*** Harry’s POV ***

“You were a bit harsh back there don’t you think Lou?” I said while picking up the empty bottles and throwing them in a bag, 

After Zayn left we thought it’d be appropriate for the party to end, too much had already happened and the mood inside of the apartment was too awkward to continue partying. Basically, there was just nothing to celebrate about anymore.

He sighed picking up the rubbish bag and held it out in front of me, “Oh c’mon, you know Zayn, he’s a fair bit stubborn sometimes and I knew a good scold would set him straight to let everything sink in.”

“Well,” I threw another bottle in, “You do know Zayn better than all of us..” 

He stepped forward and raised his eyebrows with pride, “Trust me, after tonight everything will be back to normal.”

“Hmm..you’re probably right.” I nodded,

He let out a laugh and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, his other hand shuffling through my curls, “Of course I’m right!”

I laughed and hugged him from the side, squeezing him with all my might. He easily broke from my weak hold and slapped me firmly on the ass.

“Hey!” Liam called out, “Get back to work you two!” 

I turned to Lou and mimicked Liam’s scolding sarcastically then picked up some more rubbish.

“I saw that!” Liam whined, 

I looked back at him with a cheeky smile and blew him a kiss.

*** Zayn’s POV ***

My heart was racing as I paced down the hall. I didn’t know where Holly was, but she couldn’t have gone too far. She didn’t like running away to far places, especially when she was upset. She was more of the type that liked to surround herself with familiar things because it made her feel a little less lonely, so I hoped it wasn’t going to take too long to find her. 

Every second that went by without her was killing me more than I could even handle. I just needed to see her, hold her, kiss her, tell her I love her. I needed her back. Why was I feeling like I had lost her? 

I frowned as I turned the doorknob to my apartment noticing it wasn’t locked, flinging the door wide open. I carefully looked around, half expecting a robber to jump out at me but all I could spot was a cushion on the floor. I picked it up and placed it back on the couch and made my way to my bedroom to get the keys to my car so I could start finding her.

My weary eyes immediately spotted her petite figure that my sheets ever so clearly outlined. Her soft long dark brown hair fell slightly over her face and as I watched her breathe in and out lightly from afar, my body began to feel weak. It was a frequent feeling that seemed to overtake my body so effortlessly. Only she could do that.

I tiptoed to the other side of the bed, revealing a closer view of the familiar beauty her face was blessed with. My eyes never left her once as I watched her sleep in a world that was probably better than the one she had left when she fell into this slumber. And the reason was because of me. I had taken away that happy aurora that glowed off her because of my foolish actions, oblivious to how much I was hurting her deep inside. I thought I was a good boyfriend. But how wrong was I.

Before, I had always told myself that whenever I’d get a girlfriend, I would treat her right and never let her know what it felt like to be hurt. But now that the time had come, I was doing the exact opposite, letting my past catch up to me and ruin what I had with me in the present.

I carefully climbed into the sheets making sure my movements were light as I slipped in the empty side of the bed beside her. The heat on her body immediately radiated onto me, surfacing the beginning of butterflies bursting inside of my stomach as simply being next to her always felt like the first. I smiled as I looked down at her peaceful face and brushed a part of her hair away from her eyes. She looked so beautiful. I had to pinch myself to make sure she was real. I slowly put my arm around her and kissed the top of her forehead breathing in her apple scent that I loved so much. There was a hope inside of me that yearned only wanting one thing; that we could fix this all. A hope that this was another obstacle she was willing to go through. 

“Zayn?” she murmured looking up as she moved back slightly, “Is that you?”

Her sudden movement surprised me and I felt so bad that I had woken her up, “I’m sorry I woke you up..” I whispered softly biting my lip,

Her face held no expression as she moved closer, still laying in one of my arms.

“I—-“, before I could utter another word she wrapped her arms around me tight, squeezing me as her head heavily dug into my chest, “I’m so sorry Zayn,” she cried out, “I’m so sorry, please forgive me, please!” 

A spot on the material of my shirt where her head laid began to feel wet. I pulled her back slowly revealing a heartbreaking sadness in her eyes as the tears were now streaming down her face.

“Babe!” I panicked darting my eyes between her own and her tears,  “Please don’t cry..” I held her chin in my hand, “Why are you sorry? All of this is my fault..” 

It pained me inside seeing her like this, thinking that she was in the wrong. Her tears only started to run faster as our eye contact never broke. Why did we do this to ourselves? We hurt each other even when we both didn’t want to. It was like no matter how much we loved and cared for each other, we were still prone to hurting the other.

She bit her lip as her eyes narrowed, “I almost cheated Zayn,” eyes beginning to tear up again, “I was so stupid!” her hands flew up to her face as she covered her watery brown orbs crying into them,

Her sobs were like a knife through the heart. Nothing hurt more than seeing the one I loved in pain. I did not look into her faults, but rather my own. What I had done. I would take the blame for all of this, not even taking any consideration to what she had almost done with Josh. That didn’t matter. All of this was my fault and she shouldn’t of felt like it was her own. 

I pulled her into my chest, cradling her in my arms, “Shh..” I whispered, “Forget everything that happened.” I held her closer than ever as I leaned my head down and kissed her head, “You didn’t do anything wrong. All of this is my fault. I should’ve been there for you. I’m so sorry Holly. I’m so sorry for not being the man you deserve.” 

Her hand grasped tight onto my back as her sobs began to fade one by one. 

“I promise Holly, everything is going to change. I will be everything you deserve.” I fought through the urges to let the tears inside of my own eyes fall out, stroking her hair,

She broke away from my hold and wiped away the tears on her cheeks, lifting up her hand to my face showing the ring sparkling on her finger. 

“It doesn’t even matter what you do Zayn, I’m always going to want you. You and me every day. Every minute. Every second.” not only her tone but her eyes spoke such honesty and I knew she too meant every word, 

She looked down at her ring that was now laying on my chest and breathed in heavily, “Please Zayn,” she breathed out slowly, “Please.. don’t ever let me go.”

Her words sent chills throughout my body as it weakened again at her plea. Knowing that she needed me as much as I needed her completed me, like the last piece of the puzzle fitting perfectly into its slot. 

I longingly stared at the woman that stole my heart. She was nothing that I expected nor imagined, but ironically enough, she was everything that I needed and more. Tonight confirmed every feeling I was already sure of. There was never going to be another for me, it was her. It was always her.

I leaned in closer feeling her breath touching my chin, “I will never let you go.” I spoke softly, gently caressing her cheek with the back of my hand.

I turned my hand around so that I was now holding her oval-shaped face and moved my head nearing her lips. I closed my eyes and felt the jolt in my heart as our lips touched for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime and yet the electricity between our mouths had clearly never left. 

“I love you.” I whispered staring into her eyes as our foreheads rested on each others,

A smile crept up onto her face revealing the one dimple she had on her right cheek, “I love you too Zayn, so very much.”

Exhaustion took over me as my eyes began to feel heavy and I could see she was feeling the same. It was time to end this night of drama and leave it behind us, only focusing on what was now to come. I wrapped my arm around her pulling her close into my body and laid down, making sure I could see her face clearly. 

“Goodnight beautiful.” I said biting my lip, gazing into her eyes,

She stared back at me with a smile so pure, “Goodnight Zayn.”

I kissed her one last time and pulled her in so that she was now resting on my chest. I hoped that every night from now on would end like this.

—> Click for Part 2

Writer’s note: If you would like to keep reading more fanfics, please read my friend’s I’ve helped her out a little bit and she’s an amazing writer and deserves to be recognized! Make sure you send her a message too letting her know what you think: CLICK HERE