Care for me (L. S.)

28

Tuesday the 6th of October | Liam

"I finished it!" Zayn yelled, bursting into his room unannounced, like he had done a million times in the past.

Liam was at his desk, browsing internet sites. He was barely startled by Zayn's attack, calmly looking up from his screen.

"I finished the book!" Zayn panted, tired from all the running. He looked at the book the boy was proudly holding above his head, like it was a trophy he won.

"Congratulations?" He tried, not sure what to say.

His friend fell on his bed dramatically. "Thank you!" Liam closed his laptop and watched him lie on the bed like a starfish.

"Do you know how long it took me to read through this... turd?!"

Liam folded his legs over one another. "Probably long?"

Zayn lifted his arm, pointing to a nothingness in the air. "Exactly." Then he clutched the book to his chest like it was his favourite teddy. "I mean don't get me wrong it was absolutely terrible," he mumbled, still hugging the book, "but I'm just so glad it's finally over!"

He pulled himself up into a sitting position and looked at him beamingly. "Did you finish it yet?"

"I haven't," he admitted, feeling a rock settle in his stomach.

"Wow." Zayn's eyes were wide with disbelief. "I finished the reading assignment before Liam Payne? Wonders never cease." His smile was pure and it had been a while since Zayn had been in such a good mood.

His lips automatically mirrored Zayn's and he looked at the ground, not knowing where to go from there.

"You look pale as a mushroom." Zayn said, which made his smile widen.

His room was cleaner than it had been in weeks, and he did feel calm not having to look at piles of clothing and school supplies. Yesterday, he had spent picking up wrappers and finding old treasures, like fidget spinners in his drawers. Also a surprisingly large amount of socks, who somehow all ended up under his bed, gathering dust. Now, the smell of his room reminded him of a hotel room smell. He wanted to ask Zayn if he could smell it as well.

"I'm pretty sure that isn't a saying."

"Well, you look as pale as an egg. That better?"

"I haven't really gone outside yet."

"Let's go, then."

They put on their hats, coats and shoes and went outside for a walk around the neighbourhood. It was cold and the air was moist even though it wasn't raining. They did the entire tour. First, they walked along the shopping street. Then they passed Harry's house and Liam waved at the friendly brick gorlie. They also passed some villa's of Zayn's neighbourhood, and for a while, he was convinced they were going to walk to Zayn's house. Zayn suddenly changed course, turning one eighty and walking back to where they came from. He wasn't sure why. When they finally arrived at the little playground, they decided to sit down on the swings.

"See what a bit of fresh air can do?" Zayn grinned, moving his swing closer to Liam's so he could poke his cheek.

He wanted to smile, but it somehow got interrupted along the way: a dubious frown settling between his eyebrows instead.

"What's up?" Zayn had caught on that something wasn't quite right. "Are you alright?" He was still smiling his patient-Zayn smile, which shouldn't make this so much harder than it already was.

"Zayn– I uh... I don't know how to say this the right way..."

He swallowed, feeling his eyes fill with tears. He wasn't even looking directly at him, but studying his shoes instead.