Long Live (Sequel to Payton Swift)

Chapter 20

// March 17, 2015 //

- Payton -

Zayn's meeting lasted all morning. I sat in on the four hour meeting, my gaze locked on the floor as I tried to hold back tears. Nothing said was a personal attack, but everything felt like one since I'm a fan of the band. I heard him say that he's "been unhappy for the past five years" and that he's "wanted to leave the band since that first year" because it wasn't his "type of music" and because he "never wanted to be in a boyband" in the first place.

I can't imagine how the fans will take this.

During the meeting, they told Zayn that he would have to personally tell the boys that he would be leaving the band and that's what we were about to do. Currently, we were in the business lounge on the floor we were staying at in our hotel in Hong Kong, waiting for the other boys to get here.

"Babe," Zayn whispers, holding on to my hand tightly. "I'm glad you're here," he tells me, his gaze falling to the floor as the other four walk in the room. They manage to fit on the couch that was in front of where Zayn and I were standing. They're all smiles, and my heart hurts a little knowing that those smiles are going to fade so quickly.

"What do you need to tell us?" Louis asks, chin resting in the palm of his hands.

"Yeah," Liam pipes up. "What's up? Is Payton... you know," asks Liam, outlining a bump over his stomach. I can't help but laugh, which makes everyone feel a little less tense for a moment.

"I would rather be announcing that," Zayn says quietly, and confusion is written on the faces of Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis.

"Whadaya mean?" Niall asks, and I can feel Zayn's handing shaking in mine. He loves these boys so much and he knew how this was going to hurt them, but he had to tell them. I'm pretty sure they were aware of his unhappiness with the music and with management, but I'm unsure if they knew he hit his breaking point. I look up at Zayn. His face is pale and he's biting his lip.

"You look like you're about to pass out," Harry comments, looking like he's ready to catch Zayn in case he does. "Is everything alright?"

Zayn looks like he's about to cry when he speaks.

"Boys, I'm leaving the band."

Everything is quiet. Tears fill my eyes and spill over my waterline, falling down my cheeks. I wipe them away, turning around so that I don't have to look at the boys.

"You're leaving?" Liam asks, his voice quiet.

"Our last show together is on the eighteenth," Zayn whispers as I turn back around to face the boys.

"So you're leaving tomorrow..." Harry speaks, his eyes teary. Zayn doesn't respond, he instead just nods his head. It goes quiet again and I swear my heart is about to jump out of my chest. We stand there awkwardly while they just sit there, no one knowing what to do.

Suddenly, Harry stands up and hugs Zayn tightly. I step out of the way as the others stand up and hug him, the sight of their group hug almost making me cry again. Louis pops his head out and looks at me, waving me over.

"Come here, Payton. You need this too."

I smile and join their hug, feeling all the love. The hug lasts for a few minutes and I'm a little sad when it ends and the boys pull away. We talk for a little more, but then it's just Zayn and I alone when the boys go off to do whatever.

"How are you, baby?" I ask and he pulls me in for a tight hug, his head resting in the crook of my neck and I feel tears on my skin. "Babyyy," I whisper, holding him tightly and rubbing his back. I whisper sweet things in his ear, letting him know that everything will be alright and that I'll always be right here for him. A couple minutes later, the tears stop and we just hold each other ... I'm scared of him breaking down if I let go.