Zayn

It's getting dark outside, my legs are dangling over the sofa and I let out another loud yawn. My eyes are trained on the TV until a ring disturbs me. I reach into my pocket, pulling out my phone, "Hello?", I say, shovelling a handful of Doritos into my mouth.

"Did I wake you up?", a girl whispers from the other end of the phone.

My brows scrunch together, "Uh, no. Who's this?"

"Ellie."

Her voice seems unrecognisable; strained and wobbly, as if she's been crying. That's when I sit up quickly. "You alright?"

"Not really, is it okay if you pick me up? I'd get a taxi but I can't find my purse and Mum thinks I'm having a sleepover at Fern's and-", I hear her take in a deep, steady breath, "You're the first person I called. Can you come get me?"

"Yeah. Uh, where are you?", I ask.

"I'm not sure..."

I sigh, "Well that's not exactly helpful, Ellie."

"I know, I know. Me and Fern, we thought it'd be good to go to Angie's party, you know?Fern's brother was gonna pick us up afterwards but I can't find her anymore and it's proper busy, I don't know anyone here except Angie and she's off her head. I tried walking home but I'm freezing my tits off, I'm at a bus stop."

"So you're near Angie's, then?"

"Mhm, I think so, yeah.", she hums, "Look, Zayn, I know it's late but I really just want to go home. Is there any way you can get here?"

My eyes are drawn to the coffee table in front of me. I see my Mum's car keys peaking out from under a magazine and frown. "Yeah.", I say hesitantly and find myself reaching to lift the magazine out of the way.

Ellie lets out a watery laugh, "Oh, thank God! I don't know what I'd do without you, Zayn, really."

I stand up, putting down my Doritos and smiling to myself, "I don't know either-" I reply, swinging the keys around my index finger, "-but let's not find out."


+


I pull up by the bus stop, immediately recognising her as she sits there, bundled up in a coat two sizes too big. She couldn't run towards the car any quicker, jumping into the seat with a heavy sigh of relief. "You're a lifesaver, Zayn.", is the first thing she says before she reaches over to give me a hug.

"Yeah, a lifesaver.", I look over Ellie's shoulder, surprise painted across my face as another guy stares back at me from the back of the car.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm Collin.", He holds out a hand which I ignore, staring back at Ellie with narrowed eyes.

"Oh, he was at the party, too.", She explains.

"Well, why couldn't Collin give you a ride home instead of me stealing my Mums car in the middle of the night?"

Ellie looks at me in disbelief, "You stole your Mums car?". My nostrils flare in anger and Ellie gets the hint, continuing to answer me, "I met Collin after I called you. He said he'd sit with me while I waited for you."

Collin pokes his head between the driver and passenger seats, "Yeah, any longer out there and you would've been mugged.", Ellie smiles at him.

"It's lucky she had you then, Collin, an everyday hero, aren't you.?" I snap, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world- besides Collin, of course.

He doesn't respond, neither does Ellie. I think she knows that I'm not exactly pleased with this situation, I hope she does anyway. The car ride is tense and silent for a short while until the everyday hero speaks up once more.

"Wrong turn, mate.", he says.

I stop at a red light and turn to stare at him, "What? I think I know where my own best friend lives, pal."

"No, we're going to Collins to hang out for a bit." Ellie interrupts, "You can come too if you want."

I stare at her for a moment, "No, no, I think I'll pass.", Collins smirk makes my eyes burn with anger. I hold onto the steering wheel a little tighter as every second passes.I take every moment I can to glare at Collin through the wing mirror and he takes every moment he can to smirk at Ellie.

We pull outside a nice-looking neighbourhood, but for some reason this makes me hate him even more. "This it?" I grumble, looking straight forward without making eye contact with either of them.

"Yup." Collin answers, unbuckling his belt and getting out.

"Cheers for this, Zayn. You're the officially the bestest friend ever." She leans over again, kissing me lightly on the cheek, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She shuts the car door behind her and quickly waves to me over her shoulder, following Collin towards his house. I watch them walk in and hit my head against the steering wheel. "I don't know either..."

Notes

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