*NEXT WEEK*

The day has finally came where Zayn and I go to Queens. If it was my choice, we would've left early in the morning. But sadly that couldn't be done because both Zayn and I had to work. Surprisingly, it wasn't half bad today at Charlie's, yet again, it hasn't been for the past few weeks.

Zayn really hit it off with my Dad since that night he came. They don't have to say it but I know both of them already respect each other and a lot. I can even tell Zayn got as close as he ever did to having a father than ever. I was happy for him. Even my Mom met Zayn the next morning, she also feel in love with him. Now all that's left is meeting his Mom.

I was beyond nervous at this point. My eyes never left contact with clock up on wall. I wonder if this is how Zayn felt when meeting my parents?

"Paige!" I heard my name being called out from the kitchen.

I spun around to see Eddie making his way up to me. I already knew what he was going to say, it has become quite common now a days for him to dismiss me early from my shift. He didn't have to say anything, I already knew what he was going to say. He even had a look when he was about to speak.

"Well..." He sighed.

"I know." I smiled.

Eddie smiled crossing his arms across his chest, "I don't know what's been going on here, lately. It's usually packed?"

"I'm sure it's nothing." I smiled as I finished cleaning up my last table of the afternoon.

"I hope so." He sighed again.

I picked up the tray and noticed the look on his face, something else was bothering him and I'm sure it doesn't have to do with the restaurant.

"Paige? Can I ask you something?" He asked.

"Sure? Is everything okay?" I asked giving him a worried look.

"It's Nathan."

He didn't even have to finish his question before I started to give him a look of anger.

"It's just that, no one's seen him lately and he hasn't been showing up to work either. I tried calling but no one answers. All I want to know is if you've heard or seen him lately?"

I was completely unaware of what Eddie was telling me but I couldn't help but feel worried about him. Yes, he hurt me; but he's one of those people you just can't let go of because we've gone through so much. This was all my fault.

"Sorry, Eddie. We haven't been talking lately either." I replied completely guilty.

"Oh. Is everything okay between you two?" He wondered.

"Just a few disagreements, that's all." I tried to smile.

"Alright." His look was uncertain but he let it go, gently patting my back, "Well if you need to talk to me or if you heard something new about the lad, just go to my office."

"I will, thanks, Eddie." I smiled.

He stopped in his tracks, taking a chance to quickly turn around to look at me once again, "Remember to clean up before leaving."

"Okay."

Eddie was gone moments later, making me hurry to get things done. There was about five people in the small restaurant, finishing their lunch so there wasn't really much to do before I leave.

As i dropped the tray in the dirty dishes, I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket. I immediately reached for it and unlocked the screen to see it was a text from Zayn saying he was on his way. A smile approached the corners of my lips as I replied to him saying okay. This was it, in a matter of seconds I'd be seeing a whole different side of Zayn. A side no girl of his has ever seen before.

The black apron was quickly removed from around my waist, soon to hang it up where I always leave it to grab my jacket and bag.

My feet speeded me out the kitchen. I was too busy untying the hair tie from the ponytail it was in to not look up and see who entered the restaurant.

As my hair fell back down to my shoulders, I saw a figure I least expected to be here. Nathan.

I stopped, curiously looking up and down his body, almost making sure it was really him. He wore a grey t-shirt with a pair of light blue jeans and white converse which were actually quite dirty. The smile he usually has on his face was no longer present. His eyes were puffed up, red, almost as if he cried himself to sleep.

I started to feel sick.

"Hey, Paiger." He tried to smile but it didn't work out so good.

His next action caught me by surprise, showing me that crying himself to sleep wasn't the only thing he's been doing.

"Nathan!" I almost gasped as he lost balance and started to fall. I caught him before he did so.

I swung his hand over my shoulder, trying my best to move us towards the stools. He took a seat giving me a chance to quickly run towards the cooler behind the countertop and get him a bottle of water. I hastily walked back to him, handing him the bottle and making him gulp it down to the last drop.

"I can't believe you, Nathan." I spoke once he was almost done, "You were drinking!?"

He took his last gulp, putting the empty bottle on the countertop behind him. I now stood in front of the stool he was sitting in, our eyes making contact.

"Like it matters." His eyes looked heavy.

"Yes it does! Why would you do that?" I exclaimed.

"Why not? Your boyfriend does it!?" He scoffed, "How come it's okay for him to drink but not me?"

"First of all, it's not okay for him to drink and he knows that already.And secondly, why are you bringing him into this? Just because he does it doesn't mean you have to do it too." I made him look at me when he tried to look away, "This is not like you, Nathan, what happened?"

"It's not like you care anymore." He grumbled removing my hands from his cheeks.

"I do care!" I exclaimed.

He looked back at me, not taking my words seriously.

"Why are you with him?" He shrugged his shoulders.

I knew this was going to come up. I wasn't going to let this happen all over again.

"Why I'm with him is none of your business and you know that. I just don't understand why you can't accept that?" I exclaimed.

"Because I don't trust him, Paige!" He stood up, his figure shadowing over me with great anger.

I looked up his intoxicated looking eyes. I've never feared him before in my life, but now it's become official. He's lost his mind.

"Just knowing that he has you makes me-- it makes me--"

His features tensed, I was afraid the alcohol in his body would take over his actions and he'll scare the few customers we have left to be gone.for good.

The door opened again making Nathan and I look as a group of guys walked in, completely driving us out of track. I watched as the bold males joked with each other, one of them couldn't stop looking in my direction. I was unaware of Nathan grabbing me by my waist and spinning my around, his body covering mine from them as they passed by.

"Why are you doing this to me?" He leaned forward, his lips almost making contact with me as his alcohol smelling breath fanned over my face.

"You're drunk!" I scoffed swiveling around in his hold to get out. No matter how hard I tried, he was too strong.

"No, baby." He kissed my cheeks, "Not this time."

What's wrong with him! He's never been this way before and it's scaring the life out of me.

"Nathan! Seriously, get off me!" My voice was stern and it raised in fear and demand. "Why are you doing this!?"

"Because you deserve better, Paige!" He yelled.

I felt everyone's eyes on us, I could've sworn I heard some people quickly leave too.

"He's not like that!" I exclaimed again.

Nathan examined my face, angrily puffing out air onto my face as I noticed his nerves start to increase.

"What the fuck did he do to you?" He almost growled, his hands gripped the countertop keeping me trapped between his body as he looked down. A vain I never knew existed appeared in the right side of his neck.

"Nothing." I answered trying to sound calm.

He looked back up at me, teeth beginning to clench towards what he was going to say next.

"You two had sex didn't you!" He stated more than questioned.

My silence was all he needed for an answer.

He turned around, launching a nearby chair across the room. The guys that came in a few moments ago stood up, quickly coming to the scene but Nathan yelled them to stop.

He turned back to me, angrily walking back to grip my wrist and push my back up against the countertop.

"What did he turn you into! Can't you see that the Paige I know wouldn't even think about that right now? Are you pregnant!?" He yelled.

"No!" I shouted back, "And he didn't make me do anything ! I'm still the same Paige you know just more grown up! I  was the one who wanted to do it! So stop blaming him for everything!" I shouted.

"Are you hearing yourself!" He asked exclaiming.

The door was open one more time. This time I didn't have to look because the familiar voice reassured me I didn't have to worry anymore.

"Get the fuck away from her!"

By the time Nathan turned his head, Zayn already had his fist up and ready to smash it across his face. Nathan fell to the ground as Zayn's fist made contact with his face. A gasp was released from my mouth as Zayn made his way towards Nathan. I didn't expect Zayn to knock him down, I thought he'd say a few things and we'll walk away but he always leaves me with the opposite.

"ZAYN STOP!" I shouted pulling him away before he punched Nathan.

Already, Zayn gave him a bloody nose. The guys started to walk towards Zayn but he lashed out on them too, scaring them to move away. They didn't take his message and tried to pull him away as he continued to lash multiple punches to his face.

"Hey, she said stop!" One guy called out pulling Zayn away from Nathan's already beaten up body.

"ZAYN!" I yelled.

I didn't know what to do. Right in front of me was a mob of guys fighting like wild animals and all I could do was watch.

One by one, Zayn took down each guy, no one was getting in his way of defeating Nathan. His anger was taking out the best of him.

I looked around, having nothing to do but call for help. Almost immediately I started to scream from the top of my lungs. Not giving my hopes up, I continued yelling. I even made a second attempt to push Zayn off of Nathan but it didn't work.

"HELP!" I yelled again.

With all the noise happening, I wasn't able to hear the door open once again. It took the loud raspy voice of a certain new friend to make me notice my cries actually helped.

"ZAYN!" Harry called out running towards the mob, effortlessly pulling bodies away to reach to Zayn.

I was soon accompanied by Vanessa who was just as shocked as I was.

"Oh my God!" She gasped running to help Harry pull some bodies away.

"NO!" Harry yelled looking at us, "Both of you! Stand back!"

Vanessa and I complied, standing back to just watch. I couldn't help but feel angry at myself for not being able to do anything. My boyfriend is getting beaten up by strangers while beating up my best friend and having my boyfriend's best friend break it apart with his girlfriend feeling as useless as I am right next to me.

It was unbelievable how fast Harry broke up the mob, keeping all the guys separated from each other but kept Zayn right beside him.

Harry looked at the guys from the restaurant, "You guys are free to go."

They didn't hesitate on listening to him and doing as they were told. It was now just us four and Nathan.

"What the hell, Zayn?" Harry exclaimed turning to him. "I thought you said you'll stop."

Zayn ignored Harry, wiping some drops of blood from his face. It was impossible to tell whether it was his blood or any of the other guys.

He turned to look at Nathan still on the floor.

"This guy was hurting Paige." Zayn scoffed giving him a disgusted look.

We all watched as Nathan did his best to stand up, wiping out blood from his nose as he let out puffs of air.

"I wasn't fucking hurting her. If anything, the bad guy here is you." Nathan pointed at Zayn with a heavy arm.

Zayn was about to go at him again but Harry caught him. Vanessa went up in front of him to help Harry. I saw Nathan beginning to limp, this was all my fault. I couldn't take this any longer.

My feet walked up in front of Nathan, the look on my face was completely confused about him. It was like I was looking at a complete stranger.

"I think it's better if you just stay away, Nathan."

He looked at me as if I was crazy but understood what I ment and was completely shocked.

I looked back at Zayn, quickly walking back up to him. I tried my best not to look back at Nathan, I knew it'd be hard for me to see him like that any longer.

"I think we should leave now." Harry spoke lacing his fingers with Vanessa when the quietness in the room became too long. "Zayn. Paige?" Harry continued, "Lets go."

Zayn laced his fingers with mine and slowly moved us forward behind Harry and Vanessa. We were just feet away from stepping outside when I came up with the courage to take one last look at him, stopping in my tracks. He looked angry, sad, I couldn't really put it into words but he wasn't so pleased with what just happened.

"Paige," Zayn continued, "We have to go."

I slightly nodded my head before taking one last look at Nathan. Before I knew it, that was the end of it.