Young & Beautiful

“He told me everything,” he’d said, eyes finding Harry’s. “I’m sorry, mate.” He shrugged, a bit
lost. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” Harry said quietly, watching him. “There’s no reason to.”
Despite everything, Zayn’s eyebrows rose, his lips forming into a smirk.
“Oh, trust me. There’s plenty reason to be.”
Harry just shrugged, averting his gaze.
Louis squeezed his hand.
“Where’s Niall?” he asked.
Zayn sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“He went back to your flat. He’s ashamed. Says he can’t face Liam.”
Louis sighed.
Of course.
“Are you…happy about that?” he asked tentatively.
Zayn shrugged, gaze falling to the floor.
“Not really. I don’t…” He shrugged again. “I don’t blame him, I guess. Now that I know Liam’s
going to be all right, I just want it all to be over. I can see straight now. Just want to move on. No
point in dwelling.”And then he looked up, half-smiled at Louis. “It’ll be all right.”
Relief flooded the room.
“Good,” Louis nodded. “It’s just an overall shit situation, really. But. Like you said. It’ll be all
right.” He glanced over at Harry, only to find him staring at him, smiling softly. His heart lurched.
“It’ll be all right,” he says again.
And now Liam’s awake, they’re clustered in the room, and the first words out of his mouth are
about rehab.
“I don’t care where you have to go, you tosser. You’re alive,” Louis blurts, hugging him gently.
He always feels in danger of breaking people.
Liam positively pouts.
“This is horrible. This could ruin me.”
“Babe, everybody goes to rehab. It’s not as much of a scandal as it used to be,” Zayn soothes.
“It’s not going to set you back if you don’t let it.” He pauses, eyes serious. “And I think it will
help.”
Liam looks down.
“Yeah. It probably will.” When he looks back up, his eyes are watery, his smile bumpy. He looks
to Zayn, reaching for his hand, which Zayn easily offers. “I love you,” he says with a teary smile.