at the entrance and back at him.

"Take care."

"You too." nodding she returns inside leaving Zayn alone. He enters the car to see Crystal sniffing lightly as she stares outside the window, her hair covering her face.

"Crys-"

"Just drive Zayn." she whispers.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have screamed that."

"Just drive."

Sighing, he lifts his hand to comfort her but shaking his head his hand falls on the steering wheel.

Why did everything have to be so messed up?

༻❁༺

Five minutes had passed since he had been driving. Zayn didn't try to turn the radio on as he let the silence linger. It was heavy he could make that out.

Crystal had stopped sniffing but she was still staring out and Zayn didn't try to intrude.

"Did you do drugs?"

Zayn sighs, he knew he couldn't stay away from the question it would just come running in a second towards him and it did.

"Crystal-"

"Just answer me."

Matt, that son of a bítch. He could kill him right now. "Y-yes."

"Jail?"

"Crystal -"

"Zayn what all are you hiding?" Crystal whisper yells, finally turning around and staring at him. Her mascara had run down slightly, not too much and Zayn didn't have the heart to make it run down more.

"You promised, no more lying. We're best friends, Zayn-"

"Crystal we're not. You know that. No one can have two relationships-"

"I don't care, Zayn. Maybe in your stupid book called Every dumb scheme and Myth written by Zayn Stubborn Malik. Not me. You're still my best friend and you'll always be."

Zayn sighs before stopping the car on the side of the road and glancing in her direction.

"The past should be in the past."

"You weren't sticking to that ideology when you were breaking Matt's face." Crystal counters making Zayn roll his eyes.

"Why do you side with that sick human being every time?" he whisper yells, turning around slightly to stare at her in agitation.

"I'm not Zayn, I'm taking no sides. I'm asking you-"

"Why do you even talk to him?! I don't understand Crystal all he's done is hurt you and done sick stuff and proved he's a filthy human. I don't understand?"

"Zayn I was just standing there, he came to talk and-"

"And you started talking? God how difficult is it to say no Crystal?"

"I told him I don't want to talk! Would you let me complete?!"

"Or maybe you just forgot that a world like no exists just like the last fúcking time when he video taped you?!"

"Zayn, you're sick!" Crystal croaks, turning around and staring outside the window.

"Crys-"

"No really, Zayn. Fúck you."

"I shouldn't have said that I'm sorry-"

"Just drive."

"Crys-"

"I said just drive."

"I don't get it? How do you even face that jérk after what he's done but can barely talk to me when I say something?"

"Because you matter to me, Zayn." she croaks again. "He doesn't. When you talk in such an insensitive manner it hurts. You don't know what I went through so don't even try to reason with me right now."

Zayn sighs, brushing his hair back and starting the car again but stopping and turning. He leans and tries grabbing her hand which she tries pulling but he tries again clutching her chin and making her face her. She rubs her eyes and stares at him.

Zayn stares in her watery red eyes and the mascara rubbed around them before sighing.

"Crystal, I really care about you. All I do is for your wellbeing. I don't want to see you hurt. You hear me?" she swallows the lump that forms in her throat as she nods, her brown eyes watering more as Zayn pushes her blond locks of hair back.

"We'll talk, okay?" she nods again, her lips quivering a little. Zayn leans in slowly and kisses the corner of her mouth before pushing her hair back again and closing his eyes before he kisses her forehead.

Then he starts driving.

༻❁༺

"I got in the wrong crowd." Zayn mumbles as he takes a right turn. Crystal removes her head that was laying flat on her hand and turns to look at Zayn.

"Alfred and his friends? Year 12 when we were in Year 10. Remember?" Crystal nods slowly and even though Zayn doesn't notice her nod, he continues.

"I met them when we were in year 11, they didn't really do anything in life. Were the same but something about them was so attractive, Crys. You had a stable life you know? A boyfriend, good scores everyone loved you at school while I really didn't matter," he sighs.

"It isn't because I was jealous, I just didn't want to be a burden. I wanted to have a better life, be stronger than what I was." he takes a deep breath in.

"I was bullied, Crys." Crystal takes a deep breath as she stares at Zayn, his hands clutching the steering so hard his hands were white. "By Matt, by his friends, by some kids in my History class."

"They used to break in my house at nights, force me to do shít they found funny and I-" he stops the car, not really being able to focus on the road.

"Matt asked me to do his work, do stupid shít for his stupid jock friends. Get candies for his girls and stuff. I was a literal shell of a person." he turns to look at Crystal, silent tears flowing down her eyes and cleans them off with his thumb.

"Then I met Alfred." he whispers. "Still don't know if it was the best or the worst thing that happened to me."

"Zayn. . ."

"Let me complete." he takes a deep breath in. "He beat up some guys that were bothering me and asked me if I was okay." a breathy chuckle escapes his mouth. "The first one to do so."

"We met everyday, spent so much time together and then one day you told me you're dating this guy named Matt. Crystal, I swear I wanted to jump down a building when I heard that but I couldn't tell you that. You really loved him, I could see it in your eyes. So I kept shut."

"Then shít got messed up when they included me more. I got to know they made small thefts, use to smoke weird stuff and-and I promise I didn't want to," he sighs,

"But that didn't stop me."

"I got messed up with them. That's why I turned distant, almost missed your sixteenth birthday. I was fúcked." Zayn feels his eyes watering so he pinches his nose and looks up.

"These thefts escalated from small chips and chocolates to money and shít, I couldn't say no because I didn't want to lose the only friends I had. Proper ones. They found me when I was at my most vulnerable and I guess. . . they used that against me. I'm not the most emotionally stable person, I'm sure you know by now." he tries to laugh.

"But one day the police caught us."

Crystal gasps, holding Zayn's hand that rested on the steering and holding it with both her hands.

"I was scared not because I was in jail but because Alfred and all didn't give a fu- didn't care. It was like daily business for them. For me it was new, it wasn't everyday my father saw me high as a rim in a jail for the money I didn't even need. I knew if dad got to know I'd be damned and there was no way for me to go. I knew they'd contact my legal guardian soon." Zayn brushes his thumb on Crystal's hand, feeling her smooth skin underneath his thumb.

"Matt got his dad to bail us out. You see people will help you at your most vulnerable, Crys. It isn't because they care, it's because they don't care enough to not use it against you. His dad being the so called super shot of town. Just a jérk like him. My decisions came back to my doom and I was stuck between Alfred and Matt. If I stopped helping Alfred he'd stop being my friend and well. . . Matt, he forced me to help him out or else he'd tell my dad the shít I got myself in."

Zayn sighs, biting his lip as he kept his head on the steering to feel a little stability.

"He did casual hookups and used to take me with him like a tail for his humour. My vulnerability took over me and I guess hookups became a defence mechanism for my loneliness."

Crystal silently listens trying to reason with her brain to keep quiet and just listen. Listen to Zayn being vulnerable, not. . . use it against him.

"Alfred used to wake me up around midnight for his casual 'fun' thefts and sometimes I felt like some kids broke in again. I was paranoid. Still am. Guess that explains my light sleeping habit."

"Zayn- I fúck. I don't know what to say I-I'll always be your cuddle buddy."

Zayn chuckles lightly before glancing at her. She looked worried and it made him feel better. Someone cared about him that wasn't necessarily a bad person.

"He got in this new habit of video taping girls he hooked up with thinking it was funny and when you told me you're dating him I was shocked. I-I was scared. I confronted him but he said he genuinely liked you." he sighs.

"I was stupid to believe him,"
"On prom when I couldn't find you both I was scared, bloody scared. I called him multiple times, called you multiple times and someone told me he took you out to some classroom. It was too late though."

Crystal stares at their intertwined hands, trying to hold in. Trying to maintain her composure. It wasn't her right to cry when Zayn was confessing his past.

"When I met him, I was furious. He just laughed about it with his friends but I wasn't hearing that shít. He asked me not to tell anyone and that he'll tell everyone anyway. That was the first time I punched someone."

"Next thing I knew, I was being called by the principal and my father was slapping me to a pulp." he sighs. "He decided he had had enough with me and that he'll shift to London to fix in some sense in me and change my 'company' and I asked him not to, god I tried, that I couldn't leave home but he'd hear no end. Before I knew, he'd dropped my name from the school and I was waving a bye at you."

Zayn takes a deep breath in before turning to look at her. "That's me. That's all the past. Clear now."

"I can't believe it, you were- you. You were going through so much and I-I didn't know shít. What kinda best friend am I? Z-Zayn-"

"It's in the past, Crys. The amount of times you've stood with me now is enough for me, maybe even more." he tries smiling.

"Thank you."

"Thank you?" Zayn asks.

"For everything, F-for being so strong I-" Crystal cracks and stops talking before she leans in and hugs Zayn. A sigh leaves Zayn's mouth as he embraces her, slowly breathing her in.

"I'm sorry." Crystal mumbles in his neck. "I'll never talk to him, that àsshole." He smiles slowly. "You don't have to be, jaan."

༻❁༺

Zayn parks in front of the house, removing his seat belt and taking out the keys. For now, everything seemed normal to him.

"I have the video." or not.

"Sorry W-what?"

"I have the video that Matt made, do you want to see?"

Zayn stares at Crystal like she told him she's pregnant. "Crys- I- how do you have it?"

"Downloaded it."

"Crystal, what the fúck?"

She unlocks her phone before passing it to Zayn who eyes the play button on the screen like it was a disease he could catch and die.

"It-it was taken down?"

"Yeah, but I downloaded it then. Probably like every third guy in highschool. Maybe people still have it."

"Crys- what the-"

She pushes the phone in his hand and he continues to eye her phone in hesitance before piercing his lips together as he continues to stare at the steering wheel.

"Watch it, Zayn."

Taking a deep breath, Zayn turns the phone in his hands and presses the play button not really knowing what to expect. The quality was way too grainy and the camera faced a table before it turns towards them.

He hears Crystal's giggle as Matt whispers something before he starts kissing her, Matt's hand shakes a little and it shakes the camera with it before it stabilises, probably being fixed. He notices that the kiss deepens and Matt's hand flies to her áss, a giggle escaping her mouth before he unclasps her bra and removes it. Zayn was almost holding his breath, praying every god that Crystal doesn't turn and face the camera as her bare back faces the camera but then in an instant it happens, she turns and Zayn presses pause instantly.

"I-I- that's it." he whispers before looking up at Crystal who stares at her hands with a smile.
"You can't even bare to watch it, maybe people at school were right." Zayn furrows his brows together in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone saw it Zayn, they made comments about me. How I was fat, or my bréasts are too big or-" she chokes but tries to calm herself. Zayn stares at her, a sad-gloomy expression appearing on his face.

"What stings the most was that you left and I had no one to tell me it wasn't true," she whispers. "It made it so tough to actually function in my body, to accept it or to go out in revealing clothes." she confesses, playing with her ring slowly.

"Whenever I told any guy about this, they'd run away like lightening bolt because who wants a girl who's out there for everyone's eyes? Because society accepts guys, praises them when they're naked but when a girl happens to be in that situation they judge her so much that it almost makes it difficult for her to breath in her own body." she whispers.

Zayn opens his mouth to say something but nothing comes out. "Guys judge a girl's body before they're even remotely interested whilst all a girl wants is to hear something loving, something beautiful that'll make her feel loved." Crystal glances at Zayn, noticing the sympathetic face he was so badly trying to hide.

"Maybe that's why guys lie and girls wear makeup." she smiles.

"These people from my highschool spread that video in college too, the one's that joined with me. They thought it was funny. It was a hassle though. Too much for me that I had to leave." she smiles sadly as tears start to well up in her eyes. "My dad was always by my side and I-but-" she feels the lump starting to form in her throat.

"I can't because you couldn't watch-" she opens the car door, sprinting out of it as she slams the door close. "Crystal!" Zayn sprints, catching her wrist before she enters the house.

"It's not like that, Crys, you-"

"Do you think I'm fat? Or my breasts are too big or-"

"Crystal." Zayn whispers, his hand flying up to grasp her cheek. "That's not how I want to see your body, not on a grainy video that some díckhéad taped without your consent what the fúck are you on." he whispers.

"And jeez do you even hear yourself?" Obviously, Zayn had noticed her struggling, wearing loose clothes, being uncomfortable in revealing her skin but he never pointed it out for her sake.

"You're beautiful, Crystal. Probably the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on-"

"Shut up, Zayn." Crystal whispers, brushing her hands on her cheek to get rid of the tears.

"No Crys, you'll listen to me and you'll trust every word that I tell you." Zayn says, leaning ahead so that his forehead touches her forehead. Both of their eyes close almost instantly. "The first time I kissed you, I could almost see it. Even though I wasn't in too deep but I could see the stars shining brighter and wind fastening and the moon stopping for us and everything just. . . stopped." he confesses. "Everything felt right."

"You're beautiful, Crystal. In every aspect of that word."

"Zayn, please."

"No, Crys." he whispers, distancing himself so he can stare at her face. Her eyes furrow as her tears don't look like they'll halt. "You believe every word that I say, you have to believe me this time too." he drops her hand and walks to his car, locking it. He walks back to her, grasping her hand and pulling her inside with him.

"I was scared that it was only attraction, that I'm sticking with you because you're there for me not because I feel something for you. That's why I let you go but-"

He pulls her upstairs and into his room. The room was dark but Zayn doesn't switch on the light. He walks to the window opening it and letting some moon light enter the room.

"-I was wrong."

The room turns into a light blue tint and he pulls Crystal in front of the long mirror standing behind her. "You enchant everyone, do you know that? You're so funny and pretty and decent minded. You're everything in a companion that I was forced to believe is too much to ask for." Crystal turns to face him, her hands brushing on his chest as she places them on his shoulder.

"You see there, Crys? Look." Both of them stare at each other in the mirror. "Not at me idiot, look at yourself."

"You're more beautiful."

"No one's more beautiful Crystal. God makes everyone equal. It's us, who stand here staring at ourselves in the mirror for hours straight trying to take out every flaw in us." Zayn mumbles, crossing his arms around her waist.

"You think this face is more beautiful?" he pulls her closer to the mirror with him. "Now look, not anymore. You see my skin is shítty too, I have eyebags, my hair has seen bad days too and my lips are chapped. But you don't notice that babe." he whispers, pulling her far from the mirror again.

"Because you see me from here. Not up close like you do for yourself. And looking at you from here Crys, we're the same, see. The same skin, same nose, same eyes, same hair, same everything." Crystal steadies her breaths, still staring at him in the mirror.

"The closer you get, more the masterpiece vanishes, the beauty diminishes. I told you this. God made you so you could look at yourself and praise yourself just like you praise every other human. No one's perfect babe because perfect is too good. Everyone has flaws but the thing is you don't see others', just yours."

"You're way too nice for me."

"Or maybe I'm exactly how much you deserve, maybe a little less." he answers, staring in her eyes with determination.

"I'm scared, Zayn," that leaves Zayn off guard. "I feel like I'm falling so hard for you that you won't be able to catch my pace."

"I'm sure whatever we feel for each other, the intensity is same." buts that's where Zayn was wrong. Crystal knew it in her, maybe she was just too scared to accept, to let it out of her heart into the world. Zayn was amazing, and so much more than what she could've asked.

"Crystal?"

"Yes, I'm listening."

"I'm deleting this video, okay?"

Crystal nods slowly, making Zayn return a smile. He walks to his bed and picks up the phone. Crystal stares at his back before she turns back to stare at her reflection.

She realised this that day. No matter what your complexion is, whether your breasts are too huge or you're fat or thin. It doesn't make you ugly, it just makes you different from some other human. Nothing in a human body was ugly, it was God's creation after all.

She turns around to see Zayn, definitely God's best creation, swiping on her phone, probably trying to find the video. Maybe after years of meeting guys Crystal smiles, for she finally knew what happily ever after looked like.

Maybe not his happily after, but definitely hers.

She starts walking towards Zayn without realising, her hand flies to his shoulder making him look up but she's quick to pull the phone out of his grip, throwing it on the bed before she presses her lips to his. Zayn kisses her back softly, his hands finding their way to her waist. The kiss was brief and Zayn passes her a small smile. "You're beautiful, Jaan."

But Crystal knew what had happened, it was only about time when she'd accept it. For she knew Zayn traded her a smile, she traded her heart in return. And she'd be an idiot to not realise that this double coincidence of want wasn't in her favour because while Zayn was so sure about them being the same pace or his pace increasing, how was she supposed to tell him.

She'd already crossed the finish line?

________

opinions?

what do you think about zayn's past?

what about crystal?

The wedding is soon, and man is it gon be a bam.

And as close as the wedding comes, comes the part that I've been dreading to write :(
So yeah,

tw: v soon this book will deal with things that aren't rly romantic and happen in real life with people and with families. Just a head on, be ready.

Do press the vote button!

Any character questions? (inline them)

See you soon xoxo