Over Again

I walked up the steps to her house, taking deep breaths as I did so. Hopefully it won't be her drunken father. I really hope it isn't, I don't know how that would do.

I ring the doorbell, taking short and sharp breaths. A little girl, about maybe nine, answers the door.

"Hi," I say awkwardly. "Who are you?" Her eyes widened, and I suddenly felt her wrap her arms around my waist.

"Zayn! It been so long! Where have you been? Is anyone else here," the girl looked around me to see if I had brought anyone.

"Brandy, what are you yelling about?" I heard another girl call out somewhere in the house.

"Nothing Ella! I'm just answering the door," she calls back.

"Oh my god, Brandy? Look how much you've grown," I say when it clicks. "You were so little when I left!"

"I was six when you left," she said in a monotonous voice. "Yeah, we all kind of changed while you were gone." Her expression hardens.

"I know," I hung my head. "How old is Ella-Maree now?"

"Fourteen," I hear a deeper female voice say. Brandy turns around and motions for me to step in so I can see. Ella stands in the doorway atop the staircase, leaning on it with her arms folded against her chest. "I'm fourteen."

"Wow, you all got so big," I say. She rolls her eyes, turning and walking away. Brandy turns to me and whispers.

"She's in a mood, don't worry about it." I smile down at her. "Now, about that boy band of yours..."

"Brandy, I would love to talk about the boys, but I've really got to talk to Gracie. Where is she?" She thinks for a second, then her finger shoots up in the air.

"Aha! I know! Follow me!" She takes my hand and drags me down a hall I don't remember walking down. "You see, whilst you were gone, we kinda... Renovated. Gracie, she's got a humongous room!" She stops abruptly. "Oh, we're here."

Brandy knows on the door lightly, which I notice is covered by some posters of artists like Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban, or maybe some pull-out photos of R5, The Band Perry, or Austin Mahone. Not one picture of One Direction in sight.

"What Brandy," I hear a voice choke out.

"You have a visitation," she says, her forehead leaning against the door as she talks. I have a feeling Brandy and Gracie aren't as close as they use to be.

"Who," she chokes out. Brandy looks up at me, squinting suspiciously before returning back to her previous position.

"Zayn," Brandy finally says.

"Let go of his hand," I hear her say.

"Wha- how did she?!" I look at Brandy, and she smirks, dropping my hand.

"Send him in."

Notes