Friend Zoned

*Zayn’s P.O.V.*

The site before me made me sick. I knew she was going to be okay, her appendix had burst but the doctors had taken incredible care of her and I was sure that they could nurture her back to full health. Just seeing her laying on the crisp white sheets that barely contrasted her ill, pale skin, however, had me reeling over the fact that she hadn’t been okay; that if she had of been anywhere else, she may not have been okay. Though the time span that she has been in my life was short, I know already that she will have a lasting impact if I ever lose her, something that I never plan to do. How would I ever live without her if even in the early stages of our friendship I feel this way?

The constant beeping of her monitor was driving me insane. She wasn’t awake, instead lying unresponsive. Bridget, her brother and mother were all waiting in the room, Chelsea’s older brother, his wife and son were also on their way. My phone’s been turned off since just after I arrived. I sent a text to everyone letting them know about the emergency before I switched it off to avoid the back log I was going to get about leaving. It’s more important to be here though, the boys all understand. I’d deal with the others at a later date.

“Zayn,” Bridget said quietly and a little awkwardly. She’s been a little awkward around me since we first met when Chels and I walked in on her and Liam. I can’t blame her for it but it’s not like I consider t it to be a big deal, I’ve seen all the boys in worse situations. I acknowledge her quickly before turning back to look at Chelsea’s fingers that I had been fiddling with. “You should get something to eat or have a quick nap. You flew across the world to see her, I don’t think she would mind if you were asleep when she woke up, she would probably feel much better that at least you were taking care of yourself.”

“There’s no way I’m about to go to sleep or leave her Bridget. I can’t leave her side until I know that she is really all right. I can’t leave her when she looks like this, so sick.”

She let a small sigh slip past her lips. “If I can’t get you to leave, do you mind if we go and get something to eat?”

“Yeah sure Bridget, it’s fine. I’ll text you if she wakes up or if there is any progress.”

“Thank you Zayn, we won’t be long at all. I’ll grab you something to eat as well. We’ll be back soon.” Before I could protest the three were out the door and on their way to the hospital café leaving me alone with the beautiful angel lying in front of me.

“Why did you do this to yourself? Why do you have to be so stubborn? I need you Chelsea, why did this have to happen? Why weren’t you alright? Why the hell wasn’t I there for you, to make sure you were alright and getting all the medical support that you needed? I’m sorry Chelsea baby, I’m sorry for not being there.” Tears were welling in my eyes, threatening to spill over as I voiced my thoughts in the otherwise silent room.

I felt a strong urge to throw up come over me, the worry of the situation getting the better of me as I let a few tears slip in the emptiness of the space. Her fingers were so pliable in her unconscious state, naturally moulding with mine as I slipped them between my fingers, using my other hand to wipe away some of my tears, slightly sniffling.

My heart leaped with fear as her heart rate monitor sped up slightly, the relentless beeping catching my attention again with the change. Do I need to call the doctor or nurse? Is something wrong? Is she going to be okay?

“Z-Zayn?” What? I looked up surprised when I heard this and felt movement in her previously limp fingers. “Zayn.” Her voice was more confident this time and she was slowly losing the rasp that sleep brought on.

“Chels? Oh my god Chelsea, you’re awake.” I told her, standing up to look over her, tears spilling over embarrassingly. I’m a guy, I’m not supposed to cry like this. “Are you okay?”

“What happened?” She asked, disorientated but I was too happy that she was awake to really pay attention to what she was saying as I leant our foreheads together. “Zayn, what happened?”

“Your appendix burst but the doctors did a really good job and you’re okay.” She gasped as her eyes widened significantly at her serious diagnostic. “I’m so glad you’re awake.” I felt like such a loser crying about her being okay but I just care about her so much that I had to let my relief out some way and this seemed like the only option.

She brought her hands up to my cheeks, wiping away the few tears that were marking my cheeks. “Why are you crying?” she asked on concern as she rested her palms against my cheeks.

“I’m just so happy that you’re awake and alive and somewhat healthy. I don’t even care anymore that you were stubborn and dumb, all I care about is that you’re okay. You scared the fuck outta me.”

“I’m sorry Zayn.” She acknowledged as tears formed in her eyes and a worried look spread across her face. “Wait, what are you doing here? I thought you were in America?”

“I got on a flight as soon as possible after Bridget called me saying that you had collapsed and they were talking about surgery. I was so, so worried and I’m just so happy that you are awake and alright. I was so scared for you, we all were. You were in surgery for hours, almost enough time for me to fly here. I’m just so glad you’re fine.”

A smile graced my face that was still leaning against hers and I felt the overwhelming desire to kiss her come over me but before we could make it to that stage the door swung open revealing every member – or what I assumed to be every member – of her family minus her father who had to get support to help him leave his room and they wouldn’t get him up here until she had woken up and was stabilised.

“Oh… should we come back in a few minutes?” Bridget asked with a slight smirk from the doorway but after Chelsea and I wiped each other’s cheeks dry, we pulled away from each other and shook our heads. I moved back to the seat that I had been sitting in for the past few hours while I had been waiting for her to wake up to allow her family to see how she was going.

I watched as she answered question about how she was feeling, whether she needed anything, and all the usual questions worried families ask after their relative comes out of surgery. She was a piece of art that I could stare at for days, I probably would if it wasn’t considered strange. The questioning died down a bit and everyone settled into the seats provided in her room, resulting in me giving up my chair and then sitting on Chelsea’s bed as she instructed me to. Chelsea reached for my hand and I gratefully accepted her gesture.

We were eyed suspiciously by her family but no one really directed the conversation to us, which I was very appreciative of, instead they chose to discuss the impending birth of Chelsea’s next niece or nephew.

They talked animatedly about how they had done up a new nursery for the child and how the baby would be here very soon. I stayed quiet, not feeling completely comfortable surrounded by Chelsea’s family as we had only just met, but I felt refreshed and happy at the same time. I felt normal for the first time in ages. Even my family brought up my career constantly. I knew they wanted to hear everything about what I was doing and all the things I was experiencing but sometimes I just wanted to discuss the mundane, common things in life, and the Parker’s gave me the chance to be involved in something so standard allowing me the brief opportunity to feel relaxed and normal.

I must have zoned out for so long that Chelsea needed to nudge me to bring me back to planet earth. I noticed that she was observing me curiously, also not paying attention to the conversation her family was holding. I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles as a small gesture to just let her know that I was here. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly, as if she didn’t want to draw her family’s attention to our conversation.

I pondered my thoughts briefly before nodding, allowing a ghost of a smile to tug at my lips. “Yeah, I’m much better now. Now that I know that you’re okay.” I told her as I reached up to brush some of her hair back. She nuzzled her head into my palm, the drugs making her a little dopy but adorable as usual.

“I’m sorry, I should have listened to you. And everyone else.” She apologised as tears began to form again. I quickly brought her hand to my lips, pecking it gently as if to reassure her that it was all okay.

“You should have but there’s nothing we can do about it now. I’m just glad you’re okay, that’s all I really care about. Please don’t cry, it hurts me when you’re upset.” She murmured out a sorry again and turned to bury her head into the pillows, letting her tears seep into it as she tried to conceal them from me. I shuffled further up to her head and brought her head onto my lap so I could hold her a little better on the awkwardly placed hospital bed.

We stayed like this, silent excluding the background noise of her gossiping family and the incessant beeping from her monitor, for a little while. My fingers were tracing shapes on her back causing her to shiver every so often which drew a chuckle out of me.

“You should go.” She spoke quietly but I heard every word she said. I looked down at her confused. Did she not want me here? Were my feelings not as mutual as I originally assumed? “I mean you should go back to America, you have work to do and you’re just wasting your time being here with me. I’m beyond happy, even though I can’t seem to be able to express it right now, that you’re here. That you gave everything up to fly and see me when I made a stupid decision and got myself in some trouble, but you’re an important person Zayn. Other people need you more than me, you should be with them.”

“I don’t care Chels, there is no way that I’m leaving you until I know that you’re absolutely fine. I’m not letting something like this happen again.” She was about to protest when my stomach rumbled, drawing her attention to it as little giggles slipped past her lips. “If you won’t go back to America, at least go and eat so we don’t need to admit you too hospital too.” I rolled my eyes but agreed with her anyway, dismissing myself from the room.

When I came back to her room, coffee and a snack in hand her mother, who was standing by her doorway smiling at me, greeted me.

“Hi Mrs Parker,” I greeted her with a smile after she acknowledged me. “What can I do for you?” I questioned a little nervously, getting the feeling she was waiting for me. I really didn’t want to make a bad impression on her, especially if I eventually want a future with her daughter. Wait, what Zayn?

“I just want to thank you Zayn,” she told me as a feeling of confusion rolled through me. What did she want to thank me for? “I’m not sure how much Chelsea has told you about her past but she’s had a rough time recently. You’ve really helped her recovery process, I haven’t seen her happier even now that she isn’t feeling 100%. I feel like a horrible mother for encouraging her to do things in the past when only now I can see how happy she is with you. Now before you object and say that you aren’t together – Chelsea has already made that very clear – but I can see that you two have something special. You look at each other like Michael and Sarah look at each other, and there is so much love between those too.” I’m a little stunned, which is a rare thing for me nowadays. I’ve become accustomed to strange and unexpected things happening in my life.

I scratch the back of my neck and feel a light blush scatter across my tanned skin. ”Oh, um, thank you. I’m just trying to do whatever I can for your daughter. I really care for her.” I told her with a bit of uncertainty but she just nodded at me with a huge smile gracing her face.

“I’m glad she has you in her life but we should get back inside before they get too suspicious,” she said with a cheeky smirk which I couldn’t help but compare to Chelsea. She shared so many characteristics with her mother, there was no doubt they were related. I nodded in agreement and followed her into the room.

Chelsea was interacting with her nephew who was giggling at his aunt as his mother watched on with a kind smile. Sam and Michael were throwing punches at each other and laughing at something the other had said, interacting in a way only siblings can. Bridget was in the corner of the room on the phone looking a little stressed out, but as soon as her eyes landed on me she relaxed a little and motioned for me to come over to her.

I looked at her puzzled until she pulled the phone away from her ear. “It’s Liam, well he’s calling on behalf of everyone there, and they’re not exactly impressed.” She told me with a nervous disposition as I took the phone of her.

After I made it out of the room I raised the phone to my ear, grumbling a hello to whoever was on the other end. “Zayn, why’d you turn your phone off? They’ve gone mental demanding that you get back here immediately. They’re not impressed. I hate saying this, and please don’t shoot the messenger, but you’ve gotta clear this up or get back here ASAP.”

“No.” I responded firmly, they need to know that I have the right to be here and to tend to personal issues.

“No what? No, you’re not coming back? You have to Zayn, or at least call them before they start ripping off our heads too. I have to go…. Just call them, please. And tell Chelsea we’re all thinking of her and that we’ll try and be back to see her as soon as possible. That depends on you though Zayn, you’ve got to get in contact with management and sort this out, you know they hate being left in the dark.” I accepted his proposition and ended the call from him, taking a few deep breaths before making the call I had been putting off since I made it here.

Notes

Hiii guys :)
I know I've been updating a bit faster than normal but it should return to updates every two weeks if I can manage my time well enough. I'll be getting busier and busier the further we get into the year.
Also it's been a year since I've published Friend Zoned which seems insane but thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through the past year. I can't thank you enough and I appreciate everything that you've done for me even though you don't realise it.
I know I don't normally ask for anything but I was really hoping to get to 40 votes before the next update in honour of one year so if you'd do that I would love you even more than I do now :)
On another note, I'm still suffering from PCD and it's been a week :( it was so worth it though
I hope you're all doing well ILYSM
Please continue to vote/comment/subscribe thanks :)
Well that's all from me
Until Next Update,
Much Love <3,
xxg