The Forgotten Child

5

It's been a few days since Zayn has arrived at the group home. Not much as happened, except for the fact that Zayn has learned his place. After the whole lunch ordeal, Zayn still struggled with Charlie and not doing exactly what Charlie asked. But he has learned exactly what to do: don't talk, don't piss Charlie off, and do what your told. It wasn't hard for Zayn to learn and he learned quick.

"Zayn you okay bud?" Charlie asks entering the room.

"Fine." Zayn mutters, fixing his jacket.

Zayn was waiting for Lou to arrive so they could go out and talk for a bit. He had just finished getting ready when Charlie walked in.

"So listen, I want to say sorry for the past couple of days. I was way to hard on you and may have taken out some of my anger about personal issues on you." Charlie says as he sits down on Zayn's bed.

"S' alright." Zayn mumbles. He wasn't going to forgive Charlie, but he did want the man out of his room.

"No it's not. You shouldn't forgive me for what I did to you. It was out of line and out of hand." Charlie says and Zayn opened his mouth to say something, but was cutoff by the doorbell ringing. "That is probably Lou, I'll go get it." Charlie sighs, standing up and heading downstairs.

"Hey Lou, come on in."  he heard Charlie says. In response Lou smiles, walking in, heels clicking on the hardwood floor. "Zayn! Lou is here buddy!" Charlie yells up the stairs

"How has Zayn been?" she asked and Charlie shrugged.

"I really don't think he is a big fan of me. Did not listen very well the first day and tried to run off, so I decided to put a tracking device on his leg. He hasn't uttered a word since." Charlie sighed and Lou frowned because when she talked to Zayn's teachers they all said he was a great, very quiet, but great kid.

"I will talk to him, he is probably trying to put up a tough kid act. I think I am going to take him out to eat at the diner down the road so we shouldn't be gone to long." Lou said and Charlie nodded. Zayn came walking down the stairs a few moments later and gave Lou a small smile. "Hey buddy, you ready?" Lou asked and Zayn nodded.

"Have fun Zayn." Charlie smiles and Zayn just kept his gaze on the floor.

"Come on bud, let's go." Lou sighs, walking out the front door with Zayn quietly following her . "I figured we could go get some food and talk."

"How have you been?" she asks as she gets into the driver seat.

"Okay." Zayn muttered, voice croaky as he hasn't spoke in a couple of days. Lou shot him a quick sympathetic smile and pulled out of the driveway and headed down the road, playing some music off the radio.

They were soon pulling up to the small restaurant and walking in before they were quickly seated at a small table. "Alright so Charlie told me you tried to run away?" Lou asked bluntly, and Zayn shook his head. "What were you trying to do then? He said you climbed the fence."

"Get away from him." Zayn mutters after a few moments of silence. Zayn didn't want to cause any more drama, despite the fact he knows he should bring up everything that has happened, but it was just so exhausting and scary.

"Why? What did he do?" Lou asked pulling out a small notepad.

"S' fine now Lou." Zayn mumbles, fiddling with his fingers.