In The Nick Of Time

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

Summary:

"Find me."

The duffel bag touched the floor in the hallway.

Zayn looked over his shoulder then back to the door, he leaned into the living room door and Liam flipped a page in his book. His elbows on his knees as he stared down at the book, noticing Zayn he looked up and the smallest smile formed. Liam looked like part of the scene. The plush couch, and the knitted quilts, the wicker table and chairs, with the plush recliner chair, and fireplace. It was home-y, and so was he. Zayn shoved his hands in his jacket pocket, he sighed and it made Liam drop his smile.

"Come on." Zayn finally choked out, and Liam shifted almost stone like. He looked down at his book, and closed it slowly. Putting it on the table, he stood and turned for the door. "The book."

Liam glanced down to it.

Zayn held out his hand, pressing his lips together as Liam grabbed the book and walked over placing it in his hand. Turning it in his hands and looking over it, he glanced to Liam. "You like this book?"

He didn't answer, his lips dry and sealed shut.

He turned for the door way, clasping his hand over Liam's wrist and gently moving him along. He crouched beside the duffel bag and unzipped it, putting the book beside the clothes he zipped it back up and stood with the strap along his shoulder. He grabbed his keys, and Liam looked over his shoulder to the hallway. Zayn opened the front door and a small gust of wind passed by him, and he looked back when Liam didn't hold the door behind him. He watched was Liam seemed so lost, so disconnected with the house around him again.

He exhaled, turning back to the inside of the house and held the door open longer. "Hey." He called, "Liam. "

Liam turned to look at him.

He held out his hand, "Take it." He said when Liam stared at it. His fingers slot between Zayn's, and Zayn pulled tightly onto Liam's hand to have him standing before him. Zayn clasped his other hand on the back of Liam's hand, "You hold onto my hand," he stared, "And you don't let go. You understand me? That's the only way I'll stick around. You keep me down from floating off, and I'll do the same. Got it? Stay down here on the ground with me."

Liam nodded, squeezing his hand in Zayn's.

Zayn pulled him out of the door way and onto the porch, closing the door behind him with their hands still intertwined. When the lock sounded, Zayn turned away from the door and fiddled to have his car key in hand. Passing and having Liam beside him, he opened the passenger door and Liam stepped inside. Zayn put the duffel bag on his lap, and looked into his eyes before leaning forward and smothering kisses around and on his lips. Just for the moment, he untangled his hand to pull back from the car and close the door while rounding the car and into his seat. The car sounded on when he put it into the ignition slot and he pulled back into reverse just as quick as he moved back into drive.

He looked to Liam, and Liam looked over to him when they'd paused in front of the house. Zayn stared long enough to pull up a sympathetic smile, Liam smiled back when he laid out his hand and took it. Pressed on the pedal, the car travelled over the bumps slowly and trees passed like turtles. They'd passed the big rock and now solid ground beside it, down the road ten minutes, then another five until the end came into sight. Liam glanced over to Zayn, and Zayn squeezed his hand reassuring him as he turned back to the road and the light became brighter.

The nose of the car stared into the road, cars passed and the sun was out but clouds looked threatening and dark as they side swiped the sun almost grabbing it. It tipped into the road when the cars were clear, and Liam squeezed Zayn's hand when they started down it. The road ahead was winding, and nothing but trees around it. They'd passed a small petro station in which Liam would think is where Zayn went for a refill, and they went down the road with more trees until signs came into sight. Low Moor, Birstall, Morely, Holbeck, and it wasn't until the Leeds station was to their right that Liam grew frantic. In light traffic, Zayn let go of the steering wheel to turn on the radio.