EVIE’S POV:

“- He spent a lot of time in his room, always drawing and listening to music. He read a lot too. He didn’t go out much, especially as he got older. I always had a feeling he would leave home the second he had the chance. But when everything happened, with the show and the band and it all, I wasn’t near ready. I thought I still had some time with him.” Tricia and all three of Zayn’s sisters had gotten home around noon the next day. The two of us were sitting in the small living room with the fire on, sipping tea as she told me about what Zayn was like when he was younger. I knew I would only get the good stories when he wasn’t around, he would never let her tell me anything too embarrassing, but I wanted to hear whatever she was willing to tell me. So it wasn’t until Zayn went to take a shower that I started asking her questions about her son.
“Was he always musical?” I asked, wondering if he was the kid who won all the talent shows.
“No, never! I barely knew he could sing until he tried out. It really was a shock to us all. He used to be so embarrassed to sing in front of anyone, thankfully that changed the second he was put into the group.” I don’t know if I could ever see Zayn in the way his mom was describing him. I mean, I saw the quiet, reserved side of him at times, but then I also saw the sexy, bold, side. But he never really seemed to be embarrassed. He always had it together. it was something I envied about him.
“Tricia? I just really wanted to thank you again for letting me stay here with all of you, you’ve got no clue how much it meant to me. I’ve never had a Christmas like this, it was amazing.” A soft smile fell on her face, her eyes softening.
“Oh, sweetheart, it was my pleasure. You’ll always be welcome here.” She leaned over on the sofa, hugging my lightly.

* * *

ZAYN’S POV:

“Don’t screw things up with her, she’s nice. And she’s good for you.” Sofea said, hugging me tightly as I stood by the front door. Evie had already said her goodbyes, and went to ‘put her things in the car’, aka, she wanted me to have time alone to say goodbye.
“I promise.” I chuckled, hugging her back.
“I’m really gonna miss you.” Doniya said, attacking me next.
Wahiyha, Sofea, and my mum all jointed in on the hug. I laughed, feeling like the 16 year old I had been when I left home for the first time.
Finally, all four of them released their grip. I gave my mum a peck on the cheek,
“Thanks so much for everything. I promise I won’t wait so long to visit next time.” She smiled, her eyes glassy, but she didn’t cry. She just smiled, holding my face in her hands.
“I’m proud of the man you’re becoming, Zayn. And even I can tell that girl out there has something to do with it.”
“She has pretty much everything to do with it.” I laughed. She just grinned, hugging me once more before letting me out the door.

- -

“You ready to head back to reality?” I joked Evie as we began the drive back to London. There was still quite a bit of snow, but thankfully the streets had already been plowed.
“Definitely not. I’m gonna miss it here. it’s nice, quiet.”
“Who said you can’t come back?” I asked, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She smiled, moving her hand to lay over mine, lacing our fingers together.

As I drove, needing to stay attentive due to the still-slippery roads, Evie was in charge of the music selection. She plugged her ipod in, soft acoustic guitar played through the speakers. Her head rest on my shoulder and she eventually got me to agree to play Car Games, ‘I Spy’ and The Licence Plate Game and that one where you’re going on a picnic and you have to name all the things you’re both going to bring. She won every time. But by the time we reached Evie’s house, she was fast asleep, her head leaning against the window, hand still holding mine.
I stopped the car, stroking her palm gently.
“Evie? Love, it’s time to wake up...” She stirred gently, lifting her head and blinking a few times.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” She rubbed her eyes, smiling when she saw that we were holding hands.
“It’s alright, you looked cute.” She giggled, but then her expression changed.
“Is it really bad that I’m not really in the mood to go up there?” She looked sad, and guilty.
“No, it’s not. But why?”
“Just, not in the mood. Will has been extra angry lately, Zoey’s been home pretty much never. It’s kinda depressing. Plus, you’re not there. So that’s no fun.” She gave a half-smile, but I could still see that she was being serious.
“Well, if you ever want to have a slumber party, you know you’re always more than welcome.” She gave a slight bigger smile, nodding.
“I need to be there now, don’t I? Up there-” She was referring to her own flat. I didn’t respond, she didn’t need me to.
“I’ll help you with your bags.”

I carried her small suitcase up to her floor and into her room, which still was in its shambled state just like the first time I was here, and every time after that. I didn’t want to say anything, but I wondered why she still hadn’t unpacked all of her things. It looked like at any moment she was ready to bolt.
“Do you think they’re asleep?” I whispered, not wanting to wake her brother and aunt, just in case they were.
“Let me check.” She left her room, coming back a moment later.
“They’re not.” She spoke at a normal volume. “I should probably call and see where they are, sorry, one second.” She held her phone to her ear, sitting at the end of her bed and kicking her feet aimlessly.
“Hey, Zoe, I just got back and you and Will aren’t here, I was just wondering what wa-” She stopped, clearly cut off. “What? What do you mean?” She sounded panicked, “No, I have no clue where he could be. You know he doesn’t tell me anything!” She was speaking quickly, standing up and pacing around the room. “I- I don’t know. Where are you? What do you want me to do?” She listened for a few seconds hanging up and turning to me with a worried look.
“She can’t find Will.”

* * *

EVIE’S POV:

“- I don’t know, I DON’T KNOW! He tells me NOTHING, I have no clue where he could be! Why the hell didn’t she tell me earlier?!” I was acting insane, I was completely aware of this. But according to Zoey, Will had gone out really late last night and hadn’t come back since. His phone was either dead or turned off. Zayn was trying to keep me calm, but failing miserably since i’m not sure anyone could do that right now.
“Shh, hey, Ev, take a breath-” He held onto my arms, looking me in the eye. I stopped, staring at him. Just a few hours ago, everything had been so perfect. And now, in a split second, everything was complete crap.
“I don’t think I can.” I spoke, breathing heavily as tears stung my eyes.
“It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay. He’s sixteen, right? This is normal. He probably just went out with some friends.” His words soothed my slightly, but my head was still coming up with the worst possible scenarios. This was possibly the last thing I expected to return to tonight.
“I know, there’s this place, kinda nearby. It’s like, a really gross bar, I think he goes there sometimes, because they don’t card. But I don’t think that Zoey knows about it.” He nodded.
“Then we’ll go there.”
“Zayn, you don’t-” I felt bad, pulling him into my own issues. He shouldn’t have to deal with all of this.
“Don’t even start with that, babe. There’s no way i’m not helping you right now.”
And just like that, even though things were a mess and Zoey was sending my a hundred texts a minute and I felt like this couldn’t be as simple as any of us wanted it to be, Zayn still managed to make me feel good.

I got a little lost walking us to the bar; mostly because I didn’t really know where we were going, but also because I was wondering if maybe someone should’ve stayed home in case he came back, or if he was arrested, or got drunk and passed out....
“I think it’s here.” I said, hastily crossing a busy street, forcing Zayn to run after me into traffic.
“Jesus, Ev, you could’ve been hurt!” He exclaimed, snatching my hand and pulling me onto the sidewalk before one of the speeding cars hit me. I hadn’t really been thinking, incase that wasn’t obvious. But he didn’t say anything else, instead he lead me through the door of a bar that I couldn’t even tell the name of, into a dark, musky room that reeked of stale beer, cigarettes, and sweat. “You sure this is the place?” Zayn mumbled, looking around.
“Yeah. Positive.”
“‘Scuse me, can I help you?” A man’s voice said. I turned around to see someone in around their 50’s, a cigarette dangling from his chapped lips and a greasy comb over.
Will seriously hung out here?
“Hi, um, well- We’re looking for my brother, Will Baylor? I think he comes here sometimes. He’s young, kinda tall, dirty blonde hair... um, American...” The man didn’t seem like he was processing my words. “Did you hear what I said?” I asked, a sharper tone in my voice, hoping he would get the message that I wasn’t messing around.
“Sweetheart, I don’t ask names, I don’t ask biographies, I just serve the drinks and they pay. I wouldn’t know your brother if he whacked me over the head.” He chuckled, taking a long drag. I felt my patience running dry. I wasn’t in the mood for his attitude.
“Well maybe you should be more aware next time you serve a sixteen-year-old who runs away from home.” I said angrily, taking a quick scan of the room to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, Will wasn’t hiding or something, and then left without another word, or making sure that Zayn was behind me.
“Eh, babe, slow down for a second!” Zayn grabbed my arm, pulling me back gently. I spun my head around, his face changing when he looked at me.
“I’ve never seen you like this.” He said quietly, holding either side of my face in his hands. He stepped closer and I took a ragged breath.
I couldn’t do this now, I couldn't stop. Because I know the second I did, I would lose it. I would crumble, leaving this hard exterior and bravery behind me as I slipped back into the pathetic, weak girl that had let my brother turn into someone unrecognizable.
I stepped away from Zayn, which is something I didn't think I was capable of.
“I can’t do this right now, Zayn.”
“What?” He looked concerned, and I wanted to tell him that he shouldn’t, this wasn’t his fault. But I didn’t.
“I can’t- think straight. I can’t think about anything else but finding him. I can’t, understand why he would do this. And I’m- you’re so sweet for helping, but I don’t want you to see me like this.” I felt my throat close, the tears threatening to spill over. But I couldn't let them.
“What? Like what, what do you mean?”
“Like this, this crazy person! This used to happen alot, he would go out and not come bakc for hours, never answering his phone. But it hasn’t happened since we moved here. We don’t know this city as well, I don’t know where he goes, I don’t even know his friends. I just know that I have to find him.”
He sighed, still holding onto my shoulders, staring down at me, his brows knitted together. “Well, it sounds like you need my help. Because I do know this city. So, where are we going to go next?”

Notes

Hiiiii !! So, this chapter is sort of all over the place. A lot of stuff happens, and a lot more stuff is going to be happening in the next few chapters :) So I really hope you like it. Tell me your thoughts !! any suggestions / predictions / ANYTHING !!!

ALSOOOO I added links on my blog to a fic recommendation list and a book recommendation list. So if you read any of them and like them, tell me !! and if you have any recs for me, PLEASE message me and tell me, because i really wants some new fics AND books to read :)