ZAYN’S POV:

“Are you ready for this?” I asked, Evie’s hand gripping mine as we sat in my car, in front of my old house. It was smaller, smaller than I remembered it being. Or maybe I was just older. I looked at the small yard, a light layer of snow covering the grass. This wasn’t the house I spent my entire childhood in. My mum moved here when I was about 13, six years after divorcing my dad. So although I did hold memories in this house, I still had a disconnect from it. It mostly held memories of my awkward teenage years, one’s I didn’t have a huge desire to keep.
“I don’t know. I think so.” She said, taking a deep breath, her voice shaking a little. “I don’t know why i’m so nervous.” She said, laughing at herself.
“You’re gonna be great.” I said quietly, leaning over the center console to kiss her on the cheek.
“Let’s go.”

I had made sure no one knew we were coming here, so there wouldn’t be any girls waiting outside the house like the last time I came home. Luckily, word hadn’t gotten out. I grabbed our bags from the trunk, leading Evie up the steps and onto the porch. I was about to open the door when it swung open, revealing my mum with an apron on and the world’s biggest smile on her face.
“My baby! Zayn!” She said, ushering us inside. I dropped the bags as she threw her arms around me, embracing me in a huge hug. “I missed you so much, darling.” She said, kissing me on the cheek. “And Evie! I’m so excited to meet you! Please, come in, it’s freezing outside. Come here, sit down, can I get you some tea?” Before either of us could answer she was hugging Evie and rushing over to the kitchen and starting the kettle.
“It’s so nice to meet you, um, Mrs-”
“Oh, please, love, call me Patricia, I insist.” Evie smiled, already seeming more calm. “So, did it take long to get here? I know the weather is getting quite bad, I thought the roads may be closed.”
“It was alright, not too bad.” I said, helping my mum by grabbing three mugs form the cabinet. “Where’s everyone?”
“Oh, well Doniya is on her way home, she might a while actually, she said the traffic was horrible. Waliyha and Sofea are at their friends house. They’re so excited to see you.” She smiled, placing tea bags in the three cups. “Sit down, sweetheart. let me do this. I just want to hear everything you’ve been up to.” I did as she told, sitting next to Evie who gave me a small smile. I placed my hand over hers under the table.
“I haven’t been doing anything too exciting. Just enjoying the time off...”
“How’s Niall?”
“He’s good. Really good actually. He’s finally found a nice girl, Evie’s friend.”
“Really? I’m so glad! He’s such a sweet boy...” Evie and I looked at each other and tried not to laugh. Niall always seemed like a ‘sweet boy’ to parents, but then you get him alone and he’s chugging down pints and telling the dirtiest jokes you’ve ever heard and you can’t understand how they’re the same person who just charmed the pants off of your parents.
My mum walked over to the table, managing to carry all three mugs with her. She sat across from us, looking from me to Eive, beaming.
“So, Evie. Tell me about yourself. How are you liking London?”
“Oh, I love it. It’s a big change, but it’s getting better every day-” When she said this, I felt Evie squeeze my hand under the table. I couldn’t stop the ridiculous grin on my face, hoping I didn’t look completely rediculous. “I live with my Aunt of brother. And um, I’m just really getting used to it still. I’m taking the year off, I graduated a bit early because I was homeschooled.”
“Where are you from originally?”
“Um, well, I was born in Connecticut, and lived there for a lot of my life. But when I was around 12 my brother and I moved to Boston to live with my Aunt.” My mum seemed like she wanted to say something else, but thankfully, just moved on.

She asked Eive some more questions, listening intently as we both answered her questions. We sat and talked for awhile, until she had to go and pick up my sisters and then go to the grocery store. I offered to go for her, but she insisted we stay here and relax.
“You’re mom is really sweet.” Evie said, getting up from the table and placing both of our empty mugs in the sink.
“Yeah, I told you she’d love you.” She just smiled, brushing off my comment.
“Not as much as she loves you. I can tell how happy she is that you’re here. You made her day.” I should feel proud or something, but I felt guilt. “What’s wrong?” Evie asked, coming over to where I stood against the frame of the archway that led into the small living room.
“I should come home more often...” I mumbled. She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning into me, resting her head on my chest.
“Maybe that’s true. But you can’t change the past, you can just try and do better now. And you are, I can tell.” I felt instantly better thanks to her.
“Thank you, baby. Thank you for coming.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you for giving me a place to be on Christmas?”
“No, no, definitely not.” Evie just smirked, tilting her head up to look at me. “So now what?” I asked after a few seconds of silence.
“Can I see your room?”


EVIE’S POV:

“Nothing’s changed since I left almost four years ago...” Zayn said, pushing his bedroom door open. It was small, very clean, seemed like it could b the bedroom of any 16-year-old boy.
The walls were painted a dark blue, a beige carpet on the floor. A bed was pushed against the back wall, a plain comforter tucked neatly under the mattress. A desk sat against the opposite wall, random trinkets sitting on shelves. A bookshelf was packed with comic books, novels, notebooks, framed pictures... There was a bulletin board with dozens of things pinned to it. I took a few steps towards it, looking at the small drawings and pictures of him from when he was younger.
“Did you do all these?” I asked.
“Um, yeah, a really long time ago...” They were good. Very good. But I could tell from what I saw from him now that he’s gotten even better.
“So, tell me, how many girls did teenager Zayn Malik get up into this room?” I asked jokingly.
“Um, how about none.” Zayn smirked.
“Oh, please. Let’s be serious.” I joked, hitting him on the arm.
“I actually am. I was really shy in school, didn’t talk to many people. I stayed home a lot...”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Why? What’d you expect?”
“Oh, I dunno... Maybe like, you were the notorious bad boy that girls threw themselves at, dying for you to ravish them on the back of your motorcycle. Or you know, something along those lines...” I tried to keep a straight face after I had finished, but broke out into a fit of giggles.
“You think you’re pretty funny, huh?” Zayn said.
“Yeah, kinda.” I walked around his room a bit more, looking at old pictures and things. Finally, I turned around to see Zayn sitting on his bed, watching me.
“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
“I like that you’re here.” he said simply. “It sorta reminds me how far i’ve actually come. I’ve never brought a girl home. Ever.”
“Why?” I was genuinely curious. It’s not like he hasn’t had the opportunity. I sat next to Zayn on the end of his bed. He turned to me, taking my hand in his.
“No one has ever been worth it. Or important enough. Or meant this much to me. I want to share my life with you, and my past. And I want you to share yours with me too, if you want to.” His words took me off guard. Suddenly everything felt so much more serious and intimate. He was being real with me.
“Of course I want to.” And I did. Even if it did scare me.
“Come here-” Zayn said, pulling me with him to the top of his bed, lying down next to me with his arms wrapped around me. “Talk to me.”
“About what?”
“Anything you want. Something about you.”
Something about me. Well, this could get interesting. But to start off, I chose something light hearted, simple.
“I think my favorite birthday was when I turned seven. My mom actually had a party for me. I think it might’ve been the only time she did that. It was at our country club. My whole class was invited, and everyone got dressed up. I wore this beautiful dress, it had a big bow in the back, and had all these layers and it was pink and white. I remember feeling so special.” I hadn’t thought about my childhood in a while, mostly because it consisted primarily of several nanny’s coming and going. They were the ones to go to my school conferences, and to help me with my homework. And then, when I got older, I was on my own.
Zayn listened intently, seeming interested in the things I told him about the time I got a pet bunny and took it back a week later because I didn’t know how to take care of it, and my first ‘boyfriend’ Daniel in 6th grade who wanted to kiss me but I wouldn’t let him, and my first kiss which was 7th grade with this boy named Zachary who tried to grab my boob so I kicked him in the crotch and then we dated for a month. He asked questions at certain points and laughed at the right parts and never seemed like he got bored. And finally, I forced him to let me stop talking so he could tell me things to. And reluctantly, he eventually did. He told me about his first kiss, which was with a girl in his chorus when he was 13 and they were behind the school building. he also told me about when his sisters used to put makeup on him, and when he knew he wanted to be a singer. I loved lying in his old room as he told me these things, it made them seem so much more real.

Eventually we went downstairs into the living room and put on a movie. Zayn was playing with my hair, so of course I ended up falling asleep on top of him, most likely killing his arms and forcing him to sit there because I was crushing him with my entire body. But even then, I don’t think he complained once.

- -

I woke up on the couch with a blanket throw over me. But no Zayn. I was about go get up and look for him when I heard voices in the kitchen. Zayn and his mom.
“She really does seem lovely though, I just wish you had explained the situation to me. I wouldn’t have wanted to make her uncomfortable.
“I don’t think you did. But yeah, maybe I should’ve.”
“You really do care for her.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I’m so happy for you, darling.”
“Thanks mum.”
There was some drawers being opened and closed, so I didn’t hear what they were saying for a few seconds.
“- And Sofea needs some help with her school work, I can’t seem to get her to apply herself. She’s so much like you in that way. But other than that, everything’s fine here. Nothing much has changed, other than the fact that we miss you.”
“I know, i’m sorry I haven’t been home in so long.”
“It’s alright-”
“No it’s not. I know it’s not. But I hope it’s alright I brought Evie.” I felt a sudden wave of guilt; Was I invading and no one was willing to tell me?
“Of course it’s alright! I’m thrilled! She brings out the side of you I used to love so much.” I heard Zayn’s faint chuckle. I felt myself smile. I know I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help myself. If I walked in now, they would just wonder how much of the conversation I had heard.
“How’d dad?” Zayn said, his voice slightly more serious than before.
“I haven’t talked to your father in a while, but he seems to be doing well from what the girls tell me.” Patricia seemed tense suddenly.
“I was just asking...”
“I know. I wish I could tell you more. Maybe you should call him. I know he would love to hear from you.”
“Maybe.”
“So, with tomorrow being Christmas Eve. We were going to go to Aunt Iris’s for dinner, do you think Evie would want to go?”
“I’ll ask, but i’m sure she would.”
“Perfect, and then on Christmas we'll spend the morning here, and then the girls and I were going to go to the performance at the primary school. I won’t make you two sit through that.”
Zayn laughed, “Thanks mum.”
Their conversation lasted a bit longer. But I eventually got up and helped Patricia with dinner. Zayn’s sisters came home, introducing themselves politely and proceeding to ask my tons of questions about America and my school there and how Zayn and I met. He was right about one thing, they weren’t afraid to speak their mind. But they all seemed nice. As we all sat around the small table; laughing and talking freely, I felt like I was a part of a real family. One that told each other the truth about things, and joked and bonded together. It felt so good, even if it did hurt a little, knowing I would never have this. But every so often, I would look over at Zayn and see him looking at me, his smile sending chills up my spine, and I knew I had something special too.


ZAYN’S POV:

“ I like her. She seems nice.”
“Thanks Don, I’m glad I got your approval.” I spoke quietly, not wanting Evie to be paranoid that we were talking about her. She was in the other room, calling her Aunt and getting ready to go to sleep. It was late and she seemed exhausted, I know I was. Part of me wished she could stay with me in my room, but I know my mum wasn’t willing to be that open. So she would be staying in Waliyha’s room, and she would be sleeping with Doniya.
“You do. I like her too.” Waliyha spoke up, looking up from her laptop. They were all in Doniya’s room and I had come in to say goodnight, which had quickly turned into an interrogation. “ Do you think you’ll actually be able to make this one last?” I knew she was joking, by her comment made me suddenly defensive.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just mean, you’ve gone through a lot of girls in the past few years.” Waliyha went on, talking casually even though it was obvious I was annoyed.
“This is different.” I snapped.
“Okay, fine! I was just asking.”
“I’m going to bed.”
“‘Night!” They called as I shut the door behind me.
I had already said goodnight to Evie, and my mum was already in her room with the lights off, so I guess I was left alone. I went into my room, flipping on the floor lamp. I walked around, feeling like this room was frozen in time. Virtually nothing has been touched. I opened some of my old sketchbooks, flipping through pages of made-up comic book superheroes and random doodles. Sitting at my desk, I shifted through the drawers, finding old school books and things, nothing of much importance. Getting bored, I went over and laid down on my small bed, feeling strange with so little space on either side of me. I was used to a King size now. That made me sound like a huge prick. I tried to fall asleep, but was unsuccessful.

Eventually, almost an hour had past since I left my sisters room. I was fairly sure my mum was already asleep, and so were my sisters. I couldn’t stop thinking about the girl on the other side of this wall. Evie was in there, alone.
So, as quietly as possible, I walked into the hall, and gently opened the door to the room she was staying in. All the lights were off, but the glow of her cell phone screen illuminated the small area where her head rested on the pillow.
“Evie?” I heard her jerk quickly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I whispered, shutting the door behind me.
“Zayn? What are you doing?” She sat up in bed, setting her phone next to her. I didn’t bother turning on any of the lights. My eyes were adjusting to the darkness and I could now faintly see the outline of her face.
“I missed you.” I said honestly, getting into bed next to her.
“Are you sure it’s okay-”
“It’s fine. I promise. Come here, I can’t see you.” I reached out, trying to figure out where she was in relation to me in the dark. My hand felt her shoulder. I moved my hand up to her cheek, cupping it in my palm. Her hand felt for me too, finding my chest and moving so we were closer to each other.
“Is this supposed to be some kind of game or something?” She giggled, her voice hushed.
“It seems to have turned into one. I’m gonna try and find your right ear.” I joked, moving my hand across her face, tugging on her right earlobe.
“I’ll find your nose.” She said, a smile prominent in her voice. She moved her fingers from my chin, tapping my nose twice. “Easy” She bragged. I could feel the mattress shift as she moved. And a second later, I felt her lips touch mine gently. “Found it on my first try, does that mean I win?” She kissed me quickly, attempting to sit back down. By I stopped her quickly, placing my hands firmly on her bum.
“I think I just beat you.” I laughed. She hit my arm playfully, but I hear her faint giggle.
“How about a tie?”
“Alright.”
I pulled her closer, holding onto her against me. I placed small kisses across her cheeks, wishing I could see her better. But I would take what I could get.
“I’m so glad you’re here...” I whispered in her ear.
“Me too”

We just talked for a while, sitting together in the dark. I prolonged leaving, I felt so much more comfortable in bed with her. But eventually, I was forced to go back to my room, leaving Evie alone in hers. It is difficult to fall asleep with that thought in my head.

Notes

I really hope you like this chapter, please let me know what you think !! I didn’t make a polyvore set for Evie’s outfit in this chapter just because I didn’t have time and I really want to get the chapter up. So, if any of you want to make on, I would love you forever :)

I hope everyone is having a good week !!