Bloom stared at the door for a long time, hot tears rolled down her cheeks but she made no sound. She was still having a hard time believing what happened in there. She raised her hand to knock but paused and dropped it. She wanted to know if he was okay, she was worried about his wound.

She was glad and relieved he wasn't part of those who lost their lives, she thought of Nicole and Liz. Maybe they also believed she was the one behind the attack but she hoped they were okay; hearing that Taylor received four bullets broke her heart, more tears dropped as she thought of the critical condition he might be in.

She took one last look at the door and walked away, she tried her best to hold back the sound of her cry but she failed.

She climbed down the stairs holding the railing for support, she stopped and crumpled on the step. She broke down not caring where she was or if anyone recognizes her as the president's daughter.

Heavy tears flowed down her cheeks, every word he said, the hate in his eyes and his tone, it all replayed in her head.
She felt so broken, she felt more pain than she's ever felt in her life. It was supposed to be her first date, her perfect first date, her dream date.

It took a while for her to stop crying, she wiped her tears away and stood up.

She struggled to hold her tears back as she walked home. Damian gave her a broad smile when he saw her open the secret exit but his smile fell when he saw her wet and puffy eyes.

"Dollface?"
He called balling his hands into a fist at her tears. Bloom looked up at him immediately she heard her name.

She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He was about to ask her what happened when he heard the sound of her cry, hot tears stained his suit.

"It hurts, it hurts so much." She said between tears, increasing her grip on him.

The guards close by were staring with curious eyes.

"I will take you to your room."
He whispered and took her hand.

Bloom followed him but didn't pull away. She cried deeply when they entered her room.

"I didn't do it but he won't believe me, he hates me." She said in tears and small gasps.

"What happened?"
Damian asked rubbing her back soothingly.

She didn't say anything, he didn't push her to tell him. He allowed her to cry till no tears were left, he took her to the bed.

"Lie down and rest your head."
She obeyed, the pain in her head didn't allow her to argue.

He wiped her tears away and pulled the comforter up to cover her.

"Sleep."
He said softly stroking her hair, her eyes closed slowly, they were swollen from her endless cry.

"I didn't do it."
She mumbled before falling into a deep sleep.

He stared at her for a while before leaving the room.

||
Bloom woke up very late the next day, she refused to leave the bed. She saw some aspirin on her nightstand with a bottle of water.

She took it and stayed in bed staring into space, she wanted to know how he was doing, she was worried about Taylor and the girls as well.

She wished she knew who ratted them out, he was convinced she was the one and she couldn't really blame him. The attack happened right after he took her there.

Her stomach grumbled but she ignored it and stared at her window. Knowing he won't be coming to her room again made her very sad. She would miss their night together.

A knock on the door made her blood boil.

"Go away, I want to be alone!"
She said not bothering to check who it was.

"I told you-you can stay mad at anyone but not me."
She heard Aunt Matilda's voice.

"Please, I wanna be alone."
Bloom said not sparing her a glance.

"Your first heartbreak, huh?"
Aunt Matilda said but she didn't say anything to her.

"I know how hard it must be for you honey but you don't have to starve yourself and ignore everyone, he is not worth it."

"You know nothing about him!"
Bloom snapped finally turning around to look at her. Damian stood behind Aunt Matilda with a worried look.

"Honey it's your first relationship, you don't deserve all these tears."Aunt Matilda said. "Every relationship has flaws, none is perfect." She added, walking into the room.

"Please, I need some time alone."
Bloom said making Aunt Matilda stop in her track.

"Why won't you let us help you? I'm worried sick about you Bloom, everyone is."
Aunt Matilda sounded like she was about to break down. Bloom worried about her health.

"Please, leave," Bloom said calmly.

"Just tell me what happened? What did he do to you? Who is this guy?" Aunt Matilda persisted.

"Nothing!"
Bloom yelled and turned away.

"Let her be."
Damian said and they left the room.

Bloom decided to leave the room to grab something to eat since Aunt Matilda threatened to tell her dad she was starving herself.

The maids were quiet as they watched her take a seat at the dining, Anna served her some rice and vegetable then stepped back.

She only ate three spoons of the food and left. She locked her door when she got to her room.

She grabbed her headphone and drawing pad to keep herself distracted.

||
Zayn stood in front of the mirror in his bathroom cleaning his wound, he dressed it with a bandage and wore a black shirt.

He grabbed his gun and put it behind his jeans and left his room.

"Hey, muffin."
He kissed his sister on her cheek and moved a stray hair behind her ear.

"I'm off to work, I will see you in the evening, be a good girl."
She smiled and hugged him.

"I love you."
He told her before pulling away.

"I think you need more rest, the wound is not healed yet."
Rosa told him as he walked to the door.

"If you let her in here, you will be blamed for her death."
He said to Rosa and left.

He drove down to the second Anti-sam hideout which was an hour drive from town.
His hands clenched around the wheels when he remembered how excited she was that night, he got played. He hated that he was still hoping and believing in her. He didn't know which hurt more, letting her go or holding on to her.

She was his daughter what was he expecting, for her to turn against her father and take his side?

He got out of the car when he got to his destination and headed to the elevator. The second hideout was not as vast as the first one that was destroyed by the FBI.

He stopped on the second floor and headed to the infirmary. Deep anger ran through his veins when he saw the number of injured people in the building.

All because of her.

He walked to the tall girl behind the counter.

"What room is Taylor Jones?"
She checked the computer in front of her.

"Hurry the fuck up."
He grunted.

"Sorry."
She mumbled typing really fast.

"Room 35." She replied.
She glared at him as he walked away.

Nicole, Liz, and Tyra were already in the room, Taylor was still unconscious.

Luckily for the girls, they were out at the bar when the attack happened but they tried to help when they got the news.

"Hey."
He said to them walking into the room.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting," Nicole said.

"I'm ok, how is he?" Zayn asked.

"Nothing new."
Liz said with a sad tone.

"He'll be fine, Zayn."
Nicole told him taking his hand and giving it a squeeze, he noticed her red eyes and knew she's been crying.

"It's that bitch's fault."
Tyra said with venom dripping in her voice.

"How are you sure she did it?" Liz asked.

"Helllloooo? We got attacked after Zayn brought her. Who else could it possibly be?" Tyra said.

"She didn't do it."
Nicole defended.

"If you care about Taylor one bit you won't be taking her side." Tyra lashed out.

"Leave Taylor out of this," Nicole said, getting upset.

"He is on this bed because of her and you're both still defending her? If Taylor doesn't make it, I will kill that bitch myself." Tyra swore.

Zayn tried to block their voices away, he sat close to Taylor and stared at him.

"I'm right here, hang in there buddy."
He whispered.

"Bloom is not like her father, Tyra."
Nicole said.

"I get furious when you say that, she is his blood she is not different." Tyra snarled.

"Why don't we be honest with each other, this isn't just about Taylor. It's also your infatuation with Zayn"
Liz said and gave her the "Take that" look.

"I don't give a shit about what you guys think, keep defending the asshole's daughter. We are gonna end up dead one day because of her."
Tyra stood up and picked her bag.

"I'm going to see my mom"
Tyra told them and left.

Liz and Nicole shared a look before turning to look at Zayn who had his head in his palms.

"She didn't do it Zayn, you know deep down she didn't," Nicole said.

"Stop, I'm not in the mood."
He grunted.

"She has a good heart, she's not that type of person."
Liz said.

He stood up with his hands balled into a fist and looked at them, he looked furious.

"Call me if anything comes up."
He said, walking to the door.

"At least go and get your wound checked."
Nicole told him.

He slammed the door on his way out, making both of them jump in their seats.

||
Bloom stayed in her room the whole day drawing anything that came to her mind and listening to sad songs. She ran out of pages, she groaned and went to search for a new drawing pad, there was a knock on her door. She ignored whoever it was and continued her search for a new book.

"Bloom?"
Damian called with a knock.

She found what she was looking for, she went back to her bed and put on her headphone blocking out any sound. She grabbed her pencil and returned to what she was doing.

The door opened, Damian exhaled in relief when he saw her. He walked to where she was and pulled her headphone down.

She stopped sketching her work and looked at him with cold eyes.

"Your dad sent me to get you." He told her.

"Tell him I'm sick."
She tried to put back her headphone but he stopped her.

"I know this is not a good time but if you keep up with this you're just going to make your dad suspicious."
Damian explained.

"Do you know why he is calling me?"
She asked as she got down from the bed.

"He threw a small party." He told her.

"A party?"
She took a glance at him before disappearing into her closet.

She changed into a black jean and a burgundy shirt, she brushed her hair with her fingers trying to tame the edges.

"Where is he?"
She asked when she came out.

"Across the room to his study."
Damian followed her out of the room, all the guards had a champagne glass in one hand, they all looked happy.

"Why did he throw a party?"
She asked as they got closer to the room.

"To celebrate what happened yesterday."
She stopped and faced him.

"What happened yesterday?" She asked.

"The FBI and SWAT found the Anti-sam hideout, it was all over the news," Damian informed her.
Her face went pale.

"Are you okay?" He asked observing her expression closely.

"Yeah."
She nodded and walked away, she didn't want to attend the party but she wanted to avoid questions from her Dad.

A slow song played in the room, the small guests he invited were laughing and talking amongst themselves while a waiter and a waitress walked around refilling their glass.

She took a deep breath before walking in, she was glad no one paid attention to her. She didn't know most of them, they also didn't know she was his daughter.

Her eyes searched for her dad in the room, they landed on Mr. Grayson, the vice president.
He was sipping his wine and listening to the man in front of him.

She had a feeling he wasn't happy to be invited to the party, it was a party for his downfall anyway, whatever he had with the Anti-sam was over.
But he looked fine, he didn't seem affected by anything going on or if he did, he was super good at hiding it.

"Princess?"
Her dad's voice drew her eyes away from Mr. Grayson.

"Dad?" She mumbled.

"Were you looking for me?" Her Dad asked with a grin spread on his face.

"Yeah." She smiled.

"Are you sick? You look so pale?"
He touched her cheek with worry in his eyes.

"I'm fine, dad."

"Have you been crying?"
He touched a spot beneath her eye.

"No, I'm just waking up."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, dad."
She forced a smile.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

"No," She shook her head.

"I have good news. It's over, princess, it's finally over!"
He told her with a big smile, she tried to make her fake smile look real.

"They found them, they found their hideout. Unfortunately, many of them escaped but few lost their lives."

"Well, I'm glad it's finally over." She sighed.

"Come, I will introduce you to some friends."
He took her hand.

"Dad?"
She called stopping him.

"I'm not too strong right now, my head is aching, can I go and lie down for a bit?"

"Sure, tell Aunt Matilda to give you some painkillers."

"Okay."

"Rest for as long as you want."
He kissed her head and let her go.

She took a glance at the vice president before walking out, there was no one her age to hang out with there anyway.

She entered her room and leaned on the door, she took a deep breath and stared at the painting above her bed.

She wiped the tears that made their way down her cheeks, she walked to her closet and undressed and put on his shirt.

His scent comforted her, she drew her knees up till she was curled up into a ball on the bed. She cried in a low tone, fighting to keep the sounds inside.

Damian opened the door quietly, he heard the sound of her cry. He stood there not knowing what to do to stop her tears, he turned away and closed the door.

A week past and she became more miserable, she tried to look normal and happy in front of her dad. She missed him, she missed every little thing about him. She looked at her window every night hoping he would sneak in anytime and tell her she wasn't at fault. She put on his shirt every night to sleep, picturing him next to her with his head on her chest as she stroked his hair to help him sleep.

She smiled every time she touched the necklace he gave her, it made her remember the first time they met.

||
Taylor was still unconscious, they visited him every day. Nicole helped him shave his beard just the way he liked it.

Tyra was still mad at Liz and Nicole, she ignored them anytime she came with her mom to see Taylor.

They stopped talking about Bloom since it irritated Zayn, he didn't talk much or hang out with them.
They decided to give him some space.

It was an awful week, the Anti-sam was still recovering from the sudden attack, those who lost their dear ones were compensated by the vice president.

Zayn was sitting close to Taylor's bed with a Rubik's cube in his hand, her smile appeared in his head. How could he give her the power to fuck him up this bad?

Still, he missed their nights together in her room. He missed them whispering and laughing in the dark. The way her legs fit with his under the covers and the brush of her skin against his. The sweet feeling he got just kissing her and teasing her with her bodyguard behind the door, unaware of what was happening.

He brushed the thoughts away and listened to Nicole and Liz argue about a new blockbuster movie.

The door opened, Tyra walked in with her mom.

"Hi, Jasmine."
Liz and Nicole said in unison.

"Hey."
Tyra's mom waved with a smile that showed off her dimples.

Jasmine was young and beautiful, she had Tyra when she was sixteen. A dragon tattoo was on her neck and her pink hair was packed in a neat bun.

"He is still not waking up?" Jasmine asked.

"Yeah, but he will soon."
Nicole said with a hopeful tone.

"I'm going to get some snacks."
Jasmine informed them, she gave Tyra a kiss and left.

"I heard the vice president was here to see those injured."
Tyra spoke to them for the first time in a week.

"Yeah, he left not long ago."
Liz said with a smile, her long dreadlocks fell down to her waist.

"I miss the old hideout, the food here is not tasty."
Tyra said with a sigh.

"I miss my favorite couch."
Nicole said.

"I miss everything, it was the best place to hang out."
Liz said with a smile far from this world.

A groan made everyone in the room go still and quiet.

"Taylor?"
Nicole stood up from her seat and ran to him.

"He is waking up, call the doctor."
Zayn told Liz.

Taylor groaned again, his eyelashes fluttered before he opened them completely.

"Nicole?"
Taylor called with a dry throat, smiling lazily at her.

"You're okay, the doctor will be here soon."
Nicole said caressing his cheeks, tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

He looked at the others in the room, he smiled at Zayn then at Tyra who was in tears.

The door opened and Liz came in with the Doctor and two Nurses, they were all asked to leave the room.

"Welcome back buddy."
Zayn told him before walking out.

||
Bloom stood in front of the apartment door with sweaty palms, she had succeeded in sneaking out.

She tried fighting it but she failed, she needed to talk to him and be sure he was okay. His threat from that night replayed in her head but there was no turning back now.

He won't hurt you, he still cares about you
She kept telling herself.

A part of her wished he wasn't home, she wasn't ready to see him yet but she still knocked on the door with the hope that Rosa would open the door.

She held her breath as she heard someone unlocking the door, soon it was wide open, her throat went dry as she stared at Zayn.

His unruly curly hair was messy at the front, he looked like he was just waking up from sleep. His jaw hardened when their eyes met.

"West is...."
He slammed the door, shutting her up.

"Okay, I was expecting that."
She mumbled to herself.

She thought of knocking again but the door opened before she could pound her fist on the wooden door, she was surprised.

She opened her mouth to speak but Zayn dragged the necklace around her neck and went back inside the house with it.

She looked down at her bare neck then at the door, she touched her neck where the necklace was before. She knew it was a bad idea coming anyway, she turned and went back home.

She sat on the floor in her bedroom when she got home, she hugged her knees and cried.

After dinner with her dad, she returned to her room and got ready for bed.
Her dad came to see her when she was already under the covers. He smiled at her as he sat next to her, she sat up returning his smile.

"I'm worried about you Princess." Her Dad said.

"Why? I'm okay."

"No you're not, I need you to be honest with me."

"Seriously dad, I'm fine."

"What happened to that contagious and beautiful smile I always see? I don't see it anymore. Where is that enthusiasm?"

"It's still here."

"You're like a different person now, I want to believe you're growing but I feel it's something more." He admitted.

"Dad, I'm okay," she faked a smile.

"Let me know if anything is bothering you, I want you to be happy."
He said with a sad smile

"Your mom wants you to be happy too." He added.

The mention of her mom made her sad, she wished she was still here. She needed her right now.

"I know."
She moved closer and hugged him.

"I'm happy dad, stop worrying about me."
She told him when she pulled away.

"I love you."
He kissed her head

"I love you too."

He stood up to leave but his eyes caught her drawing pad, he grabbed the book from her nightstand.
Her heart raced, they were many drawings of Zayn in the book.

"Your mom loved drawing too."
He said as he opened the book.

He smiled at each drawing, he stopped at a drawing of Tumika.

"Who is this?"

"I saw her on TV."
She lied.

"She is adorable."
He said and she thought of different excuses for the others.

She saw fear in his eyes when he opened the next page, he stared at it for a long time.

"Who wrote this?"
He asked showing her the sunflower drawing where Zayn had written that night he went through her book.

"It was Laura."
He looked relieved for some reason, he went further and she bit on her lips.

She saw him stop, his jaw clenched. She knew he had seen it, he turned to look at her. He didn't say anything.

He left the room with the book calling Damian to follow him.

Follow my writer account on Instagram @booksbyxona