-Zayn-
The click of the door behind me echoed down the well-lit hallway of Carter and Harper's home, a comforting sound amidst the swirling chaos of thoughts in my mind. The warmth of the room contrasted sharply with the frigid weight of uncertainty I carried. I had just walked away from a confrontation with John that tied my stomach into knots, and now—now I was enveloped in a cocoon of laughter, familiar warmth, and the steadfast presence of friends who had weathered storms of their own. As I dropped my bag on the floor, I felt a rush of gratitude that I wasn't facing this alone.
"Zayn!" Harper chirped, her eyes lighting up at my entrance. She bounded across the room and pulled me into a bear hug, squeezing the air from my lungs but leaving behind a dose of comfort I desperately needed
