Chapter 25. What? Why? How?
Aria's P.O.V
We carried on walking quietly, hands stuffed in our pockets and staring ahead. It was when we passed the alley I stepped closer to Zayn and looked down. He put an arm over my shoulder and used his hand to rub my upper arm in a comforting manner. I smiled at the ground as we walked passed it slowly. It was a loud agonizing scream that froze us on the spot. We looked at each other before I started running towards the alley without thinking properly. Zayn quickly caught my arm and pulled back "Are you crazy?!" Zayn yelled at me before pulling me behind him and running off towards the alley.
I stood there for a while, no I can't just stand here. What if it's a trick and Zayn gets hurt? Oh god I can't see him all bruised and beaten up again. I start running towards the alley and as I walk inside, I slow down my pace "Zayn?" I call out, trying to make out anyone in the dark area in front of me.
"Aria!" Zayn yells my name, his voice sounding really alarmed.
"Zayn?!" I call out again, running deeper inside trying to ignore my pounding heart and the scared feeling making my stomach churn unpleasantly.
"Aria get out of here!" Zayn shouts then I hear a scream but I know it's not Zayn's.
I run deeper in but freeze on the spot when someone steps in my way, their hood was up but I could tell who it was. The tall figure stood with one hand in their pocket and the other holding a gun, a smirk playing at their lips but their eyes were slightly covered "Justin" I breathe out, colour draining from my face.
"Aria" He says.
"Where's Zayn? Leave him alone! He doesn't deserve this" I yell at his face, shoving him weakly.
"Don't touch me you tramp" He growls, smacking me hard with the gun.
I fall to the floor as my head spins and a stinging pain takes over the side of my head. I groan as I try to sit up.
"Leave her alone! She's got nothing to do with this!" Zayn yells, though I couldn't see him I could tell he was struggling which meant there were others here.
I weakly scramble to my feet and narrow my eyes at a quite amused Justin "How sweet, defending a girl who's not even yours" Justin sneers.
"Why are you doing this? Just leave him alone! You want me, right? Well then I'm yours" I say, feeling weak and worthless for just giving myself to him like this but I have to do it for Zayn.
"Not so easy babe, there are things I have to take care of" Justin smirks, walking over to Zayn.
Now I could see Zayn, he was against a wall with two guys pinning him against it and he has a deep gash on his cheek. I held in the sobs that wanted to escape my mouth because this really was a stupid time to cry. There were two others standing in a corner, though one was more skinny with a curvy figure so I'm guessing that's the girl of Justin's gang. Justin walked slowly towards Zayn and as soon as he reached him he punched him hard three times in the stomach.
I let out a scream "Stop!"
"Shut up!" Justin roars "Austin"
My eyes widen in shock when I realise the guy standing in the corner was Austin. But how? They all hated each other.
"Austin and I are together in one big gang now, this is only so that I get what I want and he gets what he wants" Justin says as if he just read my mind.
What do I do? Call the police? No they'd probably arrest Zayn as well since he's part of a gang. I start running towards Justin but I feel myself flying into the wall, the girl smirking at me. My eyes widen in shock as I realised who it was. "Yasmin?!" I scream.
"Yup" She says, slapping my hard across the face "That's for stealing my boyfriend"
I put a hand over my cheek and stare at her feeling so pathetic "How did this happen?" I ask, weakly.
"Well I wanted revenge because I know Zayn was always with you when he's not with me and that just really annoyed me because you were basically stealing my boyfriend from me" She says, crossing her arms over her chest, smirking at me.
"I was never with Zayn" I yell, clenching my fists in frustration.
She scoffs "Whatever"
"Leave her alone!" Zayn yells, still struggling against the two guys' hold.
"Shut up!" Justin yells, pulling out a gun and pointing it at his head.
"No!" I shriek, kneeing Yasmin hard in the stomach causing her to fall to the floor clutching her stomach.
I grab her gun and point it at her head. All of them stare at me in shock but Justin quickly composes his expression and smirks "You're bluffing" He says, still pointing his gun at Zayn's temple.
Mine was pointed at the centre of Yasmin's forehead "Leave Zayn alone or I shoot her" I threaten, though there was a nervous edge to my tone of voice.
"Sure, sure" Justin says, punching Zayn in the throat and Austin kicking him in the stomach.
Zayn starts choking and coughing which causes my eyes to widen "I'll shoot" I yell.
"No, no, no don't" Yasmin sobs, still kneeling down on the ground clutching her stomach.
Justin raises an eyebrow as if he's waiting for me to do something. "Aria, don't" Zayn says weakly.
I ignore him and narrow my eyes at a pleading Yasmin. "Aria don't you'll regret it!" Zayn shouts, his voice cracking.
Then I couldn't wait any longer, I squeeze my eyes shut and...I shoot. The loud noise of the gun echoing throughout the small alley. Yasmin's pleads are cut off as she falls to the ground, her now lifeless body sprawled out on the cold ground. I open my eyes and stare at her blankly, the gun slipping from my fingers. Silence. I hear something fall to the floor and Justin runs towards Yasmin and falls to his knees in front of her and pulls her in his arms. I feel someone pulling me up and I don't protest as I feel myself being carried away from the scene.
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Natasha opens the door and her eyes widen in shock as she sees me. I run to her and hug her, sobbing hard. She's shocked by my actions but quickly puts her arms around me, rubbing circles on my back soothingly "What happened to her?" Natasha asks.
"She'll tell you if she wants to" Zayn simply says.
Natasha doesn't say anything and just shuts the door. I pull away and wipe my eyes but start sobbing all over again. Natasha leads me towards the living room and sits us down on the sofa "Calm down, Aria it's okay, tell me what happened" She says, still rubbing my back.
"I.." I trail off letting out a weak sob.
"It's okay, calm down. You...what? Tell me" Natasha urges.
"I shot her" I breathe out, wanting nothing more than to scream into a pillow or just sob in a dark corner.
"What? Shot who? What are you talking about?" Natasha asks.
"I shot Yasmin" I say clearly, still sobbing.
"WHAT?!" Someone screams behind us.
We turn to see Natasha's aunt standing there with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open "You shot someone?!" She shrieks.
"I-I..." I trail off, there was nothing to say because it was the truth, there was nothing to cover it up.
"No, no she didn't mean that" Natasha tries to convince.
"Get out of my house!" Natasha's aunt yells, pointing at the door angrily.
I quickly get up and run upstairs and pull out the suitcase from under my bed, throwing clothes into it angrily. No one wants me, everyone pushes me away, throws me out like a crumbled piece of paper. I'm completely worthless. I throw in everything as Natasha comes into the room and tries to stop me. When I'm done I fold up the stuff I borrowed off Natasha quickly and put on Zayn jacket and my combat boots before storming down the stairs, dragging my suitcase behind me. Natasha is running down the stairs after me, screaming for me to stop. Natasha's aunt if still standing there watching my every move with a disgusted expression as I put a scarf on around my neck and fling open the door "Aria please!" Natasha shouts, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I shrug it off "Bye" I simply say and slam the door shut and storm off down the street without really knowing where I was going.
After a long time of walking I find myself sitting at the side of the road staring down at my feet. Then it hits me, I pull out my phone and call the only person I can't trust yet could still easily be around with.
"Hello?"
"Hey Zayn"
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"Well, you can sleep in my room, I'll just sleep on the floor" Zayn says to me.
"Where are the others staying?" I ask.
"They'll be going home soon they don't live here, except for Liam he lives with me" Zayn replies.
"Oh" I pause "Thank you so much for letting me stay here, it's only a few days then I'll find me own place"
"You can stay as long as you want" Zayn says, smiling warmly "Are you okay now?"
"Not really" I admit " What is the police come for me? I'll be arrested and I'll have to spend the rest of my life in jail, oh gosh"
I put my face in my hands, tears streaming down my face. I'm a murderer. I shot someone in the head. I took away someone's life.
"Aria it wasn't your fault" Zayn says, pulling my hands from my face.
"Yes it was! Stop saying things are not my fault when they clearly are! I killed Yasmin and you saw it your self so I don't know why you're bothering to make me feel better!" I yell.
Zayn doesn't say anything, instead he just sits me down on his bed "You should rest, you went through a lot today and we have school tomorrow as well" Zayn says before leaving the room.
Zayn's P.O.V
I quietly walk down the friends and walk into the living room where the boys were sprawled out drinking beer, which I definitely didn't have in my kitchen so they probably got it them selves. "So she's staying with you?" Harry asks, his tone more bitter than questioning.
"Yeah she is" I say, narrowing my eyes threateningly at him.
"What's with the tone and the looks? Ever since both of you started being nice to Aria you two have just been rude and giving each other these looks like you're going to kill each other" Niall says, rolling his eyes in annoyance then taking a huge gulp of his beer.
I didn't say anything and neither did Harry. It's true, we're letting a girl wreck out friendship but it's not like I like her "Do you like her, Zayn?" Liam asks after a while.
All eyes were on me "Why me?" I ask, groaning.
"Because you're the one that's always willing to help her with everything and who get's a person they barely know a front seat ticket to a concert?" Liam asks.
I took a deep breath and thought about it. Do I like Aria? To be honest I did feel jealous when she was really close to Justin or if Harry flirted with her, and Liam is right, who get's someone they don't consider much of a friend a front seat concert ticket? Whoa, so I like Aria? Butterflies erupted in my stomach at the thought.
I exhaled and looked up at the guys who were staring at me expectantly thought Louis looked barely interested "Yeah" I say.
"I TOLD YOU, PAY UP" Niall yells at Liam, throwing a bunch of crisps in the air as if it was confetti.
"Oi! You're cleaning that up" I yell but they ignored me.
"Fine" Liam grumbles, taking out his wallet.
I raise an eyebrow but don't bother asking, it was pretty obvious what they were doing already. I glanced at Harry who's expression was blank, he met my gaze then stood up "I have to go" He mumbles, throwing on jacket.
I smirk as I hear my door slam shut "Zayn you should talk to him" Louis finally says.
"Why? I never did anything" I whine.
"Just-"
"No" I say firmly.
"Well we should get going" Niall says, taking his last sip from the can and grabbing his jacket.
"Yeah" Louis mumbles, grabbing his jacket as well.
They both walk out of the door leaving only me and Liam.
"You know Harry likes Aria too" Liam says after a moment of silence.
"I know, and I don't care I'll get her before he can" I mutter.
"Zayn, you're treating the girl as if she's a toy and you're letting her wreck your's and Harry's friendship. Talk to him and sort it out" Liam says, patting me on the shoulder before walking out of the room and heading up stairs.
I didn't bother thinking about anything, I'll get Aria no matter what. Now that Yasmin is finally out of the way Aria can finally be mine.
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Aria's P.O.V
I wake up to find Zayn already awake, he was leaning against the wall with his duvet covering his legs while he slowly tapped against his phone, furrowing his eyebrows in concentration. "Morning" I say, my voice all croaky.
"Morning" Zayn says, turning his head and smiling at me "Wanna go out for breakfast, there's nothing at home"
"Sure" I say, giving him a lazy smile.
I prod over to the bathroom and get the usual things over with before changing into a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a plain black shirt. I come out and Zayn goes into the bathroom while I quickly brush my hair and leave it flowing down my back. Zayn comes out after five minutes, his hair was wasn't in a quiff though, but it looked nice.
We leave his house and walk hand in hand down the street. Just when we pass the alley we hear someone "Zayn" We hear someone call.
Zayn starts walking towards the alley and I follow close behind feeling really anxious, my palms sweating and my heart pounding violently. Finally we are deep inside the alley and I make out an outline of someone standing with their back to us "Who are you?" Zayn asks firmly.
The person turns around and I furrow my eyebrows. Louis? He smirks at us, but it's not just a random smirk. It's like he's planning something "What Louis?" Zayn asks in an irritated voice.
Suddenly Louis pulls out a gun and points it at Zayn. It all happens too fast, there's the sound of the gun shot echoing throughout the quiet alley then Zayn is on the floor with a puddle of blood by his side. My eyes widen in horror and I scream "Zayn?!" I scream, shaking him violently.
Louis walks towards me, then points the gun at my temple "NO!" I scream.
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I jolt up right, panting as my heart pounds violently. I look to my right at the ground and see Zayn still sleeping, his hair ruffled and his mouth hanging open, drooling a little bit on his pillow. I sigh in relief and fall back on my pillow, staring at the ceiling, too afraid to sleep. How can I have such a weird nightmare? Louis would never hurt Zayn just because he hates me. I lightly groan and just grab my phone, playing temple run.
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I found a new job at the local library and I being payed well so that was good. It has been a week since the incident with Yasmin and so far the police haven't come after me and Justin or Austin haven't tried anything either so the past week has been a pretty peaceful week. Except for the fact that Harry and Zayn had been glaring at each other all the time, only yesterday they were acting a little more friendly towards each other which was a relief. The other boys and I are very close now, Louis talks to me a little bit. Well if asking for the remote control or his phone counts as talking then yes we have talked a little otherwise, no, he's always so quiet and he glares at me when he thinks I'm not looking.
Right now I'm sorting a bunch of books that had been placed on the wrong shelves. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Harry. I smile at him "Hey" I say, turning back.
"Hey" Harry replies, sounding slightly sheepish.
"What's up?" I ask.
"I need to talk to you" He blurts out.
I turn to him "Okay" I say slowly, staring at him expectantly.
He takes a deep breath "Aria, I like you"
My eyes widen "Oh" was all I could say.
"Yeah" Harry breathes out, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets awkwardly "It's okay if you don't feel the same"
"I'm sorry Harry, I just- I don't..." I don't know what to say.
"It's okay" Harry data before walking away.
Well then... awkward.
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(not edited)
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