CHAPTER 27:

"But if we don't look back, we're only learning then. How to make all the same, same mistakes again." ~Same Mistakes, One Direction.

Wednesday, 16th October 2013

HARRY'S POV

Two weeks. It has been almost two weeks since I told Zayn we should take a break. I honestly regretted it the moment I said the words. I had prayed that Zayn would just refuse and come back, but instead he had nodded solemnly and walked away without a word.

Now, we had gone almost two weeks without talking to each other, and I was definitely a sight to see. My friends were worried sick about me, and I appreciated that. And Louis had almost punched Zayn when he'd found out, but thankfully Liam had restrained him in time.

Honestly, I missed Zayn. I missed talking to him, I missed kissing him. It hurt even more to see him everyday and not be able to talk to him. I know, a break doesn't mean that we can't talk to each other, but how can I when Zayn doesn't want to?

He wanted time, so I gave him all the time he needs. And I wasn't lying when I said that I'll be waiting for him. Waiting for him to get his head together.

Even if he hurt me like he did, I knew he didn't mean it. He was just scared. His past has set that fear in him, so I don't blame him. My hurt had caused me to say all the mean things that I had said that day.

But I don't regret my words. It had felt good to get them off my chest.

~*~

I had refused the offer of a lift with Louis and had opted for walking to school today, just like I had been doing for almost a week now.

Walking helps me think, and it prolongs the time before I had to see him.

The October breeze nipped at my red cheeks, and I sneezed and pulled the fur collars of my jacket higher. Maybe walking to school was not a good idea after all, 'cos I now had a cold.

I mechanically walked into the school building, not making eye contact with anyone, and went straight to my locker, taking out my books. I saw Louis approach and he laid a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Hey mate."

"Hi," I murmured, trying to smile, but failing. I saw Louis wince when I looked up at him, and yeah I don't look so good right now, I know.

"How're you feeling?" Louis asked softly as we walked together to homeroom.

I laughed humorlessly. "The same as I look."

Louis grabbed my arm and yanked me to a stop. "Harry, this has got to stop. I know what Zayn did hurt you, and I would have gladly beat him up, but I know that he cares for you. And this is hurting him as much as you. So what the hell is the problem? Why are you guys not talking it out?"

I shook my head, gathering my thoughts. "Lou, it isn't that easy. He needs time. I've given him time. That's it."

Louis raised and eyebrow. "But why do you need to cut off all communication with each other?"

"I-I don't know."

He sighed. "It's like a weird balance between us all. When Niall and I weren't together, you guys were all happy. And now that we're together, you guys aren't."

I groaned. "It isn't like that. And don't say that!"

"Don't say what? That you guys aren't together?"

"Yeah," I whispered.

Louis didn't get a chance to respond as the bell rung, signalling the start to homeroom class.

~*~

Lunch was uneventful. Zayn and I sat at the same table, but I refused to look at him and him at me. We were on a break, did that mean we were actually over? That thought made me choke up.

I kept looking down at my tray of food, not even close to having an apetite. My Mum had also noticed how I wasn't acting like I usually did, and I had told her everything. She had advised me to talk to Zayn, just like Louis, Niall, Dani and even Liam had. But like I said, he needs to sort this out himself.

Dani and the guys, for a few days, had tried to get us to talk to each other at the table, but everytime Zayn would just storm out of the cafeteria. It was of no use.

~*~

Classes had ended and I trudged to the library to catch up on some homework. As much as I wanted to leave school as soon as possible, I had to study.

As it was after school, the halls were nearly empty, with the exception of the occasional students that were here either for some form of band or game practice, or just to study, like me.

I walked through the hallway, my head down, straight to the library but a strong grip on my arm suddenly yanked me in the opposite direction and before I could protest, a hand was on my mouth.

I struggled to see who in their right mind had kidnapped me and were now dragging me to the janitor's closet, but I couldn't twist around.

The door was locked and the person turned on the light, revealing themselves. And my captor was... Zayn?

"W-what?" was what I could stutter out in surprise. My eyes widened as I saw Zayn closely for the first time in days. His blood shot eyes had bags under them, his normally quiffed hair was in a disarray and his shirt was wrinkled. He looked even worse than me.

I felt a bit guilty that he was was probably like this because of me.

"Harry," he whispered, now looking at me.

"I-I gotta go," I murmured, putting my hand on the knob, but Zayn stopped me.

"No, listen. God, just listen!"

I nodded, looking down. Zayn ran his hands though his already messed up hair and sighed deeply.

"I've had it," he started and my heart lurched as I looked back up in surprise. He's done? With us?

"I- this, this is too hard for me, Harry," Zayn admitted, looking straight into my fearful eyes.

"W-what?"

"I know you've given me time. And now I'm okay," he spoke again, his voice more confident. "Just hear me out. I'm ready. I won't hide anymore. You've made me realize that. And these past few days -which were absolute hell for me- made me realize another thing." He walked closer to me.

"What...?" God, I couldn't even say anything else!

"I can't stay away from you Harry. Ever. You're my rock. You make me stronger, everything is easier to face when you're around. But for the last step, I needed to be alone, I needed to do this on my own. And now I have."

I smiled at him, at his words. "I believe you. These days haven't been the easiest for me, either. I'm proud of you. And I miss you," I choked.

"I missed you too, more than words could ever say," Zayn spoke fervently and my smile got bigger.

"Sorry, to cliche?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

Then he got serious again. "I'm so, so sorry I hurt you, I never meant to do that. And I want to beat myself senseless when I think of why I even pretended to like girls after we were together. I thought I was protecting you. I wasn't thinking straight. I was such an arse and I didn't realize I was hurting you and-"

I cupped his face in my hands and he closed his mouth immediately. "It's okay Zayn. I forgive you. That's in the past. We learnt from our mistakes. And we'll never make them again. And besides, no relationship is ever perfect," I grinned.

"Right," he sighed in relief. "So, are we...?"

"Yes, we are." And without a word, he hugged my tightly, like I would disappear and I hugged him back even tighter, reveling in his presence, in his body pressed to mine. I snuggled my head in the crook of his shoulder, closing my eyes, breathing in his scent. No, that's not creepy, that's romantic.

"It was really stupid of us, not talking to each other, eh?" Zayn remarked.

"But that helped you in the long run, didn't it?" I murmured against his neck.

He nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Then pulling away a bit, he removed his arms from my waist and looped them around my neck. "Now, to prove that I have learnt my lesson. Harry, would you be my date for the Winter Formal?"

My mouth dropped open. The Winter Formal dance, aka the Halloween party, that was at the school in two weeks. And as his date, so that means...?

"Yeah. I just wanna tell the world that you're mine, boy," he sung in my ear, making me blush.

"Then yeah. I'd love to be your date for the dance." We kept looking into each other's eyes, and we couldn't look away. Two weeks away from him were two weeks too damn long.

"Just kiss me already," Zayn all but growled and slammed me to the wall, placing his warm lips on mine passionately, hands on either side of my head. We barely registered something that got knocked to the ground in the small closet, because hell, we were kissing each other after so long.

I put all the emotions I felt in that one kiss, and so did Zayn. This was honestly the best kiss we had ever shared. We pulled away, breathing heavily, and Zayn chuckled huskily.

"What?" I smiled, still a bit dazed from the long due make out session.

"You know it's kinda weird that we're in a closet right now."

I chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Yep. We just gotta come out of it."

"And we shall," he grinned, kissing me one last time for today.

I kissed him back fervently, more than glad everything was now okay between us, 'cos I was definitely not okay without Zayn. We needed each other.

~*~

Yay! *cries* I just couldn't bear my OTP being apart from each other, it hurt me more than them. :')

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