In The Nick Of Time

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 20

The next day - Zayn didn't bring Liam home. Liam walked the halls until he found himself doing nothing, and he couldn't seem to bring himself up the stairs into Zayn's room.

The second day - Zayn didn't bring Liam home. Liam found himself walking outside, fixing up the garden he never even knew about. Cleaning off the soil, and even finding some old gardening tools as he dug up rich soil and prepared it if Zayn ever had the idea to making another garden again. Zayn watched him from the window, watched as he dragged along branches and twigs to clear the way. He watched as Liam tried to distract himself from Zayn, and every single time - he never did.

The third day - Zayn didn't bring Liam home. Liam found himself wondering if Zayn would ever actually bring him home. It was a thought that crossed his mind over and over, that maybe one day when Zayn didn't try avoiding him in the halls, one day at lunch, or dinner that Zayn would pull out his keys, they'd chime and he'd just say "let's go". Then Liam would be brought home. He wondered but he didn't phrase it out loud - he didn't want to go but it still taunted him.

The fourth day - Liam didn't go home. He seemed to have lost his voice, the house seemingly empty even when the pots clanked when Zayn would cook meals, or when the fire would click and lap at wood. When their foot steps would signal each other's beating hearts were still living and coexisting with each other - he didn't have a voice to speak out. But every like action, every little stare he'd give when Zayn was cooking with his back to the door, or a raised hand that Zayn would dodge in the kitchen or halls meant he was trying. Liam was trying to reach out, and latch onto this anchor again. It never left, but if felt like he'd painted white over it after decorating and coloring it so much. A blank canvas it was again, but slowly he drew lines over it to make sure that his stencil wasn't gone forever.

In the silence of the house, Liam moved along the halls quietly. The floor boards hushed as if it allowed him to move swift, allowed him minimum time to run along the hall and creep up the stairs. His hands shook as he listened to the house creak in the woods, and then still as the wind turned another direction. He didn't speak as he opened the door, and closed it behind him. He didn't stop moving when the lump in the bed shuffled or when the floor was cold again his feet, and nipped at his face. He pushed aside the blanket, and sunk down against the lump in the blanket. Strong and bursting with heat, he screwed his eyes shut.

Zayn shuffled, trying to push away his hands around his waist. "Get out." He whispered, his voice was a small squeak as his attempts were nothing but nudges to Liam.

Liam dig himself closer, his body pressed against Zayn's back and he inhaled and held on tighter.

Zayn pushed his hands again, "Please ."

Liam ignored Zayn's plead, laying closer to satisfy his dying need for a breath of life. Dying for Zayn there again with soft touches, and kind voices. For a smile, and glances.

"Stop." He peeped, seeing no release from Liam.

Liam's arms cradled Zayn's waist, pressing his hands into his sides and breathing on the back of his neck as his lips pressed soft, feathering kissed to the nobs of his spine. Zayn was limp, seeing that Liam would not let go and that Liam would put up a fight, throw a tantrum, if Zayn pushed him out of the bed with force. Shoved him out of the room, and threw him to the car with directions to drive him home. Secretly he didn't want to leave Liam's securing arms, he wanted to burrow in them and stay there forever. Sharing and creating warmth under the blankets, while the wind whipped outside and the chill of winter came closer to them. He was desperate for a touch, a hug, a kiss, just for some one to hold or to be held.

It didn't change when he woke up, when Liam wouldn't let Zayn out of the covers, and having to drag himself away from the security and warmth to linger through the halls and rooms of the lonely home. Liam was telling him in some way that he was dependent on Zayn, in the worse ways. In the back of his head, Zayn could only think why me ? But even as he was cooking, peeling potatoes, Liam hovered over him and plastered himself to Zayn's back. His arms around him, as his lips pressed ghosting kisses to his shoulder and he rubbed his cheek into Zayn's holding him closer.